ABOUT GALAPAGOS
These world-famous islands make up Ecuador’s first and largest national park. Established in 1959, the park includes 13 major islands, 6 small islands, and 42 islets (some barely big enough to set foot upon). It is not the volcanic islands that attract most visitors, but rather the renowned wildlife endemic to the islands, located 600 miles from the nearest continent. Giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, flightless cormorants, waved albatrosses, and marine iguanas roam around in what Darwin described as a «living laboratory» of evolution.
Through the evolutionary process, climate, ocean currents and the comparative lack of predatory enemies including man, the Galapagos became one of the strangest and most compelling places in our planet. Flora and fauna arriving on different “roads” across the waters from the mainland, colonized the original Galapagos lava beds.
To discover the Galapagos Islands is to discover nature in its purest state! Do come and enjoy:
- Diving
- Cruises
- Snorkeling
- Short excursions
- Birdwatching
- Sea kayaking
- Fishing
- Photographing
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There are 3, 4 and 7 night cruises to the Galapagos Islands. Prices depend on cruise category and the number of nights you choose to spend in Galapagos. Cruise prices include accommodation based in double occupancy, all meals, daily excursions guided by naturalist English speaking guides, transportation within the islands. Take into consideration prices do not include airfare either from Quito or from Guayaquil to the Galapagos Islands, as well as Galapagos National Park entrance fee, beverages, tips and extras.
CRUISE CATEGORIES
INCA HOLIDAYS works with the best yatches & vessels in the Galapagos Islands and we are pleased to offer you luxury, first class and tourist superior cruises.
LUXURY: offers more amenities than the rest of categories, spacious accommodation, excellent cuisine, superior service and the best bilingual naturalist guides. Normally these cruises visit central and remote islands. They are ideal for individuals for whom comfort is a top consideration, and also for families with younger children, they offer lots of spaces to explore and run about safely due to their spacious interiors. Within this category we recommend La Pinta or Isabela if your traveller is looking for big cruises.
Please find info on Isabela and La Pinta at:
Other luxury alternatives: contact us for openings available on Ocean Spray, Cormorant, Petrel, Grand Queen Beatriz, etc.
FIRST CLASS: this category has spacious interiors, comfortable double cabins (smaller than the luxury class ships), air conditioning, private bathroom with hot water. The level of service and knowledge of your guide may not be as high as with a high class yachts. The following boats have good to excellent standards in service and accommodation.
Galapagos Odyssey
Treasure of Galapagos (16 pax)
Yacht: SOLARIS -16 paxs
FRAGATA MOTOR YACHT, 16 paxs
http://cruisesgps.com/fragatayacht/
Yatch Capacity Relevant information
TOURIST SUPERIOR: The service is still good, the cabins are decent but smaller, there are fewer passengers which creates a very cozy and familiar atmosphere on board. The guides are less knowledgable. If you are travelling on a budget these cruises might offer you a very good alternative:
Aida María 16 Highly recommended. Motor yatch.
Double cabins with private facilities, Air conditioning, sun deck and nice social areas.
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Golondrina 14 Double cabins with private bathroom
http://www.cruisesgps.com/golondrinayacht/
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Darwin Yatch 16 Double cabins with private bathroom, Solarium, scuba-diving available.
http://www.360ecuador.com/Clientes/Yacht_Darwin/
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Angelito 16 Double cabins with private bathroom
www.yachtangelitogalapagos.com
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GALAPAGOS ACQUA – 16 paxs – Tourist “adventure”
Mixed itineraries: diving and naturalist.
ARCHIPEL I – 16 paxs Tourist superior
CATAMARAN ARCHIPEL II – 16 paxs Tourist Superior
For cruise prices, availability and departure dates, please contact us at
[email protected]
[email protected]
Vía WhatsApp: +593 9 96 189 559
HOTEL BASED PROGRAMS
Another way to enjoy the Galapagos Islands is spending the nights on one of the comfortable local hotels and resorts and taking daily tours and excursions to islands.
FINCH BAY ECO HOTEL: Located just steps from the beach in Santa Cruz Island on a private seaside location, surrounded by mangroves, accommodates 42 guests in comfortable rooms with private facilities. You choose your activities to create an unforgettable expedition. Packages of 3, 4 and 7 nights are all inclusive. See more info at.
ISLAND HOPPING PROGRAMS BY INCA HOLIDAYS
SANTA CRUZ + ISABELA
6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS BUDGET PROGRAM
DAY 1: ARRIVAL TO GALAPAGOS
Arrival at Baltra airport. After this, you will be transferred to the Hotel in Santa Cruz for accommodation. Rest of the afternoon at leisure.
*Additional activity available at the end of itinerary
.
DAY 2: DAY AT LEISURE AT SANTA CRUZ (B)
This day you will have the chance to explore Santa Cruz Island on your own, or perhaps pick up one of the optional activities. Accommodation in selected hotel in Santa Cruz.
*Optional activity available at the end of itinerary
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DAY 3: TRANSFER TO ISABELA (B)
Breakfast. We will take a 2h30 minutes trip in a speedboat to Isabela. The rest of the day is your own free time. Accommodation in a selected hotel.
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DAY 4: DAY AT LEISURE AT ISABELA (B)
This day you will have the chance to discover Isabela Island on your own, or perhaps choose over the optional tour for this day. Accommodation in selected hotel.
*Optional activity available at the end of itinerary
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DAY 5: SIERRA NEGRA VOLCANO (B, BL)
Breakfast. Today, we go by car until reaching the mountainsides of the Sierra Negra Volcano. This volcano considered as one of the oldest of Isabela. We will have a walk of about 2 hours to reach the crater of the volcano. There we will have a wonderful view of the crater and with a little bit of luck, we will be able to see the sparrow hawk of the Galapagos. We will get to know the geology of the Sierra Negra Volcano. Most this island was formed by AA lava. We will have a box lunch and return to the hotel.
*Additional activity at the end of itinerary
DAY 6: TRANSFER TO THE AIRPORT (B)
After breakfast you will take the speedboat back to Santa Cruz. Transfer to the airport.
.
END OF SERVICES
INCLUDED:
- Transfers in Galapagos
- Daily accommodation with breakfast
- Meals mentioned in the program
(B: Breakfast, BL: Boxlunch, L: Lunch, D: Dinner)
- Daily excursions as noted per program
- Naturalist bilingual guide (English/Spanish)
- Contribution to the local community.
.
NOT INCLUDED:
- Airfare to/from Galapagos
- Supplement for Inter Island flights (USD 170 net per pax per way)
- Entrance fee to the Galapagos National Park (US$ 100 per person )
- Galapagos Migration Card (US$ 20 per person)
- Isabela dock fee entrance (US$ 10 per person)
- Drinks and not mentioned meals
- Tips (is not mandatory)
- Travel Insurance
- Personal expenses
- Optional activities
.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- The itineraries are subject to change without previous advice, due to weather conditions, Galapagos National Park authorizations, operational issues or passenger safeties.
- Optional/additional activities refer for activities to add to an itinerary for time at leisure, or to replace given standard tours for another tour.
OPTIONAL/ ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES:
DAY 1 ADDITIONAL TOUR: SANTA CRUZ HIGHLANDS (L)
Arriving to Baltra we will take a shuttle thought out Santa Cruz Island where we will reach the highlands of the Island with its green vegetation where we will stop to visit a Ranch, here we will be able to see Giant Turtles in their natural habitat. Lunch at the ranch. After this visit we will head to Puerto Ayora to check in in a selected hotel.
DAY 2 TOURS FOR DAY AT LEISURE: NAVIGABLE TOUR TO ANOTHER ISLAND (L)
This day you will have the opportunity to do a navigable excursion to another Island, in order to discover the diversity of the Galapagos Islands. The tour consists a hike around the island and afterwards you can snorkel, swim or just relax. Based on availability we can confirm one of the following tours:
Bartolome Island: Discover amazing landscapes, and fascinating geological formations, here you will have great opportunity for snorkeling.
North Seymour Island: The main fauna species of this island are Land Iguanas, the Magnificent Frigate bird with their incredible scarlet regular pouch, blue-footed boobies and their particular courtship dance and sea lions surfing across the waves.
South Plazas: Small island but outstanding concentration of wildlife, dramatic cliffs, spectacular natural red carpet of algae and great contrasts to be seen.
Santa Fe: This Island has a lot of diversity. The lagoons of the Santa Fe Island provide an excellent place for snorkeling alongside colorful fishes, sea lions, giant tuna and even small sharks that are often sited in these environments.
DAY 4 OPTIONAL TOUR FOR DAY AT LEISURE: VISIT TO THE TUNNELS (BL)
After breakfast, we will visit a unique place in the islands, “Los Túneles”. Our path starts on board a speedboat on a 45 minutes trip. Our experienced captain will securely lead us across the waves that normally hide this treasure. The Tunnels were formed millions year ago when rivers of liquid lava ran across the island reaching the coast shore. The cold water froze their superficial layer isolating the interior while liquid lava kept flowing into the sea. When the eruption finished, a hollow structure was formed and its wall later broke allowing water to come inside and creating tunnels. Our guide will join us along hundreds of tunnels while we snorkel and discover the marine life such as sharks, lobsters, penguins, sea lions, boobies, marine turtles among other endemic species from Galapagos. A snack will be served on board. If lucky enough, we will have the chance to witness giant manta rays feeding in open waters. Boxlunch will be on board. Return to hotel.
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DAY 5 ADDITIONAL TOUR AFTER SIERRA NEGRA: TINTORERAS TOUR
The Tintoreras Islets, located a short distance from Puerto Villamil, is home to a great variety of wildlife. Its turquoise, crystalline waters are inhabited by white-tipped reef sharks, Galapagos penguins, marine turtles and sea lions. One of its beaches, surrounded by mangroves is one of the few sites where marine iguanas can reproduce successfully. Reaching the Isle of Tintoreras, we will get to know a lot of these species. Most of the part of this island is formed by AA lava. Return to the hotel.
SANTA CRUZ EXPRESS
4 DAYS / 3 NIGHTS BUDGET PROGRAM
DAY 1: SANTA CRUZ ISLAND – HIGHLANDS
Arriving to Baltra we will take a shuttle thought out Santa Cruz Island where we will reach the highlands of the Islands with its green vegetation where we will stop to visit a Ranch, here we will be able to see Giant Turtles in their natural habitat.
Optional activity: After lunch we will proceed to leave our “soul print” in the Galapagos Islands and you will be part of the project of conservation on the Island. The program consists in planting your own tree in Primicias Ranch, this tree will have your name on and later on, you will receive a certificate for actively supporting in the maintenance of the Galapagos’ ecosystem.
After this visit we will head to Puerto Ayora to check-in in a selected hotel
.
DAY 2: DAY AT LEISURE (B)
This day you will have the chance to explore Santa Cruz Island on your own, or perhaps pick up one of the optional activities. Accommodation in selected hotel in Santa Cruz.
*Optional activity available at the end of itinerary
.
DAY 3: DAY AT LEISURE (B)
This day you will have the chance to explore Santa Cruz Island on your own, or perhaps pick up one of the optional activities. Accommodation in selected hotel in Santa Cruz.
*Optional activity available at the end of itinerary
.
DAY 4: TRANSFER OUT SANTA CRUZ (B)
In the morning after breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport to take your local flight.
END OF SERVICES
INCLUDED:
- Transfers in Galapagos
- Daily accommodation with breakfast
- Meals mentioned in the program
(B: Breakfast, BL: Boxlunch, L: Lunch, D: Dinner)
- Daily excursions as noted per program
- Naturalist bilingual guide (English/Spanish)
- Contribution to the local community.
.
NOT INCLUDED:
- Airfare to/from Galapagos
- Supplement for Inter Island flights (USD 170 net per pax per way)
- Entrance fee to the Galapagos National Park (US$ 100 per person )
- Galapagos Migration Card (US$ 20 per person)
- Drinks and not mentioned meals
- Optional/ additional activities
- Tips (is not mandatory)
- Travel Insurance
- Personal expenses
.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- The itineraries are subject to change without previous advice, due to weather conditions, Galapagos National Park authorizations, operational issues or passenger safeties.
- Optional/additional activities refer for activities to add to an itinerary for time at leisure, or to replace given standard tours for another tour
OPTIONAL / ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES
DAY 2 – 3 OPTIONAL NAVIGABLE TOURS TO ANOTHER ISLAND FOR DAY AT LEISURE (L)
This day you will have the opportunity to do a navigable excursion to another Island, in order to discover the diversity of the Galapagos Islands. The tour consists a hike around the island and afterwards you can snorkel, swim or just relax. Based on availability we can confirm one of the following tours:
**You can choose a different Island of the one picked in the Navigable Tour instead of Bay Tour on day 2**
Bartolome Island: Discover amazing landscapes, and fascinating geological formations, here you will have great opportunity for snorkeling.
North Seymour Island: The main fauna species of this island are Land Iguanas, the Magnificent Frigate bird with their incredible scarlet regular pouch, blue-footed boobies and their particular courtship dance and sea lions surfing across the waves.
South Plazas: Small island but outstanding concentration of wildlife, dramatic cliffs, spectacular natural red carpet of algae and great contrasts to be seen.
Santa Fe: This Island has a lot of diversity. The lagoons of the Santa Fe Island provide an excellent place for snorkeling alongside colorful fishes, sea lions, giant tuna and even small sharks that are often sited in these environments.