San Cristobal
Day 1: Fly to Ecuador and spend the night in Quito/Guayaquil, whichever is easiest and most economical for you. It is necessary to stop at a city in Ecuador because flights to the Galápagos start only in Ecuadorian cities.
Day 2: Arrive on the beautiful island of San Cristóbal. After checking into your hotel explore the small town and talk to a few tour operators about trips to sites that are only accessible by boat (such as Punta Pitt and León Dormido). If you have the time walk to nearby Playa Mann—a favorite of locals. It may be a bit crowded, but could be a good opportunity to swim with your first seal lion. After dinner, take in the free “sea lion show” that happens spontaneously every night on the beach in town where a large colony of sea lions live. Before you know it you will be caught up in the drama of pups looking for their mothers and males fighting over territory. Day 3: Pack a lunch and plenty of water for your first action-packed day on the island. From your hotel walk to the Interpretation Center where you'll learn about the history and ecology of the Galápagos. Continue on the trail out of the center to Cerro Las Tijeretas where there are overlooks that offer stunning views of the small bay beneath the cliff. If you would like, you can take the dirt trail further up the hill for the possibility of seeing nesting frigate birds or you can descend into the gorgeous calm bay for snorkeling. If you plan to go in the water, be sure to bring surf shoes as there are sea urchins at the entry point. The snorkeling in the bay is the best you can get to on the island without a boat and you may see sea lions or a shark or two. When you’ve finished at Cerro Tijeretas, walk further down to Punta Carola. This spot is a favorite for giant sea turtles, who enjoy munching on the sea moss covering the rocks in the shallow water. At low tide, you can get very close to the turtles, who don’t seem to notice the snorkelers watching them. There are also a fair amount of marine iguanas swimming in the water and on the shore . If you didn’t get to Playa Mann the previous day, end your day by watching the sunset here. Day 4: Go on your guided tour cruise to Punta Pitt, León Dormido (Kicker Rock), or another site. Punta Pitt is the most northeastern tip of the island and is the only place where visitors can see all three species of booby birds found in the islands (red-footed, blue-footed, and nazca boobies). León Dormido is the famous rock that looks like a sleeping lion—hence, the name—where a plethora of various marine species can be found. Most groups will allow you to swim between the two massive rocks that make up the formation. Day 5: Take a taxi into the highlands (you can usually arrange one through whatever hotel or hostel you’re staying at) to see El Junco Lagoon, Galapaguera, Puerto Chino, and La Lobería. A short walk up a hill will give you a great look at El Junco Lagoon, where you may be able to see frigate birds diving into the fresh water to wash their wings. Galapaguera is a tortoise breeding center (one of the most successful in the world), and the highlight here are the enclosures housing the baby tortoises. Puerto Chino is a beautiful beach with some decent shade and snorkeling. You'll probably see at least a few sea lions there as well. There is also a small rocky hill on the right side of the beach with a trail you can climb to possibly get a closer look at some blue-footed boobies. Finally, have your driver drop you off at the last stop for the day—La Lobería—but let them know that they don't need to stay since this beach is close enough to town that you can walk to your hotel afterwards. At La Lobería, the shore is crowded with sea lions—this is probably the best opportunity to get a cute picture of their adorable pups (just remember to keep your distance). The snorkeling here is also pretty good, and it is also a great place to watch the sun set, but don't stay too late before you start walking back into town because it is a 2.5 km walk. Day 6: Catch your flight back to Quito or Guayaquil. Day 7: Fly out of Ecuador back home. Note: This trip can easily be extended into a 9 day itinerary by spending a few more days on optional guided tour cruises to other sites such as Cerro Brujo or Isla Lobos (Sea Lion Island). |