Isabela Island is one of the youngest of the Archipelago, it is also the largest (4588 Km2), so it holds the biggest biodiversity of life zones. From pristine white sand beaches and tropical humid forest to active volcanoes up to 1.677 mts m/s (Wolf Volcano). We achieve the combination of the comfort of a small adorable Hotel-Spa on the beach, with the exciting experience of exploring the forests and volcanoes with walks and horse rides. We will do snorkeling in submarine formations which will let us enjoy the company of gold ray schools, sea lions, multicolor tropical fish, and marine turtles, which are abundant in the coasts of Isabela. This program of 6 days / 5 nights can be done by itself or can be combined with a 5 or 8 day cruise achieving the “ideal program of the Galapagos”.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: (any day of the week). We can depart towards Isabela Island from the airports of San Cristobal or Baltra to arrive by plane, or from Pto. Ayora in Santa Cruz Island to arrive by motor boat; depending on your previous itinerary. Once on Isabela we will head to “Casa de Marita”, our hotel and base in the the Island. For the afternoon we will explore the beautiful beaches and paths of the marshlands of the Devils.
Day 2: We will ascend on a 45 minute vehicle ride through the slopes of the Sierra Negra volcano, until we encounter our horses to keep going for 1 hour until the crater of the volcano, one of the largest in the world (diameter of 9 km). We will visit a parasite cone called Volcan Chico with its impressive lava fields; to continue surrounding the crater and get deep into the Paramo vegetation, to descend to the tropical forest where we will camp.
Day 3: We will get to Alemania (Germany), called this way because of the inmates of Penal Colony which existed in Isabela at the beginnings of XX century, and it was also the place where products such as fruits, sugar cane, or vegetables where cultivated, because it was not possible to do so on the low parts of the islands. When Penal Colony ended, this lands where abandoned until today, so we can find the ruins of the antique crops, and the giant avocado and citric trees have formed a truly magical place. Wild pigs, horses and donkeys are frequently found, descendants of the domestic animals raised by the inmates.
Day 4: We will descend to the low lands where our transportation awaits to take us back to the beach and Casa de Marita. In the afternoon we will relax, rest and have the possibility to receive a comforting aromatherapy massage, Jacuzzi or simply enjoy the beach.
Day 5: We will navigate for 1 hour 15 minutes parallel to the coast, until we get to Cabo Rosas, passing through Roca Unión, rock formation in the middle of the ocean with sea lions, and different marine birds, a beautiful estuary with hundreds of rocks blossom in to the surface, forming a channel and tunnel system, where submarine life is abundant; it is a privileged place for snorkeling. Pic Nic lunch in a lonely beach and return to the Casa de Marita. In the afternoon we will relax, rest and have the possibility to receive a comforting aromatherapy massage, Jacuzzi or simply enjoy the beach.
Day 6: Return by aircraft to Baltra or San Cristobal or to Pto. Ayora by sea; to connect to the mainland.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
We recommend this trip during the months of June to October and December to March, when there is less rain at the higher parts of Isabela Island.
Also see tour packages in:
South America
Ecuador
Ecotourism
Walking Tours
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