There are still spots available for this trip however, hotel and flight availability needs to be checked prior to making a deposit. Please email me here to confirm that flights and lodging are still available. 

12-Day Galápagos Islands &  Amazon Jungle Tour

or 8-Day Galápagos Islands Tour

Join us for this once in a lifetime trip to explore the Galápagos Islands and the Amazon Jungle of Ecuador. For a shorter trip, you can opt to skip the Amazon and join us for the Galápagos tour where we will visit both Santa Cruz and Isabela Islands. This trip allows you to explore the best of the Galápagos with activities from snorkeling to hiking, biking, kayaking and more. With two unscheduled days on each Island, you get to choose tours that best suit your interests or you can keep the day unscheduled and  shop, rent bikes, head to the Darwin Research Station or simply head to the beach. This trip is rated as easy.

Galápagos Islands: December 2-9, 2023

Amazon Jungle–Galápagos Islands Tour: November 28, 2023-December 9, 2023

Day 1 Tue Nov 28:  Arrive Quito: Shuttle to Airport, Meet in Greet. Check in for tomorrow morning’s flight & schedules shuttle for tomorrow morning airport transfer. Repack. Turn in excess luggage for hotel storage. Overnight Quito

Day 2 Wed Nov 29:  Travel Quito to Amazon: Depart early in the morning for airport.  Your journey starts with a 35-minute flight from Quito- to Coca where the staff will pick you up and transfer to a local hotel located on the banks of the Napo River. There, your bilingual guides will explain about safety before embarking for a 3-hour boat trip on the largest Ecuadorian affluent of the Amazon, the Napo River. During the journey you get a taste of the Amazon; ancestral communities, birds such as: herons, egrets, vultures, while enjoying packed lunch. The canoe ride is followed by a 5-minute walk and 20-minute paddle canoe across Challuacocha Creek. The staff will welcome you with refreshing cold drinks and snacks before you settle down in your cabins.

Later, you will have the option to take a short walk on nearby trails or take a canoe ride with the chance to observe primates such as Amazonian birds and black caimans in their primitive setting. You will also have a close encounter with the amazing flora represented by cedar trees, orchids, and bromeliads. Upon your return to the lodge, our chef will be happy to offer a wide variety of national and international cuisine that caters to vegetarians, vegans, and those with Celiacs disease.

After dinner explore our black-water Oxbow Lake, a haven for one of the increasingly endangered species, the black caiman. This lake supports a healthy population of these large South American crocodiles, which can measure up to six meters (18ft.) long. Return to the lodge. (B, L, D)

Day 3 Thu Nov 30: Challuacocha Lake-Hike-Terra-Firme Forest: After breakfast, experience the life on the treetops from the 36-meter (118 ft.) observation tower. To get there, your leaders will paddle on the Challuacocha Lake for about 30 minutes through a beautiful Igapo Forest and a short 10-minute walk. Over 565 species of birds have been registered so far, including colorful birds such as macaws, toucans, honeycreepers, tanagers, flycatchers, hummingbirds and with a bit of luck a close view of howler, squirrel monkeys and sloths resting on the canopy. The tower gives you a unique perspective, opening a whole new world of Amazon biodiversity that is often difficult, if not impossible to see from the understory. The journey continues exploring the nearby trails searching for more Amazonian creatures. Return to the lodge for lunch.

After lunch, there are alternative activities for your enjoyment, birdwatching from the dining hall or simply getting to relax on the hammocks. In the afternoon, hike Chorongo or Coto trails- 3 hours, in the fantastic Terra-Firme Forest to discover the relationships among the different living creatures and the role they play in this complex ecosystem. Orchids, vines, strangler figs, ancient trees; bromeliads are all part of this fabulous tropical rainforest. Dinner at the lodge.

After dinner take a night walk to see how myriads of insects, spiders and frogs come alive. (B, L, D)

Day 4 Fri Dec 1: Yasuni National Park & Sani Community: After an early breakfast, head back to the Napo River to board the motor canoe and visit the parrot clay lick at Yasuni, a natural land slide where hundreds of parrots’ search for a gap to land and eat the earth. Here, you will see Mealy Amazon, Yellow-crowned, Orange Winged and Blue headed parrots. We will continue with a walk on the South of the Yasuni for a wonderful view of the flora and fauna of this area considered by scientists to be one of the most biodiverse areas in the world. Here, some species that cannot be found in the North, like the golden-mantled tamarins, spider monkeys, blue and yellow macaws and with a bit of luck a close encounter with white lipped collared peccaries. Head back to Sani Community Center to visit a native house to get a taste of how a typical Kichwa family lives. Enjoy the food, drinks, customs, and culture of the Sani Community and learn how the lifestyle of the locals is environmentally sustainable. Return to lodge for piranha fishing and a well-deserved dinner. (B, L, D)

Day 5 Sat Dec 2: Amazon-Quito. Depart from the lodge at 5:00am for the last canoe ride and encounter the flora and fauna of the Amazon Jungle to board a canoe and return to Coca for the flight back to Quito. Packed lunch to go will be served on the way. Upon return to Quito airport, check in for tomorrow’s flight. Transfer to hotel, check in hotel, repack for Galápagos. Dinner at the hotel.  Overnight Quito. (B)

Day 6 Sun Dec 3: Quito- Santa Cruz Island-Highland Tour.  Fly to Baltra, Galápagos -Highland Tour– Overnight Santa Cruz Island Please take the Wyndham hotel shuttle and be at the airport 2 hours before your flight. You will have to go through the special Galápagos security check before approaching the airline counter. Flight time-approx. 2-hours.

Upon arrival in Baltra, our naturalist guide takes you to the pier to cross the Itabaca channel to the island of Santa Cruz. You will start the tour immediately after arrival. You will visit Manzanillo or El Chato farm in the highlands of Santa Cruz for your first glimpse of a Galapagos Giant Tortoise in its natural habitat. These enormous creatures roam freely between the National Park and agricultural areas – an ideal opportunity to view these ancient creatures munching on lush green vegetation or wallowing in the mud of the seasonal pools that draw them from the lowlands during the dry winter season. At certain times in the year, we may also see migratory shore birds.

This guided tour includes a walk-through open fields and forest. A basic cafeteria and clean toilets are available at these farms. (Rubber boots may be available to wear in case of muddy terrain so be sure to bring a pair of socks). Before returning to Puerto Ayora, visit “The Twins” which are like two craters but formed by a collapse of the earth underneath due to lava flows that passed below it. Also, walk through the Scalesia Forest to encounter Galápagos flycatchers and other endemic birds. Check-in to hotel. Overnight Santa Cruz Island. (B, L)

Day 7 Mon Dec 4: Bay Tour by Boat / Free Afternoon– Overnight Santa Cruz Island Pick-up 9 am. Today, enjoy a bay tour at Lobería and Punta Estrada to snorkel with sea lions! Then, continue to Tintoreras Channel, Canal del Amor, Playa de Los Alemanes (German Beach), and a short hike to Las Grietas to swim in this crystal-clear natural crevasse. NOTE: You can rent a wetsuit before the tour. Our guide will assist you. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. You have the afternoon free to explore on your own, e.g., Tortuga Bay or Charles Darwin Research Center. (B, L)

You may also do one of the following tours in the afternoon (see below for description):

Santa Fe Island Tour $140 pp

Pinzon Island Tour $140pp

Kayaking 1-2 pax $ 160pp (private tour)

Day 8 Tue Dec 5: Free Day in Puerto Ayora- Use this day to choose your own activity. Select from the options provided or keep it as an unscheduled day to rent a bike, explore by foot or just enjoy a day of relaxation on the beach. Overnight Santa Cruz Island (B)

Day 8- Optional Activities Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos:

Santa Fe Snorkel Tour:

This tour takes place in the modality of experiential fishing. We start with a 45-minute navigation from Puerto Ayora to the site called Playa Escondida for snorkeling. Here we will see a variety of fish, turtles, sharks, rays, etc. We will also enjoy sport fishing and if we are lucky and catch a fish, ceviche will be prepared which will be part of the lunch that is included in this activity.

We may also observe sea lions, lava gulls and tropical birds, among others. Time of this activity: 6 hours. Difficulty Level: Medium. Lunch Included.

Scuba diving $270 2-Tank Dive (See description at bottom)

-OR-

Day Boat Trip to Uninhabited Island. (See below for full descriptions)

• Bartholomew: $260pp
• Santa Fe: $220pp
• North Seymour: $230pp

*Site visits may vary according to the boat we get. We will be assigned an island for touring by the local operator so you sign up for the event and will find out which island you will tour on the morning of the tour. Shared group travel. See end of itinerary for Island add on information.

Day 9 Wed Dec 6: Travel by Speedboat to Isabela Island–Pick-up 6:30 am. Transfer to the pier and travel by public speedboat to Isabella Island, a journey of about 2.5 hours. Check-in at the hotel and get ready for your first tour. You will visit the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center where you can witness the various stages of growth of these animals. Continue to the wetlands, with three types of mangroves, home to various birds, Sally light-foot crabs, and marine iguanas. Additionally, visit a small lava tunnel and a flamingo lagoon before returning to the hotel.

2:00pm (approx.): Tintoreras Tour & Snorkeling. In the afternoon, set sail to Tintoreras Islet and start exploring on foot. Here, white-tip sharks known as “tintoreras” come daily to rest on the bottom of the sea. We also can observe the endemic Galapagos penguins, sea lions, and marine iguanas, as well as go snorkeling with reef sharks and other colorful tropical fish. NOTE: You can rent a wetsuit before the tour. Notify the guide and the guide will assist you. (B, L)

OPTION: For an additional fee, you can opt to do one of the following tours for your morning tour after arriving at Isla Isabella. You will pay for this on the island. Overnight Isabela Island.  Please let me know if you will elect to do an optional tour. Cash payment on Island at the time of tour.

Wetlands Complex- Wall of Tears Tour $85pp

The trip to the Wetland Complex includes a visit to the Wall of Tears, Cerro Orchilla, El Estero, and several lagoons associated with life in the mangrove, Tunnel del Estero, Playa del Amor, and Laguna de las Diablas. You will be accompanied by a Naturalist Guide that will make an interpretative explanation of each of the sites. The Wall of Tears is a historic site, inherited from the Penal Colony that was installed in 1946. In the 2km surrounding area, the colony is populated by land turtles in a natural state, which tend to be easy to find along the way. Cerro Orchilla is a viewpoint from where you have a panoramic view of the population and in general of the southern part of the island. The photographs in this place are spectacular. In the Estero, visitors can admire an arm of the sea that makes its way between trees of adult mangroves that in turn end up at a small beach forming an intimate landscape to rest and protect from sunlight. Immediately, we will visit the Estero Tunnel, a small geological accident caused by the cooling of a lava river, produced many hundreds of years ago. Next to this place, you access the Playa del Amor, an organic beach of shells that shows us the erosive transit that occurs through thousands of years until it becomes tiny sandy beaches. 3.5 hours. Difficulty level: Average. Hours: Am or Afternoon options

Want more? You can also add:

Snorkel in Concha Perla: $60pp It is a natural pool in the middle of a red mangrove forest, where we can enjoy swimming with sea lions, tropical fish and sometimes with penguins. Duration-approx. 2-hours.

Includes: Mask and Fins

Kayak by the Pier. $50pp Tour to the edge of the islet of tintoreras, limestone and cracks to observe sea turtles, iguanas, blue-footed boobies, seagulls, and sharks. Approx. 2.5 hours.

(1.5 hours for kayaking/1 hours for snorkeling)

Rent Surf Boards: $45pp Same tour to the edge of the islet of tintoreras, limestone and cracks to observe sea turtles, iguanas, blue-footed boobies, seagulls, and sharks. (Approx. 2-hours)

Day 10 Thu Dec 7: Isabela Island–Boat trip to the Tunnels & Snorkeling– 8am-3pm. Island Pick-up 8 am. After breakfast, sail to the Tunnels, about 1.5 hours from Puerto Villamil. We first head to Union Rock, a small island located in the open sea to spot pelicans, Nazca and blue-footed boobies, and sea lions resting on the rocks. After this short stop, we navigate for about 45 minutes to reach one of the most beautiful lava rock formations in Galápagos: The Tunnels. These underwater caves appeared after volcanic eruptions, creating arches over the water where vegetation can be clearly seen stemming out of the rocks, with crystal-clear water. Then, it’s the Finados to snorkel with sea turtles, white-tip sharks, golden rays, eagle rays, seahorses, and tropical fish. The tour includes a light box lunch on board after enjoying the two activities. NOTE: You can rent a wetsuit before the tour. Our guide will assist you. We arrive at Isabella around 3 pm. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure.  Overnight Isabela (B, L)

Day 11 Fri Dec 8: Isabela Island-Free Day in Puerto Villamil– Use this day to choose your own activity. We have an optional group hike for which you pre-register. There are many other things to do on Isabela Island. Pack your day with a self-booked surf lesson, check out the island with a bike rental, take a kayak tour or simply shop and relax on the beach. (B) Overnight Isabela. See optional Isabela Tours

Day 11: Optional Tour:

Sierra Negra Volcano Hike 7:30am-1:00pm** Pick-up from your hotel at 7:30 am to drive about 20 minutes to the trail head to begin a half-day excursion to Sierra Negra Volcano, located 20 km (13 miles) from Puerto Villamil is the world’s second largest volcanic crater, measuring almost 10 km (6 miles) in diameter and 90 meters (300 feet) deep! The total hike is 16 km (10 miles). Weather-permitting hike up through the lush forest for an amazing view of the caldera and the silhouette of Isabela Island.

Continue to Chico Volcano, a part of the volcano that is still active and continues to warm the surrounding ground! The landscape changes to dramatic dried lava-encrusted trail with collapsed lava tunnels, steamy fumaroles, and occasional sparse cacti. **Note: the pace of the hike is constant because the guides need to be done by 1pm in to be back to the village by 2pm for afternoon activities. You must be able to keep the pace of the guide. $45.00pp. Includes transport, guide, and box lunch. (L) Recommended strong intermediate and up hiking ability.

Day 12 Sat Dec 9: Isabela Island-Baltra-Quito Travel to Baltra / Fly back to Quito Pick-up 5:30 am. Early speedboat transfer to Santa Cruz; boat departs at 6 am. The hotel will provide a box breakfast to take away. Transfer to Baltra Airport. After returning to Quito, go to the hotel, secure luggage, and head back to the airport for your red-eye flight home departing no earlier than 9:00PM. (Box Breakfast)

12-Day Amazon Jungle & Galapagos Island Tour 

$4654 per person based on double occupancy. Single Supplement based on availability with single supplement fee. 

$4499 per person/double occupancy electronic bank transfer/cash payment 

Includes:

• Airport transfers in Galápagos **
• Airport & Boat transfers Amazon **
• Round trip local flights Quito-Coca-Quito Amazon
• Round trip local flights Quito- – Galápagos – Quito
• 12-days/ 11-nights accommodations double occupancy
• Guided excursions as indicated in itinerary with English-speaking guides.
• Indicated meals (12B=breakfast, 7L=lunch 3D=dinner) (Some add on tours include lunch-see itinerary)
• Snorkeling equipment (snorkel, mask & fins)
• Speedboat transfers Galápagos

Not Included:

• Galápagos Park fee USD 100 adults / USD 50 child
• Galápagos transit card USD 20
• Isabela dock fee USD $10
• Water taxis USD $1 per ride
• Wetsuit or kayak rental
• Travel insurance
• Tips
• Transaction fees
• International Flights to/from Quito, Ecuador

*TJ Hiker, Inc. serves as an intermediary with airlines and is not responsible for cancellations, flight delays, or lost/delayed luggage made by the airline that might affect the itineraries.

** Based on current flight rate as of 4.20.23. A supplemental fee will be charged for the balance of any air fare increases from publication of the trip to the time of participant registration which will be the responsibility of the passenger and must be paid at the time of airfare purchase. Luggage limits apply to one carry-on 33lbs/15kg and one checked bag maximum 50lbs/23kg.

Day 8 Santa Cruz Island-Galapagos Optional Add on Activity Descriptions:

Bartolome Island: 07:00am-6:00pm

The excursion to Bartolome starts very early in the morning, at 06h00 our guide will pass by you at the hotel and immediately we will take a car that will transport us to the Itabaca canal, where we will take the boat that will take us to Bartolome Island with a navigation approximately 1 hour 45 minutes, on the way we will have breakfast. Upon reaching this island, the first impression of it is the unique and unparalleled landscape that gives us the pinnacle, a triangle-shaped volcanic rock formation. In some areas, depending on the time of year, we may observe seabirds that fly over this beautiful island as well as penguins.

The landing is done on the beach, after that we continue along the stairs in a pleasant ascent to the highest point of this island where we can observe a kind of lunar landscape, after this we will return to the beach where we can snorkel, in which we can see a great variety of fish, sea turtles, starfish, sea urchins, sea lions.  Full day. Daily Departures. Difficulty Level: Low

Seymour Island: 08:00am-17:00pm

After breakfast, at approximately 07:30 a.m., our guide will pick you up at the hotel in a car that will take us to the Itabaca Canal located in the north of Santa Cruz Island where we will take the boat to North Seymour Island, this trip takes approximately one hour. This activity has the modality of a daily tour.

The landing to the island is done in a small old dock and after that we will make an interpretive walk along the paths, in which we will find many blue footed boobies, frigates, lava gulls, pelicans, which nest adjoining the path and you can see with their chicks, depending on the time of visit. Palo Santo trees and cacti allow us to observe a landscape like no other.

After this walk, we have time to snorkel in one of the best Galapagos sites where we can see a wide variety of tropical fish, rays, puffer fish, Galapagos sharks, etc. After this we will board the boat that will take us to the beautiful beach called Bachas, on this route we will enjoy lunch. Upon arriving at this place, we will make a wet landing directly to the beach, then we will have a walk to observe iguanas, frigates, sea lions and enjoy this beautiful place. Difficulty level: Low

Pinzón Island:  08:00am- 4:00pm

We sail for an hour to this small island, where we will take a small boat called a panga to see animals from the boat as we cruise along where we may observe sea lions, rays, turtles, sharks and a lot of fish. We can also snorkel to observe these species in the water, then we will enjoy a moment of beach.

Then we will practice some sport fishing, this being a great attraction that tourists enjoy and are participating in this moment.  Difficulty Level: Medium Daily departures

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8-Day Galápagos Islands Tour-Santa Cruz & Isabela Islands 

$3450* per person based on double occupancy.

$3350* per person/double occupancy if paid by electronic bank transfer for cash discount 

               Limited Single Occupancy Rooms available

Day 1 Sat Dec 2: Arrive to Quito Ecuador (UIO) Meet and greet.  Check in for tomorrow’s flight. Dinner at hotel. Overnight Quito.

Day 2 Sun Dec 3: Quito- Santa Cruz Island-Highland Tour.  Fly to Baltra, Galápagos -Highland Tour– Overnight Santa Cruz Island Please take the Wyndham hotel shuttle and be at the airport 2 hours before your flight. You will have to go through the special Galápagos security check before approaching the airline counter. Flight time-approx. 2-hours.

Upon arrival in Baltra, our naturalist guide takes you to the pier to cross the Itabaca channel to the island of Santa Cruz. You will start the tour immediately after arrival. You will visit Manzanillo or El Chato farm in the highlands of Santa Cruz for your first glimpse of a Galapagos Giant Tortoise in its natural habitat. These enormous creatures roam freely between the National Park and agricultural areas – an ideal opportunity to view these ancient creatures munching on lush green vegetation or wallowing in the mud of the seasonal pools that draw them from the lowlands during the dry winter season. At certain times in the year, we may also see migratory shore birds.

This guided tour includes a walk-through open fields and forest. A basic cafeteria and clean toilets are available at these farms. (Rubber boots may be available to wear in case of muddy terrain so be sure to bring a pair of socks). Before returning to Puerto Ayora, visit “The Twins” which are like two craters but formed by a collapse of the earth underneath due to lava flows that passed below it. Also, walk through the Scalesia Forest to encounter Galápagos flycatchers and other endemic birds. Check-in to hotel. Overnight Santa Cruz Island. (B, L)

Day 3 Mon Dec 4: Bay Tour by Boat / Unscheduled Afternoon– Overnight Santa Cruz Island Pick-up 9 am. Today, enjoy a bay tour at Lobería and Punta Estrada to snorkel with sea lions! Then, continue to Tintoreras Channel, Canal del Amor, Playa de Los Alemanes (German Beach), and a short hike to Las Grietas to swim in this crystal-clear natural crevasse. NOTE: You can rent a wetsuit before the tour. Our guide will assist you. Lunch is included at a local restaurant. You have the afternoon free to explore on your own, e.g., Tortuga Bay or Charles Darwin Research Center. (B, L)

You may also do one of the following tours in the afternoon after the Bay Tour (see below for description):

Santa Fe Island Tour $140 pp

Pinzon Island Tour $140pp

Kayaking 1-2 pax $ 160pp (private tour)

Day 4 Tue Dec 5: Free Day in Puerto Ayora- Use this day to choose your own activity. Select from the options provided or keep it as an unscheduled day to rent a bike, explore by foot or just enjoy a day of relaxation on the beach. Overnight Santa Cruz Island (B)

Day 4- Optional Activities Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos:

Santa Fe Snorkel Tour:

This tour takes place in the modality of experiential fishing. We start with a 45-minute navigation from Puerto Ayora to the site called Playa Escondida for snorkeling. Here we will see a variety of fish, turtles, sharks, rays, etc. We will also enjoy sport fishing and if we are lucky and catch a fish, ceviche will be prepared which will be part of the lunch that is included in this activity.

We may also observe sea lions, lava gulls and tropical birds, among others. Time of this activity: 6 hours. Difficulty Level: Medium. Lunch Included.

Scuba diving $270 2-Tank Dive (See description at bottom)

-OR-

Day Boat Trip to Uninhabited Island. (See below for full descriptions)

• Bartholomew: $260pp
• Santa Fe: $220pp
• North Seymour: $230pp

*Site visits may vary according to the boat we get. We will be assigned an island for touring by the local operator so you sign up for the event and will find out which island you will tour on the morning of the tour. Shared group travel. See end of itinerary for Island add on information.

Day 5 Wed Dec 6: Travel by Speedboat to Isabela Island–Pick-up 6:30 am. Transfer to the pier and travel by public speedboat to Isabella Island, a journey of about 2.5 hours. Check-in at the hotel and get ready for your first tour. You will visit the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center where you can witness the various stages of growth of these animals. Continue to the wetlands, with three types of mangroves, home to various birds, Sally light-foot crabs, and marine iguanas. Additionally, visit a small lava tunnel and a flamingo lagoon before returning to the hotel.

2:00pm (approx.): Tintoreras Tour & Snorkeling. In the afternoon, set sail to Tintoreras Islet and start exploring on foot. Here, white-tip sharks known as “tintoreras” come daily to rest on the bottom of the sea. We also can observe the endemic Galapagos penguins, sea lions, and marine iguanas, as well as go snorkeling with reef sharks and other colorful tropical fish. NOTE: You can rent a wetsuit before the tour. Notify the guide and the guide will assist you. (B, L)

OPTION: For an additional fee, you can opt to do one of the following tours for your morning tour after arriving at Isla Isabella. You will pay for this on the island. Overnight Isabela Island.  Please let me know if you will elect to do an optional tour. Cash payment on Island at the time of tour.

Wetlands Complex- Wall of Tears Tour $85pp

The trip to the Wetland Complex includes a visit to the Wall of Tears, Cerro Orchilla, El Estero, and several lagoons associated with life in the mangrove, Tunnel del Estero, Playa del Amor, and Laguna de las Diablas. You will be accompanied by a Naturalist Guide that will make an interpretative explanation of each of the sites. The Wall of Tears is a historic site, inherited from the Penal Colony that was installed in 1946. In the 2km surrounding area, the colony is populated by land turtles in a natural state, which tend to be easy to find along the way. Cerro Orchilla is a viewpoint from where you have a panoramic view of the population and in general of the southern part of the island. The photographs in this place are spectacular. In the Estero, visitors can admire an arm of the sea that makes its way between trees of adult mangroves that in turn end up at a small beach forming an intimate landscape to rest and protect from sunlight. Immediately, we will visit the Estero Tunnel, a small geological accident caused by the cooling of a lava river, produced many hundreds of years ago. Next to this place, you access the Playa del Amor, an organic beach of shells that shows us the erosive transit that occurs through thousands of years until it becomes tiny sandy beaches. 3.5 hours. Difficulty level: Average. Hours: Am or Afternoon options

Want more? You can also add:

Snorkel in Concha Perla: $60pp It is a natural pool in the middle of a red mangrove forest, where we can enjoy swimming with sea lions, tropical fish and sometimes with penguins. Duration-approx. 2-hours.

Includes: Mask and Fins

Kayak by the Pier. $50pp Tour to the edge of the islet of tintoreras, limestone and cracks to observe sea turtles, iguanas, blue-footed boobies, seagulls, and sharks. Approx. 2.5 hours.

(1.5 hours for kayaking/1 hours for snorkeling)

Rent Surf Boards: $45pp Same tour to the edge of the islet of tintoreras, limestone and cracks to observe sea turtles, iguanas, blue-footed boobies, seagulls, and sharks. (Approx. 2-hours)

Day 6 Thu Dec 7: Isabela Island–Boat trip to the Tunnels & Snorkeling– 8am-3pm. Island Pick-up 8 am. After breakfast, sail to the Tunnels, about 1.5 hours from Puerto Villamil. We first head to Union Rock, a small island located in the open sea to spot pelicans, Nazca and blue-footed boobies, and sea lions resting on the rocks. After this short stop, we navigate for about 45 minutes to reach one of the most beautiful lava rock formations in Galápagos: The Tunnels. These underwater caves appeared after volcanic eruptions, creating arches over the water where vegetation can be clearly seen stemming out of the rocks, with crystal-clear water. Then, it’s the Finados to snorkel with sea turtles, white-tip sharks, golden rays, eagle rays, seahorses, and tropical fish. The tour includes a light box lunch on board after enjoying the two activities. NOTE: You can rent a wetsuit before the tour. Our guide will assist you. We arrive at Isabella around 3 pm. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure.  Overnight Isabela (B, L)

Day 7 Fri Dec 8: Isabela Island-Unscheduled Day in Puerto Villamil– Use this day to choose your own activity. We have an optional group hike for which you pre-register. There are many other things to do on Isabela Island. Pack your day with a self-booked surf lesson, check out the island with a bike rental, take a kayak tour or simply shop and relax on the beach. (B) Overnight Isabela. See optional Isabela Tours

        Day 7: Optional Tour:

Sierra Negra Volcano Hike 7:30am-1:00pm** Pick-up from your hotel at 7:30 am to drive about 20 minutes to the trail head to begin a half-day excursion to Sierra Negra Volcano, located 20 km (13 miles) from Puerto Villamil is the world’s second largest volcanic crater, measuring almost 10 km (6 miles) in diameter and 90 meters (300 feet) deep! The total hike is 16 km (10 miles). Weather-permitting hike up through the lush forest for an amazing view of the caldera and the silhouette of Isabela Island.

Continue to Chico Volcano, a part of the volcano that is still active and continues to warm the surrounding ground! The landscape changes to dramatic dried lava-encrusted trail with collapsed lava tunnels, steamy fumaroles, and occasional sparse cacti. **Note: the pace of the hike is constant because the guides need to be done by 1pm in to be back to the village by 2pm for afternoon activities. You must be able to keep the pace of the guide. $45.00pp. Includes transport, guide, and box lunch. (L)

Day 8: Sat Dec 9: Isabela Island-Baltra-Quito Travel to Baltra / Fly back to Quito Pick-up 5:30 am. Early speedboat transfer to Santa Cruz; boat departs at 6 am. The hotel will provide a box breakfast to take away. Transfer to Baltra Airport. After returning to Quito, go to the hotel, secure luggage, and head back to the airport for your red-eye flight home departing no earlier than 9:00PM. (Box Breakfast)

 $3450 per person based on double occupancy. Single Supplement based on availability, single supp fee  

$3350 pp/double occupancy. Discount for electronic bank transfer payments.

Includes:

• Airport transfers in Galápagos **
• Round trip local flights Quito- – Galápagos – Quito
• 9 nights’ accommodations double occupancy
• Guided excursions as indicated in itinerary with English-speaking guides.
• Indicated meals (8B=breakfast, 3L=lunch) (Some add on tours include lunch-see itinerary)
• Snorkeling equipment (snorkel, mask & fins)
• Speedboat transfers Galápagos

Not Included:

• Galápagos Park fee USD 100 adults / USD 50 child
• Galápagos transit card USD 20
• Isabela dock fee USD $10
• Water taxis USD $1 per ride
• Wetsuit or kayak rental
• Travel insurance
• Tips
• Transaction fees
• International Flights to/from Quito, Ecuador

*TJ Hiker, Inc. serves as an intermediary with airlines and is not responsible for cancellations, flight delays, or lost/delayed luggage made by the airline that might affect the itineraries.

** Based on current flight rate as of 4.20.23. A supplemental fee will be charged for the balance of any air fare increases from publication of the trip to the time of participant registration which will be the responsibility of the passenger and must be paid at the time of airfare purchase. Luggage limits apply to one carry-on 33lbs/15kg and one checked bag maximum 50lbs/23kg.

Day 8 Santa Cruz Island-Galapagos Optional Add on Activity Descriptions:

Bartolome Island: 07:00am-6:00pm

The excursion to Bartolome starts very early in the morning, at 06h00 our guide will pass by you at the hotel and immediately we will take a car that will transport us to the Itabaca canal, where we will take the boat that will take us to Bartolome Island with a navigation approximately 1 hour 45 minutes, on the way we will have breakfast. Upon reaching this island, the first impression of it is the unique and unparalleled landscape that gives us the pinnacle, a triangle-shaped volcanic rock formation. In some areas, depending on the time of year, we may observe seabirds that fly over this beautiful island as well as penguins.

The landing is done on the beach, after that we continue along the stairs in a pleasant ascent to the highest point of this island where we can observe a kind of lunar landscape, after this we will return to the beach where we can snorkel, in which we can see a great variety of fish, sea turtles, starfish, sea urchins, sea lions.  Full day. Daily Departures. Difficulty Level: Low

Seymour Island: 08:00am-17:00pm

After breakfast, at approximately 07:30 a.m., our guide will pick you up at the hotel in a car that will take us to the Itabaca Canal located in the north of Santa Cruz Island where we will take the boat to North Seymour Island, this trip takes approximately one hour. This activity has the modality of daily tour.

The landing to the island is done in a small old dock and after that we will make an interpretive walk along the paths, in which we will find many blue footed boobies, frigates, lava gulls, pelicans, which nest adjoining the path and you can see with their chicks, depending on the time of visit. Palo Santo trees and cacti allow us to observe a landscape like no other.

After this walk, we have time to snorkel in one of the best Galapagos sites where we can see a wide variety of tropical fish, rays, puffer fish, Galapagos sharks, etc. After this we will board the boat that will take us to the beautiful beach called Bachas, on this route we will enjoy lunch. Upon arriving at this place, we will make a wet landing directly to the beach, then we will have a walk to observe iguanas, frigates, sea lions and enjoy this beautiful place. Difficulty level: Low

Pinzón Island:  08:00am- 4:00pm

We sail for an hour to this small island, where we will take a small boat called a panga to see animals from the boat as we cruise along where we may observe sea lions, rays, turtles, sharks and a lot of fish. We can also snorkel to observe these species in the water, then we will enjoy a moment of beach.Then we will practice some sport fishing, this being a great attraction that tourists enjoy and are participating in this moment.  Difficulty Level: Medium Daily departures

Reservation and Cancellation Policy:

For Galapagos and Amazon Itinerary: A $2000 USD non-refundable deposit, plus $318 transaction fee transaction fee us required to confirm your spot. The balance is due in full 120 days prior to the start of the trip. No refunds will be given within 120 days of the first day of the trip. Reservations made within 121 days of the trip must be paid in full and are non-refundable.  It is highly recommended to secure trip insurance to protect your travel investment.

For Galapagos only itinerary: $1500 USD non-refundable deposit, plus $175 transaction fee transaction fee us required to confirm your spot. The balance is due in full 120 days prior to the start of the trip. No refunds will be given within 120 days of the first day of the trip. Reservations made within 121 days of the trip must be paid in full and are non-refundable.  Trip insurance including medical coverage is required.

I have purchased several policies with the help of Erin Rountree, an independent agent of the Travel Society, who has experience providing policies for adventure travelers. You can contact Erin at (208) 788-2870 or email her at etravel@cox.net

Erin Rountree

The Travel Society

PH- 208 788 2870

Fax-208 788 3032- must be notified first.

Email-etravel@cox.net