Ecuador Birds Tours
Galápagos Wildlife & Birding: Albatrosses, Penguins & More
8 Days 7 Nights
✅ Highly Recommended in Trip Advisor
✅Explore Santa Cruz Island and its surroundings for incredible wildlife like Giant Tortoises, Galapagos Penguins, Darwin Finches, Blue-footed Boobies, San Cristobal Island and Isabela Island
✅Over 32 endemics possible bird species like Galapagos Hawk, Darwin Finches, Lava Heron, Galapagos Dove, Lava Gull, Flightless Cormorant and others.
✅ Focus in Birding, Nature, and Wildlife tours with private/shared naturalist guides
✅ Hotel options:Tourist, First Class, or Luxury inland stays
✅ 24/7 Customer Support: We will ensure your trip goes smoothly and can be reached anytime via whatsapp at +593 99 373 2879.
8 Days Land-Base Galapagos Map
- Day 1. Flight to San Cristobal. Visit La Loberia.
- Day 2. Full Day Espanola and Gardner Bay.
- Day 3. Boat transfer to Santa Cruz Island. Highlands Tortoises and Garrapatero Beach.
- Day 4. Full Day Bartolome and Sullivan Bay
- Day 5. Full Day North Seymour and Bachas Beach.
- Day 6. Boat transfert to Isabela, Sierra Negra Volcano Hiking
- Day 7. Isabela Island and Los Tuneles.
- Day 8. Boat transfer to Baltra. Flight to Quito.
- FREE Night in our Birding Lodge either before or after Galapagos
Index Itinerary
8 Days 7 Nights + 1 Free Night in Quito
Itinerary
YOUR FREE NIGHT PROMOTION - EITHER BEFORE OR AFTER GALAPAGOS
INCLUDED
- 24/7 Roundtrip Airport Transfers
- 1 Free Night in our Top Birding Lodge located 15 minutes from Quito Airport
- Breakfast and Dinner Included per person
- Wifi and Use of Birding Reserve
Day 1
FLIGHT TO SAN CRISTOBAL AIRPORT, VISIT LA LOBERIA
- Pick up from your hotel and transfer to the Airport. Flight to San Cristobal Airport (not included).
- Upon arrival pick up by one of our representatives at the Airport. After check-in at your hotel, visit La Lobería, it’s a coral sand beach, its name is due to the large number of sea lions that swim freely and rest on its rocks and sand. On the trail it is possible to observe marine iguanas until you reach the cliffs where there are several species of birds nesting there.
- Meals Included: Lunch
- Overnight: San Cristobal,Island, select category hotel.
- Guide: Private Naturalist Guide
Day 2
FULL DAY ESPANOLA ISLAND, WAVED ALBATROSSES, GARDNER BAY
- Welcome to Española Island, one of the natural wonders of the Galapagos Islands, known as the oldest island in the archipelago, Española is famous for its amazing biodiversity and its waved albatross colony, which offers an impressive courtship display during the breeding season. Explore its impressive cliffs, white sand beaches and the iconic rock formation known as “El Soplador”.
- Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
- Overnight: San Cristobal,Island, select category hotel.
- Guide: Shared Naturalist Guide
Day 3
SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS, TORTOISES HIGHLANDS AND GARRAPETERO BEACH
- Transfer to Santa Cruz Island by public speed boat a trip around 2 – ½ hours depending on sea conditions. Upon arrival to Santa Cruz Island visit the Highlands: along the way you will see the lush forests where the Giant Galapagos tortoises are found in their natural environment.
- This is the best place in the Galapagos to see these gentle giants casually grazing and resting in freshwater ponds. A great diversity of birds that are rarely found in the lowlands, and several species of waterfowl, also live here. You will visit the Lava tunnels and learn how these extraordinary formations were created by ancient volcanic eruptions.
- Garrapatero Beach, a hidden gem, a beach known for its soft white sand, crystal clear waters and tranquil atmosphere, an ideal place to relax and practice water activities. Explore the surrounding mangroves and lagoons, home to diverse bird species such as flamingos and herons.
- Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
- Overnight: Santa Cruz Island, select category hotel.
- Guide: Shared Naturalist Guide
Day 4
FULL DAY NORTH SEYMOUR AND SNORKEL BACHAS BEACH
- Pick up from your hotel and continue to Itabaca Channel, where we will board the Galaxy Daily. After arriving in North Seymour, we will have a dry landing and immediately start hiking on a 2.5 km trail where we can go clockwise along the coast or head inland first to visit the colony of blue-footed boobies. Get ready to spot land iguanas and marine iguanas; also, a colony of sea lions, lava lizards, frigates, and pelicans! Lunch on-board and afternoon snorkelling in Bachas Beach.
- Possible Fauna: Lava Lizards, Green Sea Turtles, Rays, Galapagos Penguin, Sooty Shearwater, Magnificent Frigatebird, Great Frigatebird, Blue-footed Booby, Nazca Booby, Red-footed Booby, American Flamingo, Brown Noody, Galapagos Petrel, Common Cactus Finch, Red-billed Tropicbird, Black-bellied Plover, Red-necked Phalarope, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Brujo Flycatcher, Galapagos Hawk.
- Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch on board
- Overnight: Select Hotel
- Guide: Shared Naturalist Guide aboard Galaxy Daily
Wildlife Photos: Galaxy Daily Yatch, Blue-footed Booby, Magnifecent Great Frigatebird by Diego Cruz
Day 5
FULL DAY BARTOLOME PINNACLE ROCK AND SNORKEL SULLIVAN BAY PENGUINS
- This island, with its iconic pinnacle, is located northwest of Santa Cruz. Upon arriving at Bartolome, we will have a dry landing. Then, we will begin the walk along a path that will take us to the top of the island, through its 395 steps that will end with a spectacular panoramic view of the island and its pinnacle. During the walk, we will observe small lava tunnels that are the product of the last eruption and where endemic vegetation grow, such as lava cacti and tiquilla plants, generally surrounded by Darwin’s finches. Afternoon snorkelling near Bartolome Island for possible Sea Turtles and Galapagos Penguins.
- Possible Fauna: Galapagos Penguin, Blue-footed Booby, Galapagos Hawk, American Oystercatcher, Lava Gull, Magnificent Frigatebird, Great Blue Heron, Striated Heron, Laughing Gull, Galapagos Dove, Swallow-tailed Gull, Galapagos Petrel, Franklins Gull, Least Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs, Red Phalarope, Large-Tree Finch and White-tipped Shark, Rays, Sea Turtles.
- Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch on board
- Overnight: Select Hotel
- Guide: Shared Naturalist Guide aboard Galaxy Daily
Wildlife Photos: Galapagos Penguin, Meal aboard Galaxy Daily, South Plazas Islands by Diego Cruz
* Other possible day tours include South Plazas, or Santa Fe Islands, based on day of the week and availability.
DAY 6
ISABELA ISLAND, SIERRA NEGRA VOLCANO
- Transfer by speed boat from Santa Cruz to Isabela at 07:00 am (Navigation time pprox.. 2 hours – 3 hours according to weather condition).
- Sierra Negra, a geological jewel in the Galapagos Islands, is a volcanic caldera, the largest in the world and offers a surreal and spectacular landscape. Enjoy a hike along the trails to appreciate the panoramic views of the caldera and its surroundings, as well as the opportunity to observe endemic flora and fauna.
- Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch on board
- Overnight: Isabela Island, Select Hotel Category
- Guide: Shared Naturalist Guide
DAY 7
LOS TUNELES
- The Tunnels, also known as "The Lava Tunnels", are an outstanding geological formation and snorkeling site in the Galapagos Islands. This labyrinth of underwater lava formations creates natural shallow pools, ideal for exploring marine life. The underwater arches and tunnels are home to diverse species such as sharks, rays, sea turtles and tropical fish.
- Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch on board
- Overnight: Isabela Island, Select Hotel Category
- Guide: Shared Naturalist Guide
DAY 8
INTER-ISLAND FLIGHT TO BALTRA and FLIGHT TO QUITO
- Early Transfer to Isabela Dock. Speed Boat 2- 3 hours to Santa Cruz Island, then continue by car to Baltra Airport for another 1 hour. Return flight to Quito.
- Alternative, (additional fee) Transfer to Isabela Airport and 30 Minutes Inter-island flight to Baltra Airport, please note weight conditions (25lbs checked bag per person + 10 lbs carry on per person) Additional pounds please pay directly at the counter.
- As your Galápagos tale nears its end, we ensure a seamless journey back to Quito. Flight to Quito. End of Services.
- Meals Included: Breakfast
Tourist Class Category
Fiesta Hotel
First Class Category
Ikala Lodge
Luxury Class Category
Finch Bay Hotel
Free Night in Quito
Jimenita Birding Lodge
Testimonials
