FINCH BAY BY LAND & SEA

• DAY 1: Airport assistance in Quito/Guayaquil. Arrive at Baltra airport. Shared transfer in. Hotel accommodation.
• DAY 2: Breakfast. Full-day activity option with lunch. OR Breakfast. Island yacht exploration with lunch. OR Breakfast. Day at leisure.
• DAY 3: Breakfast. Full-day activity option with lunch. OR Breakfast. Island yacht exploration with lunch. OR Breakfast. Day at leisure.
• DAY 4: Breakfast. Full-day activity option with lunch. OR Breakfast. Island yacht exploration with lunch. OR Breakfast. Day at leisure.
• DAY 5: Breakfast. Shared transfer out to Baltra airport.

Full-day Activity Option #1 – HIGHLANDS: GIANT TORTOISES, LAVA TUNNELS & LUNCH (GUIDED)

Depart from the hotel towards the Highlands of Santa Cruz. A short drive across the farming area will lead us to El Manzanillo, which is located along the northern edg of the Giant Tortoise Reserve. El Manzanillo sits right on the natural path that tortoises take every year as they either migrate to higher, more humid locations during the Dry Season (June-September) or when they descend to the lowlands during the Hot Season. The Galapagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra) is the largest living tortoise species, weighing up to 250 kg (550 lb)! It plays an important biological role as the top grazer in its habitat. In the wild, these gentle giants slowly make their way through the dense foliage and bush of the highlands of Santa Cruz. The shape of their shell varies from island to island, too. Throughout the year on Santa Cruz, giant tortoises can be seen grazing on the surrounding vegetation, wallowing in muddy banks or in large ponds.

The area is teeming with life: chirping woodpecker mockingbirds, flycatchers, as well as ducks, herons and gallinules that all make this an exciting morning visit. On the way back to Puerto Ayora, we will visit one of the island’s lava tunnels – significant geological formations that take us back in time and allow us to learn about how lava flows shaped the islands. After this, we’ll have lunch at El Manzanillo.

Full-day Activity Option #2 – TORTUGA BAY, CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH STATION & LUNCH (GUIDED)

Tortuga Bay is a glorious beach that is located southwest of Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. Tortuga means “turtle” in Spanish and it was named as such due to the fact that sea turtles have made this one of their favorite places to come and lay their eggs! The stunning, white sand beach is considered by many to be the most beautiful stretch of coast in the Galapagos archipelago. Tortuga Bay is reached via a marked and cobbled 2 kilometer (1.2 mile) path that starts at the west end of Charles Binford Street, not all that far from Puerto Ayora itself. Guests must sign in and out at the National Park control point that sits at the beginning of the path. It is open daily from 6:00 AM to 6:30 PM.* The trail and beach provide excellent birdwatching opportunities, with plenty of Darwin’s finches and other seabirds. The beach itself is a great place to go kayaking, snorkeling, and/or surfing!

*Please note: The return trip from Tortuga Bay will be made in one of two ways, depending on the tide forecast for that particular day.

If the tide forecast shows that it is possible, the group will make their return trip by boat. If it is not, the group will take a 45-minute guided walk back to the entrance gate of the beach and then board a bus that will take them to the main pier in Puerto Ayora. This decision will be made at the guide’s discretion.

Afterwards, we’ll head to the headquarters of the Galapagos National Park Service and the Charles Darwin Research Station, which are located side-by-side, right on the edge of Puerto Ayora. Here, there is an interpretation center open to the public where you may also view their tortoise breeding program as well as giant tortoises in captivity. A visit to the Center is sure to expand your knowledge of this unique, iconic Galapagos animal as well as the ongoing conservation efforts in the islands.

NORTH SEYMOUR ISLAND

North Seymour was lifted from the ocean floor by a seismic event, and its origins as a seabed give the island its low, flat profile. Cliffs that are only a few meters high form the shoreline and serve as the spot where swallow-tailed gulls sit among the ledges and rocks. A tiny forest of silver-grey Palo Santo trees stands just above the landing, usually without leaves, waiting for the rains to burst into bloom. This island is teeming with life!

BARTOLOME ISLAND

Bartolome is famous for Pinnacle Rock, a towering and spearheaded obelisk that rises from the ocean’s edge and is the best-known landmark in the islands. Galapagos penguins — the only species of penguin found north of the equator — walk precariously along narrow volcanic ledges at its base. Sea lions snooze on rocky platforms, ready to slide into the water to play with passing snorkelers.

SOUTH PLAZA ISLAND

South Plaza is a small island full of fascinating wildlife, both along its shore and along its dramatic, wind-swept cliffs: sea lions, land iguanas, swallow-tailed gulls, Opuntia cacti and vegetation that changes colors according to the season. South Plaza is one of Galapagos’ most impressive visiting sites.

SANTA FE ISLAND

Santa Fe offers one of the more beautiful and sheltered coves in the islands. Its turquoise lagoon is protected by a peninsula of tiny islets that form an ideal anchorage spot. The island lies to the southeast of Santa Cruz and sits within sight of Puerto Ayora. Like North Seymour, Santa Fe has been uplifted seismically, and you can see underwater lava formations out in the open.

• 4 nights of accommodation
• Buffet breakfasts
• 1 full-day exploration (includes lunch)
• 1 full-day island yacht exploration (includes lunch)
• Snorkeling equipment
• Ground transfers in/out Galapagos (shared service)
• Airport assistance in Quito – Guayaquil
• Internet / Wi-Fi

• Airfare (international and domestic) to/from Galapagos and airport taxes (subject to change without prior notice)
• Galapagos National Park entrance fee ($100 USD, subject to change without prior notice)
• Transit control card fee ($20 USD, subject to change without prior notice)
• Alcoholic beverages, gratuities/tips, laundry or valet services, and any additional items
• Optional activities with extra cost: kayaking, mountain biking, diving, and surfing
• Travel insurance
• Laundry service
• Any item not mentioned previously

• 1 small backpack
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Sneakers (trainers) with rubber soles
• Shorts
• Long pants
• T-shirts
• Long and short sleeved shirts
• Wind breaker
• Bathing suit (+wetsuit for snorkelling in colder months, April-December)
• Hat or cap
• Sunblock and repellent
• Sunglasses
• Binoculars
• Camera & video recorder
• Any medicine you may be taking
• Book/Notebook
• Flashlight (torch) and batteries
• Sandals for wet landings
• Plastic bags to protect cameras, binoculars, film, etc. from rain

• Upgrades to Finch Bay Suite are available for an additional fee of $500 per person, per program.
• The island visited on the day tour will depend on the itinerary approved by the Galapagos National Park Service.
• All rates are subject to change without prior notice.
• Galapagos Itineraries are subject to change due to weather conditions, logistical reasons, guests’ safety, or Galapagos National Park regulations.

VALIDITY: JANUARY 01 THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2019. RECOMMENDED RETAIL PRICE (RRP) PER PERSON QUOTED IN U.S. DOLLARS BASED ON DOUBLE ACCOMMODATION IN FINCH BAY ROOM.

• Guests can bring a reasonable amount of clothing and personal effects on the airplane without charge. Baggage is handled in accordance with the airlines’ regulations and tariffs. Baggage exceeding these limitations is subject to the charges as set forth by the individual airline operators. Airlines are strict with baggage limitations. The current limits are 23 kilograms (50.6 pounds) for checked items, 8 kilograms (17 pounds) for hand luggage and 1 personal item (handbag, camera bag, laptop, etc.)
• All baggage must be securely packed, and be properly, clearly labeled. Liquid, fragile, perishable and/or other items that are not packed as such will be transported at the guests’ own risk.
• The Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel is not responsible for loss or damage to baggage and/or any other personal item during air travel.
• The Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel is not responsible for baggage stored in shore-side facilities.
• Under no circumstances may dangerous items (including but not limited to: explosives, firearms, combustible or illegal substances) be taken into the hotel.
• We recommend that you keep important travel documents (passport, visa, Galapagos transit control card), important medication and/or valuables on you at all times. These items are the full responsibility of the guest at all times.
• The Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel shall not be responsible for the loss of, or damage of, any aforementioned personal items.
• The Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel reserves the right to charge for the return of personal items left at the hotel.

Local authorities manage the quarantine system of the Galapagos National Park in order to reduce the possibility of foreign species invading the archipelago. All cargo and luggage that arrives to Galapagos National Park or that is transferred from one island to another must be inspected. All aircrafts are disinfected with Permethrin before landing. To preserve human health and the native species of the Galapagos Islands, the following products may not be transferred to Galapagos: fresh vegetables and fruits, animal products and or their derivatives, dairy products, other live animals, pathological samples, dry coffee beans, genetically modified organisms, forest species or their disseminative parts, grass and its disseminative parts, fresh flowers, medicinal plants and their disseminative parts, banana tree leaves, micro-organisms (fungi, bacteria, etc.) soil and sand, and animal vaccines.