Enjoy a private airport transfer with a professional driver.
Fly from Quito to Galapagos via Guayaquil today. The flight duration is approximately 4 hours.
Please note: Flight rates and availability are subject to change until booking.
The $100 entrance fee to the Galapagos Islands Park and the $10 Tourist card are included in your booking. Please note that the itinerary is a guide only - the route and program vary according to National Park policies and regulations, weather conditions, seasonal changes, safety precautions and wildlife encounters.
Upon arrival at the airport at Baltra Island, you will be taken across the Itabaca Channel, to Santa Cruz Island. Where a bus will take you to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island for a visit the Giant Tortoises Reserve in their natural habitat, a once in a lifetime experience!
A stop is then made at the Twin Pit Craters, great depressions of volcanic material, formed by a long process of slow sinking of the ground, where exceptional Scalesia trees, ferns, mosses and orchids can be seen in the surroundings.
Box lunch is provided and then on to the Finch Bay Eco Hotel to enjoy its multiple attractions: pool, the white coral beach in front of the hotel and rest on your hammock.
Many options for multisport activities are available for those guests not wishing to take a yacht excursion to visit nearby islands.
•Excursions on Mountain Bike
•Introduction to diving (Discover Scuba Diving)
•Snorkeling
•Bird watching
•Hike to Las Grietas
•Bay Tour
•Stargazing and much more
Scuba Diving
The waters of Galapagos are a Natural Heritage Site, and world known for top notch diving. In Galapagos, the water realm brings the diver right up front with the healthiest marine life of the planet, as well as unique encounters with big animals like rays, sea turtles, sharks, and an array of tropical and subtropical species of fish. The diving is generally not for beginners, but the different sites offer varied options. Some diving is done within Academy Bay, while other options include minimal traveling in order to reach other islands and their dive sites. Please inquire at the hotel lounge for more details. Diving will provide you with an incredible new perspective of Galapagos. It will leave you totally enchanted.
Birdwatching
With the aid of binoculars, or in most cases without them, you will notice that the many natural features of the hotel host many species of Galapagos birds. The trails within the hotel grounds are easy to follow and pretty much self-guided. Don't be surprised if after one outing your list of recorded species is above twenty, with little time invested. Perhaps, the not-so-attractive birds will reveal the greatest natural history: the Darwin's Finches. Being the most interesting bird species in the Galapagos, the finches deserve great attention. The key element for successful observation relies in their beaks. Watch carefully, and you will notice there's a great deal of beak size and depth variation. This feature is similar to the use of different tools for different purposes. In finch world, different beaks can break different seeds. Differentiation has become the factory for new species to develop.
Hiking, Strolling, Trekking & Walking
Many hiking options can give guests a wonderful way to experience Galapagos. An easy option can be a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station, to see the giant tortoise conservation program, and afterwards a great stroll along the streets of Puerto Ayora. For those that want a longer walk within the National Park, a great option is Tortuga Bay and its breathtaking long white sandy beach. A guided adventure up in the highlands can be a more challenging visit since the distance covered will be greater, and hiking conditions a bit more strenuous. More active, longer, and detailed trekking programs can be customized. The hotel staff can give you all the advice needed for enjoying this great activity even more.
Ocean Kayaking
The great location of the hotel allows our secluded beach to be the most appropriate area for ocean (sea) kayaking. The Ocean Kayak brand is used, with model Malibu Two. Each kayak holds two participants, and the bay is the perfect location for learning or practicing. Those with more experience can explore the nearby shores and discover the wonders of being right at the water line, next to boobies, herons, mangroves, and more. Besides great physical effort, there's a lot of teamwork added to the kayaking experience. More kayaking details can be found at the lounge.
Bay Discovery Tour
Academy Bay is not the common bay. It is part of a collapsed wall of a giant submarine volcano, where flora and fauna abound within its shores. Watch brown pelicans, magnificent frigate birds, egrets, herons, boobies, sea lions, rays, turtles, and sharks, coastal & arid zone vegetation. It is a great and relaxed program where the wildlife of Galapagos blooms in every corner of the bay.
Equatorial Stargazing
After an incredible day, nothing can be more rewarding than watching a starry night at the Equator. Not only the Galapagos' skies lack what is known as "light pollution", due to the small population that lives here, but the equatorial skies allow views of southern and northern constellations at the same time. To make this even more successful, the hotel has prepared a great multimedia show and explanation of how sky watching works, and their Stargazing Laser Pointer adds a new dimension to understanding amazing stories. An evening of fun encounters with the stars.
Some activities may be subject to additional costs - please ask for details.
Accommodation: Finch Bay Eco Hotel Located on Santa Cruz Island at Punta Estrada, across the bay from the town of Puerto Ayora, it is situated in a quiet location, with only pedestrian and bicycle circulation - there are no cars in the neighborhood. The hotel has been fully renovated and transformed, with important changes to upgrade its facilities and landscaping. The hotel's new look features environmentally friendly materials and use of natural light with large windows, beachfront access, large pool and outdoor Jacuzzi. The charming Finch Bay Hotel - named after the famous Darwin's Finches abundant in the surroundings - is just steps from the beach on a private seaside location, surrounded by mangroves. Here guests can cherish the privacy, natural surroundings and superb service offered by the Finch Bay.