Santa Cruz Island Diving Adventure 7D/6N
Santa Cruz Island Diving Adventure 7D/6N
$2125
Tour Overview
Embark on a thrilling 7-day, 6-night Santa Cruz Island Diving Adventure in the Galapagos, Ecuador. Dive into the revolutionary Theory of Evolution at the Charles Darwin Research Station, and explore the waters of the islands through swimming, snorkeling, and kayaking. Marvel at the impressive giant tortoises of Galapagos and discover the unique flora and fauna of Santa Cruz Island. Enjoy cultural and natural expeditions, including visits to the Highlands, Rancho El Chato, Cerro Mesa, Garrapatero Beach, and El Trapiche Ecológico. With professional English-speaking guides for certain activities, this adventure includes accommodation, meals, and transport, ensuring a seamless and unforgettable experience. ...more ...less
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Quito, Ecuador
Location: Quito
Accommodation Name: hotel
Arrival in Quito
Day 2: Quito - Santa Cruz (Galapagos), Ecuador
Location: Santa Cruz
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Lunch
Galapagos Adventure (L)
Today you will be picked up early in the morning to be taken to the airport for your Galapagos adventure!
Like many visitors, you will most likely start your journey in the Galápagos at Santa Cruz Island. After landing at Baltra Island airport, you will have to take the bus and afterwards pass the Itabaca Channel by ferry and reach, through the highlands, Puerto Ayora, the capital of the island. Santa Cruz is the second-largest island of the archipelago, but it is the real economical heart of the tourism industry here. Puerto Ayora is where you will find many restaurants, hotels, souvenir shops and nice little hangouts. Please, do not forget to bring comfortable walking shoes, sun protection, water, and a towel.
Visit a family ranch, where you will have time to walk between the trees and search for the giant tortoises that prefer to stay close to the small lagoons.
Afterwards, you will also visit the lava tubes. These impressive underground tunnels were formed when the outside skin of a molten-lava flow solidified. When the lava flow ceased, the molten lava inside the flow kept going like a river, emptying out of the solidified skin and thus leaving tunnels.
Spend some time seeing the giant tortoises of Galapagos, which are among the most famous of the unique fauna of the Islands.
Day 3: Santa Cruz (Galapagos), Ecuador
Location: Santa Cruz
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Discover Santa Cruz Island (B/L)
A morning drive takes you to the eastern part of the island. At 490m above sea level, Cerro Mesa Reserve offers spectacular views of the largest crater on Santa Cruz Island, exotic plants, and seven unique subspecies of finch and the elusive vermilion flycatcher. Afterwards, explore Garrapatero Beach, with stunning contrasts of mangroves, black lava, white sand, and turquoise water including a flamingo lagoon.
Visit El Trapiche Ecológico, a working farm in the highlands that produces sugar cane liqueur and Galapagos coffee. Learn about the different methods used to refine sugar cane, including the use of a mule-driven press. There is also a demonstration of how artisan coffee is produced, from picking the berries to roasting the bean.
Day 4: Santa Cruz (Galapagos), Ecuador
Location: Santa Cruz
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Charles Darwin Research Station and Tortuga Bay by bike (B/L)
Today, you will visit the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS) which is located in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island and is the operative branch of the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF). These facilities include offices and labs for marine and terrestrial investigation, a conference hall and natural history collections. Areas open to the public include an exhibition hall, native gardens and public library. In addition to being a tourist destination, the Research Station is essential to provide scientific knowledge and technical advice to the Government of Ecuador to ensure the conservation of Galapagos.Afterwards, ride your bike and explore Tortuga Bay, which is an isolated white-sanded beach located on the Southern coast of Santa Cruz. The beach exists of two separate beaches, the first one is for surfing which has very strong currents, and the second beach is for swimming and some snorkelling. Reef and pelagic fishes can be observed, and with some luck sea turtles and sally light foot crabs. You can also rent a kayak on the spot to explore the waters of Tortuga Bay. On the beach, the main attraction is to relax in the sun or under the trees.
Day 5: Santa Cruz (Galapagos), Ecuador
Location: Santa Cruz
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Free Day in Galapagos (B)
Today after breakfast you will have the opportunity to discover Santa Cruz on your own.
Day 6: Santa Cruz (Galapagos) - Quito, Ecuador
Location: Quito
Accommodation Name: hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Quick stop at Los Gemelos and Return to Mainland (B)
Today you will be transferred to the Baltra Airport to take a flight to Quito. Before arriving at the airport, you will make a stop at Los Gemelos (the Twins) are two overgrown, lava tunnels that formed massive sinkholes when they collapsed. The largest of the twins is 2,300 feet deep and almost 1,300 feet wide!
Once you arrive to Quito Airport, where you will be picked up from the airport to the hotel.
Day 7: Quito, Ecuador
Location: Quito
Meals Included: Breakfast
Airport drop-off (B)
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the Quito Airport for your flight back home. Hope you have enjoyed your time in our beautiful country. Have a great flight!
What's Included
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Accommodation
6N accommodation in budget or comfort category
2N in Quito
2N in Santa Cruz -
Transport
Airport pick-up and drop-off in Galapagos Islands
Ferry ticket to Itabaca Channel
Airport transfers and ferry
Airport pick-up and drop-off in Quito -
Meals
5B/3L
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Activities
Cultural and Natural Expeditions
Visit to Highlands and Rancho El Chato (lunch included, visit to Lava Tunnel and Giant Tortoises)
Excursion to Cerro Mesa, Garrapatero and El Trapiche (bike, snorkel equipment, kayak and box lunch included)
Excursion to Charles Darwin Station and Tortuga Bay (bike, snorkel equipment and lunch included) ...more ...less -
Guides
Professional English-speaking guide for certain activities
What's Not Included
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Domestic flights from/to Quito-Galapagos Islands
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International flights
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Personal expenses
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Other activities
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Meals not specified in the itinerary
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Entrance fee to Galapagos National Park ($100.00 p/p)
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INGALA migration card ($20.00 p/p)
Mode of Transport
Includes airport pick-up and drop-off in Galapagos Islands and Quito, ferry ticket to Itabaca Channel, and all necessary airport transfers and ferry rides.
Accommodation
Enjoy 6 nights of accommodation in budget or comfort category, with 2 nights in Quito and 2 nights in Santa Cruz.
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of activities are included in the Santa Cruz Island Diving Adventure?
The tour includes cultural and natural expeditions, a visit to the Highlands and Rancho El Chato, an excursion to Cerro Mesa, Garrapatero, and El Trapiche, and a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station and Tortuga Bay. Activities such as biking, snorkeling, and kayaking are also included. ...more ...less
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What should I bring for the Galapagos adventure?
You should bring comfortable walking shoes, sun protection, water, and a towel for the Galapagos adventure.
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What can I expect to see at the Charles Darwin Research Station?
At the Charles Darwin Research Station, you can expect to see offices and labs for marine and terrestrial investigation, a conference hall, natural history collections, an exhibition hall, native gardens, and a public library. The station provides scientific knowledge and technical advice to ensure the conservation of the Galapagos. ...more ...less
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What is special about Tortuga Bay?
Tortuga Bay is an isolated white-sanded beach on the southern coast of Santa Cruz. It has two separate beaches: one for surfing with strong currents and another for swimming and snorkeling. You can observe reef and pelagic fishes, sea turtles, and sally lightfoot crabs. Kayaks are available for rent to explore the waters. ...more ...less
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What will I see at Los Gemelos?
Los Gemelos, also known as the Twins, are two overgrown lava tunnels that formed massive sinkholes when they collapsed. The largest of the twins is 2,300 feet deep and almost 1,300 feet wide.
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What kind of meals are included in the tour?
The tour includes 5 breakfasts and 3 lunches.
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Is there an age limit?
No! Most of our bamba travellers fall between the ages of 18 - 35, but everyone is young at heart and welcome to come experience the world with us! If you are between the ages of 18 and 118, we invite you to travel with bamba and have the time of your life! Minors must be accompanied by an adult.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
Most of our trips cater to the adventurous independent traveller. In fact, many of our travellers arrive on their own and quickly find that they easily meet like-minded people along the way at their hostels, on transportation, or during activities.
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Do I need travel insurance?
We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance for your trip, especially when travelling in developing countries. Bamba does not include travel insurance of any type.Your current medical insurance may cover part of your trip, so it is important for you to become familiar with your current coverage. We recommend purchasing additional travel insurance that provides coverage for medical emergencies, emergency evacuation and repatriation, lost or stolen items and unforeseen cancellations. If you plan to participate in activities such as white-water rafting, trekking, sand-buggy rides, etc please make sure they are included in your policy.
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Free Date Changes
Bamba Travel allows you to make 2 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 60 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Bamba Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform bamba travel, 60 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Bamba Travel requires a minimum deposit of 20% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 30 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of bamba travel charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 15 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
Santa Cruz Island Diving Adventure 7D/6N
7 Days Starting and ending in Quito, Ecuador
Visiting: Quito, Santa Cruz
Tour operator:
Tour code:
56664
Guide Type:
Partially Guided
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Activities:
Canoeing-Kayaking, Cycling, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Walking