Galapagos: Finch Bay Hotel | Expedition 4 nights

Upon arrival to the airport at Baltra Island, you will be taken across the Itabaca Channel, to Santa Cruz Island. From here a bus will take you to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island and then on to the Finch Bay Eco Hotel. Here you can enjoy its multiple attractions: a pool, the white coral beach in front of the hotel or a rest in your hammock.
Later today you will be able to participate in a Ceviche cooking class with the hotel chef.

In the evening you can dine at restaurant where they serve the delicacies of local and international gastronomy, one of the main reasons people choose the Finch Bay Hotel.
(note dinner is not included)

Two options are available today, depending on interest and weather conditions:

South Plaza (yacht excursion)
Your first stop is Punta Carrion where we will put on our snorkeling gear and start exploring the small bay that allows you to see a variety of fish, rays, and possibly even whitetip reef sharks! Then we continue to South Plaza, one of the smallest islands in the archipelago with wonderful fauna and flora. Our walking excursion takes us through a carpet of scarlet-colored sesuvium succulents and prickly-pear cactus where Yellow-gray land iguanas can be spotted. As we head towards the cliffs we keep an eye out on Red-billed tropicbirds, Nazca, and blue-footed boobies which are quite often found here. Further along we pass a colony of bachelor sea lions.

Alternatively:
North Seymour Island & Las Bachas (yacht excursion)
A stroll on flat terrain allows the observation of palo santo trees and colonies of blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls and magnificent frigate birds. Towards the other side of the island, the ocean crashes against the rocks and sea lions surf in the waves. At Las Bachas you will have the opportunity to explore the fantastic underwater world by snorkeling.

We leave when the tide is high from Playa de Los Alemanes (German Beach), located by Finch Bay. We kayak southward for about 15 minutes until we get to the Lover’s Crevasse, as the locals call it. From there we continue to Academy Bay and then to Divine Bay which provides a wonderful natural shelter for wildlife, and kayaking is one of the best ways to discover it! Watch the herons cross the Bay and the noddy terns nesting in the cliffs alongside the blue-footed boobies. If you watch carefully, you might even spot a sea turtle grazing in the ocean floor or a curious young reef shark.
Duration 1-2 hours.

Enjoy the rest of the day at your own leisure.
You may take a walk into Puerto Ayora to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. Check out the giant tortoise pens within an impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forest home to many land birds. These are the headquarters of scientific investigation, conservation and the national park administration.

Two options are available today, depending on interest and weather conditions:
Bartolóme Island (yacht excursion)
Bartolome is, without a doubt, one of the most impressive visitor sites in all of Galapagos. The dinghy will drop you at the shores of the island and then we walk a fairly steep wooden steps - trail up to the summit. From here you get a spectacular view of the Galapagos scenery from above. Interesting lava formations and tuff cones can be observed. Sea lions and penguins swim in the vicinity of Pinnacle Rock.
The dinghy will take us on a nice and refreshing coastal exploration and we arrive at Sullivan Bay and disembark to explore this impressive lava field on foot. Once back at the yacht change into your swimsuits. Once we’re ready, we’ll head out to explore one of the most iconic landmarks in all of Galapagos: the colossal Pinnacle Rock. From her we go snorkeling with colorful schools of fish, sea lions, and even whitetip reef sharks and Galapagos penguins can be occasionally spotted here!

Alternatively:

Santa Fe (yacht excursion)
Santa Fe is one of the oldest island in the entire archipelago. You see rock formations that have been dated to be around 4 million years old! It’s relatively flat surface and is home to two endemic species: the Santa Fe land iguana and the Santa Fe rice rat.
Additionally, you’ll also get to admire the largest species of opuntia cactus as well as Galapagos hawks (the largest predator in the archipelago), blue-footed boobies, Galapagos sea lions, frigatebirds (great and magnificent) and the marine iguana.

After performing a Wet Landing and disembarking on the beautiful, white sand beach of Sante Fe, we’ll immediately come upon numerous sea lion harems, which invite us to head out on an exciting walk throughout the island in search of the other residents that live here. Once we’ve taken our walk, you’ll enjoy a refreshing dip over at La Encañada – a wonderful visitor site on Santa Fe Island. You’ll also get the chance to go snorkeling using the equipment we provide aboard the Sea Lion Yacht!

Leave the hotel early in the morning for your overland transfer to the airport in Baltra for your flight back to the continent.