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Our Galapagos Island Hopping Dive Programs are amazing dive trips, but our BEST OF BOTH WORLDS program is a once-in-lifetime event! It is exactly what it says...For 11 Days and 10 Nights, you will experience a non-stop itinerary that offers you the best of the Galapagos both on land (first ever UNESCO World Heritage Site) and below the sea (One of the 7 Underwater Wonders of the World). World-class dive sites...a sense of complete freedom in a private charter...great comradery with other divers...and, as we are fond of saying...the topside's not so shabby either! We have mapped a new way to dive the Galapagos. Come join us for a Galapagos adventure you will never forget! The following is a sample itinerary of our Best of Both Worlds itinerary. We can custom fit a program from 6 Days/5 Nights and up. Some people want the focus to be as much about the magical topside as the magnificent marine life. This is the perfect tour for those of you who want to experience all of the Galapagos. Please note that we have departures from both San Cristobal and Santa Cruz. We can altar programs according to where you need to arrive / depart from. Example itineraries below are designated by where tours begin...SC for Santa Cruz and SCR for San Cristobal.
Arrival. Interpretation Center. Frigate Hill. Optional Night Dive in Bay. Overnight San Cristobal.
Interpretation Center: Just outside Puerto Baquerizo Moreno is a visitors’ center which explains the natural processes that have made the Galápagos such a unique place, delineates efforts to protect and preserve the islands, and serves as an education center for park personnel and naturalist guides. The three exhibits inside are Human History, covering events related to the discovery and colonization of the islands; Natural History, with illustrations of natural events and information on how different species arrived at the islands; and Conservation, an introduction to the struggles of the ecosystems and preservation efforts under way.
Frigate Hill: After the Interpretation Center, we will hike about 1 kilometer to Frigate Hill, where both great and magnificent frigates make their nests. Other species, like blue footed boobies, swallowed tailed-gulls, and Darwin finches can also be seen. On a clear day it offers sweeping views of the bay.
Night dives are illegal in the Galapagos due to the fact that all of the surrounding sea is National Park and National Park sites 'close' at sundown, so this is your one and only chance to have a legal night dive in the Galapagos. Breakfast. Floreana Highlands Tour. Sail to San Cristobal. Dive Kicker Rock. Optional Night Dive. Overnight San Cristobal.
Kicker Rock: This iconic Galapagos side is an eroded volcano, now 2 rocks rising 500 feet up out of the sea and resembling what locals called a 'sleeping lion', thus it's other name, Leon Dormido. As majestic as it is to see topside, underneath is equally impressive. The water is clear and sightings include: eagle rays, stone scorpionfish, harlequin wrasse, Galapagos sharks, schools of yellowtail grunts, jacks, barracudas, rainbow runners, salemas, barberfish, creolefish, flag cabrilla, black coral, nudibranchs, urchins, octopus, crustaceans and other invertebrates. Depart for Santa Cruz. Darwin Station Visit. Highlands Tour. Overnight Santa Cruz.Charles Darwin Research Station Visit: In addition to the many fascinating aspects of a visit to the Darwin Station,it is also home to world-famous Lonesome George, the only remaining Galapagos Tortoise of his species from the island of Pinta making him the most rare living creature in the world. A Naturalist Guide will accompany your visit so you learn far more than you could ever get from just a walk through on your own. Santa Cruz Highlands Tour: You'll need to bring a change of clothes because after diving, we're going to take a highlands tours. We'll walk around the enormous collapsed chambers called Los Gemelos and through the 'fuzzy' forest of one of the few remaining healthy Scalesia Forests in the Galapagos. The fuzzy part is draped liverwort, which often reminds people of Spanish Moss. Scalesia is in the daisy and sunflower family, but most describe it as Jurassic sized broccoli stalks. You'll see blue-eyed Galapagos doves and hopefully, the adorable Vermillion Flycatcher.
Next we head to a private tortoise reserve where we will be able to walk through open fields and observe the iconic Galapagos Tortoises in the wild. Afterwards, we will explore a lava tube. These amazing structures are literally where lava once flowed beneath the earth's surface.
Overnight Santa Cruz. Breakfast. Dive N. Seymour - Mosqueras - Gordon Rocks. Overnight Santa Cruz.
North Seymour: Eagle Rays, Manta Rays, Hammerheads, White-Tipped Reef Sharks, Galapagos Shark, Stingrays, Marbled Rays, Tiger Snake Eels, Moray Eels, Garden Eels, Sea Stars, Sea Turtles, Jacks, Blue and Gold Snappers, Flag Cabrilla, Creolefish, King Angelfish, Barracuda, Heiroglyphic Hawkfish, Frogfish, Yellowtail Surgeonfish, Spotfin Burrfish, Scorpionfish, Cardinalfish, Nudibranch and more. Lunch will be onboard.
North Seymour has two dive sites: The ocean side and the channel side. On the ocean side, You dive on a rocky slope and end up in the shallower area close to the island. The channel side can be an excellent dive site. The area is not very deep (about 20m) but sometimes there is quite a lot of current. There is a large sandy area at 15m with a colony of endemic garden eels and white tipped reef sharks.
Mosqueras: Sea Lions, Eagle Rays, Hammerheads, White-Tipped Reef Shark, Garden Eels, Snake Eels, Jack, Mackerel, Threebanded Butterflyfish, Sea Turtles, Yellowtail Surgeonfish, Yellow and Blue Striped Snappers, King Angelfish, Parrotfish, Yellowtail Grunt, Peruvian Grunt, Cardinalfish, Galapagos Grunt, Sea Stars and more.
Mosqueras is a sand islet which lies north to south in a shallow area between Baltra and Seymour. There’s a cleaning station at about 15 m where snappers are in abundance and hammerheads may gather. The large colony of garden eels often have a large field of cushion stars beyond. Mosqueras is home to a large colony of sea lions. With many juveniles in June, expect playful pups while you dive.
Gordon Rocks: While there is lots and lots to see, there is one reason people head to Gordon Rocks and one reason it is a world-renowned site: the Hammerheads, up close and really personal. Sure, there are Eagle Rays, Stingrays, Marbled Rays, Mantas, White-Tipped Reef Sharks, Galapagos Sharks, Jacks, Turtles, Heiroglyphic Hawkfish, Flag Cabrillas, Blennies, Wrasse in various growth stages, Cardinalfish, King Angelfish, Sea Lions, Yellowtail Surgeonfish, King Angelfish, Barracudas, Jack and more…but it’s all about the hammerheads. Odds of seeing them are 90%.
The rocks lie a short distance north of the Plazas islands off the east coast of Santa Cruz. You dive in remnants of an old crater about 100m across. There are two large crescent shaped rocks on the north and south (the rim), and a smaller rock with a channel and 3 underwater pinnacles in the west. In the middle of the area lies another pinnacle jutting up to about 17m. You can dive on all sides of the crater, both inside (sandy area) and out (vertical walls, very deep). Currents can be very strong here, the local name for the dive site is La Lavadora (The Washing Machine). Sometimes, there are often heavy currents, eddies and down currents, swells and surge (especially inside the caldera) and the water in places is deep.
Lunch will be onboard during a surface interval. Overnight Santa Cruz. Breakfast. Dive Floreana. Overnight Floreana.
Enderby: Eagle Rays, Stingrays, White-Tipped Reef Sharks, Galapagos Sharks, sometimes Hammerheads and Pilot Whales, Barracuda, Yellowtail Surgeonfish, Juvenile Grunts, Creolefish, Mexican Hogfish, Sea Cucumbers, Blue and Gold Snappers and more. A highlight is often a wall of thousands upon thousands of Black-Striped Salemas that swallow a diver so you that, from a few feet away, you can only tell a diver is inside by the bubbles. Champion: Sea lions galore, Sea Turtles, White-Tipped Reef Sharks, the rare Red-Lipped Batfish, Yellowtail Surgeonfish, Longnosed Hawkfish, Sea Stars, Scorpionfish, Mexican hogfish in various growth stages, King Angelfish, Spinster Wrasse, Guinearfowl Puffer in its bright yellow phase, Flag Cabrilla, Red Lipped Batfish, Barracuda, Black striped Salemas, Panamic horse conch, Green Morays, Pacific Seahorse, Blue Lobster, Octopus and more. Nice caves to explore, often with White-Tipped Reef Sharks. Once inside, curious sea lions just outside make great photo-ops.
Lunch Onboard during surface interval. Overnight Floreana Breakfast, Dive Floreana, 3 dives. Overnight Floreana.
Today you will have options. We have never brought a diver to Floreana who didn't want to stay there longer. So we listened and updated itineraries with that in mind. We, exclusively, can offer you exploratory diving in Floreana...diving sites that tourists don't know. These sites are non-published for proprietary reasons, but we are more than happy to discuss with you over the phone. Others may wish to explore the highlands, the beach, or just kick back and relax in this amazing location...the only place in the Galapagos where you can enjoy remote accommodations. Dive Sites: We have 5 sites to choose from. Where we go will depend on conditions and diver skill levels. Two sites features submerged pinnacles with schools of tropical fish, sea lions, Eagle Rays, White-Tipped Reef Sharks, Jacks and sometimes schools of hammerheads. One site offers spectacular wall diving with lots of pelagic life that may include hammerheads, Galapagos sharks, white-tipped reef sharks, Stingrays, Eagle Rays, Manta Rays and large schools of many different fish species. Floreana Highlands Tour: Of all the islands in the Galapagos, Floreana was the first one permanently settled and is the one with the most intriguing human history. Of all the early settlers, the tale that is most intriguing is that of the disappearance of the self-proclaimed Baroness and her lover. The “Floreana Mystery” remains unsolved to this day and locals as well as visitors swear ghosts haunt certain places in Puerto Ibarra. Floreana has a population of around 100. You will be transported by an open-air bus (chiva) to visit the highlands of Floreana. At the base of Cerro Pajas, is the Asilo de la Paz (Peace Asylum) where there is an artisan spring that attracted pirates, whalers and later settlers to Floreana as it was one of the very few year round sources of fresh water in the Galapagos. Nearby is the Cueva de los Piratas (Pirate’s Cave), quite literally where pirates carved temporary shelter out of soft stone and is also where one of the original settlers, Margret Wittmer, gave birth to a son, Rolf, the first person ever born on Floreana. Some have almost jokingly referred to it as the ‘Stonehenge’ of Floreana due to the interesting shapes. It is another opportunity to see a rare healthy scalesia forest, Scalesia Pedunclata. Though Galapagos Tortoises are long extinct on Floreana, the National Park constructed a reserve in this area where you can observe species from several islands. With luck, you'll spot a Medium Tree Finch which exist only here. There is a trail out of town along the shore that leads to La Loberia where you will find a colony of sea lions. As long as you are careful not to upset the macho, this is gorgeous water to snorkel in. In front of your hotel is the famous Black Beach where the water is typically full of sea turtles to snorkel with. Or take the afternoon off and relax in your hammock. Overnight Floreana. Breakfast. Dive Isla Tortuga. Overnight Isabela.
Isla Tortuga: Mantas, Stingrays, Eagle Rays, Sea Turtles, White-Tipped Reef Sharks, Hammerheads, King Angelfish, Yellowtail Surgeonfish, Barberfish, Blue-Chin Parrotfish, Bumphead Parrotfish, Galapagos Groupers, Galapagos Sheephead, Harlequin Wrasse, Grey Grunts, Tuna, Barracuda, and more. Great gorgonians, corals and sponges. Rare sightings of orcas and mola molas.
Isla Tortuga lies off the southeastern side of Isabela, the remnants of a volcano with one side resembling half a caldera. Some tourists come here in a boat just to admire the many frigates, blue-footed boobies, tropic birds and other sea birds that nest on the island. Underneath, it is a beautiful seascape with lots of life. The colors of coral contrast against the stunning color of the blue in Isabela. Last time I dived Tortuga, I thought one turtle had developed a crush on me. I couldn’t get rid of him for awhile. We also saw, what one described as a squadron of eagle rays...over a dozen. Nice diving.
Afterwards, we will arrive into Puerto Villamil, check into the hotel and overnight in Isabela. Breakfast. Volcan Sierra Negra Trek. Lunch at Campo Duro. Overnight Isabela.
Sierra Negra Volcano Trek. Sierra Negra is a live volcano in one of the most volcanically active places on earth! It also happens to have the second largest caldera in the world on any active volcano. 4x4 vehicles will drive you up to our base, “El Cura”. Here, you will mount trail horses or walk if you’re not comfortable on a horse. The trail can be muddy at times and it does take about 45 minutes longer on foot, however, horses use a wide trail and on foot, you walk a very narrow trail on the rim of the caldera.
After a gorgeous ride / hike, we arrive to the northeastern edge of the caldera. The views are breathtaking! We will relax a bit and have a snack on the edge of the caldera. You may continue the trek over to Volcan Chico, another 1-2 hour hike in each direction. The walk is difficult and there is no shade at all, but you will never, ever forget the experience!
Volcan Chico is a part of Sierra Negra rather than a separate volcano. It is a parasitic cone. from which lava flows. Most say the incredible landscapes look like the moon! Fumarolic activity is abundant. Feel the heat beneath your feet where lava flows below. Find spots where steam rises. Oxidized metal content is responsible for the palette of crimson, gold, pink, and silver, which sparkles, in the equatorial sun. You will see both AA and pahoehoe lava fields. The views to the sea and the Perry Isthmus are spectacular. For most, this is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Campo Duro is literally a campground up the slopes of Sierra Negra. Lunch is a delicious homemade treat with something from their large outdoor wood stove made of lava rock as well as fresh fruit from their organic orchard. There is a private tortoise reserve on the grounds, a great opportunity to get up close and personal with these iconic creatures.
Overnight Isabela. Breakfast. Los Tuneles. Las Tintoreras. Overnight San Isabela.
Los Tuneles: We venture about an hour south of Puerto Villamil with numerous turtles (often mating) and mantas en-route to arrive at Los Tuneles, which is, simply put, one of the most magical spots in the whole of the Galapagos. It is a labyrinth of submerged and partially collapsed lava tunnels. The water is calm and swimming-pool clear. There are large schools of fish, Sea Turtles, White-Tipped Reef Sharks, Lobster, Sea Lions, Marine Iguanas and Galapagos Penguins. The backdrop is an incredible land-before-time vista with 2 active volcanoes looming above, Volcan Sierra (last erupted in 2005) and Cerro Azul (last erupted in May 2008). It is an amazing place you will never forget.
Las Tintoreras is an islet a few minutes out from port that is a raggedly treacherous AA lava field full of marine iguanas. The path through it leads to a Canal with resting White-Tipped Reef Sharks, an inlet where Penguins often swim and a beach with a Sea Lion colony. The views are spectacular, again, land-before-time vistas. You can snorkel the mangrove lined inlet near the dock and what you will see always differs: Tropical reef fish, Penguins, White-Tipped Reef Sharks, Turtles, etc.
Overnight Isabela. Early sail to Santa Cruz. Taxi to Baltra. Departure.
Departure will be very early on a fast boat bound for Santa Cruz. You will be met by a taxi for your transfer to Baltra Airport and your departure for mainland Ecuador. Arrival. Transfer to Puerto Ayora. Gear Fittings. Visit Charles Darwin Research Station. Overnight Santa Cruz.
Charles Darwin Research Station Visit: In addition to the many fascinating aspects of a visit to the Darwin Station,it is also home to world-famous Lonesome George, the only remaining Galapagos Tortoise of his species from the island of Pinta making him the most rare living creature in the world.
This is a nice relaxed way to get acclimated to the Galapagos and personally, I have always thought a visit to the Darwin Station might serve better on the front end of a trip, rather than at the end. A Naturalist Guide will accompany your visit so you learn far more than you could ever get from just a walk through on your own. Breakfast. Dive N. Seymour-Mosqueras-Gordon Rocks. Overnight Santa Cruz.
North Seymour: Eagle Rays, Manta Rays, Hammerheads, White-Tipped Reef Sharks, Galapagos Shark, Stingrays, Marbled Rays, Tiger Snake Eels, Moray Eels, Garden Eels, Sea Stars, Sea Turtles, Jacks, Blue and Gold Snappers, Flag Cabrilla, Creolefish, King Angelfish, Barracuda, Heiroglyphic Hawkfish, Frogfish, Yellowtail Surgeonfish, Spotfin Burrfish, Scorpionfish, Cardinalfish, Nudibranch and more. Lunch will be onboard.
North Seymour has two dive sites: The ocean side and the channel side. On the ocean side, You dive on a rocky slope and end up in the shallower area close to the island. The channel side can be an excellent dive site. The area is not very deep (about 20m) but sometimes there is quite a lot of current. There is a large sandy area at 15m with a colony of endemic garden eels and white tipped reef sharks.
Mosqueras: Sea Lions, Eagle Rays, Hammerheads, White-Tipped Reef Shark, Garden Eels, Snake Eels, Jack, Mackerel, Threebanded Butterflyfish, Sea Turtles, Yellowtail Surgeonfish, Yellow and Blue Striped Snappers, King Angelfish, Parrotfish, Yellowtail Grunt, Peruvian Grunt, Cardinalfish, Galapagos Grunt, Sea Stars and more.
Mosqueras is a sand islet which lies north to south in a shallow area between Baltra and Seymour. There’s a cleaning station at about 15 m where snappers are in abundance and hammerheads may gather. The large colony of garden eels often have a large field of cushion stars beyond. Mosqueras is home to a large colony of sea lions. With many juveniles in June, expect playful pups while you dive.
Gordon Rocks: While there is lots and lots to see, there is one reason people head to Gordon Rocks and one reason it is a world-renowned site: the Hammerheads, up close and really personal. Sure, there are Eagle Rays, Stingrays, Marbled Rays, Mantas, White-Tipped Reef Sharks, Galapagos Sharks, Jacks, Turtles, Heiroglyphic Hawkfish, Flag Cabrillas, Blennies, Wrasse in various growth stages, Cardinalfish, King Angelfish, Sea Lions, Yellowtail Surgeonfish, King Angelfish, Barracudas, Jack and more…but it’s all about the hammerheads. Odds of seeing them are 90%.
The rocks lie a short distance north of the Plazas islands off the east coast of Santa Cruz. You dive in remnants of an old crater about 100m across. There are two large crescent shaped rocks on the north and south (the rim), and a smaller rock with a channel and 3 underwater pinnacles in the west. In the middle of the area lies another pinnacle jutting up to about 17m. You can dive on all sides of the crater, both inside (sandy area) and out (vertical walls, very deep). Currents can be very strong here, the local name for the dive site is La Lavadora (The Washing Machine). Sometimes, there are often heavy currents, eddies and down currents, swells and surge (especially inside the caldera) and the water in places is deep.
Lunch will be onboard during a surface interval. Breakfast. Santa Cruz Highlands Tour. Sail to Isabela. Overnight Isabela.Santa Cruz Highlands Tour: You'll need to bring a change of clothes because after diving, we're going to take a highlands tour. We'll walk around the enormous collapsed chambers called Los Gemelos and through the 'fuzzy' forest of one of the few remaining healthy Scalesia Forests in the Galapagos. The fuzzy part is draped liverwort, which often reminds people of Spanish Moss. Scalesia is in the daisy and sunflower family, but most describe it as Jurassic sized broccoli stalks. You'll see blue-eyed Galapagos doves and hopefully, the adorable Vermillion Flycatcher.
Next we head to a private tortoise reserve where we will be able to walk through open fields and observe the iconic Galapagos Tortoises in the wild. Afterwards, we will explore a lava tube. It’s amazing to walk through a structure where lava once flowed beneath the earth's surface. In the afternoon, we sail to Isla Isabela. Breakfast.Sierra Negra Volcano Trek. Campo Duro. Overnight Isabela.Sierra Negra Volcano Trek: Sierra Negra is a live volcano in one of the most volcanically active places on earth! It also happens to have the second largest caldera in the world
on any active volcano. You will be transported from town up to our base, “El Cura”. Here, you will mount trail horses or walk if you’re not comfortable on a horse. The trail can be muddy at times and it does take about 45 minutes longer on foot, however, horses use a wide trail and on foot, you walk a very narrow trail on the rim of the caldera.
After a beautiful ride / hike, we arrive to the northeastern edge of the caldera. The views are breathtaking! We will relax a bit and have a snack on the edge of the caldera. You may continue the trek over to Volcan Chico, another 1-2 hour hike in each direction. The walk is difficult and there is no shade at all, but you will never, ever forget the experience!
Volcan Chico is a part of Sierra Negra rather than a separate volcano. It is a parasitic cone. from which lava flows. Most describe the incredible landscapes as something that might exist on the moon! Fumarolic activity is abundant. Feel the heat beneath your feet where lava flows below. Find spots where steam rises. Oxidized metal content is responsible for the palette of crimson, gold, pink, and silver, which sparkles, in the equatorial sun. You will see both AA and pahoehoe lava fields. The views to the sea and the Perry Isthmus are spectacular. For most, this is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Campo Duro is literally a campground up the slopes of Sierra Negra. It is an oasis of lush greenery, a perfect respite after the strark lunarscapes of Volcan Chico. Lunch is a delicious homemade treat from their large outdoor wood stove made of lava rock as well as fresh fruit and vegetables from their organic gardens. There is a private tortoise reserve on the grounds, a great opportunity to get up close and personal with these iconic creatures
Breakfast. Dive 4 Hermanos & La Viuda. Overnight Isabela. 4 Hermanos: Manta Rays, Sea Horses, Lobster, Nudibranch, Sea Cucumber, Octopus, Sea Horse, White-Tipped Reef Shark, Yellowtail Surgeonfish, Peruvian Surgeonfish, Wrasse, Sea Turtles, Tuna, Panamic Horse Conch, Tiger Snake Eel, Sea Stars and so much more.
4 Hermanos is the name given to 4 islets just east of Isabela. We enter the water in a large cave and then wind our way around the outside of one islet. The abundance of fish will astound you. What is almost a guaranteed sighting here are the huge Pacific seahorses. You will probably also sight octopus, stingrays and if you’re lucky, giant mantas will circle about 10 feet above your head. The blue is incredible here and visibility is usually quite good.
La Viuda: Galapagos Grunts, Parrotfish, Creole, Puffers, Bacalao, Snappers, Sea horse, Turtles, Panamic Soldierfish, Wrasse, Stingrays, Marbled Rays, Galapagos Blenny, Panamic Fanged Blenny, Trumpetfish, Cornetfish, Moray eels, Barberfish, Yellowtail Surgeonfish, Moorish Idol, Sea Stars and so very, very much more.
When there’s current, La Viuda requires a rapid descent lest you are pulled away from the site and have to start over. I have never seen such an abundance of fish anywhere. Spectacular! Stingrays also group here. Breakfast. Los Tuneles. Las Tintoreras. Overnight Isabela.
Los Tuneles: We venture about an hour south of Puerto Villamil observing numerous turtles (often mating) and mantas (we jump in to snorkel with them) en-route to arrive at Los Tuneles, which is, simply put, one of the most magical spots in the whole of the Galapagos. It is a labyrinth of submerged and partially collapsed lava tunnels forming beautiful arches. The water is not just completely calm, but swimming-pool clear. There are large schools of fish, Sea Turtles, White-Tipped Reef Sharks, Lobster, Sea Lions, Marine Iguanas and Galapagos Penguins really up close and personal. The backdrop is an incredible land-before-time vista with two active volcanoes looming above, Volcan Sierra (last erupted in 2005) and Cerro Azul (last erupted in May 2008). It is an amazing place you will never forget. Even the most hard-core diver is completely smitten.
Las Tintoreras is another amazing place. It is an islet a few minutes out from port that is a raggedly treacherous AA lava field full of marine iguanas. The path through it leads to a Canal with resting white-tipped reef sharks, an inlet where penguins often swim and a beach with a sea lion colony. The views are spectacular, again, land-before-time landscapes. You can snorkel the mangrove lined inlet near the dock and what you will see always differs: Tropical reef fish, penguins, white-tipped reef sharks, turtles, etc.
We should return to Puerto Villamil in time for you to have an hour or two to relax on the beach or in your hammock before the sun sets. You may also want to visit the Breeding Center. Of special interest is the only sighting of the flat back species of giant tortoises. Several now in captivity were air-lifted when Cerro Azul last erupted and their shells show the scars of volcanic activity. Be sure to catch at least one sunset over the sea from Isabela. It is spectacular. Overnight Isabela. Early transfer by boat to Santa Cruz and bytaxi to Baltra Airport. Departure.
You will depart on an early speed boat for Santa Cruz where a taxi will be waiting to take you to Baltra airport. Below are our hotel recommendations due to price, location and in short, value. All are oceanfront except for Santa Cruz, where our choice in a 'high' standard is one block back from the waterfront in a fantastic location. Hotel upgrades and hotels in economy are also available. On Santa Cruz, we recommend Pelikan Bay Hotel. It is a lovely, gated hotel in one of the most convenient locations in Puerto Ayora. It is family run with a very accommodating staff, safety deposit box at reception, laundry service, a swimming pool and on-site spa services. Breakfast is included. Rooms have air conditioning, private bath with hot water, cable TV and refrigerators. On Isabela, we recommend Casa Sol. This charming sea front lodge is the only beachfront room in the Galapagos of this caliber. 8 of the 11 rooms have stunning ocean views. 2 are like lofts above the beach and sea. Bright, airy and decorated with the owner's own paintings. Baths are large, new and have hot water. Laundry services are available. For relaxing, the lodge has beachfront hammocks and a picnic table. There is no restaurant, however, about 50 m away is The Albemarle which has the best coffee on the island. We strongly feel it is worth walking there for breakfast in order to save 3 figures per night on a room of this quality. On Floreana, we recommend the Wittmer Lodge. This Galapagos landmark was founded by Margret Wittmer, island pioneer and author of “Floreana”. Presidents, movie stars and many notable figures in history have availed themselves of Wittmer Lodge hospitality. Today, it is run by her daughter and granddaughter. It is located directly on renowned Playa Negra, once a famous landing site for ships. New rooms offer air conditioning, ceiling fans, private balconies overlooking the sea with hammocks and chairs, a huge glass seafront dining hall with a convenience and gift shop as well as a museum outlining the history of the island. On San Cristobal, we recommend Casablanca. The artist-owner has created a charming seafront inn. Each room is uniquely decorated. One room is shaped like a dome and inside, painted like the sky. Other rooms also have amazing hand-painted murals. The owner bakes amazing muffins and breads for breakfast which are served on the terrace overlooking the harbor. Amenities include air conditioning, private bath with hot water, laundry service, restaurant and coffee bar and a gift shop Please check our Availability section for scheduled departures. -For dive clubs/shops or private groups of 6-8, we can offer you very special packages with complete customization including an extreme focus on diving or a "Best of Both Worlds" mix of land visits and diving. Get in touch with us to discuss our programs, our availabilities or to allow us to answer any and all questions you might have about our Galapagos Island Hopping Dive Programs! |
