HAPPY IN GALAPAGOS ISLAND
DURATION
6 NIGHTS / 7 DAYS
DEPOSIT $500
Per Person
SHARED ROOM : FROM $2400
or $2800 Private Room
THE EXPERIENCE
We will also have the opportunity to observe many land animals such as giant tortoises, lizards, and native bird species. The price for this tour includes accommodations, 3 meals a day, inter-island airfare from San Cristobal to Isabela, and tours mentioned below. The $100 Galapagos Island permit, and $20 Park permits are not included and must be paid on arrival into San Cristobal.
Check out the itinerary for all the details! This trip is open to all fun loving Happy peeps! If you are active and easy going then you will love our group!
Galapagos Island
What’s Included:
- Daily visits with a guide certified by the National Park – we use local guides on each island, and you are also assisted by our operation staff on each one of them (English speaking)
- All meals mentioned
Accommodation in double-room (please specify if twin room or double bed needed) - All transportation on the islands (boat, car) (except transportation during the free time)
- Isabela tax upon arrival is also included
- Snorkeling gear including fins and wetsuit (shorty 2.5mm) when the excursions include water activities (not during free time activities) and all equipment such as bikes, dive gear, SUP; kayaks etc when needed
luggage for the flight San Cristobal-Isabela up to 25 pounds /person including hand luggage** We know that people usually travel with more so we offer the option for no extra cost to send one or two pieces of luggage per person by boat to Santa Cruz – just bring the necessary for your days on Isabela**
**Prices can be changed by the government authorities without prior notice**
Note: ** Entrance fee to the Galapagos National Park $100,-** (to be paid upon arrival at San Cristobal airport – CASH ONLY – There is no ATM at the airport. Please bring enough cash) TCT Migration card $20** to be paid in cash in Quito or Guayaquil airport (Consejo de Gobierno counter, easy to spot in the airport
What’s Not Included:
- R/T flight from to mainland
- Extra overweight on the flight San Cristobal-Isabela (if you have more than 11 kilos/person and do not want the boat option) count 4USD per extra kilo
- All services not mentioned on the program
- Travel insurance
- Tips (guides expect tips, and also the boat crew – for boat excursions / not for transfers between islands) Plan on approximately $75 for tips for the week.
- Entrance fee to the Galapagos National Park $100,-** (to be paid upon arrival at San Cristobal airport – CASH ONLY – There is no ATM at the airport. Please bring enough cash)
- TCT Migration card $20** to be paid in cash in Quito or Guayaquil airport (Consejo de Gobierno counter, easy to spot in the airport
Trip Overview
Day 1 :
Arrive into San Cristobal
You will be picked up at the airport by our staff who will take you to the hotel. After lunch, you will meet your guide and then proceed to get fitted for your snorkel gear for the week. Every guest will receive a mask, snorkel, fins, and wet suit. You will carry your snorkel gear with you for the entire week and then return the gear on the last day of the trip. You will then have time to explore the charming town of San Cristobal. At 6pm we will walk from our hotel to a nearby restaurant for a meet and greet reception and dinner.
Dinner and overnight
Meals included: lunch and dinner
Day 2 :
San Cristobal
Today you will go to the famous Kicker Rock, a volcanic formation where you snorkel and can spot fascinating sea life: black tip sharks, sea lions, rays, and along the rock many tropical fishes and corals. The tour also includes a stop at a nice beach. You will be back in the mid afternoon , rest of the afternoon free to stroll around the waterfront or enjoy the beach.
The boat capacity (according to authorization of National Park Galapagos) is max 12 per boat so the group will go in 2 boats. The boats won’t necessarily be following each other as the National Park gives each boats hours to be on each specific site. There is an option for a one tank dive instead of snorkeling on this Kicker Rock excursion. There is an add on cost for the dive master and gear. Interested divers please let me know and I will provide you pricing.
Meals included: breakfast , lunch and dinner
Overnight in Katarma
Day 3 :
San Cristobal – Isabela
In the morning we will pick you up at the hotel and accompany you to the airport, where you will do your check-in for the flight to Isabela (estimated elapsed time: 40 min.). At arrival, our staff will transfer you to your hotel and you will have the rest of the morning free. You can walk to the Tortoise Breeding Center or to the Flamingo Lagoon (entrance free).
You will have lunch and in the afternoon departure for a stand up paddling tour in the bay of Villamil. You will surely be able to see small Galapagos penguins, sea lions, and with luck you will spot turtles and rays. The tour includes a snorkel session.
2-3 shared planes to go to Isabela (each plane has 8 spots) and tours with private guide
Meals included: breakfast , and dinner
Day 4 :
Isabela
Trekking to Sierra Negra Volcano: You will go by bus to the highlands and hike to Sierra Negra. Sierra Negra has the second largest active crater in the world, around 10kms, it is very impressive. As you continue to Chico Volcano, you will pass through impressive lava sceneries, and you will have breathtaking views of the north side of the island and of Fernandina Island. The hike is a one hour trek each way (not steep and well paved)
hours). Lunch will be provided in a farm in the highlands. On the way back to port you will stop at the flamingo lagoon. The rest of the day is at leisure. You can enjoy the beautiful beach until dinner
Tour with private guide
Meals included: breakfast ,lunch and dinner
Day 5 :
Isabela
Cabo Rosa (“Tuneles”): Cabo Rosa, also known as “Los Tuneles” is a beautiful site 45 minutes boat ride from the port. This site is a lava formation of tunnels going under and over the sea level, in a shallow bay where you can usually spot the Galapagos penguins and sometimes some blue-footed boobies. However, the highlight is snorkeling. You will have a chance to see
sea turtles, reef sharks, rays, sea lions, seahorses and many tropical fish. This is one of the most beautiful sites of the archipelago. The tour takes about 5 hours. We will arrive back approximately 3pm and enjoy the rest of the day.
Meals included: breakfast ,lunch and dinner
Day 6 :
Isabela to Santa Cruz
Board our private boat charter for a 2 hour ride to Santa Cruz. We will arrive in the early afternoon and check in to the hotel Galapagos Villa Laguna. The modern hotel is walking distance to the lively town with lots of shops and pubs. Santa Cruz has the best shopping opportunities so this is the day to get your gifts.
Meals included: breakfast , and dinner
Day 7 :
Isabela-Baltra Airport
In the morning we will walk in the property to spot giant tortoises in the wild (if they are not, we will drive to another place in the highlands). Afterward, your driver will bring you to the Itabaca Channel, which you will cross on a ferry. For the last part of your trip to the airport, you will take the public bus. Your guide will accompany you to the check-in at the airport, where your program ends with the flight back to the mainland. Baltra is the world’s first green airport!
Please take in account that your flight does not depart before 11am
Meals included: breakfast
Terms and Conditions
Group Trip Cancellations.
If YCSMH has to cancel a group trip because a country has closed its borders, everyone will have a choice of receiving a refund or being rolled over to another group trip. The decision to cancel a group trip will be determined by myself and our local guides.
DEPOSITS PAID- CANCEL WITH NO REPLACEMENT
If you cancel a booking and cannot find a replacement the FULL deposit amount will be lost from the original person making the reservation.
DEPOSITS PAID- CANCEL WITH A REPLACEMENT – $100 Penalty
If YOU cancel and find your own replacement that “helps” but it doesn’t alleviate the time and effort I must spend to get your replacement up to speed (answer questions and send previous emails). A $100 fee will be charged if you cancel and find your own replacement.
FULL PAYMENTS PAID- CANCEL WITH NO REPLACEMENT- 90 DAYS BEFORE TRIP DEPARTURE
Full payments for all Happy trips are due 90 days before departure. If you cancel the trip you will not be eligible to receive a refund. You will need to file a claim with your insurance provider. As a rule most tour vendors, charter companies and hotels require full payment 90 days before arrival. Once we have made reservations MOST resorts, Charter companies, rental shops, etc hold YCSMH financially responsible (i.e. we have to pay them, hence we expect YOU to pay us).
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FULL PAYMENTS PAID- CANCEL WITH A REPLACEMENT- 90 DAYS BEFORE TRIP DEPARTURE
In the event of a cancellation, YCSMH will gladly help find a replacement but the responsibility to find the replacement is that of the person canceling. If you find a replacement to fill your spot you will be eligible for a full refund minus a $100 fee.
If YCSMH finds you a replacement you will receive a refund minus the trip deposit. As I mentioned there is a considerable amount of time and effort spent to send out emails to your replacement to get them up to speed.
I hope this helps clarify our terms as we all navigate through this post pandemic world. For those of us who are passionate travelers the small inconveniences of testing, insurance and entry requirements are well worth it.
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