We embark on a morning flight from Quito to San Cristobal Island. Once we arrive we are briefed on the details of our trip as we have lunch at an ocean front restaurant.

Our adventure begins with a hike to the San Cristóbal Interpretation Center, where we learn about the volcanic formation of the Galápagos archipelago and the unique evolution of life on the islands. We continue our hike towards Frigate Hill along trails of lava rock featuring splendid views of the coastline and Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, while we explore dry forest and observe cacti, acacia, palo santo, Galápagos cotton, and other endemic vegetation.

This is also a good time to enjoy our first encounters with local wildlife, since Frigate Hill is often visited by Galápagos species such as the magnificent and great frigate birds, blue-footed boobies, brown pelicans, gulls, herons, and numerous other land birds, including Darwin finches, warblers, and mockingbirds. On our way back we may stop for a refreshing swim at Carola Beach. In the evening, we explore town and dine at a waterfront restaurant. Accommodations in a first-class hotel in San Cristobal Island.

We depart in the morning to the highlands all the way up to El Junco. El Junco is an extinct volcano crater lagoon located in the highest part of San Cristobal Island. It is frequented by frigate birds that use the fresh water to wash salt water from their wings. We walk and explore the lagoon area which is covered by endemic Miconia forest, and other species.

We fit our bikes and helmets, and after a safety briefing we begin a scenic downhill ride mostly on dirt roads. We stop on the way at La Galapaguera which is a semi-natural breeding center for the San Cristobal Giant Tortoise. Here we learn about the activities and efforts to conserve this specie and others endemic to Cristobal. We continue cycling until the end of the road near Puerto Chino. Here we walk to the recreational area where we can enjoy the beach.

In the afternoon we visit El Cafetal, a historic hacienda from the first settlers in the island that sows a special class of coffee named Bourbon since 1875. We catch the sunset in Loberia beach where we walk through sand trails and black lava rocks where we find the largest marine iguanas in the archipelago. As we snorkel and relax in its white sand beach we look out for sea lions, rays, sea turtles, a many species of tropical fish. We return to town for dinner and accommodations in our first class hotel.

We slip into our ocean kayaks and spend the morning paddling along the coast, going north exploring bays and coves full of local wildlife – including Darwin Bay, the site of the first landing of the HMS Beagle. The route is home to colonies of sea lions, marine turtles, blue-footed boobies, and frigate birds. Once we reach Playa Ochoa, we continue on to nearby Isla Lobos on the lookout for marine iguanas and sea lions. This is a fantastic snorkelling site where we are nearly guaranteed to enjoy one of the best sea lion encounters in the entire archipelago.

We continue on to Leon Dormido, the jagged remains of an old tuff cone whose flanks are home to thousands of sea birds. At Leon Dormido, we enjoy excellent snorkelling; for certified divers, this is also one of the best dives in the islands. There is a good chance of seeing Galapagos sharks, eagle and golden rays, as well as dozens of species of tropical fish, clams, starfish, and marine invertebrates. With a little luck, we may also swim with hammerhead and white-tipped sharks. We return to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno for dinner and our last evening in our San Cristobal waterfront hotel.

In the morning we embark on a fast boat to Floreana Island. It is the earliest inhabited island although it has a population of only 200. Before we arrive we visit some interesting off shore islets. Devil's Crown Islet is a spectacular half submerged underwater volcanic cone filled with underwater life. Champion Islet is home to the endemic Floreana Mocking Bird, one of the rarest birds in the world with a total population size of approximately 250. Champion also offers fantastic snorkeling where we can see starfish amidst corals, anemones, urchins, and other sea life.

We reach Puerto Velasco Ibarra for lunch in our beach front hotel. In the afternoon we visit the Scalesia forest in the Floreana highlands, home to Darwin’s Medium Tree Finch that only lives in this Island. We also visit Asilo de la Paz a visitor site that features fresh water wells and nearby caves that were used by the early settlers. We also visit pirate caves and learn about some bizarre Island stories. In the highlands we see yellow warblers, Galapagos fly snappers and of course, the Floreana Giant Tortoise. When we return to the small port town we walk on the black sand beach trails to Loberia, a sea lion colony where we can see the red-billed tropicbird, blue-footed booby, nazca booby, and swallow-tailed gull.

From Floreana we embark on a fast boat to Isabela Island. During our island crossing we will be on the lookout for dolphins and whales (July to October). Isabela is the largest Island in the archipelago, formed by 6 shield volcanoes - Alcedo, Cerro Azul, Darwin, Ecuador, Sierra Negra and Wolf. All of these volcanoes except one remain active, making this island one of the most volcanically active places on earth.

When we arrive we set up our mountain bikes to explore the beautiful coastline for its scenery and wildlife treasures. We begin with a visit to El Muro de las Lágrimas which means Wall of Tears, a historic site that dates back between 1946 and 1959 when Isabela Island was used as a penal colony. The wall was built with lava blocks and had no other purpose than of keeping prisoners busy from the madness of isolation. We continue riding along the coast as we explore expansive white sand beaches, mangroves and brackish lagoons. This area is filled with birdlife such as American oyster catchers, herons, flamingos, finches and many shore birds, as well as sea lions and marine iguanas.

In the afternoon we take our ocean kayaks and paddle out to Tintoreras, a set of small Islets within Isabela bay. The Islets are filled with wildlife and are home to the Galapagos Penguin, the only penguin that lives in equatorial region. We will also see sharks, marine turtles, sea lions and much more wildlife as we explore its many small coves and beaches.

From Puerto Villamil, we drive to the highlands up to where the road ends. Here we prepare our day backs and walk into a world of recent geological history. We walk on dirt trails until we arrive to the rim of the Sierra Negra volcano. Sierra Negra is an active volcano which last erupted in October 2005. We explore along the rim of the huge 6x5 mile-wide (9x8 kilometer) lava-filled crater. We may also get views to the other Isabela volcanoes and the Perry Isthmus and beyond.

Optionally, we continue our hike all the way to Volcan Chico, an incredible area that offers puffing fumaroles and extraordinary lava formations, great examples of the dramatic geological events that have forged the Galápagos Islands over millennia. In the afternoon, we return to Puerto Villamil for our last afternoon in its exotic white beaches.

In the morning we take a fast boat from Isabela to Santa Cruz Island. On our way we will be on the lookout for dolphins and whales. Once we arrive we head to El Chato reserve in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island which is the natural habitat of the incredible Galapagos Tortoise. We hike in this reserve to learn about these lumbering giants. We also come across highland wildlife such as pintail ducks, egrets, flycatchers, finches, and frigate birds bathing in freshwater lakes. We also walk into and explore some amazing volcanic tunnels that were created by hot flowing lava. As we walk in these underground geological formations we revive tales of buccaneers hiding Inca gold.

In the afternoon, we put-in our kayaks and paddle around Divine Bay and Punta Estrada, paddling through calm, turquoise waters that wind through high-walled lava channels. Within the channels, white-tipped sharks and rays tour beneath the clear water, while colonies of blue-footed boobies, tropic birds, herons, crabs and marine iguanas perch along the jagged cliffs. We return to Puerto Ayora for our last evening in the Galapagos’ most populous town.

In the morning we visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn about conservation and management efforts in the archipelago. We also get to meet Lonesome George, the last giant tortoise of his species. We then transfer by vehicle to Baltra Island for our airport connection back to the continent.