Welcome to the Galapagos! Meet the other travellers in your group at 1pm, at the hotel listed in the ‘Joining point’ section of the Essential Trip Information. Check in to your hotel and then kick-start your adventure with an included visit to the Galapagos Interpretation Center to learn about the human and natural history of this island cluster. Afterwards, you’ll have your first snorkel at Tijeretas where you may be joined on your swim by sea turtles, rays, fish and sea lions. If you’d rather Tuuur do all the busywork for you, consider booking the Galapagos Discovery tour (GRRR), which follows the exact same itinerary and includes flights to and from Quito. As you’ll be joining the tour on the Galapagos Islands, you have two options for meeting your group: You can join the tour from San Cristobal Airport at 11.30 am. Your Leader will be in the arrival hall with an Tuuur sign, waiting for passengers arriving from Quito. Alternatively, you can meet the group at the joining point hotel (Hostal Andry) when they arrive, approximately 1 hour after the airport meeting time. Check-in time for the hotel is 12 pm. If you're making your own way to the hotel, we recommend taking a short cab ride which will cost approximately USD 2. Please advise us where you plan to join this trip no later than 15 days prior to departure. If you are going to be late for either of these meeting times, please contact the local emergency number located in the Essential Trip Information.

Enjoy a free day on Isla San Cristobal, with plenty of optional activities on and off the island if you want a little structure. The optional boat ride to Isla Lobos is one of our favourite excursions and gives you the chance to snorkel with varied marine life, spot birdlife on shore and relax near sea lions on the beach. Please note the Isla Lobos optional activity must have a minimum of eight passengers to depart. The optional Kicker Rock excursion can be pre-booked. You're welcome to decide once you're on the ground, but please note that this is a popular activity and places are limited. Although local prices can sometimes be lower, spaces may be limited and cannot be guaranteed if you choose to book once on tour.

Early in the morning, take a 2.5-hour public speed boat ride to Isla Santa Cruz. On arrival, have breakfast and settle into the hotel before a mid-morning visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station. The station's visitor centre and museums contain information about the islands and the conservation efforts being made to preserve the unique ecosystem here. It's also a great place to have close encounters with giant tortoises. In the afternoon, head to the higher part of the islands to observe these giants roaming in their natural habitat.

Today you’ll travel to Isla Isabela where you’ll check-in to the hotel and enjoy breakfast. The island is the largest in the Galapagos and one of the most volcanically active places on earth – and you have a free day here to explore at your own pace. A worthwhile optional activity today is an excursion to Las Tintoreras, where white-tipped sharks rest during the day and marine iguanas nest.

Start the day with a visit to the Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre for a close encounter with these placid giants. Here you can see tortoises in different stages of development as well learn about the preservation program for this unique species. Take a bus to the highest part of Isabela where Sierra Negra Volcano is located. Weather permitting, go for a hike up to the crater to enjoy spectacular views and the possibility of sighting the rare vermillion flycatcher. The challenging 17-kilometre hike takes between 5–6 hours, but at the top you'll be able to enjoy spectacular views. After the hike, make your way back to town in the late afternoon for some free time to curl up with a book or venture down to the water for a relaxing swim before dinner. Please ensure you wear comfortable walking shoes that offer good support for today’s rocky climb. During the rainy season it can get quite muddy; there is an option to hire gumboots locally should you wish to do so. It can also get quite hot and there isn't much shade along the way, so be sure to come prepared with your reusable water bottle, hat and sunscreen. Unfortunately, recycling isn't available on Isabela, so please take your plastic rubbish with you when you leave. The order of today’s activities is subject to change depending on weather or supplier scheduling. Your leader will update you about any changes to the itinerary.

Return to Isla Santa Cruz in the morning and enjoy breakfast on arrival at the island for some free time this morning. Maybe take part in an optional activity like the excursion to Tortuga Bay – an immaculate natural paradise where you can go kayaking, observe marine iguanas or swim with harmless sharks. After lunch (own expense), jump on a boat to La Loberia where you can swim in the waters that the area’s sea lions call home. Then, it’s off to Punta Estrada to observe birds like blue-footed boobies and pelicans. Finally, visit Playa de Los Dogs to see a large number of iguanas, the only sea-going lizard in the world that lives in these volcanic landscapes. Please ensure you wear comfortable walking shoes that offer good support for today’s rocky climb. During the rainy season it can get quite muddy; there is an option to hire gumboots locally should you wish to do so. It can also get quite hot and there isn't much shade along the way, so be sure to come prepared with your reusable water bottle, hat and sunscreen. Unfortunately, recycling isn't available on Isabela, so please take your plastic rubbish with you when you leave. The order of today’s activities is subject to change depending on weather or supplier scheduling. Your leader will update you about any changes to the itinerary.

With no activities planned for today your Galapagos adventure comes to an end after breakfast. Bid any travellers continuing on to Quito goodbye. You are free to leave the accommodation at any time, provided you comply with the hotel’s internal check-out policy. If you wish to leave the Galapagos Islands today, you are responsible for organising your own flights, as well as travel arrangements to the airport. If you wish to leave the Galapagos Islands today, please note that your closest airport is located on Isla Baltra, to the north of Isla Santa Cruz. The easiest way to get there is to take a taxi to the port (approximately USD 26), followed by a ferry across a small channel (USD 1) and then a bus to the airport (USD 5). If you plan on departing from an alternative airport in the Galapagos, you will need to make your own way there, which will involve ferries and other modes of transport. Your tour leader can advise you on the best mode of travel and assist you with transport. If you choose this option, please ensure you allow enough time for transfers and delays – talk to a booking agent to confirm timing. If you’d rather Tuuur do all the busywork for you, consider booking the Galapagos Discovery tour (GGRR), which follows the exact same itinerary and includes flights to and from Quito.