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4 Days 3 Nights
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    Galapagos Wildlife Tours

    Galápagos Intro Tour: 4 Days Tortoises, Seabirds & Snorkeling

    Explore Santa Cruz Island and its surroundings for incredible wildlife like Giant Tortoises, Galapagos Penguins, Darwin Finches, Blue-footed Boobies and more.

    Over 32 endemics possible bird species like Galapagos Hawk, Darwin Finches, Lava Heron, Galapagos Dove, Lava Gull, Flightless Cormorant and others.

    2 Full-Day Yacht Excursions to visit Bartolome, North Seymour, Plazas, or Santiago with Snorkeling and Hiking Activities.

    Hotel options: Tourist, First Class, or Luxury inland stays

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    Contact Information

    Barrio Andrango, Quito, Ecuador
    sales@ecuadorbirdstours.com
    +593 99 373 2879

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    View Our Wildlife Map

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    4 Days Land-Base Galapagos Map

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    Galapagos Activities

    Day 1. Flight to Baltra. Giant Tortoises.
    Day 2. Full Day Bartolome Pinnacle Rock or other
    Day 3. Full Day North Seymour Tour or other
    Day 4. Flight to Quito

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    Jimenita Birding Lodge

    FREE Night in Quito either before or after Galapagos

    Itinerary

    After arriving at Baltra Airport, our guide will pick you up and transfer you to Itabaca Channel to cross by shared-ferry to Santa Cruz Island. Continue with private transportation to the highlands of Santa Cruz to observe Giant tortoises in their natural habitat. These majestic creatures roam freely across private ranches bordering the Galápagos National Park. You’ll also explore fascinating lava tunnels, formed by ancient volcanic activity, offering a glimpse into the island’s geological history.

    In the afternoon, continue to Puerto Ayora, where you can explore at your leisure. Visit La Ratonera Beach for a relaxing coastal experience or discover the renowned Charles Darwin Research Station to learn about conservation efforts in the Galápagos. In the evening, enjoy dinner at one of the local restaurants in town.

    Targets: Giant Tortoises, Sea Lions, Bird Species: Smooth billed Ani, Common Gallinule, Cattle Egret, Galapagos Flycatcher, Galapagos Mockingbird, Yellow Warbler, Green-warbler Finch, Woodpecker Finch, Small Tree-finch, Small Ground-finch, Medium Ground-finch, White-cheeked Pintail, Galapagos Rail, Barn Owl, Comb Duck, Galapagos Hawk, Striated Heron, Great Blue Heron and others.

    Meals: Lunch

    Overnight: Select Hotel Category

    Guide: Private Naturalist Guide

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    Giant Tortoise

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    Marine Iguanas

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    Galapagos Sea Lion

    Pick up from your hotel and continue to Itabaca Channel, where we will board the Yatch. After arriving in North Seymour Island, we will have a dry landing and immediately start hiking on a 2.5 km trail where we can go clockwise along the coast or head inland first to visit the colony of blue-footed boobies. Get ready to spot land iguanas and marine iguanas; also, a colony of sea lions, lava lizards, frigates, and pelicans! Lunch on-board and afternoon snorkelling in Bachas Beach.

    Targets: Lava Lizards, Green Sea Turtles, Rays, Galapagos Penguin, Sooty Shearwater, Magnificent Frigatebird, Great Frigatebird, Blue-footed Booby, Nazca Booby, Red-footed Booby, American Flamingo, Brown Noody, Galapagos Petrel, Common Cactus Finch, Red-billed Tropicbird, Black-bellied Plover, Red-necked Phalarope, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Brujo Flycatcher, Galapagos Hawk.

    Meals: Breakfast and Lunch on board

    Overnight: Select Hotel Category

    Guide: Shared Naturalist Guide

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    Nazca Boobies

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    Blue-footed Booby

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    Land Iguana

    This island, with its iconic pinnacle, is located northwest of Santa Cruz. Upon arriving at Bartolome Pinnacle Rock, we will have a dry landing. Then, we will begin the walk along a path that will take us to the top of the island, through its 395 steps that will end with a spectacular panoramic view of the island and its pinnacle. During the walk, we will observe small lava tunnels that are the product of the last eruption and where endemic vegetation grow, such as lava cacti and tiquilla plants, generally surrounded by Darwin’s finches. Afternoon snorkelling near Bartolome Island for possible Sea Turtles and Galapagos Penguins.

    Targets: Galapagos Penguin, Blue-footed Booby, Galapagos Hawk, American Oystercatcher, Lava Gull, Magnificent Frigatebird, Great Blue Heron, Striated Heron, Laughing Gull, Galapagos Dove, Swallow-tailed Gull, Galapagos Petrel, Franklins Gull, Least Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs, Red Phalarope, Large-Tree Finch and White-tipped Shark, Rays, Sea Turtles.

    Meals: Breakfast and Lunch on board

    Overnight: Select Hotel Category

    Guide: Shared Naturalist Guide

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    Lava Lizzard

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    Galapagos Penguin

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    Green Sea Turtles

    After breakfast, your driver will pick you up at your hotel and transfer you to Baltra Airport. Upon arrival to Quito, our driver will pick you up and transfer to our Jimenita Birding Lodge for leisure afternoon and complimentary night with breakfast included.

    Meals: Breakfast

    After breakfast transfer out to Quito Airport. End of Services.

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    Type of Accommodations

    You can choose between Tourist, First Class or Luxury Lodges in Santa Cruz Island.

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    Tourist Class Category

    Fiesta Hotel

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    First Class Category

    Ikala Lodge

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    Luxury Class Category

    Finch Bay Hotel

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    Jimenita Birding Lodge

    Enjoy a complimentary night at our Top Birding Lodge located 15 minutes from Quito Airport.

    Testimonials

    Amazing amount of birds in 3 different habitats

    2026
    USA

    Diego delivered on giving us a great experience in 3 different habitats and the target birds we came to see. The accommodations were really nice, the food was great including some authentic dishes in certain locations and the guides were experts. From the Andes, to the Cloud Forest with Miguel and finish in Napo Wildlife Center our experience in the Amazon. The birds were incredible. Toucans to nun birds to cuckoos and a great view of the Harpy Eagle. We will use Diego again when we return to see other parts of this really beautiful country”. Corinna, USA

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    Two week birding tour February 2026

    2026
    United Kingdom

    ” I organised a return birding trip to Ecuador for friends – 8 of us in total. I’ve been leading and organizing my own tours for just short of 50 years, traveled to well over 100 countries and have a life list of 7,250+. Ecuador Bird tours did a great job in meeting my requests. I got 80+ lifers, we saw c.500 species including 70+ Hummingbird species and iconic birds such as Condors, Hoatzin and Cock-of-the-Rock – everyone was happy! Every place we visited had a subtly different avifauna and a lodge or two that had the most magnificent array of feeders for Hummers, Tanagers, Antpittas and more. I’d recommend Ecuador Bird Tours to anyone wanting a good birding trip in Ecuador – whether for keen listers or total beginners – I’m sure they’ll organize something that fits and works well”. Peter Roberts, United Kingdom

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    Superb Custom Birding Tour East from Quito

    2026
    USA

    Ecuador Birds Tours provided an outstanding custom tour east from Quito over the high Andes and down to mid-elevation montane forest. Guide Marcelo Andy used his experienced ears and eyes to locate over 225 species in just 5 days. He was always friendly and accommodating while driving safely through the mountains. Communication during the entire process was always prompt, clear, and efficient. Diego Cruz and his company receive the highest recommendation from this very satisfied bird and photographer.” Andrew Fix

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    A great birding expereince in the high Andes

    2026
    United Kingdom

    “A great trip, spread over two weeks and mainly located in the cloud forests on both sides of the Andes and with a few days in the Amazon area. I have travelled widely around the world on many birding trips and this was one of the best. The organisation by Ecuador Birds Tours was faultless and we felt safe at all times. A number of excellent birding sites were visited to make sure that we saw the widest possible range of birds. Our accomodation was also very good at all times, with very comfortable rooms, pleasant and friendly staff and generally very good food. Our guide, Miguel, was great – he was very knowledgable and enthusiastic and always tried to make sure that all members of the group saw the birds. I would certainly recommend Ecuador Bird Tours to anyone wanting to make the most of a birding holiday in the country”. Alain Ken

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    Three weeks birding photography in Ecuador

    2026
    United Kingdom

    An extraordinarily successful birding trip and well organised by Diego Cruz and his EBT Tour Operating Company. The three-week trip encompassed some excellent birding locations, superb lodges and we were very fortunate in having Daniel Cruz, Freddy Perez and Remy as our principal guides for the duration. They were all highly skilled birders, tactful and patient with us oldies, and excellent company. We saw 535 species of birds of which 138 were lifers for me. The bird of the trip without question was the Harpy Eagle. We also saw 13 different mammals on the way, of which seven were new to me. Of particular interest was seeing the Andean or Spectacled Bear.” Robert Falkner

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    Tour Inclusions

    1 Free Night in Hacienda Jimenita with Roundtrip Airport Transfers and Breakfast Included!!

    Ingala Card $20.00 per person

    Lobito Bus Balta-Itabaca Channel

    Ferry to Santa Cruz

    Private and Shared Naturalist Guide

    Transportation

    2 Full Days Yatch Tours with on-board lunch included

    Meals as described in itinerary

    Selected Lodging (Tourist, First Class or Luxury)

    Activities described in itinerary

    Mask and Fins

    Personalized Services

    Galapagos Local Flights around $450.00 per person

    Other meals not listed in itinerary

    Personal Expenses

    Other activities

    Laundry

    Soft and Alcoholic Drinks

    Travel Insurance

    Tips

    Hiking Trails

    Snorkelling

    Dry and Wet Landing

    Birding and Photography

    Wildlife Observation

    Leisure time in Puerto Ayora

    Trip Reports

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    Request more information

    Diego Cruz

    Sales & Operation Manager

    Request your Tour

    Interest in Wildlife and Birding Extensions? (check all that applies)

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