Galeodan Suites in Jardín de Helena
San Cristóbal, Galápagos
Galeodan Suites in Jardín de Helena
San Cristóbal, Galápagos
If you haven't been there already, we strongly recommend you review the information on our page: Action & Adventure \ Overview
.jpg)
San Cristóbal offers numerous self-guided attractions which you can enjoy without entering the National Park area.
From the Galeodan Suites, you can walk to several gorgeous beaches and snorkel spots, including Playa Mann , Playa Carola, and the Tijeretas with Darwin Bay. A longer walk, or short taxi ride, will get you to the beach at la Loberia.
All of the beaches are good for snorkeling, but the best spots are at Darwin Bay and Loberia.
No visit to the Galápagos Islands is complete without a visit to the Interpretation Centre (also a short walk from the Galeodan Suites). At the Interpretation Centre, you will learn the human and natural history of the islands: their formation; their discovery; their colonization, and especially their past and future challenges.
You can also take a taxi to visit several prime attractions including the crater lake: El Junco, the Galapaguera tortoise breeding station, and the spectacular beach of Puerto Chino. These can be visited separately, or together on the Highlands Tour.
All of these sites are within walking distance or a short (5 minute) taxi ride from the Galeodan Suites:
Playa Mann is just outside the town centre, on the road towards the Interpretation Centre and Punta Carola.
Swimming is best at high tide as offshore it gets rocky. Here you will be sharing the beach, maybe also your beach towel, with sea lions and their pups. The water is generally calm but the occasional strong swell can bring surfable waves.
Playa Mann is just a couple of hundred yards from the Galeodan Suites. The beach is overlooked by GAIAS (Galápagos Institute for the Arts and Sciences) which is a campus of USFQ (University of San Francisco de Quito). Next door to GAIAS is the Galápagos Science Centre.
.jpg)
At the Interpretation Centre you can learn about the natural history and human history of the Galápagos archipelago: from its fiery origins; its discovery by humans; through generations of attempts to colonize and exploit its natural resources; to the present day with the many challenges facing its human and non-human inhabitants.
A visit to the Centre really gives context to your other Galápagos experiences and should not be missed. You can breeze through in 20 minutes or spend several hours studying the many exhibits
The Interpretation Centre is only 5 minutes walk from the Galeodan Suites and can be self-directed or enhanced by the company of a guide. The trail to Cerro Tijeretas starts at the rear exit of the Centre.
From the exit of the Interpretation Centre, a path takes you to the spectacular lookout at Cerro Tijeretas (Frigate Bird Hill), where you can see the port, Kicker Rock and the Pacific Ocean, facing west, into the sunset.
Walking back, you can take a dip in the crystal clear water of Darwin Bay to snorkel in the company of sea-lions and turtles. The path leads back along the shoreline and through the beach of Punta Carola.
The Tijeretas trail starts 5 minutes from the Galeodan Suites and, like the Interpretation Centre, can be enjoyed either alone or in the company of a guide. The 3.5 mile loop can take anything from one to two hours depending on how many detours you take to enjoy the various monuments and lookout points along the route.
From the viewpoint overlooking Darwin Bay, there is a rough, and quite challenging trail leading to the deserted beach of Playa Baquerizo - About an hour each way. It calls for proper hiking shoes, lots of water and sunblock.
Punta Carola is named for the promontory which hosts one of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno’s navigation lighthouses. There you will see marine iguanas, pelicans, blue-footed boobies and, of course, sea lions. The beach is popular for swimming, snorkeling and, above all, surfing. Punta Carola is one of the best surf beaches in Galápagos and a destination of choice for surfers from around the world, especially when the Big North rolls in around November.
Carola is also one of the most likely nearby spots to see blue footed boobies. They are often found on the rocks at the extreme end of the point, past the lighthouse
Punta Carola is only a 15-minute walk from the Galeodan Suites.
La Loberia offers excelent snorkeling in a beautiful sweeping bay, and partially rocky beach.
Beyond the bay is a short hike to see a variety of birds, including blue footed boobies, nazcar boobies, frigate birds and tropic birds. As this hike enters the National Park, it requires the presence of a National Park Naturalist guide.
La Loberia was so named for its popularity of nursing sea lions. These days they are found in significant numbers throughout Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Several of the human-popular beaches, like Punta Carola and Playa Man are now equally popular with sea lions and humans, and sea lions compete for space to swim, surf and raise their young.
La Loberia is a 5-minute taxi-ride from the Galeodan Suites, just beyond the airport.
If you have phone service, the beach is just out of range, but you can call from the parking area. If you do not have local phone service, you will have to arrange for the taxi to come back for you.
Caution - There is a strong riptide on the left side of the bay - looking out. It is marked off by buoys, but if caught, we advise NOT to try to swim to shore - Better to drift out while swimming towards the centre of the bay.
.png)
The regular “Highlands Tour” can be undertaken in half to three-quarters of a day, starting at around 8:30 AM and ending between 1:00 and 3:00PM.
Groups up to 4 can take a taxi. 5 to 12 will need a van and any more than that: a bus. Note that a group of 8 or more will need to be accompanied by a naturalist guide. In any event, you may need to hire a Naturalist Guide for the Galapaguera - See below...
El Progreso is only 6 km inland from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. At an elevation of just over 300m, the climate and vegetation are completely different. While the shore is hot and arid, little more than rocks and cactus in the dry season, the highlands are green and lush with year-round rain and abundant fresh water.
El Progreso, with a population of around 500, is the longest surviving community on the islands. It was, at one time a penal colony and later the center of a sugar cane plantation, under the direction of the infamous Manuel Cobos, ultimately murdered by his “employees” (slaves). The ruins of the house and mill are one of the more significant sites of historic interest on the Island.
El Progreso is surrounded by small, privately owned farms. Whereas in many countries, the population heads to the beach on weekends, here on San Cristóbal, everyone heads for the highlands. After making the trip yourself, you will understand why
El Junco crater lake is 9km beyond El Progreso, at 700m elevation. It is the only freshwater lake of significant size in the archipelago.
The lagoon, in the crater of a long extinct volcano, is about 270m wide and the water depth varies from 1 to 6 m depending on the rains. It is worth a visit for the panoramic vistas as much as for the lagoon itself.
.jpg)
.jpg)
The Galapaguera is a tortoise breeding centre, 21km from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, on the same road as El Junco.
It is also called Galapaguera Semi-Natural because it provides a natural but protected environment for adult tortoises as well as hatching and growing pens for the juveniles.
Feeding time at the Galapaguera is around 9:00AM, 3 times a week. That's a good time to visit as they tend to congregate more around the viewing areas.
Visits to the Galapaguera (tortoise breeding centre) require the presence of a National Park guide. This means hiring a guide, to meet at the Galapaguera, or to accompany the visitors on the complete tour. The fee may be waived for groups of 4 or less . Check before leaving.
Just 2km beyond the Galapaguera is the beach of Puerto Chino . The road stops just a few hundred yards short of the beach itself and the journey is completed on foot.
Puerto Chino is a deep and wide white sandy beach, with good, sometimes excellent, surfing. It is especially good for novices as the bottom is sandy rather than rocky.
Caution - There is a strong riptide on the right side of the bay - looking out. If, by any chance you find yourself being carried out to sea, DO NOT try to swim against it - Better to drift out while swimming towards the centre of the bay.
.jpg)
Almost everyone that visits San Cristóbal will want to take a tour to one of designated the "Visit-Sites" inside the Park. Most of these are accessible only by sea, on a licensed boat, in the company of a Naturalist Guide. These "Daily Tours" feature at least one principal visit site, plus a beach, and include hiking plus snorkeling or diving.
The tour boats have a maximum allowed capacity (between 12 and 16) and a fixed daily schedule determined by the Galápagos National Park (to spread out and minimize visitor impact on the visit sites). So the ease, and urgency, for booking a tour depends on the popularty of the site, and the number of boats (if any) visiting the site on a particular day.
Although all boat-based tours are generally described and sold as "Daily Tours", There are actually two categories of boat, of differing origin, offering a slightly different product.
Both categories provide a bilingual guide, and visit a range of sites (with some overlap).
Most Daily Tour boats are licensed for diving, and will carry a mix of divers and snorkelers. Snorkelers may have to wait while divers do a check-dive before reaching the destination site. Vivencial Fishing boats offer snorkeling only - And provide a brief spell of fishing on the tours.
Some boat tours are impacted by the weather more than others. Prevailing winds are from the south, so the NW side of the island (most local tours) is protected while the SE side is more likely to be choppy on windy days (360 tour). Of course, the open ocean crossings to Española and Floreana are also impacted by wind. Nonetheless, high season for Española is April through November when most visitors are happy to brave the elements for a view of the magnificent Waved Albatross.
At any time of year, bring plenty of sunblock, especially on boat trips where, even with a hat, you can get burned from the reflection of light off the water and deck.
A few visit sites have a pier or ramp where you can step ashore. But most often you will have a "wet landing" , where you will be stepping down into knee to thigh-high water to wade to shore. So, best to bring water-proof sandals.
The supply of daily tours is not driven by demand; it is determined, by the Galápagos National Park, for protection of the environment. So, you can't always choose to visit a particular spot on a particular day - It may be booked up, or there may be no boat scheduled that day.
Some sites have more spaces than others, and are easier to book at the last minute. But if a large group, (maybe 50 students) books that day, even these will be unavailable.
Sometimes a last-minute cancellation will free up space. And, at times of high demand for a particular location, like Española, operators can apply to the Galápagos National Park for a change of itinerary for a specific day. This is mostly done close to the departure date and the application is not automatically granted. So, while extra spaces may become available, it is neither predictable nor guaranteed.
There are some reliable online agencies selling Daily Tours. But others may take your money (often with outrageous markups) before they check to see if there is actually any space available. They may tell you then, and allow you to cancel, or wait until you arrive to tell you the tour was cancelled and try to sell you an alternative.
Galeodan is a registered travel agency catering primarily to the needs of our own guests at the Galeodan Suites. If you are staying with us, we will be happy to advise and help you book the best available tours to suit your circumstances (time, budget, mobility, interests, sea-legs, small children, etc.).
.png)
The current generation of Vivencial Fishing Boats were built to take tourists across open water to sometimes distant fishing banks with comfort and speed. They are in the range of 10 to 12m in length and carry a maximum of 12 passengers.
Vivencial Fishing boats carry a bilingual Naturalist Guide and offer snorkeling on most excursions. They are not licensed to offer diving. They still offer all-fishing charters, and generally include a spell of fishing on their day-tours to visit sites.
Tours generally include lunch, snorkel gear, and towels, while wetsuits may be included or offered for a small charge.
The Vivencial Fishing Boats are sometimes referred to as "PAV" boats (Pesca Artesanal Vivencial).
Vivencial Fishing visit sites include: Kicker Rock , Española , Floreana , Punta Pitt *, Rosa Blanca , and Punta Pucuna, in conjunction with beaches at Bahia Sardina, Playa Bonita, and Manzanillo (Española). The boats also visit scenic locations at Cerro Brujo .
* At Punta Pitt, Vivencial Fishing Boats pause in the bay to view birds nesting on the rocks, but passengers do not land or hike there. For the full Punta Pitt experience, you need to take a "Daily Tour" boat.
.png)
The Daily Tour boats have always been purposed for tourism and vary considerably in speed, size, and comfort. Some are extra spacious, but unsuited for open water, or too slow to visit the furthest sites (like Española or Punta Pitt) in good time.
Daily Tour boats are limited to 12 passengers (16 in the case of Isla Lobos).
Daily Tour boats carry a bilingual guide and (with the exception of Isla Lobos) are licensed to provide diving as well as snorkeling, so tours may carry a mix of snorkelers and divers.
Tours generally include lunch, snorkel gear, and towels, while wetsuits may be included or offered for a small charge. Scuba gear may or may not be included with the diving price, depending on the operator.
Daily Tour visit sites include: Kicker Rock , Española , Punta Pitt , and Isla Lobos , in conjunction with beaches at Cerro Brujo , Puerto Grande, Manglecito, and Gardiner (Española).
The most popular tour in San Cristóbal is the Vivencial Fishing "360" , which circumnavigates the entire island while visiting Kicker Rock , Bahia Sardina , Punta Pitt* , and Rosa Blanca . It even includes a short session of fishing for tuna and wahoo.
We operate a Vivencial Fishing boat: Leodan . You can learn more on our Agency/Fishing website: Galeodan.com (opens in another tab).
.jpg)
Kicker Rock is known locally as Léon Dormido, so named for its alleged resemblance to a sleeping lion. This remnant of a volcanic tuff cone, eroded into twin peaks, rising 140m above water, is the icon of San Cristóbal and one of the most popular attractions in the Galápagos.
The spectacular view above water is matched by the scenery and abundance of life below. Here you will see turtles, rays, reef-fish of all types, sea lions (of course) and several species of shark including hammerheads which sometimes congregate in large numbers. Numerous guests have told us they experienced their best ever dives and snorkels there.
Kicker Rock is 30 to 60 minutes from port (depending on the boat). There are no landings on the rock itself. It can be visited on a Daily Tour boat, or a Vivencial Fishing boat.
Vivencial Fishing boats include Kicker Rock on the 360 tour which circumnavigates the island running typically from 7:30 to 4:15
Daily Tour boats visit Kicker Rock plus a beach. Typically 3/4 day \ 8:30 to 2:15. Some slow boats require more time.
Kicker Rock is not far from shore, on the sheltered side of the island. Seas are generally calm, in all seasons.
The snorkeling and diving is moderate to challenging, depending on the currents, which are occasionally quite strong.
.jpg)
Española is the oldest island in Galápagos, 35 miles south of San Cristóbal. Due to its isolation, Española features several endemic species - It hosts 97% of the world's population of Waved Albatross, making it a top choice for that reason alone.
In addition to the Albatross, Española boasts spectacular scenery and a wide range of bird and reptile life, including mockingbirds, lava lizards, Galápagos hawks, tropic birds and lots of sea lions.
The Vivencial Fishing boats take you to the recently opened pristine sites of Punta Cevallos, El Manzanillo, and Islote Tortuga (for snorkeling).
The Daily tour at Punta Suarez, features the popular blowhole: El Soplador , and 1.3km of pristine white beach at Gardiner Bay.
Peak season for Española is April to December, the breeding season of the Waved Albatross. But the scenery and always abundant wildlife, make it worth a visit at any time of year.
Rosa Blanca , on the SE side of the island, is one of the most fascinating sites on San Cristóbal. It features:
Rosa Blanca is exclusive to the Vivencial Fishing boats and is featured on every 360 Tour.
Punta Pitt , at the northern tip of San Cristóbal, is the only location in Galápagos where you can see all three species of Booby: Nazcar, Red Footed, and Blue Footed, as well as Frigate birds, nesting in the same area.
The Daily Tour excursion starts with a wet landing on one of the World's very few green (olivine) beaches where sunlight sparkles off the crystalline granules. As on many of San Cristóbal's beaches, you will need to navigate a sizeable sea lion population.
The walk, which takes about 2 hours, features some challenging sections but at all times spectacular scenery.
On the 360 Tour, Vivencial Fishing boats pause in the bay, usually for lunch, so you can view birds nesting on the rocky shoreline, flying overhead or ocasionally perching on the handrails.
Isla Lobos is a small island just offshore and about 30 minutes from port.
The hike, which takes about an hour, leads you past nesting blue-footed boobies and frigate birds.
The crystal clear and relatively shallow channel between Isla Lobos and San Cristóbal is alive with sea lions, turtles, rays, and marine iguanas.
The half day tour concludes with a visit to the beautiful beach of Puerto Ochoa.
.jpg)
Besides it's gorgeous scenery and abundant wildlife, Floreana is storied for it's human history, starting with the first settler of the Islands: an Irishman by the name of Patrick Watkins who was marooned there in 1807.
Floreana gained further notoriety with the arrival of the infamous "Baronessa", in 1932, where she clashed with the two already established families. A descendent of the Wittmers still operates a hotel on the island.
The island is a good 60 miles from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, which means a 2.5 to 3 hour crossing over open seas. It is more frequently visited from Santa Cruz - Or on a cruise.
Cerro Brujo features extraordinary rock formations, and a beautiful, long, coral-sand beach, interspersed with tidal pools and excellent snorkeling opportunities.
Vivencial Fishing boats make a close pass to the rock formations for exceptional photo opportunities.
Some Daily Tour boats will take you onshore to walk one of the most beautiful beaches in all Galápagos.
The Vivencial Fishing 360 Tour is the most popular tour out of San Cristóbal, combining Kicker Rock, Rosa Blanca, an offshore pause at Punta Pitt, and the beach at Bahia Sardina.
On the Daily Tours, Kicker Rock is generally combined with a visit to one of the beaches: Cerro Brujo, Manglecito, or Puerto Grande.
Daily Tour boats can combine Kicker Rock and Punta Pitt. However, the distance between means that only a couple of the Daily Tour boats offer this combination, and even then, there is limited time for the hike at Punta Pitt, and insufficient time for diving.
Hiking and snorkeling at Isla Lobos is combined with the beach at Puerto Ochoa .
Española and Floreana are not combined with any of the other primary sites, however each include hiking and snorkeling activities.
Most daily tours include a visit to one of San Cristóbal's many beautiful and isolated beaches, including:
San Cristóbal boasts an unmatched selection of beautiful and isolated beaches to visit.
| Contact Us - Galeodan Suites | |
|---|---|
| Email: | info@galeodan.com |
| Telephone: | +593 5 252 1613 |
| Mobile \ WhatsApp | +593 99 654 9948 - English |
| Mobile \ WhatsApp | +593 99 643 4823 - Espanol |
Copyright © 2022 Galeodanturis Cia. Ltda. All Rights Reserved