Island Hopping with IES

I’m 11 weeks into the semester, and it’s break time. Part of the IES Abroad Galápagos semester program includes an island-hopping tour during our fall break. So, here’s a recap of what we did during an incredible 4 day trip:

Saturday:

5:30 AM - Wake up and head to the ferry. The boat ride from San Cristóbal (where we live) and Santa Cruz is ~2 hours. Departure is 7 AM but arriving early means a better seat which can be important if the ocean is rough.

9 AM - Arrive in Santa Cruz, walk around the town of Puerto Ayora and explore! I had already been to this island for class a few weeks prior, so I felt well acquainted. My friends and I went to a cute bookstore and I got a few books.

12 PM - Lunch <3 best part of the day we always get fed so well on our trips.

1 PM - Head to El Garrapetero, an incredible beach ~40 mins from Puerto Ayora. We swam and took naps and ran around on the beach it was awesome.

7 PM - Dinner at Bahía Mar. We all ate an incredible seafood rice which was one of the best dishes I’ve eaten in Ecuador.

Sunday:

5:30 AM - Wake up and ferry again! Same length of trip and departure time to get to Isabela, the primary island of our trip.

9 AM - Arrive in Isabela & free time at the beach. Compared to the San Cristóbal, the main beach near the town on Isabela is much longer. We walked for 30-40 mins down the beach and then went for a swim. Flat sand and no rocks!

12 PM - Lunch

1 PM - Snorkeling trip at Tintoreras. We saw a huge sea turtle and stingray. Also tons of black-tipped reef sharks resting! And a baby Galápagos penguin.

6:30 PM - Dinner!

8 PM - Search for empanadas and/or morocho (a warm cinnamon milk drink that is delicious and a must-try in Galápagos). Unsuccessful, the places were all closed! But, we went to the municipal market and grabbed snacks for our hike the next day.

Monday:

6:30 AM - Breakfast at the hotel after sleeping in!

7:30 AM - Head to the base of Sierra Negra volcano for a 16 km hike. I had never seen a volcano so close, let alone hiked one. Sierra Negra is one of the most active volcanoes in the archipelago-it erupted in 2018! The views here were incredible.

2 PM - Lunch back in town.

3 PM - Bike ride to the Wall of Tears, a historical site where penal colony prisoners were forced to build a massive wall during the 1940s and 50s. The wall is staggering and sobering to consider its construction. There’s a trail beyond the wall that takes you up to an excellent viewpoint.

7 PM - Dinner!

9 PM - Walk on the beach to stargaze. Went with one of my friends and the sky was super clear. Once you pass a lighthouse about 15 minutes down the beach from the town, there are no more lights.

Tuesday:

4:30 AM - Wake up and head to the ferry!

8 AM - Arrive in Santa Cruz, have breakfast nearby the ferry.

10 AM - Trip to a tortoise reserve in the highlands and a massive lava tunnel. The lava tunnels were formed during volcanic activity; as lava flowed, the outermost layer cooled and hardened while the inside remained liquid and kept flowing.

12 PM - Lunch

3 PM - Ferry back to San Cristóbal.

5 PM - Back home!

We traveled with two IES Abroad program directors and a local guide named Stefania who was so lovely. I’m so grateful to the IES Abroad staff for planning these kinds of activities for us. Isabela offers a distinct and captivating set of environments. The quiet, less touristy feel is perfect for those who prefer a bit of calm.