Exotic Flora and Fauna on Guided Tours Throughout the Galapagos Islands

Charles Darwin put the Galapagos Islands on the map with his groundbreaking evolutionary tome, On The Origin of Species. When he visited the islands in 1835, the naturalist documented exotic species and began to form his controversial scientific theories. Thanks to ongoing conservation efforts—including selection as the first World Heritage Site— the Galapagos Islands continue to sustain the wildlife that inspired Darwin. With this Getaway from Red Mangrove Galapagos Lodges, you get to t ravel in Darwin's footsteps to three of the Galapagos Islands, known collectively as Darwin's Triangle.

The deal includes lodging at Red Mangrove's hotels, most meals, ground transportation, and guided tours. Air transportation to and from the Galapagos Islands is not included. View the detailed itinerary for the Darwin's Triangle five-day, four-night short expedition and the six-day, five-night long expedition.

Both trips follow the same itinerary up until day 4; the long expedition continues for another day.

Day 1: Tour guides accompany guests from Galapagos's Baltra Island Airport (GPS) to Santa Cruz Island. From here, the caravan makes its way via charter bus to the town of Puerto Ayora, where a lunch awaits at the first night's accommodations, the Aventura Lodge. You can pass the afternoon on the sandy shores of Garrapatero Beach, home to a large flock of flamingos, as well as marine iguanas, shrimp, Galapagos penguins, and oystercatchers. After mingling with the indigenous species, the group heads back to Aventura Lodge for dinner and a good night's rest.

Day 2: After breakfast, the group embarks on a hike to Los Gemelos, a pair of collapsed lava chambers in the Santa Cruz highlands. Then it’s on to a 600-acre private reserve where Galapagos tortoises graze, sleep, and play euchre. From there, you can explore an illuminated lava tunnel, replete with lava stalagmites and stalactites. Lunch back at the lodge is followed by a roughly two-hour boat trip to the next island, Floreana, the least populated of the four colonized islands in the archipelago. You're welcome to snorkel and swim before visiting a local family's house for dinner and retiring to the lodge for the night.

Day 3: The day begins with breakfast at a local family's house. Afterwards, the bus shuttles up to Asilo de la Paz in the agricultural sector of the island, where naturalist guides shed light on the subspecies of iguana that lived in Darwin's beard. Keep an eye out for the nests of the Galapagos petrel, an endangered species of bird that is slowly making a comeback thanks to conservation efforts. After lunch at the Red Mangrove Isabela Lodge, the entourage hops aboard a boat to scope out a small group of islands known as Las Tintoreras. Once ashore, you can explore the jagged lava field or make your way down to the bay and snorkel among the sea turtles and nonaggressive, white-tipped reef sharks. Dinner is served back at Isabela Lodge.

Day 4: Travelers on the short expedition spend their final full day at the wetlands, where you can loll around on a white-sand beach, trek to the summit of Cerro Orchilla, and perhaps catch a glimpse of Darwin finches and lava lizards. The short expedition culminates with a trip back to Santa Cruz island and a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station, home of Lonesome George, the last living tortoise in his subspecies. After a night at Aventura Lodge, short trippers head to the airport on day 5.

Those on the long expedition complete the above itinerary on day 5, and head to the airport on day 6. The long expedition's day 4 schedule includes a hike at the Sierra Negra volcano and a lunch at Campo Duro, an organic farm. Back at the lodge, you have the rest of the evening to explore Isabela.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.