Island Hopping in Galapagos with Hotel Solymar

We are proud to offer our guests, access to the 2 most sought after islands in Galapagos, Santa Cruz and Isabella! We have paired up with Hotel Iguana Crossing in Isabella and created a package including a volcano tour in Isabella, walking with the Giant tortoises in the Highlands of Santa Cruz, exploring an ancient lava tunnel, and two chances to snorkel with sharks and penguins! *Hotel Solymar*

Santa Cruz Highlands, enjoy a photo session with Giant Tortoises!

Galapagos Adventure – Santa Cruz – Isabela

Referential Itinerary: (5 nights)

DAY 1: Arrival in Baltra. Transfer in.
Visit to Highlands: A Galapagos Naturalist guide will lead a prívate tour to 2 large pit craters called “Los Gemelos” or the twins. These craters like the islands were formed by volcanic activity, also a great place to observe a variety of birds. Afterwards visit a private farm where a short walk will bring you face to face with Galapagos Giant Tortoises. Visitors can experience these peaceful creatures up close and take pictures. The abundant vegetation in the area is home to various species of endemic birds. Enjoy a walk thru the lava tunnels before leaving the farm.

Explore these amazing tunnels formed over thousands of years ago

Check in at Hotel.
Visit to Charles Darwin Foundation: A 15-minute walk from our hotel Experience the wonder of these Giant Tortoises up close as you take photos of these magnificent creatures. Try to catch a glimpse of Lonesome George as he naps under a shrub. Stop by the interpretation center, it’s a fantastic place to learn about the conservation of the islands, geology and the movement of the tectonic plates. Incredibly small, the young tortoises are the highlight of the visit, it’s difficult to imagine that a 500-pound Giant Galapagos can start so tiny! Essential items hat, sunscreen, camera and comfortable shoes. Duration 1-2 hours. Accommodation.

DAY 2: Breakfast Buffet
Bay Tour: Guests enjoy a tour around Academy Bay. Visit The Lobería, a small island where you can swim and snorkel with sea lions. Known places like Love Canal,
Canal Sharks, “Las Grietas” and Playa de Los Alemanes. Enjoy watching sharks, sea lions, blue footed boobies, marine iguanas and other species.
Tortuga Bay Beach (self-guided): Transfer from hotel the beginning of the path that leads to the beautiful Tortuga Bay beach. Visitors must register their entry into the National Park booth, then start the 30-minute walk to the beach, crossing an arid aromatic Palo Santo forest surrounded by cactus, lava rock and a variety of birds will find the spectacular beach, Tortuga Bay. Initially you will see a breath taking landscape of white sandy beach , Playa Brava. This beach is perfect for surfing, body surfing and sunbathing. Walking a little further, you arrive at a quiet and small beach where you can swim and snorkel (Playa Mansa). In this tour will see pelicans, marine iguanas, herons, frigate birds, blue footed boobies and white-tipped sharks.
Accomodation.

Enjoy a afternoon cocktail poolside

DAY 3: Breakfast Buffet
Free morning to enjoy the hotel facilities.
At 13h20 transfer to the main dock take a boat to Isabella island (lasting approximately 2 hours).
Arrival to Isabella Island and ground transportation to the hotel.
Afternoon free to enjoy the extensive and beautiful beaches of Puerto Villamil, the town and the
Flamingo Lake. This place is the largest lagoon in the Galapagos and is one of the main breeding sites of Flamingos. Accommodation

DAY 4: Breakfast Buffet
Wall of Tears Tour: This is a historic site, during the years 1946-1959 there was a penal colony in Isabella, during which time in order to punish the prisoners, they were forced to build a wall with enormous lava blocks. The wall is a 100 meters long and 7 meters high.
It’s a scenic walk and you will enjoy the most varied landscapes in Galapagos. During the walk you will find white sandy beaches, mangrove swamps, brackish lagoons and lava tunnels. In this area you can see giant tortoises, marine iguanas and birds.

Wall of Tears, Isabella, Galapagos

Tintorera’s (White tipped sharks) Tour: The Tintoreras is located south of Puerto Villamil and approximate travel time is 10 min. A dinghy will take you to the islet. It has a small bay with waters completely calm turquoise, where you can see sea lions, sea turtles, marine iguanas, rays, etc.. This bay is connected to a crystal clear crevice where you can see how the sharks swim along with other small fish and seals. Accommodation.

DAY 5: Breakfast. Very early morning transfer takes place Hotel – Dock for return trip to the Santa Cruz Island (approximately 2 hours). Transfer Dock – Hotel Solymar. Free day to relax, enjoy Puerto Ayora and tourist sites. Accommodation.

Early morning on Isabella Island Galapagos

DAY 6: Breakfast Buffet
Transfer out with assistance to Baltra airport. End of services.

Our Program includes:

Santa Cruz Island

• Assistance in Baltra Airport
• Transfers Airport – Hotel – Airport
• Accommodation in Hotel Solymar / Isla Sol
• Daily Oceanfront Breakfast Buffet
• Highland Tour: Twin Pit Craters, Primicias Ranch, Lava Tunels
• Guided Tour of Charles Darwin Station
• Bay Tour: Sea lion Island, Channel of Love, Shark Channel, “Las Grietas”
• Transfer to Tortuga Bay entrance
• Transfers  Hotel – Dock – Hotel
• Hotel Taxes

Transfer by boat from Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz to Puerto Villamil Isabella

Isabella Island

• Transfers  Hotel – Dock – Hotel
• Accommodation in Hotel Iguana Crossing
• Daily Breakfast Buffet
• Tour Tintoreras (snorkeling)
• Tour to Wall of Tears
• Only 6 day tour includes: Tour to Sierra Negra Volcano (Full Day)
• Hotel Taxes

Please contact us for more information, we would be delighted to assist you in planning your Galapagos Adventure!

In the Beginning there was only Sol y Mar

To begin a story one must look to their history, our history begins with our father and founder of Hotel Solymar, Jimmy Perez.

In 1958, Mr. Jimmy Perez (Father of Julian and Renato Perez, present owners of hotel) arrived to Galapagos, after living in New York for 37 years.

Jimmy with his oldest son, Renato Perez

Don Jimmy was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, but at the age of 12 he was sent to live in the United States. When he returned to visit Ecuador, a friend invited him to spend 3 weeks in a fishing boat in Galapagos, to catch lobster. So began his life changing trip to the Enchanted Islands.

The quiet, peace, nature and exotic landscapes captivated Don ​​Jimmy’s attention and he fell in love with the Islands and extended his stay on Santa Cruz Island, until he decided to buy a beachfront property in the area known as Pelican Bay.

Despite the lack of infrastructure and the shortage of manpower Don Jimmy began to design and build his house to accommodate those friends he had left in mainland Ecuador… the years passed and his cabin always was full, not only of unforgettable friends, but by a small but steady number of visitors already knew about Don Jimmy, his kindness and the wonderful location of his accommodation facing the sea.

Jimmy, his youngest son Julian Perez y amigos

Don Jimmy gradually with his hospitality and natural beauty of the place gained prestige. He began to add more cabins facing the sea and thus with the time and effort was created what later became known as Hotel Solymar. Our name was born from the only 2 things that Don Jimmy could guarantee that his guests would recieve, Sol = Sun and Mar = Sea. As very few boats and planes arrived in Galapagos in those days, it was difficult to provide certain goods and staples.

As the years passed the needs and the expectations of the visitors were changing. Therefore, the first Hotel Solymar that served approximately 50 years and unforgettable experiences, was in need of a renovation.

It was decided to build a hotel with 17 rooms, comfortable and modern surrounded by fauna and a beautiful view without losing the basic principles of conservation.

Hotel Solymar, oceanfront on Pelican Bay

On January 2, 2006 the demolition of the old hotel began, 8 days later it was complete dismantled and construction began, opening the new Hotel Solymar on 6 December of that year.

Hotel Solymar in constant growth and renewal, will debut in August 2011 a new project Isla Sol by Hotel Solymar.

We opened our extension, Isla Sol, on July 25, 2011. Only 10 steps from the front door of Hotel Solymar, it is a beautiful tower with vanguard style, including 14 suites, 2 ocean view meeting spaces and 1 ballroom. From the waterfall in the lobby and courtyard garden to the extra large shower heads and spacious rooms, Isla Sol is the new face of modern accomodations in Galapagos.

Exterior view, King Room in our extension, Isla Sol