7 days of tours and surf lessons in Galapagos — from: $2.900 $3.500
ITINERARY
day 1
Transfer in and Tijeretas
Transfer airport – hotel and an introductory briefing about the week’s events.
After getting settled in your hotel, a Naturalist Guide will take you on a walk starting off with a short passage by Playa Mann then you will continue on to the Interpretation Center, where you will learn about the history of the island. Then following the trail to the Tijeretas Hill your guide will explain about the vegetation of the place, the animals living close by and hopefully point out some of the frigates that give the place its name.
Make sure to get some snorkeling down in the natural pool of the Darwin’s Bay, and after you will continue your adventure down to Punta Carola Beach where San Cristobal’s Iconic Lighthouse is placed in a stretch of black volcanic rocks.
day 2
Surf Lesson 1
On the first Surf Lesson of the camp we go through the basics of surfing. We learn about the equipment (the board, leash, fins, wax etc.), the placement on the board, paddle technique, how to navigate the board in the water, how to avoid a wave and what to do in case of emergency. This class takes place on a beach with no waves, so that we can practice the techniques without being disturbed by waves.
During the whole Surf Camp there will be somebody from our team taking footage of the lessons. Every day after the lesson, we will go through this footage so you can see yourself and together we can correct and improve your technique and style.
According to tides and conditions you will have free time before or after the lesson to explore the town and nearby beaches by your own.
day 3
Highlands and Loberia
After breakfast your Naturalist Guide will pick you up from the hotel and take you to the trip to The Highland of San Cristobal. On this trip you will visit the historic heritage El Progreso located in the parish of the same name. From there we will continue to El Junco, the only permanent fresh water lake in Galapagos. It is located at 659 meters above sea level on an amazing volcano crater which gives a 360 degree view of the island. After we will continue with a short drive to La Galapaguera at Cerro Colorado, a free range tortoise breeding center managed by the Galapagos National Park. We’ll walk the grounds in search of wild giant tortoises and learn about the efforts this center makes to support their conservation. Afterwards we will go to the beautiful beach of Puerto Chino.
La Loberia Beach
Known by the quality of the snorkeling and the power and beauty of its world class wave, La Loberia is a place that you have to visit while in San Cristobal. Together with a Naturalist Guide you will snorkel and explore the variety of wild life that this place has to offer.
day 4
Surf Lesson 2
On the second Surf Lesson we discuss different types of waves and the water conditions. Why do we have waves and how do they occur? The wind and its influence on the waves, different types of waves, the swells and how to read a surf spot before going into the water. We will go through warm-up and stretching, how to enter the water, to choose and catch a wave and how to stand upon the board. All theory will be practiced in the water. This class takes place on a sandy beach (beach break), which is ideal for the first experiences with surfing, because there are no rocks or corals to be aware of.
After the lesson we will go through the footage to keep improving.
According to tides and conditions again today you will have free time before or after the lesson.
day 5
360° Tour
The day will start as you sail across the coast of San Cristobal and either go east or west depending on the day, during your trip you will be able to get a view of some truly hidden sides of this magic island, a sweet water waterfall that goes out to sea, Bahia Sardina is one of the stops where you will hopefully see sea turtle nests, another stop is Bahia Rosa Blanca a beautiful white sand beach that has an enchanting mangrove growing side to side with the water, you might get to snorkel with baby black tip sharks, also you will cross over Punta Pitt where you can have the chance to see some red footed booby and some more birdwatching. Along the way you will also get to see the majestic Kicker Rock and even shortly snorkel at this wonderful site habitat of hammerhead sharks, black tip sharks, white tip sharks, sea lions, sea turtles and lots of species of fish.
day 6
Surfing
Depending on the ocean’s conditions, we will visit the location with the best waves in order to have 1 or 2 surfing sessions throughout the day.
day 7
Transfer out
Transfer from the hotel to the airport.
* The order of activities may vary depending on climate, tides, and swells
– Transfer from the airport to the hotel followed by an introductory briefing.
– Local bilingual guide and host available for the duration of your stay.
– English speaking surf instructor certified with ISA (International Surfing Association). All our instructors are also certified lifeguards.
– 3 surf classes.
– Soft Top surfboard.
– Transportation and Naturalist Guide to visit the highlands.
– Visit to La Loberia with a Naturalist Guide.
– Day tour 360 which includes lunch, snacks, refreshments, towel, naturalist guide assigned by the boat company and snorkel gear.
– Transfer from the hotel to the airport.
– Snorkeling gear (snorkeling may be done at any point during your free time).
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For safety reasons, the minimum age for the surf camp is 13 years.
WHAT TO BRING
– Sun block.
– Hat/cap.
– Sunglasses.
– Reusable water bottle.
– Insect repellent.
– Wetsuit (depending on the season).
– Hiking/Walking shoes.
– Rain jacket or wind breaker.
DOES NOT INCLUDE
– Airfare.
– Entrance fee to the National Park ($100 USD cash only).
– Galapagos Migration Control Card ($20 USD cash only).
– Accommodation.
– Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
– Scuba Diving.
CONDITIONS
– Reservations will be accepted by email or telephone.
– Once services and availability have been confirmed, you will be sent your respective bill with the final cost via email.
– Approval of all bills will be accepted via email
Reservations will be confirmed after the initial deposit has been made.
– In order to reserve the tour you will need to deposit, or make a wire transfer, of 60% of the total cost maximum 15 days after the bill has been approved the remaining 40% has to be paid at least two months before your trip begins.
– Availability cannot be guaranteed until the trip has been paid in full.
– If you need to change or cancel your reservation, please get in touch with us as soon as possible by providing us with your reservation number.
– Any changes in your reservation are subject to availability.
PAYMENT POLICIES
– We accept wire transfers
– We accept payment via Western Union
CANCELLATION BY THE CLIENT
– Any cancellation must be done in writing via email. Once the email is received by LAVAWAVE SURF, we will
determine the charges that will apply to the cancellation.
– If cancellations are made sixty days prior to the start of your trip, you will lose the entire reservation
deposit of 60% of the total cost.
– If cancellations are made between 60 or 14 days prior to the start of trip, you will lose 100% of the total
cost of the packet
REFUND POLICIES
– Any refund must be handled directly with LAVAWAVE SURF
– Claims must be made in written form
– Any claim must be presented in writing no later than 30 days after services have concluded. On the contrary, we will not be able to process the claim.
– In order to recognize any claim, the operator and its agents agree to submit to the competent Ecuadorian
authorities
– Taking into account the different services and options of services specified on the bill, means a total
acceptance of the conditions specified in this contract by the client(s) part
DISCLAIMER
– LAVAWAVE SURF disclaims the following responsibilities:
– Illness, theft, disputes, labor, quarantine, government actions, weather, or any other cause beyond the
direct control of LAVAWAVE SURF
– Client’s failure to obtain required travel documentation such as passports, visas or certificates, will mean
that they will not be entitled to any refund
– Client’s failure to follow instructions, such as airport schedules and check in-/ check out times at hotels
– Cancellation or changes to the services offered for any reason
– LAVAWAVE SURF reserves the right to cancel a tour for any reason, unusual or unforeseen circumstances
outside LAVAWAVE SURF´s control. When a tour is cancelled the client may choose between a refund of all
monies paid or any alternative tour offered in lieu by LAVAWAVE SURF
– Total refunds will not be honored in situations in which tours have to be canceled, interrupted, or
postponed by LAVAWAVE SURF for reasons that are beyond our control (superior forces such as weather,
hurricanes, earthquakes, acts of terrorism, etc.) and in which LAVAWAVE SURF’S contractual obligations
with its suppliers don’t permit them to obtain a refund of the amounts paid or to be paid
– LAVAWAVE SURF reserves the right to keep 15% of the total cost as an administrative fee upon their own
discretion and understanding of each situation
