Galapagos Island Explorer

This evening, a representative meets the group for a briefing about the upcoming adventure and an opportunity to get to know your travel mates before your first dinner together.

If you arrive early, use your free time to get acquainted with one of the highest capital cities in the world, sitting at just over 9,000 feet above sea level. The city nestles in a long, narrow valley of the Andes and is flanked by the Pichincha Volcano to the west. For a great view and a little exercise, Pichincha is easily accessible for a day trip.

If you’re in a cultural mood, head to the Old Town to stroll through magnificent cathedrals and take in the colonial architecture of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. El Panecillo, or the Little Bread Loaf, sits high atop a hill in the Old Town and offers a panoramic view of the city. Museums are scattered throughout the New and Old Town, along with local artisan markets that are great for picking up souvenirs. The New Town teems with cafes and restaurants and brings together a vibrant mix of locals, expats, and fellow travelers. Both areas are easily accessed by trolley or taxi.

If you’d like support arranging any pre-tour activities or accommodations for an early arrival or extended stay, we’re happy to help.

NOTE: Like many urban areas, Quito has its share of petty theft. Keep valuables and passports in your hotel safe and only carry essentials. 

ACCOMMODATION : EB Hotel or similar

MEALS INCLUDED : Dinner

This morning, take a short flight to one of the oldest islands in the Galapagos archipelago, San Cristobal. Land in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, a coastal town and the administrative capital of the islands. After sampling some of the local cuisine, head up into the highlands for a scenic downhill bike ride. Starting at a panoramic viewpoint called La Soledad, bike through the tiny town of El Progreso and pass through five different vegetation zones until reaching a beach called La Loberia. There, watch sea lions sunbathe, play, and vie for your attention. If you can’t wait to get in the water, this is your first opportunity.

As the sun sets, bike back to town and prepare for a welcome dinner of fresh fish and island cuisine at a small local restaurant.

ACCOMMODATION : Hotel Seaside or Hotel Casa Blanca

MEALS INCLUDED : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today, take to the water to get a glimpse of the underwater world of Galapagos. First, cruise along the coast in the boat, identifying shore birds like the Great Frigate and the famous Blue-Footed Booby. Then, anchor in some calm waters and get your fins wet in search of damselfish, pufferfish, and, hopefully, curious sea lion pups.

From there, continue to Kicker Rock, or Leon Dormido as it’s known by the locals, to explore the final remains of a tuff cone rising over 143 meters out of the ocean. If Kicker Rock were a building, it would have almost 50 floors! Along the edge and through a channel of this drastic compact ash formation, be on the hunt for sea turtles, spotted eagle rays, chocolate chip starfish, and, with any luck, a Galapagos Shark or two. Don’t worry; they won’t be as interested in you as you are in them.

A beautiful beach, accessible only by boat, is the final stop for the day. After lunch on board, feel free to spend your time swimming in the turquoise water or snapping photos of Kicker Rock in the distance.

Head back to town late afternoon to visit the Interpretation Center where you’ll learn about the history and mystery of the archipelago, from its discovery and what makes it so special, to Charles Darwin’s visit and the present-day efforts to protect this amazing World Heritage site. There’s a short hike to Tijeretas, a panoramic lookout over the town and Kicker Rock, for those interested.

To culminate the educational afternoon, pick a spot at nearby Playa Mann, or Mann Beach, with the playful sea lions, or grab a front-row seat at Casa Blanca to toast the sunset. Dinner is on your own tonight, and plenty of suggestions are available.

DIVING – The option to dive is available. Please inquire in advance.

ACCOMMODATION : Hotel Seaside or Hotel Casa Blanca or similar

MEALS INCLUDED : Breakfast and Lunch

After breakfast, depart by boat for the least inhabited of the main islands, Floreana. On route, keep your eyes peeled for dolphins, whales, and the waved albatross. Have a pre-lunch snorkel before going ashore to a black sand beach at the home of the Witmers, one of the island's first settlers. With a population of fewer than 150 people, Puerto Velasco Ibarra is a sleepy little town but not without its secrets. You can read up on how life came to be on Floreana and how some lives mysteriously ended.

After lunch, take a siesta while listening to the waves, or walk along the coast in search of sunbathing iguanas. This afternoon, bus up to the highlands to visit the Pirate and Whaler Caves from long ago.

Return to town and your beachside accommodation in time to enjoy the day’s last light before heading to dinner. After dinner, on the way back to the hotel, be sure to spend a few moments looking up—Floreana is one of the best places for stargazing!

NOTE: Because of the small nature of the hotel and lack of availability, sometimes it’s not possible to stay and we must continue on to Isabela.

ACCOMMODATION : Wittmer Lodge or similar

MEALS INCLUDED : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, have a chance to go for one last walk along Floreana’s coast before embarking for Isabela, the largest island in the archipelago. Once arriving in Puerto Villamil, check in, have lunch, and then head off for a kayak around the sheltered bay area of Puerto Villamil. Galapagos penguins (the only penguin found north of the equator), sea turtles, and rays frequent these shallow waters, and blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, and pelicans may be seen resting along the shore and in some nearby mangrove trees.

An easy walk around some aa lava fields and a fun snorkel with curious Galapagos creatures are in store this afternoon. Head over to Las Tintoreras, first enjoying a bit of a boat tour around the bay, searching for penguins!

Walking around Tintoreras, you're greeted by an abundance of marine iguanas. This is an important nesting site for them, so be sure to stick to the trail. Juvenile marine iguanas, as well as adults that are often brightly colored, are seen here. In some of the calm channels you walk by, you may also see sleeping sharks.

Putting on your fins and masks, a dip in the water has you snorkeling with a wide range of aquatic animals. Be on the lookout for things like sea cucumbers, chocolate chip sea stars, and even Galapagos penguins.

ACCOMMODATION : Hotel Albemarle or similar

MEALS INCLUDED : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lace up your hiking boots, we’re heading up a volcano! Sierra Negra Volcano is one of the most active volcanoes in Galapagos; its last eruption was in June 2018. As we hike to the perimeter of the caldera, we’re on the lookout for bird species found only in the highlands, like the bright red Vermillion Flycatcher and the elusive short-eared owl. Once we reach the rim, we’re met with a nine-kilometer view that stretches across one of the most active calderas in the world. We continue on to traverse the vast lava fields of Volcan Chico en route for a lookout that boasts breathtaking views reaching to the north of Isabela. After enjoying a hearty sense of accomplishment, we make our way back to town late afternoon for some free time to curl up with a book or venture down to the water for a relaxing swim before dinner.

ACCOMMODATION : Hotel Albemarle or sililar

MEALS INCLUDED : Breakfast and Lunch

Enjoy a free morning or take an add-on *Snorkel Tour to Los Tuneles.

If you think sleeping sharks, sea horses, sea turtles, and strange lava tunnel formations sound intriguing, then you’re going to need your mask, snorkel, and flippers because you get all that and more at Los Tuneles.

Also called Cabo Rosa, this area about one hour from town was created when lava flows reached the ocean, forming tunnels, arches, and sheltered bays perfect for snorkeling. They also happen to be perfect feeding grounds for sea turtles and resting places for other species like Galapagos sharks! Even the cute Galapagos penguins have been known to visit this area at times. It is one of the most diverse snorkel spots in the entire archipelago, and also home to some birds, such as nesting blue-footed boobies.

The ride to get here can be a bit rough, and because of the lava formations, safe access is only possible at certain tides. If you want to maximize the time you spend in the water in the Galapagos, Los Tuneles should be on your list! We haven’t even mentioned that sea lions, eagle rays, octopus, and plenty of tropical fish, sea stars, and sea urchins are also spotted in these often crystal-clear waters!

After lunch, we visit the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center, where we see giant tortoises in all stages of development. The center has almost a thousand giant tortoises training for life on their own!

There is a nice mangrove-lined boardwalk path that brings us back to town from the center. Many birds, including flamingoes, call this area home.

Tonight, we meet back up for a well-deserved feast as it’s our last night in Isabela.

Note: * Snorkel Tour to Los Tuneles has an extra cost of $165 per person.

ACCOMMODATION : Hotel Albemarle or similar

MEALS INCLUDED : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We’ll wave goodbye to Isabela this morning as we depart for Santa Cruz. Once we arrive, the day’s first highlight is heading into the highlands to a private reserve where giant tortoises roam free. Expect to get some great photos of tortoises wallowing in mud pools, munching on vegetation, or even “running” across the fields in the highlands at full speed. The area often includes lava tunnels too—some large enough to walk through!

After lunch in the highlands, we’ll return to town for a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station. Here, we’ll learn about the station’s work repopulating the islands with once-endangered land iguanas and several species of Giant Tortoise. From egg collection to the age of release, you’ll get a close-up look at how these iconic creatures are raised and readied for life in the wild.

The afternoon is yours to enjoy as you wish. Puerto Ayora is the biggest town in the Galapagos, with plenty of shops, cafés, and a scenic waterfront to explore. For those up for more adventure, an optional walk to Tortuga Bay is highly recommended. The beach is only accessible by foot—about 45 minutes on a flat, shaded path that’s great for spotting lava lizards and local birdlife.

The first beach you’ll reach has rough surf, perfect for surfing or bodyboarding, while a little further along lies Tortuga Bay—a calm, mangrove-sheltered lagoon ideal for swimming, kayaking, or relaxing in the sand. A nearby cactus forest trail offers one more chance to spot nesting blue-footed boobies and some of the largest marine iguanas around.

After your beach time, head back to town for our final group dinner and a toast to our time in the Enchanted Islands.

ACCOMMODATION : Hotel Solymar or Posada Del Mar or similar

MEALS INCLUDED : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Enjoy a bit of free time this morning before we head to the airport for your flight back to the mainland. Baltra Airport is located on a separate island, so reaching it requires a cross-island taxi ride on Santa Cruz, followed by a short ferry crossing and a bus ride—altogether, allow for up to two hours of travel time.

On the way, let us know if you’re craving one last good coffee! Time permitting, we’ll stop at a local distributor where you can grab a bag of freshly ground Galapagos Coffee—the only product exported from the islands and a great souvenir for home.

If schedules allow, we’ll also make a short visit to Los Gemelos, a pair of massive volcanic sinkholes nestled in the highlands. These unique geological formations are unlike anything else you'll have seen during your trip and are surrounded by lush Scalesia forest—a haven for finches and other endemic birdlife.

As you board the ferry across the channel to Baltra, take one last moment to soak in the turquoise waters and reflect on your island adventures. This evening, enjoy a final dinner back in Quito to close out an unforgettable journey.

ACCOMMODATION : EB Hotel or similar

MEALS INCLUDED : Breakfast and Dinner

Today marks the final day of your Galapagos adventure. If you have a flight out before noon, we’ll make sure you get to the airport on time. For those with later departures, we’re happy to help arrange a day tour in and around Quito so you can squeeze in a bit more exploring before heading home.

Extend your vacation! Visit the lush Amazon rainforest, explore the grandiose heights of the Highlands or walk through history in the Quito or Cuenco. Whatever your Ecuadorian adventure goals, our adventure consultants can make it happen! 

MEALS INCLUDED : Breakfast