Itinerary
- Day 1
Quito
You'll land in Quito, Ecuador's capital, set in a valley surrounded by volcanoes near the equator. If your flight gets in early, there's time to walk around the colonial architecture, check out the town squares, and grab a coffee at a local café. Later, you'll meet your trip leader and the rest of the group at the hotel for a briefing and your first dinner together.
- Meals
- Dinner
Optional Activities
- Journey from airport or hotel to explore Quito's town squares, cafés and colonial architecture
Landmarks/POIs Quito - Day 2
Quito to San Cristobal
A short flight takes you to San Cristobal, the easternmost Galapagos island. After lunch, you'll bike through the lush highland cloud forest from La Soledad down to La Loberia beach, where a large sea lion colony hangs out. It's a flat ride that's vehicle-supported, covering about 14.5 kilometres over roughly 2 hours.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Dinner on local produce and fresh fish)
Included Activities
- Short flight to San Cristobal
- Bike ride through highland cloud forest to La Loberia beach (14.5 km, 2 hours, flat, vehicle-supported)
Landmarks/POIs San Cristobal Island La Loberia Puerto Baquerizo Moreno - Day 3
San Cristobal
You'll cruise out to Kicker Rock for snorkeling around an underwater volcano with a 150-metre rock face. The water's full of tropical fish, turtles, and sharks. After lunch at a nearby bay where you get some rest, the group heads to the interpretation centre to learn about island history and biology. If you're up for it, there's an optional hike to Frigate Hill Lookout to watch frigate birds.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at a picturesque bay)
Included Activities
- Snorkeling at Kicker Rock (1 or 2 snorkels, 1.5 hours total)
- Visit to interpretation centre
Optional Activities
- Scuba diving at Kicker Rock (add US$250)
- Optional hike to Frigate Hill Lookout
Landmarks/POIs Kicker Rock Frigate Hill Lookout - Day 4
San Cristobal to Floreana
An early boat departure takes you to Floreana Island, the sixth largest and least inhabited island in the chain. During the 2 to 3 hour journey, watch for dolphins. Once there, you'll hike through the highlands for 1 to 2 hours (covering 1.8 km) to visit pirate caves and ancient settlements. By evening, you reach Puerto Velasco Ibarra and catch a fantastic sunset over the sea.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Early breakfast), Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Boat journey to Floreana Island (2-3 hours)
- Snorkel at Floreana Island (30 minutes)
- Hike through Floreana highlands visiting pirate caves and first inhabitants area (1.8 km, 1-2 hours)
Landmarks/POIs Floreana Island Puerto Velasco Ibarra - Day 5
Floreana to Isabela
You'll travel to Isabela Island, the largest in the archipelago. Start the morning with a kayak in Isabela Bay to see marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, rays, and turtles. After lunch, walk through Tintoreras (Shark Alley) to check out an iguana-nesting site, then go snorkeling in calm waters where colourful fish and green sea turtles swim around.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Boat journey to Isabela Island (2-3 hours)
- Early morning kayak in Isabela Bay (1 hour)
- Walk at Tintoreras/Shark Alley
- Snorkel at Tintoreras (40 minutes)
Landmarks/POIs Isabela Island Tintoreras - Day 6
Isabela
You'll hike to the summit of Sierra Negra volcano, moving through different landscapes to reach one of the world's largest and most active volcanic calderas with a seven-mile-wide crater. The route continues across vast lava fields of Volcan Chico, offering great views to the north. Along the way, look for Galapagos hawks, owls, and finches.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Hearty lunch)
Included Activities
- Hike to Sierra Negra volcano summit and Volcan Chico (16 km, 4-6 hours)
Landmarks/POIs Sierra Negra Volcano Volcan Chico - Day 7
Isabela
Your last morning on Isabela gives you options. You can relax and explore the beach, or take an optional snorkel trip to Los Tuneles (The Tunnels), a unique lava tunnel formation created when lava reached the ocean. There you'll see sleeping reef sharks, sea turtles, seahorses, and colourful starfish. In the afternoon, walk to a wetland with pink flamingos and visit the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walk to mangrove-lined wetland with pink flamingos and pintail ducks
- Visit to Isabela's Giant Tortoise Breeding Center
Optional Activities
- Relax and explore the beach
- Snorkel 'Los Tuneles' (The Tunnels) - approximately one hour from town (add US$150)
Landmarks/POIs Los Tuneles Isabela Giant Tortoise Breeding Center - Day 8
Isabela to Santa Cruz
You'll leave early for Santa Cruz Island and hike into the cloud forest highlands where giant tortoises roam their natural environment, along with vermillion flycatchers and lava tunnels carved by molten lava. The Charles Darwin Research Station gives you a look at tortoise and land iguana breeding programs, where you can see different carapace types.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Boat journey to Santa Cruz Island (2 hours)
- Hike in cloud forest highlands to see giant tortoises in natural environment (2 km, 1-2 hours, flat)
- Explore lava tunnels
- Visit to Charles Darwin Research Station
Landmarks/POIs Santa Cruz Island Charles Darwin Research Station - Day 9
Santa Cruz to Quito
You'll visit Los Gemelos, twin crater sinkholes surrounded by scalesia forests with their own unique climate. The area's home to bromeliads, orchids, mosses, lichens, and eight species of Charles Darwin finches. From there, you'll fly back to Quito for a final celebratory dinner with the group.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Final celebratory dinner with group)
Included Activities
- Visit to Los Gemelos twin craters
- Short flight from Santa Cruz back to Quito
Landmarks/POIs Los Gemelos - Day 10
Departure from Quito
This is your final day. You'll head out refreshed after days of great activities, quality food, and time spent with your travel group throughout the Galapagos Islands.
- Meals
- Breakfast
