Itinerary
- Day 1
Quito
You'll land at Quito Airport with views of the Andes surrounding the city as you descend. Your driver meets you at baggage claim and drives you to your hotel in the city center. Depending on when you arrive, you can settle in and rest, or if it's still early, take a walk around Quito on your own to get your bearings.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- First exploration of Quito
- Day 2
Quito to Galapagos (Santa Cruz)
After breakfast, your driver picks you up for the drive to Quito Airport and your flight to the Galapagos. You'll land at Baltra, then take a ferry across the Itabaca Channel to reach Santa Cruz Island. In the afternoon, head into the green highlands where you can see giant tortoises roaming freely, walk through impressive lava tunnels, and stop at an organic coffee farm to learn how they grow and roast their beans, then have a cup of fresh local coffee.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Explore Santa Cruz highlands to observe giant tortoises
- Visit lava tunnels
- Visit organic coffee farm and enjoy locally-brewed coffee
Landmarks/POIs Itabaca Channel Santa Cruz Island Baltra Airport - Day 3
Galapagos Island Excursion (Santa Cruz Base)
Today you're heading to one of the uninhabited islands in the archipelago, though which one depends on National Park permits and the boat schedule that day. It could be North Seymour, South Plazas, Bartolé, or Santa Fé, and each has its own distinct landscapes and wildlife to see. Lunch happens on the boat, and afterward you'll have time to snorkel at a beach near the island before heading back.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch served aboard)
Included Activities
- Visit uninhabited Galapagos island (North Seymour, South Plazas, Bartolomé, or Santa Fé)
- Snorkeling at nearby beach
- Lunch aboard boat
Landmarks/POIs North Seymour Island South Plazas Island Bartolomé Island Santa Fé Island - Day 4
Santa Cruz to Isabela Island
An early morning public speedboat takes you from Santa Cruz to Isabela Island, which takes about 2 hours. Once you get to Puerto Villamil, you'll check into your hotel and get settled. After that, you'll head out again on a roughly 40-minute boat ride to Los Túneles, one of the best snorkeling spots around Isabela, where lava has formed arches both above and below the water line. You'll see seahorses, colorful fish, rays, turtles, white-tipped reef sharks, and if you're lucky, penguins or blue-footed boobies before the boat brings you back to Puerto Villamil by late afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Snorkeling at Los Túneles
Landmarks/POIs Los Túneles Puerto Villamil Isabela Island - Day 5
Isabela Island
After breakfast, you'll bike along the southern part of Isabela Island, stopping at several beaches including Playa del Amor where there's a large marine iguana colony, the Tortoise Breeding Center, and Flamingo Lagoon. If you have the energy, you can cycle out to the Wall of Tears, a historical site about 5 km from town. The rest of your afternoon is yours to do as you like, whether that's relaxing on the beach, snorkeling at Concha Perla bay, or wandering around the small town.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Delicious breakfast)
Included Activities
- Bike tour along southern Isabela Island with stops at beaches
- Visit Tortoise Breeding Center
- Visit Flamingo Lagoon
Optional Activities
- Cycle to the Wall of Tears historical site
- Snorkel at Concha Perla bay
- Explore Puerto Villamil town
Landmarks/POIs Playa del Amor Tortoise Breeding Center Flamingo Lagoon Wall of Tears Concha Perla - Day 6
Isabela to Santa Cruz Island
You'll start the morning by kayaking out to Las Tintoreras Islets, small volcanic islands just offshore from Puerto Villamil. Look for penguins and blue-footed boobies, and paddle around to see colorful fish, turtles, and sea lions underwater. On the islands themselves, you can spot Galapagos sharks moving through naturally-formed tunnels while you walk around. In the afternoon, catch the public speedboat back to Santa Cruz Island, about 2 hours on the water, and your hotel at Puerto Ayora is waiting for you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Kayak exploration of Las Tintoreras Islets
- Walk on the islets to view Galapagos sharks
Landmarks/POIs Las Tintoreras Islets Puerto Ayora - Day 7
Santa Cruz to Mainland Ecuador
If your flight leaves later in the day, you have the option to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station in the morning and see what researchers are doing to protect the islands and bring back different tortoise species. You can also check out the land iguanas there. Your driver will pick you up with plenty of time to get you to Baltra Airport, and you'll take the ferry back across the Itabaca Channel for your flight to mainland Ecuador.
Optional Activities
- Visit Charles Darwin Research Station
Landmarks/POIs Charles Darwin Research Station
