Galapagos Family Holiday

8 days
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Small Group Tour
The Galapagos Islands are home to some of the rarest animals on the planet and this trip gives the whole family a unique opportunity to learn about the biology and diversity of this paradise. Everyone will enjoy spotting the myriad animals in their natural environment as they graze, sleep and play on the beaches, mountains and rocks of the islands of Santa Cr...
26%
$3,575
From$2,648
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Swimming beside sea lions is an incredible and surreal experience, and there are few better places to do so than Isla Lobos: home of the world's second largest sea lion colony.
    • You'll get to know the locals by staying in small hotels on the Galapagos islands, as well as exploring the islands and coves by boat.
    • Be surrounded by birds like blue-footed boobies and frigates, who land so close, and often have not even the slightest interest you're there!
    • Incredible photo opportunities await around every corner – not least of Kicker Rock, the marvellous twin volcanic peaks seen sitting in the ocean from the top of Cerro Tijeratas.
    • With spare time in Quito and Isla Santa Cruz, you can spend quality time with the family – perhaps with further hiking or visiting the colourful local markets.

What's this trip about?

    The Galapagos Islands are home to some of the rarest animals on the planet and this trip gives the whole family a unique opportunity to learn about the biology and diversity of this paradise. Everyone will enjoy spotting the myriad animals in their natural environment as they graze, sleep and play on the beaches, mountains and rocks of the islands of Santa Cruz and San Cristobal. Snorkel beside sea lions, marvel at the plodding majesty of giant tortoises, spot frigatebirds, blue-footed boobies and Galapagos crabs, and keep an eye out for marine iguanas, whales, dolphins and sharks as you explore this natural paradise. You’ll experience (animal) life like never before together on this beautiful family-focused expedition to the Galapagos.

Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 16 people
Age range5 years and up
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityQuito
End CityQuito

Travel Themes

  • Family Friendly
  • National Parks
  • Nature & Wildlife

Destinations

  • South America
  • Ecuador

Attractions

  • Galapagos
  • Quito
  • San Cristobal
  • Santa Cruz

Activities

  • Wildlife viewing

Trip includes

    • Complimentary Arrival Transfer
    • Quito - Leader led city tour + the Equator line
    • Isla Santa Cruz - Tortuga Bay walk
    • Isla Santa Cruz - Purto Ayora Walking Tour
    • Isla Santa Cruz - Charles Darwin Research Centre (45 Minutes)
    • Isla Santa Cruz - Highlands
    • Isla San Cristobal - Interpretation Center Visit (1 hour) - Dry Landing
    • Isla San Cristobal - Snorkelling in Las Loberias
    • Isla Lobos - Swimming and Snorkelling

Popular Trips

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Quito

Bienvenidos! Welcome to Ecuador. Sitting at an altitude of 2,850 metres, under the gaze of Volcan Pichincha, Quito is one of the most attractive cities in South America. Your adventure starts with a welcome meeting at 5 pm. You can arrive at any time as there are no a...

Day 2 Quito

After breakfast, explore the historic centre of Quito on a walking tour. Stroll through Plaza Grande (main square) and by the Archbishop's Palace. From here, walk about 800 metres uphill to reach the Basilica del Voto Nacional. Time permitting, you may wish to spend m...

Day 3 Isla Santa Cruz

Today you will take the short flight to Isla Santa Cruz, one of the main hubs of the Galapagos. Upon arrival, enjoy a walking tour of Purto Ayora, after which you’ll take a walk to Tortuga Bay. The walk to Tortuga Bay beach takes approximately 45 minutes (one way). Th...

Day 4 Isla Santa Cruz

After breakfast, head off to the Charles Darwin Research Station. This not-for-profit organisation has been operating since 1959. The station's visitor centre is an essential stop for anyone interested in the archipelago's natural and human history. It's great for lea...

Day 5 Isla San Cristobal

Today, head by boat to your second island, Isla San Cristobal. Upon arrival, check-in to the hotel and have time to relax before heading to the Interpretation Center to learn about the history of the islands and the challenges local conservationists face. Then you'll ...

Day 6 Isla San Cristobal

You second day in Isla San Cristobal begins with a short boat ride to Isla Lobos (approximately 1 hour). This island boasts the second-largest sea lion colony in the world, not to mention the tallest lighthouse on the entire continent. Along the way you can observe th...

Day 7 Quito

You will have a free morning to further explore the unique sights of Isla San Cristobal – maybe some last-minute shopping or a visit to the beach one last time. The best thing is, you decide! Late in the afternoon, take a flight back to Ecuador’s capital, Quito.

Day 8 Quito

Welcome back to the mainland! With no activities planned for today, you can depart at any time. Hotel check out is normally at midday. If you would like to spend more time in Quito, good for you! We’ll be happy to organise some additional accommodation (subject to availability).

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Dates & Availability

Price From $2,648
Price per day$331
Last Updated: 6/4/2024
Departure Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Availability
29 Dec 2024
05 Jan 2025
$3,500
05 Apr 2025
12 Apr 2025
$3,405
10 Apr 2025
17 Apr 2025
$3,530
06 Jul 2025
13 Jul 2025
$3,405
03 Aug 2025
10 Aug 2025
$3,405
17 Aug 2025
24 Aug 2025
$3,405
21 Dec 2025
28 Dec 2025
$3,530
28 Dec 2025
04 Jan 2026
$3,530
04 Apr 2026
11 Apr 2026
$3,540
11 Apr 2026
18 Apr 2026
$3,540

Check current availability, prices, specials & more.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Intrepid Travel Reviews & Ratings

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Michele Twigden

Aug 2024

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Completed 3 trips with Intrepid this…

Completed 3 trips with Intrepid this year. A prior last year. The Leaders are well organized, informative and fun. Travelling inland in Greece and the Greek Island...

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jasonemeraldrealestate.com.au

Aug 2024

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The intrepid group were excellent to…

The intrepid group were excellent to work with and were very helpful at all times and made organising the trip a breeze. This was an excellent trip, and was enjoyed ...

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Michael Campbell

Aug 2024

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Awful waste of time and money.

I’m aware that Intrepid responds to reviews, so here’s my updated take. I paid approximately $1,800 USD for a 9-day trip to Costa Rica. However, between the arrival...

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Intrepid Travel

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The Intrepid Travel Experience

If you’re looking for adventure, you’ve come to the right place. For the past 25 years, we’ve been taking small groups of travelers on unforgettable trips around the world. What makes them unforgettable? Take a look for yourself and discover the Intrepid experience.

Our travelers have three styles of tour to choose from: Basix, Original and Comfort. Each has a different level of inclusions and accommodation, but all have unforgettable real life experiences as part of the package. Travellers can also choose themed trips, such as Family, Sailing or Food, to suit their interests.

Our group size has an average of just ten travellers, which allows us to get off the beaten track, use local accommodation and transport, and really get to know the culture. It also ensures we are contributing to the local economy; by choosing local suppliers we were able to keep AUD 60 million in local economies in 2012. We’re also working hard to reduce our carbon footprint and were the first in our sector to introduce carbon offset trips. This, along with our many corporate sustainability activities, has meant we’re one of the travel industry’s leaders in responsible travel.

Why Intrepid?

  •   Small groups - average of 10 people per trip
  •   Sustainability - pioneers for the industry
  •   Local leaders - authentic perspectives
  •   Local transport - get close and personal
  •   Local accommodation - experience real living
  •   Intrepid travelers - like-minded companions 

History

Intrepid Travel has come a long way since its beginnings in 1989. From two university friends, a typewriter and a kitchen desk, it is now a proud member of The Intrepid Group, taking over 100,000 travelers every year.

Intrepid Travel is part of The Intrepid Group of companies, alongside leading small group adventure companies Peregrine, Urban Adventures and PEAK DMC.

Despite growing into a global business with over 1,000 staff based all over the world and over 800 different trips across every continent, we’ve remained devoted to the same grassroots values and responsible travel philosophies that we had at the very beginning.

 

Values

On every trip we operate and in every interaction we have with a client, supplier or local, we live our core values everyday:

  • Integrity – Doing the right thing
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Why we love this operator
They're highly committed to sustainable tourism and contribute to crucial initiatives like climate action, focusing on local cultures and more.
What they’re known for
Small group tours for all types of travelers at a range of different price points and trips to off-the-beaten-path destinations.

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Logistics

Accommodation

Hotels (7 nights),

Transportation & Flights

Boat,Speed boat,

Transportation & flights

Boat,Speed boat
Guides
All Intrepid Family trips are accompanied by one of our group leaders. The aim of the group leader is to assist your family to take the hassle out of your travels and help you have the best trip possible. Your leader will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for fun things to do and see - for both kids and parents, recommend great local eating venues that will even get the kids trying new things, and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. Our leaders are not babysitters on this trip - we leave that to you (the experts), but they will make sure that group members of all ages are able to explore their destination safely and with as much fun as possible. Our group leaders are not responsible for looking after children at any time and children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times throughout this itinerary.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory on all our trips for those travelling internationally. We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. If you are travelling within your home country or region please confirm before travel that you are entitled to access the public medical system easily should an accident occur. We strongly recommend all travellers have a policy that also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage or personal effects. For international trips, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number has been sighted by your group leader or local representative. If you have credit card insurance your group leader or local representative will require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number, and emergency contact number rather than the bank's name and your credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details prior to arriving in-country. For travellers who reside within the European Union, Switzerland or USA the requirement to purchase travel insurance cannot be compulsory. However the purchase of travel insurance is still highly recommended, and travellers from these regions who decline travel insurance when travelling outside of their home region must sign a Travel Insurance Waiver Form at the Group Meeting, recognizing personal responsibility for emergency medical and repatriation costs should they arise. For assistance with travel insurance or other services, please visit the link below:
Visa requirements
PASSPORT You’ll need a valid passport to travel internationally and most countries require your passport to have a minimum of 6 months validity, so remember to check the expiry date. We need your passport information to get everything ready for your trip so it’s important that the information on your booking matches your passport exactly. Please take care to provide the correct details. We recommend carrying a copy of the photo page of your passport while travelling and leaving a copy at home with family or friends. VISAS & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Many countries require a visa and obtaining the correct visa for your trip and any countries you may transit through is your responsibility. We recommend you check your visa requirements as soon as you have booked your trip. This will ensure you have time to prepare your documents and for your visa application to be processed. You can check the entry requirements for your nationality on your government's foreign travel advisories, consular websites or on our page here:  www.intrepidtravel.com/visa-entry-requirements
Age Requirements
5 years and up
Additional Information

Finish point

  • La Cartuja Hotel
  • Leonidas Plaza N20-08 y 18 de Septiembre
  • Quito
  • ECUADOR
  • Phone: +593 2523577

Alternate Finish point

  • For trips departing on the following dates, use this finish point.
  • 03 Aug 2024 (GLFB240803), 29 Dec 2024 (GLFB241229)
  • Vieja Cuba Hotel
  • La Niña N26-202 & Av. Diego de Almagro
  • Quito
  • ECUADOR
  • Phone: +593 22906729
Trip ID
intrepid-GLFB

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