Best of Galapagos

10 days
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Small Group Tour
Amazing wildlife, both on land and underwater, is the main drawcard of the remote Galapagos Islands. On this ten-day trip through the best of the Galapagos, you’ll uncover the outstanding natural beauty of these islands both on foot and by boat, looking for giant tortoises, sharks, blue-footed boobies, pelicans, seals, iguanas, dolphins, whales and birdlife a...
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Full schedule

Highlights

    • Encounter the nearly extinct giant Galapagos tortoises, as well as blue-footed boobies, pelicans and frigate birds, land and marine iguanas, sea lions, fur seals and maybe even dolphins and whales!
    • Go snorkelling on multiple days throughout different islands, looking out for sea turtles and the harmless Galapagos shark.
    • Get your blood pumping as you scale the Sierra Negra Volcano – one of the Galapagos’ most active volcanoes and the world's second-largest crater!
    • Learn how to make the famed encebollado – a local fish soup considered one of the best in the world! Your expert chef will take you through a fun cooking class, then you’ll tuck into the hearty dish for lunch.
    • Enjoy a land-based Galapagos trip, using locally owned hotels on the islands instead of staying on a boat, which means you’ll have more opportunities to interact with the locals.
    • By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, The Galapagos Conservancy. Donations support their Women in Sustainable Entrepreneurship (WISE) program, providing capital for sustainability initiatives and empowering female entrepreneurs in the Galápagos.

What's this trip about?

    Amazing wildlife, both on land and underwater, is the main drawcard of the remote Galapagos Islands. On this ten-day trip through the best of the Galapagos, you’ll uncover the outstanding natural beauty of these islands both on foot and by boat, looking for giant tortoises, sharks, blue-footed boobies, pelicans, seals, iguanas, dolphins, whales and birdlife along the way. Trace Darwin's theory of evolution, go snorkelling across multiple islands, hike up a volcano for the best views and soak up the experience with a group of likeminded travellers and a local leader who knows all the best spots.

Details

Itinerary focusActive and Outdoor Sports
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 16 people
Age range15 to 17 years
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityQuito
End CityQuito

Travel Themes

  • Nature & Wildlife
  • Cycling & Biking
  • Hiking & Walking
  • National Parks
  • Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing
  • Trekking & Expeditions

Destinations

Attractions

  • Cotopaxi
  • Darwin
  • Galapagos
  • Galapagos Islands
  • Guayaquil
  • Otavalo
  • Quito
  • Ronda
  • San Cristobal
  • Santa Cruz

Activities

  • Hiking
  • Trekking
  • Wildlife Viewing

Max Group Size

  • Max Group Size: 16

Trip includes

    • Quito - Historic District Walking Tour
    • Isla San Cristobal- Snorkeling in La Loberia (1.5 Hours)
    • San Cristobal - Excursion to Leon Dormido or Lobos Islands
    • Isla San Cristobal - Interpretation Center (45 minutes)
    • Isla San Cristobal - Cerro Tijeretas View Point (1 Hour)
    • Floreana - Snorkeling
    • Isla Isabela -Tintoreras or Shark Alley (2.5 Hours)
    • Isla Isabela - Flamingo lagoon visit (30 Minutes)
    • Isla Isabela - Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre (1 Hour)
    • Isla Isabela - Kayaking
    • Isla Isabela - Sierra Negra Volcano Hike (5-6 Hours)
    • Santa Cruz Highlands Visit (3 Hours)
    • Santa Cruz – Organic Farm Tour
    • Santa Cruz – Encebollado Cooking Class
    • Isla Santa Cruz - Tortuga Bay walk
    • Isla Santa Cruz - The Galapagos Conservancy visit
    • Isla Santa Cruz - Charles Darwin Research Centre

Popular Trips

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Quito

Bienvenidos! Welcome to Ecuador. Your adventure begins in Quito with a welcome meeting at 2 pm. After, you’ll join your local leader for a tour of the historic centre. Catch the metro to the Parque de la Alameda and visit sites such as the Basilica of the Sacred Heart...

Day 2 Isla San Cristobal

Catch an early morning transfer to Quito airport for your flight to San Cristobal Island in the Galapagos. The flight includes a stop in Guayaquil to pick up additional passengers (you will not need to disembark the plane). After joining up with your fellow travellers...

Day 3 Isla San Cristobal

Take a 45-minute boat ride to Leon Dormido (Kicker Rock) this morning. On the way, you might be able to spot nesting frigates and blue-footed boobies. You might even get the chance to swim among the sea lions again. At Leon Dormido, you can snorkel and look for sea tu...

Day 4 Isla Floreana / Isla Isabela

Take an early morning boat ride to Isla Floreana and look for dolphins and whales along the way. Snorkel in the clear blue waters and then break for lunch. After, venture to a black-sand beach belonging to the Witmers – descendants of some of the first settlers on the...

Day 5 Isla Isabela

This morning, you’ll hop on a small Zodiac boat and cruise to Las Tintoreras (Shark Alley), looking out for blue-footed boobies and the famous Galapagos penguin. Take a short walk on this isolated islet and popular iguana nesting site, then snorkel in a calm inlet wit...

Day 6 Isla Isabela

Start your last day on Isla Isabela by heading towards the Sierra Negra Volcano – one of the Galapagos’ most active volcanoes and the world's second-largest crater! Weather permitting, you’ll take a challenging hike of around 17 km up the rocky mountain. After, make y...

Day 7 Isla Isabela / Isla Santa Cruz

Jump aboard a private speedboat this morning and head to Isla Santa Cruz. When you arrive, leave your bags at the hotel and head to the Santa Cruz Highlands. Your first stop is a local farm, where giant tortoises roam the grounds freely. Here, you’ll meet with an expe...

Day 8 Isla Santa Cruz

Take a morning walk in Tortuga Bay after breakfast. Along the way, keep an eye out for eagle rays, sea turtles and blue-footed boobies. Later, you’ll head to the local fish market for a dose of local life on the way to The Galapagos Conservancy, who help protect the G...

Day 9 Quito

Say goodbye to the Galapagos today and take a flight back to Quito, making a stop in Guayaquil on the way. You'll arrive in Quito later in the afternoon, where your adventure comes to an end. You're free to leave at any time – maybe you’d like to extend your stay and ...

Day 10 Quito

This morning your adventure comes to an end in Quito. As there are no activities planned for the final day, you can depart the accommodation at any time. Because there is little time spent in Quito on this trip, we recommend staying a few extra days to see more of Ecu...

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Dates & Availability

Price From $3,456
Price per day$346
Last Updated: 1/19/2025
Departure Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Availability
25 Jan 2025
03 Feb 2025
$3,646
01 Feb 2025
10 Feb 2025
$3,713
08 Feb 2025
17 Feb 2025
$3,884
13 Feb 2025
22 Feb 2025
$3,713
15 Feb 2025
24 Feb 2025
$3,816
20 Feb 2025
01 Mar 2025
$3,646
25 Feb 2025
06 Mar 2025
$3,646
01 Mar 2025
10 Mar 2025
$3,646
08 Mar 2025
17 Mar 2025
$3,646