9 Days
Welcome to Ecuador! Your family will be amazed and truly astounded by the beauty, culture and diversity of wildlife and geographical locations during this once in a lifetime trip!
Let's go on an adventure!
Day 1
Arrival Quito, Ecuador.
Day 2 - 3
Flight Quito to Galapagos Islands
San Cristobal Interpretation Center, Hike and Snorkel Tijeretas
Day 4
Kayak and Snorkel in San Cristobal’s Northern Coast
Day 5
Isabela Island
Bike the Coastline, explore Tintoreras Islets
Day 6
Volcano Hiking in Isabela’s Highlands
Day 7
Santa Cruz Island
Hike the Santa Cruz Highlands
Day 8
Kayak in Lava Wall Channels, Hike To Tortuga Bay
Day 9
Flight Galapagos to Guayaquil
With the help of our travel specialists, create a perfect trip planned around your specific interests, tastes and preferences. We will provide helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.
Upon arriving, you are met and transferred to your hotel.
Get in touch with the local culture and history as you admire amazing Spanish-era architecture and churches as we walk down the narrow cobblestone streets of the old town.
There are so many incredible sights to take in and local foods to sample along the way. Your guides, either a local artist or a young architect living in the area, will walk with you from the classic sub-neighborhoods of Old Town (La Tola, San Juan and San Marcos) and later on to the famous Plaza Grande as they show you their favorite spots with unique and inspiring views of old town.
Along the way you’ll hear remarkable stories about Ecuador’s dramatic political and social history and activism.
It will also be a great opportunity for you to check out a few other places to which you may want to return later on such as parks, museums, theaters, galleries, cafe’s or bars in the area. This tour will give you great insight on how the locals live.
You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to the Galapagos Islands.
Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel to start your Galapagos multisport adventure. Enjoy lunch at the hotel, and a quick briefing, before heading out to the Galapagos Interpretation Center to learn about the unique wildlife, geology, history, and social dynamics of the Galapagos.
After, you will begin with a visit to the Galapagos Interpretation Center to learn about the unique wildlife, geology, history, and social dynamics of the islands. After our visit, we hike to Tijeretas along natural trails formed of lava rocks.
The path is surrounded by native plants like Galapagos cotton, palo santo, acacia, and cacti, and we will spot blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, pelicans, herons, gulls, warblers, mockingbirds, and finches in the vegetation and sea cliffs.
Our guides interpret this amazing flora and fauna in the context of the natural history we just learned. We will also enjoy scenic views of the rugged coastline and the tranquil town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Then it’s time to cool off from your hike with a refreshing snorkeling session at postcard-worthy Carola Beach, where you’ll be surrounded by sea turtles, sea lions, and marine iguanas.
After dinner, we’ll explore the friendly, laid-back beach town and stroll down the boardwalk to visit the neighboring colony of Galapagos sea lions.
Start the second day with a morning of kayaking along the coastal bays and coves of San Cristobal’s north coast, full of blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, sea lions, and sea turtles.
We may visit Leon Dormido (Kicker Rock), Punta Pitt or Cerro Brujo. The visiting site will depend on the weekday and Galapagos National Park regulations. We’ll put on snorkels and fins to interact with sea lions, as well as marine iguanas and countless reef fish. We’ll swim with spotted eagle rays, golden rays, Galapagos sharks, starfish, clams, and fish of every shape, size, and color. With luck, we might even see some menacing but harmless hammerhead sharks!
After breakfast, we say goodbye to San Cristobal and take a quick small-plane ride to Isabela Island.
Isabela is the largest island in the Galapagos and is still being formed by six active shield volcanoes.
Upon arrival, we embark on a bike ride that will take us through a wide variety of environments and ecosystems. Along the way, we’ll pass through white sand beaches, mangrove forests and brackish lagoons, and a lava tube cave. As we ride, we’ll pass giant tortoises, flamingos, and other wildlife. At the end of our ride, we arrive at el Muro de las Lagrimas (the Wall of Tears).
When Isabela was used as a penal colony, prisoners were forced to construct this towering wall of lava rocks for no other reason than to keep them distracted from the madness of isolation.
After lunch, we explore Tintoreras, a set of small islets filled with hidden coves and beaches. Here, we will find the peculiar, endemic Galapagos penguin and other marine life. At the end of the day, we retire to our hotel and after a delicious dinner, we can enjoy the well-appointed lounge or wander the idyllic sand streets of Puerto Villamil.
This morning, we’ll drive up the flanks of the Sierra Negra volcano until the road ends.
Here, we continue on foot and hike into a surreal world of geological history. On the hike up, we can admire incredible views of the surrounding volcanoes and sea, as well as the distinctive highland ecosystem around us. But the real prize is at the top – when we arrive at the rim of the Sierra Negra volcano, we are treated to a truly breathtaking vista.
Sierra Negra is the second largest active caldera on the planet, over six miles at its widest point.
We’ll hike the rim of this enormous crater and, if we feel energetic, continue onto the caldera of Volcan Chico, an otherworldly landscape of vibrant hues created by sulfur deposits. Here we can explore spectacular lava formations and fumaroles. After a stop at an idyllic tortoise reserve for lunch, we’ll head back to the lowlands in time to spend our last afternoon on Isabela relaxing on the perfect beaches and soaking up the island-life atmosphere.
PANGA RIDES
Pangas (inflatable dinghies) are the most used surce of accessing the different islands from vessels. Excursions by panga provide an up-close experience for exploring rocky islets, hidden bays, cliff faces, and mangrove estuaries.
KAYAK
Paddling at your own pace is another common way to explore the islands. With the elimination of loud motor noises and a low vantage point, kayaking offers up-close and personal wildlife encounters and the freedom to go wherever your curiosity takes you.
HIKES
Led by Galapagos National Park naturalist guides, daily hikes offer a wonderful insight into the human endeavors, geological history, and wildlife of the islands. Most trails range anywhere from one to three hours and are suitable for all fitness levels and ages with optional extensions for those wanting to hike longer.
SNORKEL
Snorkeling adventures allow visitors to explore below the water’s surface and see for themselves the unique and distinct marine life, for which the Galapagos are renowned. Instruction and all gear is provided and little or no experience is required.
This morning, you will take a short flight to Santa Cruz Island.
Upon arrival, and after checking in at the hotel we head to El Chato in the Santa Cruz highlands to find the famous giant tortoise in its natural habitat. It is truly an honor to walk in the stately presence of these gentle giants, who can live to be over 175 years old. We will also see pintail ducks, Darwin’s finches, frigate birds, egrets, and the vermillion flycatcher. Our next stop is the incredible lava tunnels, which formed an ideal hideout for the pirates that once frequented the Galapagos.
Legend has it that they were also used to hide Inca gold stolen from Spanish ships.
We then hike on to Los Gemelos, two deep volcanic sinkholes at the top of the island, with rocky cliffs surrounding the huge pits of empty magma chambers. Our path takes us through a forest of endemic Scalesia trees, where we will be on the lookout for the elusive short-eared owl.
This morning, we’ll head back to sea in kayaks to explore the unique landscape of Punta Estrada and Divine Bay.
As we paddle through towering lava channel walls, we can see rays and white-tipped reef sharks below us in the serene, clear water.
We can also paddle right up to the fearless blue-footed boobies, lava gulls, herons, sally lightfoot crabs, and marine iguanas perched along the cliffs.
After lunch, we’ll take a short hike through a distinctive dry forest to Tortuga Bay. Along the hike, we will find many interesting birds and plants.
We emerge from the forest onto Tortuga Bay, one of the most beautiful beaches in the Galapagos, with soft, fine sand and pristine turquoise waters, perfect for a relaxing afternoon. As evening comes, we’ll return to our hotel to celebrate a wonderful trip and enjoy our last evening in the Galapagos.
If there is enough time we’ll stop for a visit at the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn from local scientists about the ongoing conservation efforts on these enchanted islands.
Here, we can learn more about the diverse evolutionary paths and characteristics of the animals and plants that we just met.
End your Galapagos expedition. Disembark your vessel and transfer to the airport for your flight to Guayaquil.
Upon arriving, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. Your hotel room is available for day use.
With the help of our travel specialists, create a perfect trip planned around your specific interests, tastes and preferences. We will provide helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.
