Science comes alive in Charles Darwin’s living laboratory. Revel in nature as you hop from island-to-island, experiencing close encounters with wild animals – some found only on the Galapagos Islands.
Included
Not Included
Arrive in the enchanting seaside city of Guayaquil. We meet you at the airport and accompany you to the hotel to help you check in.
Relax at the hotel or explore the Malecon that fronts the Guayas River.
Get your first glimpse of iguanas at a local park in the heart of the city.
Hotel: Orilla del Rio (or similar)
After a short flight to Baltra in the Galapagos Islands, travel to the lush, green highlands of Santa Cruz Island, home of the Galapagos Tortoise. Look for these free roaming, almost too-big-to-believe tortoises in the tall grass or partially submerged in a mud pond.
Explore the volcanic origins of the island by journeying through a 400-meter ancient lava tunnel.
Hotel: Angermeyer Waterfront (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast at your hotel, lunch, and dinner
Meet with a local fisherman who has abandoned his fishing career in order to help protect the marine wildlife unique to the Galapagos. Listen to his stories of the typical fisherman’s life.
Snorkel with sea lions, marine iguanas, sea turtles, and sting rays in the crystal clear waters of the Bahia Ballena.
Depending on conditions, practice catch-and-release fishing to get a glimpse of the incredible fish that populate the rich ecosystem of the Galapagos.
Hotel: Angermeyer Waterfront (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast at your hotel, lunch, and dinner
Start your day, swimming and snorkeling at Tortuga Bay, voted one of the top 25 beaches in the world on TripAdvisor.
Then, board a short inter-island flight or boat to Isabela Island.
Hotel: Casa de Marita (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast at your hotel, lunch, and dinner
Pack your lunch and head to Sierra Negra for a hike that takes you from the lush slopes of the volcano into its petrified lava fields.
Enjoy spectacular views of the ocean and surrounding islands.
Keep your eyes peeled for a variety of birds, including finches, flycatchers, and if you are lucky, the Galapagos hawk.
Return to the hotel and cool off with a swim.
Enjoy a BBQ dinner on the beach (weather permitting).
Hotel: Casa de Marita (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast at your hotel, lunch, and dinner
Take an hour-long boat ride to Los Tunneles, a lava formation consisting of arches and caves.
Walk along the shore or snorkel in the crystal clear waters to get a glimpse of the underwater world.
Take a short hike to El Finado, an inlet that local fishermen have used for many years as a resting place.
Snorkel with white-tipped reef sharks, colorful tropical fish, and stingrays.
Look for parrotfish, hogfish, and wrasses in the shallow waters of the nearby mangroves.
Hotel: Casa de Marita (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast at your hotel, lunch, and dinner
Visit the Tortoise Breeding Center, an initiative of the National Park for the conservation of Isabela’s tortoises.
Explore the marshlands, where elevated walkways take you over tidal lagoons that include four mangrove species and provide a habitat for flamingos and numerous migratory birds.
Stroll along the beautiful white-sand beach of Puerto Villamil.
Hop on a short flight to San Cristobal Island.
Partake in a friendly game of soccer with the local kids.
Hotel: Casa Opuntia (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast at your hotel, lunch, and dinner
Grab your snorkel gear for a trip to Kicker Rock. Swim with sharks, sea turtles, and sea lions.
Return to town and wander its tranquil streets as you literally trip over lounging sea lions.
Hike to the spot where Charles Darwin’s HMS Beagle landed on the islands for the first time in 1835. During the walk, learn about Darwin’s theories and findings from his five-week exploration of the archipelago.
From the top of Frigatebird Hill, soak up breathtaking coastal views and watch the famous frigate birds—“the pirates of the seas”—as they steal food from unsuspecting blue footed boobies.
Hotel: Casa Opuntia (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast at your hotel, lunch, and dinner
Bid the Galapagos Islands adieu as you catch your flight back to Ecuador’s mainland.
All of the guides were incredible. Augusto, Ruben, and Patricia are the best guides I have ever worked with from any country. On a scale of 1-to-10, it was a 15! It was a life changing trip for me.
We loved the whole thing; so difficult to choose what was the best!
Wow. This trip has been truly life changing for me. Thank you so much for crafting such an excellent taste of the Galapagos. This experience and you have been so inspirational to me. I am so grateful to have shared this experience with you.
At one time, cruises were the only way to see the Galapagos Islands.
But our land-based adventure has a number of advantages over a cruise.
Most of our guests are like you. They are interested in doing more than observing the world from the window of a tour bus.
So long as you are generally fit, you’ll be fine. You’ll be walking, hiking, snorkeling, and swimming.
All activities are optional. This means that if you don’t feel like doing it, you don’t have to.
That said, the more you put in, the more you’ll get out of this adventure?
While cruises are abundant, hotels on the Galapagos Islands are not.
Also, the best guides (the ones we work with) book out well in advance.
So while you are welcome to reach out to us at anytime, booking 6 months in advance is highly recommended.
Our guides are phenomenal!
All of our guides are licensed by the Ecuadorian government and have many years of experience leading adventures.
They all have first aid training and many have earned a Wilderness First Responder certificate.
Our guides speak both English and Spanish.
They love what they do and are thrilled to have the opportunity to show you their homeland.
The weather can be downright steamy during the day and then cool off during the evening.
Dressing in layers is a definite must.
We will send you a packing list to help ensure that you come prepared.
We mostly work with boutique hotels in Guayaquil and throughout the Galapagos Islands.
Whenever possible, our hotels are locally owned.
We work with Ecuadorian-owned hotels to ensure your dollars remain in Ecuador and benefit Ecuadorians.
We can easily accommodate a variety of dietary restrictions.
Please let us know about your dietary requirements in advance.
We cannot cater for those with severe nut allergies.
If you have any other medical requirements, please advise.
Yes. Because the planes are small, baggage must NOT weigh more than 35 pounds per person.
There is a $2/lb. charge for additional weight. However, there are no guarantees that the airline will be able to accommodate you.
Keep in mind that there are no other flights or airlines flying this route.
Good news US travelers. Ecuador uses the US dollar.
There are ATMs with directions in English readily available in Guayaquil and at the airport. There are also ATMs on the Galapagos Islands.
If you are not sure if you will find an ATM at a particular place, check with your guide.
Be aware that some ATMs in Ecuador do not automatically release your card when they dispense cash. You may need to request card return by pushing a button. Always take an extra few seconds to verify that you have your card before you walk away.
Many ATMs have instructions in English and your guide can also help you use them, if necessary.
Make sure to talk with your bank before you leave for Ecuador. You should find out what, if any, fees you’ll be charged.
Also have your bank note the dates you will be in Ecuador to avoid the possibility of having problems using your ATM card. Just in case there is a problem, you should also get the number of the bank to call from Ecuador. There is often a different customer service number to call from overseas.
Credit cards are accepted in many hotels, restaurants, and shops in major cities such as Quito and Guayaquil. However, in small towns on the Galapagos Islands, cash is still king.
Some hotels and restaurants also charge a different price if you use a credit card. They will add an 8 to 10 percent surcharge to the bill. In these situations, clearly, using cash is preferable.
You should check with your credit card company before you leave for Ecuador to find out what, if any, fees they will charge if you use your card in Ecuador.
Be sure that your credit card company notes the dates you will be in Ecuador to avoid problems with your credit card. Just in case there is a problem, get the number of the credit card company to call from Ecuador. There is often a different customer service number to call from overseas.
US citizens do not need a Visa to travel to Ecuador.
However, US citizens do need a passport with 6+ months of validity remaining to enter Ecuador. The Galapagos Islands are a part of Ecuador.
To make sure that we have guides, transportation and accommodations, we immediately pay our partners in Ecuador as soon as you pay us.
So, if you need to cancel at the last minute, we won’t be able to issue a refund.
However, we’ll provide you with all the paperwork you need from us to help you with your travel insurance claim.
Depending on the coverage you purchased, you may be able to get a full or partial refund.
Depending on how far in advance you are requesting a change, we’ll do our best to accommodate you.
Keep us posted on your plans.
