Welcome to the Galápagos Islands—where wildlife doesn’t run away, it swims beside you.
This isn’t a cruise. It’s an immersive, island-hopping adventure that gets you closer to nature than you ever imagined. With each day, expect wonder, laughter, and a growing sense that you’ve stepped into a world where the extraordinary is the norm.
When to Go
The Galapagos Islands are a year-round destination.
Private Trip Pricing
Included
Excluded
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.
Welcome to Quito!
Unwind after your travels by taking in the fresh Andean air as you ease into the rhythm of Ecuador at your own pace.
Hotel: Casa Ilayaku in Quito (or similar)
Upon arriving in Baltra, you are whisked away to the lush, green highlands of Santa Cruz Island home to the legendary Galapagos giant tortoise.
Look for these free roaming, almost too-big-to-believe tortoises lumbering through tall grass or soaking contentedly in mud ponds.
Next, descend into a 400-meter-long lava tunnel to trace the volcanic origins of the islands.
Hop on a mountain bike and coast downhill toward Puerto Ayora, the island’s main town. Along the way, stop in a small village often missed by tourists. Snack on a local favorite, chocolate bread warm from the oven, and get a glimpse of everyday island life.
Hotel: Angermeyer Waterfront (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast at your hotel, lunch, and dinner
Travel by speedboat to the sandy beaches of Bahia Ballena, an ocean inlet where Galapagos sea lions and marine iguanas lazily soak up the sun resting on a bed of carpetweed.
Snorkel through an underwater world of lava rocks and small reefs swarming with tropical marine life. Reaching depths of up to thirty feet, the sandy ocean floor is home to pacific green sea turtles and long tailed stingrays.
Hotel: Angermeyer Waterfront (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast at your hotel, lunch, and dinner
Hotel: Casa de Marita (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast at your hotel, lunch, and dinner
Head to the highlands of Isabela to reach the second largest caldera in the world at Sierra Negra.
This active volcano last erupted on October 22, 2005, leaving behind a dramatic layer of lava.
From the rim of the caldera, hike through the petrified lava towards Chico Volcano. Fumaroles and unusual lava formations provide a striking visual record of the geological history of these islands. Keep an eye out for finches, flycatchers, and if you’re lucky, the majestic Galapagos hawk.
Head over to Finca Flor del Recuerdo for lunch. After lunch, enjoy the rich flavor of freshly harvested local coffee and learn about the workings of this plantation that also grows bananas, sugar cane, and other tropical fruit.
Return to the hotel where you can take a refreshing dip in the ocean to wash off the dust from the hike.
Hotel: Casa de Marita (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast at your hotel, lunch, and dinner
It’s anchors away as you board a boat for an hour-long ride to Los Tuneles, where lava platforms collapsed into the water creating a maze of arches, bridges, and caves.
The shallow, calm, crystal clear water makes it perfect for snorkeling, though.
After lunch aboard the boat, hike to El Finado, just 10 minutes away. This protected inlet served as a sanctuary for weary fishermen to rest after an arduous time at sea.
Snorkel among submerged caves and small reefs here. Look for white-tipped reef sharks, colorful tropical fish, and stingrays. Near the mangroves, shallower water makes it possible to discover a hidden world where parrotfish, hogfish, and wrasses thrive.
Once you get back to town, collect samples of sand for the tour leader and naturalist guide to send to the University of San Francisco in Quito. These samples allow scientists at the university to understand and plan a course of action to address micro-plastic pollution in the Galapagos.
Dinner is at the home of a local fisherman, where you’ll have the chance to meet his family and learn about life in this dangerous and difficult profession.
Hotel: Casa de Marita (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast at your hotel, lunch, and dinner
Melt over the sight of baby tortoises recently hatched at the Tortoise Breeding Center, an initiative of the Galapagos National Park dedicated to the conservation of Isabela’s tortoises.
The breeding center raises them until they are old enough to be released into the wild.
Then, traverse elevated walkways over a tidal lagoon, where you’ll catch glimpses of pink flamingos and numerous migratory birds among four different species of mangroves.
Stroll along the glistening white sand beach of Puerto Villamil as you make your way to your hotel to retrieve your luggage for your afternoon flight.
Upon arriving in San Cristobal, visit Hacienda Tranquila, a ranch that works with the Galapagos Science Center to protect the Galapagos Petrel, which is in critical danger of extinction. Walk the paths on the 121-acre ranch to see where scientists are collecting data to save the petrels.
Hotel: Casa Opuntia (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast at your hotel, lunch, and dinner
Are you ready for the ultimate snorkeling adventure at Kicker Rock?
Swim in a channel between two rocks as big as skyscrapers. It’s a virtual freeway for white-tipped reef sharks, sea lions, eagle rays, sea turtles, sea stars, and hundreds of colorful fish.
Return to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno 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, watch the sun set over the breathtaking coastal views.
Hotel: Casa Opuntia (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast at your hotel, lunch, and dinner
As your time in the Galapagos draws to a close, visit a sea lion haven.
La Lobería is a picturesque stretch of beach with a big sea lion colony as its major attraction.
Sea lions are socially organized in colonies or harems, each with a dominant male and about 30 females with their pups. You can tell which sea lion is male and which is female by their size. Males can weigh over 500 pounds.
In addition to seeing loads of sea lions, including some babies, keep your eyes peeled for finches, yellow warblers, frigate birds, blue-footed boobies, and marine iguanas. Check out those blue feet carefully to tell the difference between male and female blue-footed boobies. While the color difference is subtle, females have bluer feet.
Then, it’s off to the airport for your flight back to Quito.
Check into the Holiday Inn at the airport and then meet for a final celebratory dinner before your flight home.
Hotel: Holiday Inn (or similar)
Meals: Breakfast at your hotel, dinner
The Galapagos Islands are literally in the middle of nowhere. That’s part of what makes them so special.
But with remoteness comes reality: cell service and Wi-Fi can be unreliable or entirely unavailable in some areas.
Access to ATMs may also be limited or nonexistent. We’ll advise you in advance when to withdraw local currency, so you’ll be prepared.
Consider it a rare chance to disconnect from the digital world and reconnect with the one around you.
Some days on this trip begin early thanks to flight schedules and the distances we’ll be covering to reach some truly spectacular places.
But don’t worry: you won’t be starting the day empty-handed. We’ll always have a hot cup of coffee, tea, or cocoa ready for you, and breakfast will be provided, whether it’s to-go, roadside, or served with a view.
While this is a land-based adventure (no live-aboard cruise), you’ll still spend a fair amount of time on the water traveling between islands and snorkeling alongside sea lions and fish straight out of Finding Nemo™.
If you’re prone to seasickness, we strongly recommend bringing motion sickness medication to help you stay comfortable and fully enjoy the journey.
You don’t need to be a super athlete to enjoy this trip, but you do need to be comfortably active.
Most days include hiking, walking, swimming, and snorkeling, often for several hours at a time. Our longest hike ranges from 6 to 10 miles, depending on the group’s preferences.
That said, there’s flexibility built in. You can always opt to relax on the boat instead of jumping in the water.
But here’s the truth: the more you engage, the more you’ll get out of the experience. Every trail walked and underwater world explored adds to the richness of your adventure.
You’ll need to know how to swim, but you don’t have to be a strong swimmer to enjoy this trip. Most snorkeling takes place in calm, sheltered waters, not in the open ocean. And you’ll be wearing a life jacket the entire time.
Your guide will be in the water with you, offering support and encouragement throughout.
If conditions ever feel like too much, you’re always welcome to relax on the boat instead. There’s space in this adventure for both exploration and ease.
There is a short inter-island flight during the trip, and it takes place on a small plane that seats about 8 or 9 passengers.
If small aircraft tend to make you uneasy, consider bringing something to help you stay calm—whether that’s a playlist, a book, or whatever else soothes your nerves.
The flight is brief, and the views? Pretty spectacular.
Because you’ll be flying on a small plane between islands, packing light is essential. Trust us, you won’t need much. You’ll spend most of your days in a swimsuit, sandals, and a sunhat.
You may also need to carry your bag up and down stairs to reach your room. So packing light isn’t just about flight logistics, it’s about making life easier on the ground, too.
Once you’re booked, we’ll send you the exact luggage weight limits and a packing list to help you bring just what you need and nothing you don’t.
Weather and ocean conditions in the Galapagos can shift quickly, which means itinerary changes are sometimes necessary.
If adjustments are needed, they’ll be made with one priority in mind: your safety and comfort. We appreciate your flexibility and promise that the magic of the islands never depends on following the plan exactly.
Our hikes across the Galapagos Islands traverse uneven, volcanic rock.
Transportation will take you to and from the trailheads. But once you’re on the trail, you’ll need to complete the hike on foot.
Your local guide will provide water, snacks, and plenty of encouragement along the way. In the rare event of injury (like a twisted ankle), evacuation by mule or horse may be possible, though this comes at an additional cost.
The effort is real. But so are the rewards.
The Galapagos are full of incredible creatures—and odds are, you’ll check nearly everything off your wildlife wish list. Blue-footed boobies? Likely. Sea lions? Guaranteed. A penguin doing something vaguely ridiculous? Highly possible.
But remember: the animals here are wild, not actors. We’ll take you to their favorite hangouts, but whether they show up for the photo op is entirely up to them. That’s part of what makes it magical.
Ready to Reserve Your Trip?
Simply submit the inquiry form on this page.
We’ll follow up to confirm your preferred travel dates, group size and room preferences, and share final per-person pricing based on availability.
Flexible Deposit
Plans change. We get it.
Cancel or reschedule up to 89 days before departure (119 days during high season) and choose to either:
Apply your deposit to a future trip
Transfer it to another departure date for this trip
Or receive a full refund—no questions asked
Flexible Payment
Secure your trip with a deposit.
Pay the remaining balance on your own schedule anytime up to 90 days before departure (120 days during high season). No interest. No fees. No pressure.
We’ll send a reminder before your final payment is due, so your spot stays secure.
Please refer to our Booking Terms & Conditions for more information.
