Galapagos: Land-Based

¡Bienvenidos and welcome to Quito! Settle into your hotel, meet your hosts for a welcome briefing, and kick off the adventure with a delicious local dinner. Today is all about acclimating and relaxing ahead of our journey to one of the most ecologically diverse places on the planet!

Special Information
We will be staying at the airport hotel for ease of access for our early morning included flight to the Galapagos Islands. Arrival flight information must be provided no later than 45 days from the start of the trip.

If you are joining this Galapagos trip directly from the Peru trip, you will need to book a flight from Lima to Quito on October 23, 2027.

We will start the day early with a morning flight from the Andes straight to the Galapagos. Our island hopping adventure truly begins on San Cristobal Island, where we will meet our expert local naturalist guide. We will grab our snorkeling gear and dive straight into the vibrant waters of La Lobería. This will be our first unforgettable chance to swim alongside playful sea lions, with excellent opportunities to spot graceful sea turtles and schools of colorful reef fish.

After returning to town in the afternoon, we will enjoy a free evening at leisure.

Important Info

⚠️ Mandatory Galapagos Fee (Cash Only!)

Upon landing at the airport in the Galapagos, every international adult traveler is required to pay a mandatory $200 USD National Park Entrance Fee before clearing customs and collecting baggage.

• Strictly Cash Only: Digital payments, checks, and credit cards are not accepted at the airport counter.
• Check Your Bills: Local authorities are incredibly strict about currency condition. Ensure your US dollar bills are crisp, clean, and entirely free of rips, heavy folds, or ink marks, as worn bills will be rejected. (Tip: Bringing crisp $20, $50, or $100 bills straight from the bank is the safest bet!)

We will set sail across the sparkling waters to Lobos Island. This small, rocky islet earns its name from the large colony of Galapagos sea lions that call its shores home. We will snorkel in the calm, protected bay and keep our eyes peeled for iconic wildlife, including blue-footed boobies, soaring frigatebirds, and sunbathing marine iguanas. After a relaxing box lunch served right on the boat, we will continue our day with a scenic hike to Frigatebird Hill, locally known as Cerro Tijeretas. We will take in spectacular and sweeping ocean views over the bay before returning to town for a leisurely evening at our own pace.

We will set off early this morning on a private boat ride to Floreana Island, keeping a careful watch for playful dolphins and breaching whales along the way. Upon arrival, we will jump into the crystal clear waters for a refreshing snorkeling session before taking time to relax on the shore. Later, we will visit a striking black sand beach owned by the Wittmer family, who are descendants of the very first settlers in the Galapagos.

We will explore Puerto Velasco Ibarra, a tiny town of just 150 residents, and uncover its fascinating and mysterious history filled with unsolved stories of early island life. After a traditional lunch at a local restaurant, we will say goodbye to Floreana and cruise to Isabela Island, settling into our hotel for a restful night.

We will board a small Zodiac boat this morning and cruise out to Las Tintoreras, famously known as Shark Alley. Keep your eyes on the rocky shores for nesting marine iguanas and the incredibly rare Galapagos penguin.

After a short walk on this remote islet, we will snorkel through a calm inlet filled with underwater lava formations and vibrant fish, sharing the sandy seabed with resting green sea turtles.

Back on Isabela, we will visit the Arnaldo Tupiza Giant Tortoise Breeding Center to observe these gentle giants at every stage of development and learn about critical conservation efforts. We will then take a short walk to a nearby brackish lagoon to watch bright pink flamingos feeding in their natural habitat.

We will cap off our day with a serene kayaking excursion around the island, followed by a spectacular beach sunset.

Today you have a choice: hike or relax!

If you choose to hike (additional cost activity), you will start your final day on Isla Isabela with an early departure toward Sierra Negra Volcano, one of the Galápagos’ most active volcanoes and home to the world’s second-largest volcanic crater. Weather permitting, you’ll embark on a challenging hike of approximately 17 km (10.5 miles), crossing dramatic volcanic landscapes and enjoying expansive views along the way. For added comfort and flexibility, the group will be accompanied by an additional assistant, alongside your guide. This means that anyone who prefers to stop early or return to town sooner may do so safely with the assistant.

After the hike, return to town for a well-earned free afternoon. Relax with a book, soothe tired muscles, or head to the water for a refreshing swim before dinner and a restful evening.

If hiking isn’t your cup of tea, you can choose to stay in town and relax at the hotel.

Optional Sierra Negra Hike

$75 per person – Includes transportation, a bilingual naturalist guide and a box lunch. (must be added on to your booking by July 1, 2027)

This morning, we will jump aboard a private speedboat and travel across the waves to Santa Cruz Island. After dropping our luggage at the hotel, we will head straight into the lush and green Santa Cruz Highlands.

Our first stop is a local farm where giant tortoises roam completely free across the grounds. Here, we will join an expert local chef for a hands on cooking class to master encebollado, Ecuador’s beloved slow cooked albacore tuna soup served with yuca and lime. After enjoying the fruits of our labor for lunch, we will spend the afternoon visiting an organic sugar cane farm run by a local family. We will tour their traditional sugar cane mill, learn how cacao and cane are harvested, and discover how sustainable agriculture directly supports the local community.

We will take a beautiful morning walk to the white sands of Tortuga Bay, keeping an eye on the surf for gliding eagle rays, sea turtles, and diving blue-footed boobies. Later, we will wander through the lively local fish market to get a glimpse of everyday island life.

We will then visit the Galapagos Conservancy to learn how their Women in Sustainable Entrepreneurship program provides vital funding for local sustainability initiatives. Next, we will explore the renowned Charles Darwin Research Station to see firsthand how international scientific research protects this unique archipelago. We will celebrate our incredible journey together with a festive farewell dinner in the evening!

It’s time to say goodbye to these enchanting islands. We’ll be transferred to the airport before boarding your flight back to Quito, with a brief stop in Guayaquil along the way. We’ll arrive in Quito later in the afternoon. If you plan to fly out on an international flight back home, a late evening flight is recommended.