Experience Overview
This adventure is perfect for those who want to experience the incredible wildlife and scenery of the Galápagos Islands but prefer to sleep on shore. Go ashore at the lesser-visited island of Isabela and spend your days with playful sea lions, giant manta rays, and the Galápagos giant tortoise. This adventure offers a great balance of guided excursions and free time, with optional activities abound.
Highlights
- Encounter incredible wildlife
- Snorkel and swim with sea turtles and manta rays
- Cycle around Isabela Island
- Hike the Sierra Negra volcano
- Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station
Trip Details
Product Code: 2767
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Budget
Transport: Plane, speed boat, van, pickup truck, local bus, panga.
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles: Budget
Supplier Code: SEGL
Starts: Quito, Ecuador
Finishes: Quito, Ecuador
Duration: 10 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical rating: Average
Includes
Activities
- Your G for Good Moment: Floreana Community Restaurants, Floreana Island Your G for Good Moment: Floreana Community Guesthouse, Floreana Island
- Visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station (Santa Cruz Island)
- Highlands and wild tortoise excursion
- Kayak and snorkel excursion
- Snorkelling at Black Beach and Loberia (Floreana Island)
- Biking excursion (Isabela Island)
- Sierra Negra Volcano hike
- Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre visit
- Isabela Municipal Tax
- Internal flights
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
Accommodation
- Hotels (7 nts), G Adventures-supported community guesthouses (2 nts).
- 9 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners
Transport
- Plane, speed boat, van, pickup truck, local bus, panga.
Group Leader
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer)/Naturalist Guide while in the Galápagos Islands (certified by the Galápagos National Park Authority), local G Adventures Rep in Quito.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD 4299 (CAD 430 /day)
Itinerary
Day 1: Quito
Arrive at any time.
Located 2850m (9348ft) above sea level, the Ecuadorian capital of Quito enjoys a wonderful spring-like climate, despite the fact that it is only 22km (14 mi) south of the Equator.
On a clear day, several snow-capped volcanoes, including nearby Pichincha, are visible from the centre of this city nestled in a mountain-flanked valley. Add a rich history and a well-preserved colonial district to its beautiful location, and you can begin to understand why Quito appeals to thousands of tourists every year.
Day 2: Quito/Santa Cruz Island
Catch an early flight to the Galápagos Islands. On arrival, head up to the highlands of Santa Cruz for lunch on your own, and to see giant tortoises in their natural habitat before continuing to Puerto Ayora.
Fly to Santa Cruz. Visit the highlands of Santa Cruz to observe the Galápagos giant tortoise in its natural surroundings. From this elevation, the panoramic views of the other islands are stunning.
Day 3: Santa Cruz Island
Walk from Puerto Ayora along a 2.5 km raised causeway to the stunning white sand and beach of Tortuga Bay for a kayak excursion with time for snorkelling and swimming before returning to town for lunch. In the afternoon visit the Charles Darwin Research Station.
Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. Inaugurated in 1964 and based in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, the Charles Darwin Research Station is the one place where visitors can easily see the famous Galapagos tortoises, which can live up to two hundred years. This is a great opportunity to observe many species of tortoises and land iguanas in captivity, brought back from the brink of extinction.
Day 4: Santa Cruz Island/Floreana Island
Spend a free morning enjoying Santa Cruz, before crossing by speedboat to Floreana Island. Get settled at the G Adventures-supported community guesthouse and opt to swim or snorkel at Black Beach.
After a free morning, depart Santa Cruz and head to Floreana Island. Keep an eye out for dolphins and the magnificent albatross along the way. Opt for an introduction to snorkelling directly off Black Beach on the island.
Day 5: Floreana Island
In the morning, head on a visit to Loberia, where there are opportunities to swim and snorkel. Opt to explore the area around Black Beach. In the afternoon, enjoy an excursion to the seldom visited highlands of Floreana.
Walk along the black sand beach to Loberia to enjoy beach snorkelling or swimming. Please be sure you are a comfortable swimmer. The water here can be rough and the currents are strong.
Day 6: Floreana Island/Isabela Island
Travel to Isabela Island. Hike to Sierra Negra Volcano to see the second-largest crater in the world and enjoy a downhill bike excursion. Once back in town, opt to take surfing lessons on the nearby beach.
Take a morning speedboat journey to Isabela Island. Enjoy a full day on Isabela Island that includes a trek up the Sierra Negra Volcano—one of the most active volcanoes in Galápagos—boasting the second largest crater in the world. Hike to the summit to experience a birds-eye view of the magical landscape.
Day 7: Isabela Island
Spend a free morning trying the optional activities in the area. Maybe hit the waves for surf lessons on the nearby beach. Then, enjoy a kayak and snorkel excursion near Tintoreras.
Visit Tintoreras to kayak and observe the whitetip reef sharks found swimming in the channels between the rocks. Get a close-up view of pelicans, frigatebirds, and diving blue-footed boobies. Watch for manta rays and rare Galápagos penguins, of which only 800 pairs exist
Day 8: Isabela Island/Santa Cruz Island
This morning stop by the Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre before traveling back to the island of Santa Cruz. Enjoy a free afternoon and evening in Santa Cruz.
Around midday, set sail for Santa Cruz Island and dock at the town of Puerto Ayora. After a late hotel check-in, enjoy free time to explore this bustling little town and sample some of the local restaurants and bars, or maybe do some souvenir shopping in one of the many shops.
Day 9: Santa Cruz Island/Quito
Transfer across Santa Cruz Island to Baltra. Fly back to Quito.
After a transfer over the island of Santa Cruz, arrive at Baltra Island for the return flight to Quito. Upon arrival in Quito, transfer to the hotel for one last night on the town. Our representative in Quito will be able to advise on and help with some of the many day tours available in and around Quito.
Day 10: Quito
Depart at any time.
Tour Operator
G Adventures
G Adventures is an operator of small-group escorted tours. It is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with 28 offices worldwide. It offers more than 700 itineraries in more than 100 countries, and carries 200,000 travelers from 160 countries each year.
In Business Since 1990
Reviews
Brent P. - Traveled, June 2024
Our guide Karina is the most important part of the trip. Without a good guide we have nothing, please make sure to take good care of her she is a true leader.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/09/2024
Heather C. - Traveled, June 2024
The multi-sport Galapagos tour was excellent. We had a super guide and a nice small group. Kayaking and snorkeling were highlights of the trip.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/10/2024
Stephanie S. - Traveled, June 2024
We loved our Galapagos trip. Going to Floriano was such a treat. We would’ve liked a little more variety of activities, however, we did enjoy the itinerary of this trip. We found that going to see more than when breeding centre was a bit redundant and we...
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/09/2024
Cicily R. - Traveled, June 2024
It was a very good experience and I would recommend this tour to anyone who is active and adventurous
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/02/2024
Eva W. - Traveled, June 2024
One of my most wonderful holidays! Thanks a lot!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/01/2024
Susan M. - Traveled, June 2024
This was my first tour with Gadventures and it completely exceeded my expectations. As a solo traveler, I was connected with others who love adventure and to travel and I made great friends on the tour. Our guide was outstanding - knowledgeable, comm...
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/28/2024
Charles R., - Traveled, June 2024
The CEO made this an above and beyond experience
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/26/2024
Darla F. - Traveled, June 2024
This was an awesome tour of the Galapagos! Every day would say it couldn’t get any better—and then it did!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/26/2024
Stacey R. - Traveled, June 2024
Overall experience was great. Our tour leader, Gustavo, went above and beyond to make our tour exceptional. My fellow G adventures travel companions were also phenomenal, which made our adventure that much better. All of the group members were able to...
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/25/2024
Jennifer D., - Traveled, June 2024
Animals were amazing. Islands were amazing. Not Floreana tho :( could use flights to and from canada. I got stuck in Columbia for two days
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/18/2024
Gregory N. - Traveled, June 2024
An amazing tour, the wildlife is beautiful. Would recommend to anyone interested in nature. I would have love to spent more time to do other activities such as scuba-diving
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/17/2024
Dabeiba D. - Traveled, June 2024
Our CEO Gustavo Tamayo made this trip! He made sure we made the most of part of this adventure and really help to build community within the group. He helped to make this an amazing experience! Also, the itinerary was great, well organized, and I felt it...
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/12/2024
Annalise B. - Traveled, May 2024
Best decision of the year…. Maybe a decade … of how to spend my money for exoerience and travel destinations
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/11/2024
Christina C. - Traveled, May 2024
Excellent similarly-spirited company. Exceptional guidance and handheld insights into the environment and community. Outstanding access to wildlife. And an experience packed to the brim of rich memories.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/11/2024
Heidi R. - Traveled, May 2024
Overall had an excellent experience. I have traveled solo across all seven continents, but traveling with G Adventures took all the work and stress of planning out of it. It was also wonderful to meet another group of travelers, and to have a dedicated C...
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/03/2024
Cynthia M. - Traveled, May 2024
Great adventure met some great people and a place that everyone should see in their lifetime
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/29/2024
Emily N. - Traveled, May 2024
May 28 Really good trip, so smoothly ran and great activities, felt like got an experience of the islands that suited me brilliantly!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/28/2024
Nadiya C. - Traveled, May 2024
An unforgettable trip of my life!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/28/2024
Lucy T. - Traveled, May 2024
This was the most magical way to see 3 islands in the Galapagos! Staying on land really gave us the opportunity to wander and see wildlife in any downtime and support the locals by buying food and drinks! 10/10
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/28/2024
Jill L. - Traveled, May 2024
My son and I were very fortunate to meet seven wonderful people (from various places like Australia, Wales, Scotland, England) across this great planet. We gelled as a group and were very supportive of one another. We never had any issues with keeping u...
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/28/2024
Share a personalized trip brochure!
Why book with us?
Best Rate Guarantee
Mytours.Travel makes sure you always have the best available rate
Best Selection
The best operators from around the world
Trusted Payments
Secure payments with Stripe
Expert Advice
Our expert agents will assist you in booking the perfect experience