Ultimate Galapagos Islands Adventure

  • 10 Days
  • 14 People Max

    5 - 14 guests

  • Activity Level 3
    • Activity Level 3

      Step It Up

      I love an active vacation. Engaging in a challenging activity with a difficult goal, such as reaching a summit, is exactly what I need to unwind in the evenings.

    Read more about the Active Range

  • Trip Start: Quito
  • Trip End: Quito
Galapagos Land and Sea Adventure

Explore from island to island on our Ultimate Galapagos Islands Adventure.

Hike, cycle, snorkel and swim in the most incredible locations you can imagine on our 10-day Ultimate Galapagos Islands Adventure. Forget spending your entire trip on a boat and missing out on the incredible culture and wildlife of the different islands. By joining this land-based tour, you'll cruise between a multitude of stunning islands in our comfortable chartered boat, while staying on dry land each night. Starting with a short flight to San Cristobal Island, highlights of this incredible trip include snorkeling with turtles, rays and tame reef sharks at Kicker Rock, kayaking in the beautifully calm Isabela Bay and hiking up Sierra Negra volcano to witness one of the largest active calderas in the world. You'll get up close to some of the most intriguing and docile wildlife on the planet, with visits to tortoise breeding grounds and iguana colonies and even sharing the beach with curious sea lions. We explore amazing lava tunnels, cycle through local townships and learn the mysterious history of Floreana Island, all onboard our Ultimate Galapagos Islands Adventure.

Trip Highlights

Sierra Negra volcano

HikingHiking

Santa Cruz Island

HikingHiking

San Cristobal Island

BikingBiking

Kicker Rock Snorkel OR Dive

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Floreana Island Snorkeling

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Lava tunnels

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Floreana Island Pirate caves

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Tortoises and iguanas

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Snorkel "the tunnels" Option

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Your trip at a glance

Duration
10 Days
Meals
8 Breakfast, 8 Lunches, 7 Dinners
Unlimited Snacks
Accommodation
Hotels & Guest Houses

rustic, charming, locally run & spectacular location

Overall Rating
4.59

1564 Reviews

Activity
Level 3
  • Activity Level 3

    Step It Up

    I love an active vacation. Engaging in a challenging activity with a difficult goal, such as reaching a summit, is exactly what I need to unwind in the evenings.

Read more about the Active Range

Group Size
5-14

Ultimate Galapagos Islands Adventure ~ Itinerary

Trip Start: Quito Trip End: Quito
  • Day 1Arrive in Quito

  • Day 2Fly to the Galapagos, cycle San Cristobal highlands

  • Day 3Snorkel with sea lions, turtles and sharks at Kicker Rock

  • Day 4Snorkel and hike Floreana Island

  • Day 5Journey to Isabela, Kayak Isabela Bay, Walk and Snorkel Tintoreras

  • Day 6Hike Sierra Negra Volcano, Volcan Chico lava fields

  • Day 7Free morning or snorkel Los Teneles, Wetlands Walk to Breeding Center

  • Day 8Hike Santa Cruz highlands and Tortuga Bay, visit giant tortoises

  • Day 9Visit Los Gemelos, return to Quito

  • Day 10Quito, depart to home

  • Day 1

    Arrive in Quito

    Your trip begins in Ecuador’s capital city, Quito. If you’re flying in early today, you’ll have a chance to journey to the city from the airport (or your hotel) to explore the beautiful town squares, quaint cafés and colonial architecture. Quito sits in a beautiful valley surrounded by towering volcanoes just 22 kilometers (14 miles) from the equator, giving it a mild, spring-like climate year-round. In the evening, you’ll meet your trip leader and the rest of your group back at the joining hotel, for a full briefing and our first dinner together.

    Hotel EB, Quito (Dinner)

  • Day 2

    Fly to the Galapagos, cycle San Cristobal highlands

    This morning we’ll take a short flight to San Cristobal, the easternmost island of the Galapagos Islands chain and home of the provincial capital, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. After lunch, we’ll head to the town of La Soledad to bike down through the lush highland cloud forest that blankets the top of the island. With stunning views of the coast, we’ll ride to La Loberia, a beach that is home to a large sea lion colony and nursery. This evening, we’ll dine on local produce and fresh fish.

    Casa Blanca or Blue Marlin or similar, San Cristobal (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

    Biking: 14.5 kilometers (9 miles), 2 hours, flat (vehicle supported)

  • Day 3

    Snorkel with sea lions, turtles and sharks at Kicker Rock

    Today we’ll cruise to Kicker Rock off the coast of San Cristobal, where we’ll don wet suits, snorkels, and masks (and tanks for the divers – diving option extra fees apply) and explore around the remains of an underwater volcano with a rock face rising 150 meters (500 feet) above the surface of the water. Your trip leader will give you a full briefing and then we’ll take to the water to explore the walls of the volcano. There will be chances to see beautiful tropical fish, turtles and sharks as they skirt the edges of Kicker Rock! Afterwards, we’ll visit a picturesque bay to have lunch and a rest before returning to port. Then it’s off to the interpretation center to learn a little about the history and biology of the islands. Later there will be an optional hike to Frigate Hill Lookout to see the acrobatics of the local frigate birds as they dart around the cliff tops stealing the catch from other birds.

    Casa Blanca or Blue Marlin or similar, San Cristobal (Breakfast, Lunch)

    Diving/Snorkeling: Kicker Rock: 1 or 2 snorkels, 1.5 hours total
    Diving/Snorkeling: Kicker Rock: 2 dives, 30 - 45 minutes each
    Notes: Optional Kicker Rock diving experience (additional cost applies): You can opt to swap the snorkel for a dive if you wish. This option must be selected at the time of booking.

  • Day 4

    Snorkel and hike Floreana Island

    After an early breakfast, our boat will take us away from San Cristobal Island towards the magnificent Floreana Island. Floreana is the sixth largest island in the Galapagos chain and one of the least inhabited (by humans at least!). With a population of around 120, this place has a pretty relaxed atmosphere. On the way, we’re often visited by friendly dolphins, so keep an eye out! And later, we’ll hike into the highlands of Floreana, where we’ll learn about the mysterious history of the islands as we visit the pirate caves and the area where the first inhabitants once lived. Then it’s back down to our accommodation in the tiny port of Puerto Velasco Ibarra – a fantastic hideaway lodge with incredible sea views and a great sunset!

    Hotel Wittmer or similar, Floreana Island (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

    Hiking: 1.8 kilometers (1.1 miles), 1 - 2 hours, elevation +/- 100 meters (328 feet)
    Cruise: Boat to Floeana Island: 2 - 3 hours
    Diving/Snorkeling: Snorkel Floreana Island: 30 mins

  • Day 5

    Journey to Isabela, Kayak Isabela Bay, Walk and Snorkel Tintoreras

    This morning we’ll head to Isabela Island, the largest of all the islands in the Galapagos archipelago. we’ll start with an early morning kayak in the calm waters of Isabela Bay. Here we’ll have the chance to see some of the Island’s most amazing wildlife up close. Marine iguanas bask in the sun, blue-footed boobies sit in pairs on the rock tops, and Sally Lightfoot crabs scurry out of our way along the water’s edge. In the clear waters below us, rays gracefully swim by and turtles pop up for a breath of air. After lunch, we’ll hop out for a short walk at Tintoreras or Shark Alley, an isolated islet and popular iguana-nesting site that’s home to hundreds of marine iguanas. Afterward, you can test the waters for a snorkel in a calm inlet that’s home to a variety of colorful fish and green sea turtles who like to rest on the calm, sandy bottom.

    Hotel Albemarle or similar, Isabela Island (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

    Kayaking: 1 hour
    Cruise: Boat to Isabela Island: 2-3 hours

  • Day 6

    Hike Sierra Negra Volcano, Volcan Chico lava fields

    Our hike today will take us to the summit of Sierra Negra volcano. See the lowland vegetation change before your eyes as we ascend through a lunar-like landscape on our way to the top. It’s a challenging hike to the top of the volcano, and the views across the seven-mile wide crater and surrounding coastline are well worth the climb! This is one of the largest volcanic calderas in the world, and one of the most active. As we hike, we might be lucky enough to see Galapagos hawks, short-eared owls, finches and fly-catchers that inhabit this region. We’ll continue to traverse the vast lava fields of Volcan Chico en route for a lookout that boasts breathtaking views reaching to the north of Isabela. After enjoying a hearty sense of accomplishment, we’ll make our way back to town late afternoon for some free time to curl up with a book or venture down to the water for a relaxing swim before dinner.

    Hotel Albemarle or similar, Isabela Island (Breakfast, Lunch)

    Hiking: 16 kilometers (10 miles), 4 - 6 hours, elevation +/- 130 meters (426 feet)

  • Day 7

    Free morning or snorkel Los Teneles, Wetlands Walk to Breeding Center

    This is our last day on Isabela Island, and we get to choose how to spend our morning; relax and explore the beach or take the optional snorkel tour to Los Tuneles. After lunch, we’ll take a short walk to a nearby wetland home to pink flamingos and pintail ducks. This mangrove-lined path will lead us to Isabela’s Giant Tortoise Breeding Center where we’ll meet these majestic prehistoric creatures in all stages of development. The center has almost a thousand giant tortoises training for life on their own!

    Hotel Albemarle or similar, Isabela Island (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

    Notes: Optional: Snorkel "the tunnels" (extra fees apply): If you think sleeping sharks, seahorses, sea turtles, and strange lava tunnel formations sound intriguing then you’re going to need your mask, snorkel, and flippers, because you get all that and more at Los Tuneles. Also called Cabo Rosa, this area is about one hour from town was created when lava flows reached the ocean, forming tunnels, arches, and sheltered bays perfect for snorkeling. We’ll take a boat ride to the tunnels, where you’ll see an intricate network of arches and islets all formed from past lava eruptions. There are a few spots to walk on the rocks, though the main activity is snorkeling to explore the water channels, where you’ll see sleeping reef sharks, hungry sea turtles, colorful starfish, and tiny seahorses! In terms of biodiversity, this is one of the very best spots in the Galapagos Islands. This option must be selected at the time of booking only.

  • Day 8

    Hike Santa Cruz highlands and Tortuga Bay, visit giant tortoises

    We’ll depart Isabela Island early this morning bound for Santa Cruz Island, where we’ll hike into the amazing cloud forest highlands. Once there, we’ll have our only chance to see giant tortoises in their natural environment, along with intriguing birdlife like the vermillion flycatcher, and we’ll take a look inside the lava tunnels scattered throughout the highlands. These tunnels were formed by molten lava flowing beneath the surface, which left behind large tube-like caves, some almost a mile long! This afternoon we’ll visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn about the breeding programs that are saving vulnerable species of tortoises and land iguanas. Also, there will be a chance to see different types of carapaces that help differentiate the tortoise species.

    Hotel Solymar or similar, Santa Cruz Island (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

    Hiking: 2 kilometers (1.2 miles), 1 - 2 hours, flat
    Cruise: Boat to Santa Cruz Island: 2 hours

  • Day 9

    Visit Los Gemelos, return to Quito

    This morning we’ll visit Los Gemelos on the Island; twin craters that are sinkholes created when the volcanic roof of empty magma chambers collapsed from tectonic shifts and erosion over time. This area has a very different climate from other parts of the island and is surrounded by scalesia (scalesia pedunculata) forests, or “broccoli trees”. It is also the habitat for bromeliads, orchids, mosses, lichens and many birds such as the 8 species of Charles Darwin finches. Afterward, we’ll take a short flight back to Quito on the mainland. This evening, we’ll share our final celebratory dinner together in Ecuador.

    Hotel EB, Quito (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

  • Day 10

    Quito, depart to home

    Today is the last day of your Galapagos trip. We’ll make sure you return home relaxed and refreshed from all the great activities, fine food and friendly people you will have met while traveling with us in the Galapagos Islands.

    No Accommodation (Breakfast)

Ultimate Galapagos Islands Adventure Departure Dates

  • Upcoming
  • 3 months
  • 6 months
  • 1 year
USD $5999/per adult
23 Jun 2023
2023
23 Jun2 Jul
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High Season Price Applies
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Included

  • All guiding services with experienced guides
  • 7:1 guest to guide ratio
  • Our 'Red Carpet' pre-trip customer care service available to answer questions
  • Travel Wallet: a resource for everything you need to know about your trip in one secure space!
  • All accommodation for duration of your trip
  • Most meals (except where indicated, so you can experience local cuisine independently!)
  • Trekking and 'in-between-meal' snacks
  • All drinking water and puritabs (when drinking water not readily available)
  • Specially curated tour 'Wow' moments throughout your trip
  • All activities described in the itinerary
  • All necessary equipment where indicated in the itinerary
  • All ground transportation from trip start to end (including buses, boats, trains and included domestic flights)
  • All hiking permits
  • All Park entry fees (except for additional fee of US $120 per guest for ALL Galapagos trips)

Not Included

  • International/Domestic Flights before and after your trip
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Optional additional activities
  • Travel insurance (Mandatory for this destination)
  • Rental equipment available as per your itinerary
  • Gratuities for your guides at the end of your fabulous trip

Interactive Trip Map: Click on the map icons to read details for each day

What Our Guests Say About the Ultimate Galapagos Islands Adventure

view all

Ultimate Galapagos Islands Adventure - May 2023

Ultimate Galapagos

"From beginning to end - this was an awesome adventure! Everything was well coordinated,… read more

"From beginning to end - this was an awesome adventure! Everything was well coordinated, the accommodations were great, we were well feed, the variety of activities were terrific and I can’t say enough good things about our two guides - Pepo and Paulo!! They were outstanding, went above and beyond my expectations and kept everything running smoothly. Really felt immersed in the local culture. I highly recommend this trip!! read less

5 Stars (485 reviews)

Douglas,

Ultimate Galapagos Islands Adventure - May 2023

Galapagos Adventure

"This trip exceeded my expectations. The excursions were well managed to accommodate all participants… read more

"This trip exceeded my expectations. The excursions were well managed to accommodate all participants and the up close encounters with local wildlife (blue footed boobies, tortoises, and sharks) were awesome. We also became quick friends with our travel companions (and guides) which made for a super enjoyable trip and created memories to last a lifetime. read less

5 Stars (485 reviews)

Douglas,

Ultimate Galapagos Islands Adventure - April 2023

In Love with Galapagos

"We chose Active Adventures because we wanted to maximize our time on land in hopes… read more

"We chose Active Adventures because we wanted to maximize our time on land in hopes of seeing as much wildlife as possible. It did not disappoint! We saw everything we wanted to see and fell in love with the Galapagos. We enjoyed all of the planned activities, but still had time to explore on our own. We did not want to leave and are already talking about when we can go back. read less

5 Stars (485 reviews)

Jessica,

Ultimate Galapagos Islands Adventure - April 2023

Active Adventures ... It Rocks!

"This entire trip was LOGISTICALLY and SEAMLESSLY executed ... from transporting us to different islands,… read more

"This entire trip was LOGISTICALLY and SEAMLESSLY executed ... from transporting us to different islands, from baggage transfer, from going from one activity to the next, from how they coordinate meals, etc ... Amazing!
Even though I opted not to do one activity due to it being possibly too challenging for me but not for others, it was well worth the trip.
The guide (Jose Luis AKA Pepo - and his assistant Paolo) were OUTSTANDING. Knowledgeable, considerate of my needs and those of others, knew what to do and where to find the most interesting highlights ... Kudos to Pepo and Paolo. The accommodations were perfect (except for one smaller one that was acceptable). The food was very good and the selection of activities where and how they highlighted environmental and educational insights was well done. read less

5 Stars (485 reviews)

Mark,

Ultimate Galapagos Islands Adventure - April 2023

Learning and Sharing with the Galapagos Experience

"As one of 12 fellow travelers on this tour, I learned about the many closely… read more

"As one of 12 fellow travelers on this tour, I learned about the many closely encountered animals and flora of the islands, while being able to interact with and support local community residents on this land-based journey. Our wonderful local naturalist guide, Pepo, was warm and welcoming, highly organized and shared his vast knowledge day after activity-filled day, adding stories and bits of humor as well. His friend and assistant, hard-working Paolo, assured that arrangements for travel, luggage, accommodations and equipment were ably met, along with helping out during the outings. Both skillfully enabled all in the group to be included and safe in each activity and made the days such fun! Snorkeling with wild dolphins-wow!! So many highlights! I miss Pepo's daily SuperPlan. With a most friendly welcome by residents, yummy local foods, well-prepared and gorgeous surroundings the days flew by. Support crew on excursions were outstanding, especially Capitan Joel and Brian on the trip to Los Tuneles. Practices toward sustainability and ecological preservation were most evident, along with fascinating cultural history and geology of the islands. Group members blended very well together as we jointly experienced this wonderful tour. read less

5 Stars (485 reviews)

Margaret,

Ultimate Galapagos Islands Adventure - April 2023

Galapagos

"Everything was absolutely wonderful! It was very easy to get together with the group… read more

"Everything was absolutely wonderful! It was very easy to get together with the group and each day was planned perfectly with the activities and meal times and free time to explore alone. The activity level for "moderate" was a little slower than anticipated but our guide made up for that with his wealth of knowledge and and excitement for being able to share that knowledge. But we never had to worry about anything, it was all always ready to go and perfect, we just had to show up ready to learn and enjoy. read less

4 Stars (485 reviews)

Sam,

Ultimate Galapagos Islands Adventure - March 2023

The guides make the trip!

"Our guides, Pepo and Paulo, were fantastic. Both native to the Galapagos Islands, they… read more

"Our guides, Pepo and Paulo, were fantastic. Both native to the Galapagos Islands, they were very knowledgeable about wildlife, culture, geography and history. Both were friendly, caring, safety conscious, and truly invested in the group learning about their islands and having a good time. read less

4 Stars (485 reviews)

Mary,

Ultimate Galapagos Islands Adventure - March 2023

"It was a trip of a lifetime. Can't wait to go back. read more

"It was a trip of a lifetime. Can't wait to go back. read less

5 Stars (485 reviews)

Susan,

Ultimate Galapagos Islands Adventure - March 2023

Galapagos

"First class in every way! Our guides were absolutely amazing ! read more

"First class in every way! Our guides were absolutely amazing ! read less

5 Stars (485 reviews)

Joanne,

Ultimate Galapagos Islands Adventure - March 2023

Galapagos

"The activities were great fun and challenging. There was never a dull moment and in… read more

"The activities were great fun and challenging. There was never a dull moment and in fact not much time to slow down. There was so much to see, learn, and do on this trip. Learning history biology geography oceanography and much more, all were part of the day to day experience and activities. I loved that. I also learned to snorkel and loved it, thanks to our delightful guide, Pepo.
Our Galapagos guide was exceptional. He was fun, smart, humorous, creative and super nice. He made the trip a huge success.
(Our Quito guide was good too.)
We were delighted to be on a land trip- stay in little hotels, eat in local restaurants, enjoy the people and ambience of the local community, and explore the area, walk around in the morning and evenings, rather than be on a separate ship. I also liked being able to practice speaking Spanish. read less

5 Stars (485 reviews)

Virginia,

Ultimate Galapagos Islands Adventure - March 2023

Abby Newton

"Our trip to the Galapagos was incredible! Our guide was extremely informative, personable, funny, and… read more

"Our trip to the Galapagos was incredible! Our guide was extremely informative, personable, funny, and just an all around fabulous person! We learned so much, explored so many places on land and in the ocean, saw amazing wildlife and ate very well! read less

5 Stars (485 reviews)

Abby,

Ultimate Galapagos Islands Adventure - February 2023

A Great Trip

"I was very impressed with the quality of the food, accommodations and tour leaders. Pepo… read more

"I was very impressed with the quality of the food, accommodations and tour leaders. Pepo was an amazing tour lead for this trip. His lectures were easy to understand and I learned a lot about the underwater and above ground wildlife. He did a wonderful job pointing out sharks, sting rays, turtles and other sea life while on our numerous snorkels. It was awesome spending the entire week stepping around sea lions and iguanas. The tortoise breeding preserves were impressive to see. The entire group found the food on this trip to be outstanding. The food was healthy and the bowl of very fresh fruit that was served with most breakfasts was delicious. The oceanfront hotels were very good. This trip went very smooth with the amazing help from Puedo (Paulo?) who coordinated all the background details of moving our luggage and coordinating all the transportation. Everything seemed to flow seamlessly due to his effort, the drivers and other help. I would easily recommend this trip to anyone who wants to experience the Galapagos Islands. read less

5 Stars (485 reviews)

Don, United States

Ultimate Galapagos Islands Adventure - February 2023

Great trip!

"Visiting the Galapagos Islands is truly extrordinary. So much to see and learn. read more

"Visiting the Galapagos Islands is truly extrordinary. So much to see and learn. read less

5 Stars (485 reviews)

KD, United States

Ultimate Galapagos Islands Adventure - February 2023

Truly a trip for the ages!

"Well I can tell you I really had no idea that I'd be waking up… read more

"Well I can tell you I really had no idea that I'd be waking up to the barking of sea lions, dropped into an "aquarium" to snorkel, walk up a volcano, see a Sea Turtle eye to eye or truly say I've been swimming with sharks but this trip delivered that and more. From the choices of the restaurants to eat in to the quality of the equipment at our disposal this trip, this group and especially Pablo with his incredible knowledge I cannot say enough. When I really did run out of gas walking up Sierra Negre there was an option to just sit, enjoy the incredible beauty around me and relish in the fact that I did actually walk up a volcano. The thrill of swimming at Kicker Rock and seeing not a few but dozens of hammer head and black tip sharks was something I'll never forget. Everywhere, and I mean everywhere we turned there was another moment to capture! Though travelling in the "rainy" season we never saw any and that made the trip even more spectacular. Sunsets on Isabela and Floreana were unbelievable and to know we were there, really there on the Galapagos Islands seeing, sensing and being one with all we saw and did. I can't say enough about Pablo, Paulo and all the team who looked out for us and made the trip such an experience. Thank you! read less

5 Stars (485 reviews)

Ann, Canada

Ultimate Galapagos Islands Adventure - February 2023

Exceeded all expectations

"We recently arrived home from our Jan 2023 Ultimate Galapagos Islands Adventure with Pablo… read more

"We recently arrived home from our Jan 2023 Ultimate Galapagos Islands Adventure with Pablo (and Paulo). It was a trip of a lifetime that we had been excited to go on for some time. The trip was so well executed in every aspect from trip leadership, support and logistics to the tempo of the activities. Every day was well organized and we were always kept busy but not rushed. Accomodations were very good - in particular the hotel on Isabella was fantastic. Hotel Wittmer was better than i expected and the beachfront views were amazing. The food was on point, healthy and plentious. We especially appreciated the snacks provided post snorkelling on the boats, and during the Sierra Negra hike that always appeared when we needed them most. Our trip leader Pablo was fantastic and shared his deep knowledge and passion for the Galapagos islands. He was very supportive and especially made me feel encouraged when doing activites that were more challenging for me (hiking in the heat for example). The trip logistics were fantastic and Paulo serves recognition for all the behind the scenes work getting gear organized and ready, cleaning snorkelling gear and wetsuits and getting luggage to and from rooms and boats. The snorkeling was a highlight of the trip for me and the best I have ever experienced. My skills and condfidence grew with the many oportunities we had to snorkle. Swimming with so many hammerhead sharks at Kicker rock will be a trip highlight for me. The diversity and beauty of these special islands will be with me forever. Pablo's passion for these islands and his sharing of knowledge allowed me to learn so much. read less

5 Stars (485 reviews)

Sandra, Canada

Ultimate Galapagos Islands Adventure - January 2023

Great trip and great people

"Pepo made the experience a pleasure and he shared his islands with us in an… read more

"Pepo made the experience a pleasure and he shared his islands with us in an unforgettable place. read less

5 Stars (485 reviews)

Manuel, United States

Austin PIF 2

Take 10% off the trip price when you book a trip and pay in full.

By paying in full we are able to pass on savings to our guests, but please note that by opting for this payment plan, your booking becomes non-refundable, non-cancellable, and non-changeable. 

We highly recommend that you purchase Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) insurance. We recommend Redpoint Insurance – you can find details here.

T+Cs Apply.

BOOKING CONDITIONS

Useful Info

Where does the trip start?

On the first day of the trip we’ll meet you at Hotel EB in Quito at 6pm. You are welcome to book your pre-trip stay at this hotel directly or any other hotel in Quito, though you must make your own way to Hotel EB at the pre-designated time.

Where does the trip end?

Your trip ends after breakfast and we can drop you off at the Quito Airport (UIO) in time for flights departing any time. If you need to book your departing flight for earlier you can fly out from Quito anytime after 8pm the night prior.

What flights would you recommend?

Arrival: We recommend arriving in Quito (UIO) by 12pm.  Many guests like to arrive a day or two early to accommodate potential flight delays and/or explore the city prior to your trip start.

Departure: Flying out on the last day of the trip, you can depart any time.

Tell me about the group leaders?

We work in partnership with a local operator in the Galapagos Islands - Galakiwi. Depending on the size of your Active Adventures South America group, the local operator may have other clients joining the group for the island section of your ‘Tortuga’ trip.
While in the Galapagos you’ll be accompanied by your experienced Trip leader, who’s there to keep you informed about the Galapagos and make sure that everything runs smoothly; a qualified naturalist guide, who will provide additional local knowledge of the flora and fauna; and your local boat Captain and his crew!

What park entrance fees are not included in the trip price?

The Ecuadorian government charges every person who enters the Galapagos Islands a US$100 park entrance fee. You’ll be asked to pay this when you arrive to the airport in Galapagos. INGALA, the coordinating body of Galapagos, also charges a US$20 Transit Control Fee, which is paid through the airline as you check in at Quito airport.

How fit do I need to be for this trip?

As an Activity Level 1-2 trip you’ll need a reasonable level of fitness. While you don’t have to be extremely fit, you should be in the habit of doing regular aerobic exercise. With a little preparation before your trip begins, you’ll enjoy the active and outdoor nature of your trip all the more.

Please head to our Fitness Guide for great tips on how to prepare along with a workout plan!

What accommodations do we stay at on this trip?

We stay in clean, comfortable and interesting accommodation and, unlike many other operators, we prefer to stay on the mainland rather than on live-aboard boats. This means you can interact more with the local communities and have better opportunities to hike and cycle as well as snorkel and dive. Many of the places we stay are off-the-beaten-track and truly spectacular.
For instance, Isabela Island isn’t known for its glamorous lodgings, but has stunning beaches, an abundance of wildlife, off-the-beaten-track flavour and rustic charm. While we do our best to stay at the hotels we’ve mentioned in the itinerary, some of the locations we stay in have limited accommodation options, so we may need use other equivalent hotels from time to time.

How much luggage can I bring on this trip?

You’ll need one piece of luggage plus a sturdy daypack (25-30 litres/2000 cubic inches) for your days out hiking. Your main piece of luggage can be anything from a backpack, to a sports bag with wheels or a suitcase.

You’ll be given a 70 litres (4,000 cubic inches) duffle bag with sizing’s of around 80 x 30 x 30 centimetres (31 x 12 x 12 inches) on the first night of the trip. This is if you want to pack light for your time on the Galapagos Islands to make the transfers via boat easier. Any excess luggage and gear will then be stored securely for you at your Quito hotel until you return there on the last night of the trip.

Please note: due to the remote nature of the Galapagos Islands, many products are either unavailable or considerably more expensive than home. If there are some things you simply can’t do without you might like to bring some from home (e.g. high-grade blister products and contact lens solution won’t be available).

How flexible can this trip be?

Galapagos National Park is a fragile wildlife refuge and as such is sometimes subject to sudden rule changes that minimise potential damage through tourism. We may occasionally need to make itinerary changes in response to this. The Galapagos Islands are in a developing part of the world and we can’t tell you that everything runs like clockwork there. What we can tell you is that we are experienced adventure travel leaders, and our Galapagos operator is a local specialist who knows how to keep things operating as smoothly as possible, even when conditions are challenging! Often, because of changing sea conditions, we may need to make small changes to our itinerary for your safety and comfort. If you bring flexibility, an open mind and a sense of humour, you’ll find your trip is everything that adventure should be.

How do we travel between the Galapagos Islands?

You’ll spend time journeying from island to island on board our boat, a 30 foot twin-decked launch with indoor and outdoor seating. We spend up to a few hours at a time on the boat, broken up by visits to smaller islands on a route chosen to make the most of each day’s ocean and weather conditions.

You’ll be able to enjoy the views and make unscheduled snorkelling stops to make the most of what’s out and about that day.

How do rooming arrangements work?

Trip prices are based on shared arrangements (typically two guests per room), unless otherwise stated. For solo travelers, we’ll pair you with another person of the same gender to share rooms and if there’s no one suitable to share with, there’s no forced single supplement. However, if you specifically request your own rooms, you can opt to pay the single supplement. Solo travelers who book within 90 days of departure, where there are no other solo travelers willing to share, will be required to pay the single supplement. 

For Family Vacation bookings, families consisting of four guests traveling with children aged 17 and under will be automatically assigned one shared room. However, the following alternative rooming allocations are available:

  • Families consisting of four guests with all children aged 13 and above are welcome to opt for additional rooms as per advertised double occupancy adult rates.
  • Families consisting of four guests with at least one child aged 12 and under are automatically assigned a shared room. However, families can opt to pay the adult rates for all guests in their family to have an additional room.
  • The same principles apply for families consisting of more than four guests.

Rooming preferences are subject to availability and must be communicated in writing at time of booking. Automatic assignments as per this policy will be applied in the absence of any specification provided by guests. Any request for additional rooms during trips will be at guests’ own expense and subject to rates made available by the accommodation provider at the time. All minors (guests aged 17 and under) must be accompanied by at least one adult.

Tell me about the Optional activities on this trip?

While we do lots of snorkelling during the ‘Iguana’ trip, during our day at Kicker Rock you have the choice of the following two options:

Snorkelling the Galapagos
As much snorkelling as you like! You’ll be provided with 3mm short arm and leg wetsuits, mask, snorkel and fins.

Scuba Diving the Galapagos (extra fee applies)
Two dives including full dive briefings, a diver safety boat, 5mm full-length wetsuit, tank, BCD, regs, mask, snorkel and fins. Bring your diver certification card with you in order to dive! Regardless of whether you snorkel or scuba dive, if you have your own mask, snorkel and fins we recommend bringing them with you - we do lots of snorkelling during this trip and it’s always nicer to use your own! We provide 3mm wetsuits with short arms and legs for snorkellers and 5mm wetsuits with long arms and legs for scuba divers. Our wetsuit sizes are small to extra large – you’re welcome to bring your own if you would prefer. 

The surface temperature of the sea ranges from 18- 30ºC (65-85ºF) with February to April being the warmest months, and September to November being the coolest. The average is usually around 20ºC and you’ll be diving to a depth of 20 metres (65 feet) You’ll be provided with a wetsuit appropriate for your chosen activity and the conditions.

Please note that if you are 60 years or over and wish to participate in the Scuba diving option, you will need to provide a medical certificate in advance, and an additional fee will apply for an extra Dive Master to accompany you.

How experienced do I need to be to dive?

We only recommend the diving if you’ve done at least 10-15 dives and are a mid-level to advanced scuba diver. The diving in the Galapagos can be quite challenging, depending on the currents, so it’s only recommended if you’re a confident diver – if in doubt, please chat to us before making your selection.

If you’ve not previously experienced diving in open water, or it’s been two years or more since your last dive, then we highly recommend taking a refresher course prior to arriving too, to be better prepared.

Underwater visibility in the Galapagos is usually very good. You can often see from 15-25 metres (50-80 feet) ahead of you, sometimes up to 30 metres (100 feet) in most of the places. In some areas and in some seasons green waters are present, due to the richness of phytoplankton – this is normal.

You’ll probably dive in the Galápagos in medium to strong currents of between 1-4 knots/1-4 miles/2-6 kilometres per hour. In the Garúa season (from July to December) the Humboldt current coming from the southeast is present. In the warm season (from January to June) the Panamá current from the northeast arrives in the Galápagos.

The wildlife here is in such abundance and variety! Things that you might see where we go are: Tropical fish, Galapagos Shark, Batfish, Hammerhead Shark, Tagle and Goleen Rays, Moray Eels, Green Sea Turtles, Stingrays, Barracuda, Triggerfish, Boxfish, Frogfish and plenty more!

Is tipping expected in the Galapagos & Ecuador?

Most people do choose to tip their Active Adventures trip leaders/guides and we recommend USD$20 per day, per guest, per trip leader/guide. During your Active Adventures trip, your trip leader/guide will take care of all included restaurants and service tips for you. For other restaurants or services during your time in the Galapagos, 5-10% is a typical gratuity amount.

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