SUMMARY

Amazing wildlife, both on land and underwater, is the drawcard of the remote Galapagos Islands. Tour the Galapagos' outstanding natural beauty and interesting history by foot and boat on this active adventure. Trace Darwin's theory of evolution, spot colourful, bizarre and beautiful creatures and have an experience that is completely out of this world as you discover the incredible Galapagos Islands.

TOTAL DURATION : 10 Days

GROUP SIZE : MIN 1 MAX 16

TOUR ITINERARY AND DATES

START : Quito

END : Quito

COUNTRIES VISITED : Ecuador

Validity : 01 JAN 2024 To 31 DEC 2024

Day :1

Location : Quito

Bienvenidos! Welcome to Quito, Ecuador. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 2 pm. Quito is one of the most attractive cities in South America, sitting at an altitude of 2850 m with a view of Volcan Pichincha on the horizon. You’ll be back in Quito at the end of the trip, giving you a chance to further experience the city.

Day :2

Location : Isla San Cristobal, Galapagos

Catch an early morning transfer to Quito airport (approximately 45 minutes - 1 hour) for your flight to San Cristobal Island, Galapagos. The flight will take approximately 3.5 hrs including a stop in Guayaquil to pick up additional passengers (you will not need to disembark the plane). After joining up with your fellow travellers and your local naturalist guide on San Cristobal, head to La Loberia where you'll put on snorkelling gear for the first time and go for a swim among sea lions, perhaps spotting sea turtles too. Return to town for a free evening. Maybe head out with the group and enjoy some of the fresh seafood available.

Day :3

Location : Isla San Cristobal

Take a 45-minute boat ride to Leon Dormido (Kicker Rock) today. On the way, you might be able to spot nesting frigates and blue-footed boobies. You might even get the chance to swim among the sea lions again. At Leon Dormido, you can snorkel and look for sea turtles, manta rays and maybe the harmless Galapagos shark. Eat lunch on the boat, then head to the Interpretation Center. Learn about the history of the 'Enchanted Islands' and the conservation projects that seek to preserve them. Continue to Frigatebird Hill (Cerro Tijeretas) – it's quite a climb to the top, but well worth the amazing views of the bay. Return to town in the late afternoon for a free evening.

Day :4

Location : Isla Floreana/ Isla Isabela

Take an early morning boat ride towards Isla Floreana this morning. Along the way, keep your eyes peeled for wildlife, including dolphins and whales. Snorkel in the clear blue waters and then break for lunch. Afterward, venture to a black-sand beach that belongs to the Witmers – descendants of some of the first settlers on the Galapagos. The town here, Puerto Velasco Ibarra, has about 150 residents and an intriguing history involving deaths, disappearances and murders. Later in the afternoon, wave goodbye to Floreana and continue to Isla Isabela, where you’ll spend the night.

Day :5

Location : Isla Isabela

This morning, you’ll hop on a small Zodiac boat and cruise to Las Tintoreras (Shark Alley), looking out for blue-footed boobies and the famous Galapagos penguin. Take a short walk on this isolated islet and popular iguana nesting site, and then snorkel in a calm inlet with colourful fish and winding underground lava tubes. This area is frequented by green sea turtles that like to rest on the calm, sandy bottom. Return to Isla Isabela to visit Arnaldo Tupiza Tortoise Breeding Center, where you'll observe giant tortoises in all stages of development. The centre has almost a thousand giant tortoises preparing for life on their own. After, head to a brackish lagoon to observe flamingos. In the late afternoon, enjoy a pleasant kayak around the island before finding your own sandy resting spot and enjoying your first Isabela sunset – arguably the most beautiful of all the islands.

Day :6

Location : Isla Isabela

Jump aboard a private speedboat this morning and head to Isla Santa Cruz. On arrival, we'll leave our bags at the hotel and head to the Santa Cruz Highlands. Our first stop is a local farm, complete with giant tortoises roaming the grounds. Here, you'll learn how to make Encebollado, a local soup that's considered one of the best in the world. After lunch, we'll head to a trapiche, an organic sugar cane farm run by a local family, and learn how they make cacao and process sugar cane.

Day :7

Location : Isla Isabela / Isla Santa Cruz

Jump aboard a private speedboat this morning and head to Isla Santa Cruz. On arrival, you'll visit a restaurant that offers a typical Ecuadorian lunch package, simply referred to as ‘Menu.’ This usually consists of fresh juice, a basic entree (usually a soup) and a main meal. These lunch deals are very popular throughout Ecuador, so it’s a great way to eat like a local. In the afternoon you’ll enjoy free time to further explore the town at your own pace or go on an optional excursion to the Charles Darwin Research Centre.

Day :8

Location : Isla Santa Cruz

This morning, after breakfast, we take a lovely walk in Tortuga Bay. Along the way, keep an eye out for eagle rays, sea turtles and blue-footed boobies. Later, we'll head to the Charles Darwin Research Center, stopping along the way to visit The Galapagos Conservancy, who help protect the unique biodiversity of the Galapagos. The Intrepid Foundation supports their Galápagos Conservancy Women in Sustainable Entrepreneurship (WISE) program, providing critical capital for sustainability initiatives and building the entrepreneurial capacity of Galápagos women.

Day :9

Location : Quito

We say goodbye to the Galapagos today and take a flight back to Quito (Please note the flight will make a stop in Guayaquil) You'll arrive back to Quito later afternoon. Perhaps head out for a final group dinner.

Day :10

Location : Quito

This morning your adventure comes to an end in Quito. As there are no activities planned for the final day, you can depart the accommodation at any time. Because there is little time spent in Quito on this trip, we recommend staying a few extra days to see more of Ecuador. If you choose to stay on, we’d be happy to assist you with booking accommodation. Ecuador has some of the most beautiful churches in the Americas, including the lavish La Compania de Jesus, which is decorated with seven tonnes of gold. Not far from the capital, there are volcanoes, hot springs and Incan ruins to explore. Consider doing one of our one-day sightseeing tours of Quito, which can include the Old Town, markets and the city's culinary delights (see urbanadventures.com).