7-Day Galapagos Essentials

Overview

Available languages

English

168 hours

Mobile ticket

Experience the Galapagos Islands from the comfort of a land-based expedition! The islands offer endless opportunities to explore a unique abundance of life in a setting unlike any other on earth. The Galapagos form a natural sanctuary that preserves species, allowing them to evolve since countless millennia. This is one of the few places on earth that allows such insight with so much wildlife. This holiday also provides flexible time to spend on your own and discover them with the sand beaches well-signed trails in the Galapagos forest, and the lots of wildlife. Enjoy real-time encounters with the most amazing wildlife up your fingertips and discover the power nature with the evolutionary changes of such unique animals. Snorkel through lava formations with sea turtles, penguins, sea horses, sea lions and sharks at Lava Tunnels.

Additional Info

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

It is our intention to adhere to the itinerary described; however, due to our travel style, on occasions it may be necessary or desirable to make small changes. Weather conditions and unpredictable local circumstances may lead us to make alterations to the route and/or travel times. Hotels and flight schedules might change according to availability. Any mention to specific wildlife in the itinerary or trip details is not a guarantee that it will be seen during the trip.

2h 45 min each way from Quito to Galapagos. Regular size aircraft. About 140 passengers

2 hours each way from Santa Cruz to San Cristobal

45 minutes each way - Lava Tunnels

20 minutes each way - Isla Lobos

45 minutes Airport transfers in Quito

45 minutes Airport transfers in Galapagos

Tintoreras: 1 hour.

Lava Tunnels: 2 times of 1 hour each.

Short hikes 1-hour average

All year

December to May: 80ºF to 90ºF / 25ºC to 30ºC. June to September: 60ºF to 70ºF / 15ºC to 20ºC. October to December: 70ºF to 80ºF/ 15ºC to 25ºC

The waters of the Galapagos Islands are a unique mixture

of warm and cold water, ranging between 65ºF and 85ºF

From sea level to 600m (1900ft)

Day 15-34ºC / 59-93ºF - Night 12-17ºC / 53-62ºF

Moderate to easy there are short hikes in El Chato, Academy day tour, Isla Lobos snorkelling is easy.

Traveling with Adventure Journeys you will have the possibility to experience and taste local food and snacks. Your guide will help you identify typical food and suggest the best places to enjoy it. Some meals are not included in order to give you some flexibility about where what and with whom to eat. You have the option to share these meals with the group, however, there is no obligation to do this. If you have any allergies or food restrictions, please inform AJ prior to your departure.

All prices are based on double occupancy. If you are travelling solo, you will be matched with another participant of your same sex. If you prefer to have a single room, please contact AJ prior to your departure to arrange your accommodation at an extra cost.

All AJ guides and trip leaders are highly experienced, licensed to operate in Ecuador and certified as Wilderness Adventure First Aid responders. We always carry a complete first aid kit in our trips. In some location and for some activities, local guides join the trip leaders to provide an added service. In the Galapagos Islands, minimum 4 participants for the AJ trip leader service are required.

Clients receive a conservationist interpretation of the ecology of the Andes, Amazon Rainforest and Galapagos Islands with the factors that threaten it. We aim to promote long-term conservation of both Local People cultural identity and their environment. Your visit will encourage them to support responsible ecotourism. We transport out and recycle all non-organic garbage.

Cancellation Policy

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

What To Expect

Day 1

Arrival in Quito City

Accommodations

Sheraton Quito or similar

Quito Old Town

Welcome to Quito! The biggest, best-preserved colonial city of America was declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. The city is considered the Cultural Capital of South America and the second most important city of the old Inca Empire. Depending on arrival time, you can spend your day exploring the old town of Quito and the surrounding area. Adventure Journeys can help you to organize a day trip. In the evening, one of our trip leaders will meet you at the hotel for a welcome briefing and there will be plenty of time to discuss details and answer any questions you may have regarding the adventure. Our first day is an informational and acclimation day.

1 hour • Admission Not Applicable

Day 2

Travel day to Galapagos

Accommodations

Hotel Fiesta or Similar

Food and Drinks

BREAKFAST

Breakfast

LUNCH

Lunch

Reserva El Chato

Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to the island of Baltra in the Galapagos Islands. On arrival you will be picked up and transferred to Santa Cruz a nearby island, crossing the narrow Itabaca channel by ferry and then continuing by car. Your first stop will be at the highlands of Santa Cruz. The Highlands home of the iconic giant Galapagos tortoises. Here you will visit a private ranch where you will enjoy lunch before heading out for a walk in search of the giant tortoises. During this visit, you will also visit some lava tubes, which are formed when the surface of a lava stream solidifies, After this tour, you will continue by private transport to your hotel. Here you will have a meet and greet with a local guide who will explain the following days itinerary to you. Enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure to explore this beautiful Island.

8 hours • Admission Included

Day 3

Bay Tour Exploration

Accommodations

Hotel Fiesta or Similar

Food and Drinks

BREAKFAST

Breakfast

LUNCH

Lunch

Santa Cruz Island

Today after breakfast you will enjoy a half-day tour of Academy Bay. Be sure to pack everything you need for this trip. Optional snorkel equipment will be provided free of charge to anyone who wishes to use it. During the tour, you will take a boat to Academy Bay where you can swim and snorkel with sea lions and all kinds of colourful fish. Here you can see the blue-footed boobies. etc. Afterwards, climb to a nearby viewpoint and if you are lucky, you can see white-tipped reef sharks swimming in the ocean below. Afterwards, take a walk to ‘Playa de Los Perros’ where many sea iguanas are found resting in the sun. The enormous cacti, the red colour of the rocks and the turquoise colour of the ocean make for great photo opportunities.

8 hours • Admission Included

Day 4

Charles Darwin Research Station

Accommodations

Hotel Blue Marlin or Similar

Food and Drinks

BREAKFAST

Breakfast

San Cristobal Interpretation Center

In the morning we will visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn more about many of the endemic species seen in the wild, as well as the ongoing conservation and management efforts on the Galapagos Islands. In the afternoon, you will travel by speedboat to San Cristobal Island. Once we arrive, we will check in at the hotel.

8 hours • Admission Included

Day 5

Isla Lobos Tour

Accommodations

Hotel Blue Marlin or Similar

Food and Drinks

BREAKFAST

Breakfast

LUNCH

Lunch

Isla Lobos

This morning, after breakfast, you will be met and transferred to a dock where you will take a quick boat ride to the nearby Isla Lobos. During this boat trip, you will observe a lot of sea life before even setting foot on the island. Upon arrival, enjoy a guided tour where you will have the chance to observe frigate birds, blue-footed boobies, manta, sea lions and sometimes sharks that all inhabit the island. The white coral beaches of San Cristobal are great to walk around, relax and swim in the shallow waters before you came back to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.

8 hours • Admission Included

Day 6

Travel to Quito

Accommodations

Sheraton Quito or similar

Food and Drinks

BREAKFAST

Breakfast

Quito Old Town

Enjoy some more free time this morning before transferring to the airport of San Cristobal. From here, you will take a flight back to Ecuador's mainland. Upon arrival in Quito, you will be collected from the airport and transferred to your hotel for one more evening at leisure before saying goodbye.

8 hours • Admission Included

Day 7

End of Services

Food and Drinks

BREAKFAST

Breakfast

Quito Old Town

End of Services

Admission Not Applicable

What‘s Included

Trip Leader: Certified AJ expert English-speaking adventure Trip Leader

Activities: Hiking in Santa Cruz highlands, Snorkelling, Isla Lobos, Academy bay day tour

Meals Included: 6 breakfasts and 3 lunches

Gear: Snorkeling mask and fins, life vest

Accommodations based in double occupancy: First Class hotel in Quito, 4-star hotels in Galapagos

Transportation: Airport transfers (national flights), sea transportation Santa Cruz - Isabela islands round trip, comfortable land transportation

My Own Room supplement

International flights

Airfare Quito - Galapagos - Quito round trip

Airport transfer (international flights)

Travel insurance (mandatory)

Meals not described in the itinerary

INGALA transit card Fee

Galapagos National Park Fee

Snorkeling gear (mask and fins) for optional activities: USD $8 per day per person

Wetsuit for rent: USD $10

Tips for guides and drivers

Options