Land Exploration of the Galápagos Islands

Prefer land-based over yacht-based? Settle into comfortable hotels and lodges on the Galápagos Islands, and explore facets of the islands not usually visited by tourist boats. Kayak and snorkel in coastal waters, hike up Sierra Negra Volcano, and visit tortoise breeding center.

Activities

Moderate hiking, kayaking, swimming, snorkeling; minimum age is 12

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Kayak and snorkel among sea lions and marine iguanas in the world's top nature destination
• Hike on an active volcano (whose last eruption was just five years ago!)
• Experience up close and personal encounters with wildlife
• A perfect alternative to our yacht-based adventures

2010 Prices
$3,495 (7-12 members)
$3,695 (4-6 members)
$736 internal air
$100 park fees (payable upon arrival in the Islands)
$10 transit card
$750 single supplement

Duration: 11 days Start Location: Quito End Location: Quito Best time to go: January - April, June - July, November - December

Itinerary

• Day 1 : Arrive in Quito..

  Arrive in Quito, Ecuador, and transfer to the five-star Swissôtel.

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  Day 2 : Equator Line, El Pahuma Orchid Reserve, & Pululahua Reserve

  Day trip outside Quito to hike at Pululahua Reserve, an overgrown extinct volcano inhabited by a variety of wildlife.

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  Day 3 : To the Galápagos – Santa Cruz Island – Turtle Viewing & Kayaking

  Fly to Baltra in the Galápagos Islands and transfer to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island. Here you'll view giant tortoises in the wild, as well as a variety of finches and flycatchers, plus explore lava tubes, sinkholes, and eroded craters. Continue to the main town of Puerto Ayora for our first kayaking excursion at Punta Estrada, a small beach that's also excellent for snorkeling, and Las Grietas, a nearby lagoon with crystal-clear water.

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  Day 4 : Santa Cruz Island – Snorkeling / Wildlife Viewing

  A boat tour to a La Fe, where you will see a Galápagos Sea Lions lounging and unique Marine Iguanas basking in the sun, and three species of mangrove (red, black, and white). This is also a great place to snorkel with sea turtles!

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  Day 5 : Isabela Island – Tortoise breeding center

  Morning flight to Isabela Island, the largest in the Galápagos Archipelago. We'll visit a coastal lagoon, with the opportunity to spot flamingos and other bird species, and the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center.

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  Day 6 : Hiking on Volcán Sierra Negra

  Hike up Sierra Negra volcano (4,890'), which most recently erupted in October 2005, to see its 30-square-mile caldera, petrified lava formations, fumaroles, and enjoy spectacular views of the ocean and surrounding islands.

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  Day 7 : Isabela Island – Snorkeling Lobería – Tintoreras – Concha de Perla

  Explore Lobería, Tintoreras, and Concha de Perla today. We hope to see white-tipped reef sharks-tintoreras-resting on the bottom of a large lava canal here.

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  Day 8 : San Cristóbal Island – Snorkeling

  We'll take a morning flight to San Cristóbal Island, the first island that Charles Darwin visited on his five-week tour around the Galápagos. Kayak and snorkel at Tijeretas Beach.

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  Day 9 : San Cristóbal Island – Snorkeling & Hiking

  After breakfast board a motorboat for Kicker Rock, a great place to snorkel with sharks, sea turtles, and young sea lions. Afternoon hike to "El Junco," the only fresh water lagoon in the islands.

• Day 10 : Quito

  Fly to Quito and enjoy a farewell dinner with the group.

• Day 11 : Depart

  Fly home, or join one of our extensions in Ecuador’s highlands, Amazon, or Peru’s Machu Picchu!

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  Swissôtel

  Quito, Ecuador

  This luxury hotel offers comfort and professional service in an excellent location close to the Old Town and the airport. Large, comfortable rooms and great views of the surrounding area from the top.

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  Angermeyer Waterfront Inn

  Puerto Ayora

  Located on the "Punta Estrada" waterfront, this quiet inn is built around Gus Angermeyer's legendary cave. Lava rocks and drift wood form some of the construction materials for this uncommon piece of Galapagos history.

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  Hotel Casa Marita

  Isabela Island

  This custom hotel on the beach of Puerto Villamil sits on some of the best stretches of Isabela Island, only a short walk to the village center but exposed to all the island's natural beauty. Rooms with balconies that overlook the beach, and expansive ocean views from the dining room.

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  Casa Opuntia

  San Cristóbal

  A fun waterfront guesthouse on the San Cristobal Island waterfront. Airy, mediterranean architecture, spacious patios with excellent views, and adjacent cactus gardens lend this inn a perfectly relaxing feel.

Properties shown are representative of the accommodations we use on this trip, may not be inclusive of all accommodations we use, and are subject to change.

Expert leadership is the key to an exciting, unforgettable experience. Our trips feature gifted leaders for whom leading trips is a true vocation. Besides showing you wonders you’d never find on your own, they make sure everything runs smoothly and safely without a hitch. They are knowledgeable about all aspects of your trip, and take great pleasure in sharing their insights with you. More than just guides, they positively elevate your experience by being teachers, companions, and the best of friends. You’ll be in good hands with them every step of the way.

• Tomás Palma

  Tomas is an avid trip leader with 14 year of experince,he has a vast knowledge of Ecuador's biodiversity and a great ability for sharing his country with others. He holds a degree in Tourism from UCT University. His interests include biking, trekking and horses and has bein gguiding for MTS for the past 4 years. Tomas will be join by other Ecuadorian guides. Tomas was born in Quito and has been a tour guide for over 15 years. He is married and has 3 young children aged 10, 5, 3 that share his passion for adventure sports and nature. He loves being outdoors and knows a lot about the different types of birds and plants in Ecuador. He loves adventures sports such as hiking and kayaking and he is passionate about motorcycles and mountain biking. On his free time he always tries to find new routes and fun places where he go with his Enduro motorcycle. Tomas is fluent in English and Italian.

• Sebastian Jurado

  Sebastian was born in Quito and he lived there until he moved to Santiago de Chile to get his bachelor’s degree in Tourism Studies. When he graduated, he traveled extensively throughout the US and Canada for over a year. After his trip, he moved back to Ecuador where he started to work as a tour guide for a couple of years. After that, he moved to Costa Rica to work in an Environmental Education Project for the Tourism Industry. When he finished the project, he lived in Peru, where he participated in a Master’s program in Environmental Management and Social Development. From that point on, he moved back to his native country where he has continued to pursue his passion for traveling working with us.

• Andres Trujillo

  Andres is a native of Colombia but he calls Ecuador his home. He holds a degree in Ecoturism and has worked as a naturalist guide for over 6 years. He is well informed about his country's culture, history, and spectacular natural places, and loves sharing his knowledge with our guests. Andrés has guiding experience in the rainforest, highlands, and the Galápagos Islands of Ecuador, and when not guiding, enjoys mountain biking, running, and climbing. In addition to his native Spanish, he is fluent in English.

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