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Best of Galapagos

10 Days | Take an adventure to the natural wonderland of the Galapagos Islands

4.9 out of 5 based on 117 reviews submitted.
Wildlife
From
GBP £2,443
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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.

Trip overview

Map of Best Of Galapagos including Ecuador
Start
Quito, Ecuador
Finish
Quito, Ecuador
Theme
Wildlife
Destinations
Ecuador
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Style
Original
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1 - Max 16
Trip code
GGTF
This trip generates 77.99 kg of CO2-e per person per day.
We offset these emissions on your behalf. But we know that is not enough, so we also have a carbon reduction target.

Why you'll love this trip
  • Explore the islands on this in-depth adventure, coming face-to-face with some of the most extraordinary wildlife on earth.
  • Get your blood pumping as you scale a volcano on Isabela Island.
  • Acquaint yourself with the beautiful churches and graceful boulevards of Quito, Ecuador's capital.
  • Get up close and personal with giant tortoises on Santa Cruz Island. These nearly extinct creatures are one of the greatest drawcards to the Galapagos.
  • This is a land based Galapagos trip, meaning you'll use locally owned hotels on the islands and have more opportunities to interact with the locals as opposed to staying on a boat.
  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, The Galapagos Conservancy. Donations support their Women in Sustainable Entrepreneurship (WISE) program, providing capital for sustainability initiatives and empowering female entrepreneurs in the Galápagos.

Is this trip right for you?
  • This trip involves a lot of travel by speed boat between the various Galapagos Islands, the rides can be quite bumpy at times. The good news is that seasickness can often be managed with medication. Consult a health professional before your trip.
  • This trip includes a 17 km hike (approximately 6 to 7 hours) on rocky terrain. It's recommended you bring comfortable walking shoes that offer good support.
  • The sun in the Galapagos islands is incredibly strong due to its close proximity to the equator, ensure you are well prepared with sunscreen, sun hat, sunglasses and a rash guard if desired.
  • This trip does include snorkelling on multiple days throughout the itinerary. Confident swimming skills are required to take part in this tour.
  • This trip visits Quito which is at high altitude, and as a result some people can suffer from altitude sickness, regardless of age or physical health. Please see the ‘Medical and Health Information’ section of the Essential Trip Information. 
  • The Galapagos is a great place to switch off and take a break from your phone, as internet access can be patchy, and Wi-Fi is not always available or reliable.
  • Hot water can be sporadic in some parts of the Galapagos, so there may be a few cold showers on the trip.

Itinerary

Map of Best Of Galapagos including Ecuador

Inclusions

Meals

8 breakfasts, 4 lunches

Transport

Plane, Speed Boat, Private Vehicle, Taxi, Public bus

Accommodation

Hotel ( 9 nights)

Activities
  • Quito - Historic District Walking Tour
  • Isla San Cristobal- Snorkeling in La Loberia (1.5 Hours)
  • San Cristobal - Excursion to Leon Dormido or Lobos Islands
  • Isla San Cristobal - Interpretation Center (45 minutes)
  • Isla San Cristobal - Cerro Tijeretas View Point (1 Hour)
  • Floreana - Snorkeling
  • Isla Isabela -Tintoreras or Shark Alley (2.5 Hours)
  • Isla Isabela - Flamingo lagoon visit (30 Minutes)
  • Isla Isabela - Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre (1 Hour)
  • Isla Isabela - Kayaking
  • Isla Isabela - Sierra Negra Volcano Hike (5-6 Hours)
  • Santa Cruz Highlands Visit (3 Hours)
  • Santa Cruz – Organic Farm Tour
  • Santa Cruz – Encebollado Cooking Class
  • Isla Santa Cruz - Tortuga Bay walk
  • Isla Santa Cruz - The Galapagos Conservancy visit
  • Isla Santa Cruz - Charles Darwin Research Centre
Add on activities
  • Quilotoa - Quilotoa Lagoon (Full day) - USD100
  • Quito - Papallacta Hot Springs (Full day) - USD70
  • Cotopaxi - National Park Hiking Tour - USD95
  • Quito - Urban Adventures: Legends and Culture Tour - USD50
  • Wetsuit (shortsleeve) hire for 5 days - USD60

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1. Full passport details are required at the time of booking. Please ensure all your details are correct and that they match your passport. The passport you travel with must match the booking details provided to us, otherwise, it could cause issues with your transit card and internal flights, resulting in purchasing a new card and flights at your own expense. This information is also necessary to purchase entry permits to certain sites. Please note that delays in providing this information could result in additional booking fees or changes to your itinerary.
2. At the Welcome Meeting on Day 1, you will need to pay your Leader $20 USD in cash for your Galapagos Transit Control Card.
3. Before you board your flight to the islands, at either Quito or Guayaquil Airports, you will have to check your luggage at the SICGAL counter, where they seal your checked bags; then proceed to the check-in counter of your respective airline.
4. The Galapagos park fee (US$100) and Isabela Port fee (US$10) are payable upon arrival to the islands (cash only). These amounts are in addition to your trip payment.
5. Please be advised that for the internal flights on this tour, the airline only provides a small snack. You may wish to take your own snacks as it is a long travel day.
6. Strict rules apply in the Galapagos Islands aimed at protecting and preserving its unique biodiversity. Intrepid strongly agrees and supports these rules, which range from times of the day that a destination can be visited to the distance kept between people and wildlife and especially not removing anything from the environment ( shells and corals, for example) – all these rules will be explained in more detail by your Leader on the ground. Not adhering to these rules can lead to hefty fines for travellers and can result in Intrepid losing the license to operate in the Galapagos Islands – these rules must be adhered to by all, without exception. Failure to adhere to the rules can result in being removed from the trip without a refund.
For more information, please follow this link: http://www.galapagos.org/travel/travel/park-rules/
7. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
8. Intrepid offers a shorter version of this tour (search trip code GGTG), which doesn't include flights to and from Quito and starts in the Galapagos.

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Read Essential Trip Information

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 based on 117 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

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alison · Traveled February 2024
Fantastic trip, absolutely beautiful! Our guide César was superb, knowledgeable and caring of us all. The snorkelling was such a delight, especially seeing the baby sea lions ! The brochure suggests that this would be a life changing trip, they’re not wrong. We didn’t want to come home from The Galapagos!
Review submitted 16 Feb 2024

Barbara · Traveled February 2024
Best of Galapagos was a superb experience - cannot recommend it enough. The trip was well organised with a good balance of organised activities (alternatives given). Our guide, Cesar, is so knowledgeable and his passion and love for the Galapagos was infectious. Being a single, older lady I was made to feel safe and a welcome member of the Intrepid family.
Review submitted 14 Feb 2024

NATHALIE · Traveled February 2024
The Galapagos Islands offer an unparalleled adventure. I wholeheartedly endorse the Best of Galapagos 10-day tour with Intrepid. From captivating biodiversity to impeccable service, every moment is unforgettable. It's an experience beyond compare, etched in memory—a truly transcendent journey.
Review submitted 01 Mar 2024

Ian · Traveled January 2024
Great trip and guide (Katty), really well organised activities and itinerary. We had some amazing experiences snorkeling with turtles, sea lions, fish, sharks, penguins and iguanas. Also saw giant tortoises and climbed a volcano. A great way to explore the Galapagos.
Review submitted 11 Feb 2024

Rebecca · Traveled January 2024
Would highly recommend this tour. Three days are spent travelling in total (between islands, getting to and from the Galapagos), but once there, the surroundings and activities are unforgettable, especially the snorkelling and hikes. Our tour guide contributed in making this an amazing trip, and I cannot thank her enough!
Review submitted 07 Feb 2024
Best of Galapagos
From
GBP £2,443