8 Days | Discover the wildlife highlights of the Galapagos islands
Amazing wildlife, both on land and underwater, is the drawcard of the remote Galapagos Islands. Tour this otherworldly archipelago by foot and boat with an expert naturalist guide to lead the way. Swim with sea turtles, see giant tortoises up close, watch sea lions lounge around town and discover volcanic environments. This trip has you cruising and exploring by day and relaxing on land by night, not at the mercy of the weather for a good night’s sleep.
Trip overview
- Start
- Isla San Cristobal, Ecuador
- Finish
- Isla Santa Cruz, Ecuador
- Theme
- Explorer, 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
- GGTG
- Learn about the unique habits of the marine iguana with your expert naturalist guide. This dinosaur-like little creature has an iridescent sheen and is only found on the Galapagos Islands.
- Snorkel the incredible waters of Leon Dormido (Kicker Rock), an eroded volcanic cone where sea turtles, rays and colourful fish make their home.
- Many come to Isla Santa Cruz just for the giant tortoises. Get up close and personal with these enormous animals as they shuffle along.
- Watch the aerobatic routines of blue-footed boobies and the death-defying stunts of the frigate birds as they whizz through the air.
- As it begins and ends in the Galapagos (as opposed to mainland Ecuador) it’s easy to stay on if you fall in love with the archipelago.
- 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.
- The only way to access many islands is by boat. The good news is that seasickness can often be managed with medication and by consulting a health professional before your trip.
- This trip includes a 17 km hike (approximately 6 to 7 hours) on rocky terrain. We recommend bringing comfortable walking shoes that offer good support.
- The sun in the Galapagos Islands is incredibly strong due to its proximity to the equator, so it is hot an easy to burn. Make sure you bring sun protection and wear layers to combat the heat.
- Snorkelling excursions are included throughout the itinerary. Confident swimming skills are required to take part in these activities.
- The Galapagos is a great place to switch off and take a break from your phone, as internet access can be patchy can Wi-Fi is not always be 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.
- There is an opportunity on the final day to forgo your flight back to Quito to stay on and go scuba diving. We can assist with booking this activity on the final day of the tour, but it will require an extra night on the islands, and you must have a scuba certification. See ‘Important Notes’ on the left for details.
Itinerary
View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2023 - 31 December 2023
Inclusions
7 breakfasts, 4 lunches
Boat, Public bus, Speed Boat, Private Vehicle
Hotel (7 nights)
- 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 - Sierra Negra Volcano Hike (5-6 Hours)
- Isla Isabela - Kayaking
- Santa Cruz Highlands Visit (3 Hours)
- Isla Santa Cruz - Tortuga Bay walk
- Wetsuit (shortsleeve) hire for 5 days - USD60
- Isla Santa Cruz - Charles Darwin Research Centre (45 Minutes) - Free
Dates and availability
Important notes
1. This trip starts in the Galapagos, there are two joining points available:
San Cristobal Airport- 10:45am on Day 1
OR
Casa de Nelly (start hotel)- Address: Manuel Agama S/N y Alsacio Northia. San Cristobal Galapagos-Check-in time is usually 12pm (Passengers from Quito and Leader will usually arrive at approximately 12:30)
Please advise no later than 15 days prior to departure, where you plan to join this trip.
Customer services phone number to call while in Galapagos if any issues: 09940148
2. This trip finishes in Santa Cruz, departure flights should be booked from Baltra airport.
3. Before you board your flight to the islands, at either Quito or Guayaquil Airports, you need to purchase your Galapagos Transit Control Card (USD 20) at the Consejo de Gobierno counter in the entrance hall; if you haven’t purchased this card you might be denied boarding. You will need to be at the airport at least 2 hours prior to the departure time as this can be a lengthy process. You will also need to have cash on hand as credit cards are not accepted.
After you have purchased Transit Control Card you will have to check your luggage at SICGAL counter where they seal your check in bags; then proceed to the check in counter of your respective airline.
The Galapagos park fee (USD 100) and Isabela Port fee (USD 10) are payable upon arrival to the islands (cash only). These amounts are in addition to your trip payment.
When booking, please ensure that your details are correct and they match your passport. Your passport 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.
4. 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 refund.
For more information, please follow this link: http://www.galapagos.org/travel/travel/park-rules/
5. 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.
6. This trip has a longer version which includes return flights from Quito.
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