10-DAY GALAPAGOS ACTIVE ADVENTURE

Welcome to Quito! The largest, best-preserved colonial city of America – declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. The city is considered the Cultural Capital of South America and is located on the equator in a valley at the foothills of the Pichincha volcano. Depending on your 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 (please request in advance). In the evening, one of our trip leaders will meet you at the hotel’s lobby for a welcome briefing at 18:00 hours. At this time, we will discuss the details and questions you may have regarding the adventure. Our first day is an acclimation and information day.

Today we get ready to explore the most amazing archipelago on the Pacific coast, where Charles Darwin developed his theory of evolution. We will board a morning flight from Quito to the island of San Cristóbal. Once we arrive, we have a transfer to the hotel in the town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno and a short briefing about the next days, before the adventure begins. In the afternoon, we will head to “La Loberia”, which is a home beach for large Galapagos sea lions. We will hike for approximately 1 hour. The ground along the shoreline is flooded at high tide. It is a fairly leisurely walking activity that takes you through many lava rocks and some mangroves. During this excursion, we will have the opportunity to spot red-billed tropicbirds, blue-footed boobies, and Nazca boobies. We also get to see yellow warbler birds, frigate birds, and several species of Darwin’s finches along the beach. Among the rocks, we can find marine iguanas, which you can see only in the Galapagos. After that, we will enjoy shallow-water snorkeling to spot sea lions and sea turtles. Sea lions are very curious and will swim up to you underwater. They may also be lazing over rocks or just lazily dozing in the sand. We also have time to go for a refreshing swim, explore the waters with our snorkeling gear, and enjoy the beach.

In the morning, we will take a boat to Kicker Rock, located off the coast of San Cristóbal, also known as the Sleeping Lion (León Dormido) because of its resemblance. These are the remains of a lava cone eroded by the sea—two vertical rocks rising 500 ft (150 m) above the ocean form a small channel navigable by small boats. This Galapagos Island’s natural monument has become a spectacular site due to the many tropical birds, frigate birds, and boobies that fill the sky. Beneath the sea, the crystal waters offer a brilliant show of colorful fish, such as rainbow fish and sharks, like the hammerhead and white-tip. After lunch, we will spend some time at the beach and then return to the hotel.

In the morning, hop to Isabela Island, the largest island in the archipelago and one of the most volcanically active places on Earth. The island was formed by six shield volcanoes: Alcedo, Cerro Azul, Darwin, Ecuador, Sierra Negra, and Wolf—five of which are still active. In the afternoon, we will explore the beautiful coastline along an exclusive bike trail, which takes us through a rich ecosystem home to flamingos, marine iguanas, and giant tortoises. We begin with a visit to the Wall of Tears, a massive lava rock structure built by prisoners when the island served as a penal colony in the 1950s. The trail continues through white sand beaches, mangrove forests, and lagoons, filled with birdlife such as American oystercatchers, herons, flamingos, finches, and other shorebirds—as well as sea lions and marine iguanas.

Explore the stunning lava formations along the seashore, shaped by the island’s most recent volcanic eruptions. This magical place—featured in BBC and National Geographic documentaries—is known as “Los Tuneles”. It’s a mesmerizing labyrinth of lava arches and crystal-clear waters teeming with marine life: sea turtles, eagle rays, sea lions, reef sharks, and more.
Sea turtles navigate through these waters, moving from mangroves to the open sea as if on their own underwater highway. This site offers the best snorkeling opportunity in the Galapagos, with close encounters with these creatures, including the playful and curious Galapagos penguins.

After breakfast, around 08h00, we will depart for Sierra Negra Volcano. You’ll be driven to the highlands of Isabela Island to begin your hike. This massive volcano, reaching 1,500 meters in elevation and about nine kilometers in outer diameter, is the second largest lava dome in the world.

Around 13h00, we’ll enjoy a delicious lunch at a local restaurant in town, featuring meals grilled over lava rock. After lunch, you’ll have some leisure time to rest or explore the area before continuing with the day’s adventures.

At 14h30, we’ll return to the pier for a kayaking excursion in the bay, where wildlife viewing is spectacular. Expect to see penguins, blue-footed boobies, sea turtles, sea lions, pelicans, rays, iguanas, and possibly juvenile reef sharks (“Tintoreras”).

To end the day, we’ll visit Concha & Perla, a peaceful beach with turquoise waters, reached via a scenic boardwalk through the mangroves. There, you’ll snorkel among sea lions, tropical fish, marine iguanas, and more.

Hiking time: 4 hours round trip
Distance: 6 miles (9.6 km) or 10 miles (16 km) with Volcán Chico extension
Elevation gain: 950 feet (289.5 meters)
Max elevation: 3,687 feet (1,124 meters)
Kayaking: 2 hours
Snorkeling: 1 hour

What to wear for hiking: shorts, t-shirt, tennis shoes, rain jacket, hat, buff, sun cream, mosquito repellent.
What to wear for kayaking/snorkeling: sandals, shorts, long-sleeve water shirt, bathing suit, hat, sun cream, mosquito repellent.

In the morning, we will travel from Isabela to Santa Cruz Island to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. Upon arrival, we will check in at the hotel and then visit the research station, where you’ll gain insight into the unique endemic species of the Galapagos and the critical conservation efforts in place to protect them.

Later, we’ll drive to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island, home to the iconic giant Galapagos tortoises. Our first stop is a private ranch, where we’ll enjoy a delicious lunch. Afterward, we’ll go for a nature walk to look for tortoises in their natural habitat. The visit also includes exploration of impressive lava tubes formed by ancient volcanic flows.

Today, you have the freedom to experience the Galapagos at your own pace. Whether you choose to relax on the beach or go scuba diving (must be requested in advance), the day is yours to enjoy. As an option, take a self-guided walk through a dry forest leading to Tortuga Bay (3.5 mi / 5.6 km), a breathtaking white-sand beach that serves as a nesting site for thousands of marine turtles. This spot is perfect for swimming and snorkeling in a peaceful natural setting.

Alternatively, take advantage of other optional activities available at an extra cost. These may include trips to Floreana Island, Bartolome Island, or a full-day scuba diving adventure, among others. Whatever you choose, this day offers you the opportunity to make the most of your Galapagos experience.

After our final breakfast on the Galapagos Islands and some last photos of sea lions, we will transfer to Baltra’s airport. From there, we will catch our flight back to mainland Ecuador, taking with us unforgettable memories of this incredible journey.

Today our trip will end, and you will have your international departure. Take with you your memories and photos, and leave a piece of your heart, as you will want to return to Ecuador soon to experience more of this enchanted land. We wish you a “buen viaje”!