10-DAY GALAPAGOS CLASSIC ISLAND HOPPING

Welcome to Quito! The biggest, best-preserved colonial city in America was declared a 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 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. 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.

Today we get ready to explore the most amazing archipelago on the Pacific coast and the place where Charles Darwin based his theory of the evolution of species. We board a morning flight from Quito to the island of San Cristóbal. Once we arrive, we will transfer to the hotel in the town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno and receive a short briefing about the next few days before the adventure begins.

In the afternoon, we will head to “La Loberia”, which is both home beach and nursery for large Galapagos sea lions. We can spot them launching over rocks or lazily dozing in the sand. We may also see yellow warblers, frigate birds, and several species of Darwin finches along the beach. Between the rocks, marine iguanas—found only in the Galapagos—can be observed. We will have time to go for a refreshing swim, explore the waters with snorkel equipment, and enjoy the beach.

In the morning, we will take a speed boat to Kicker Rock, also known as the Sleeping Lion (Leon Dormido) because of its resemblance. This site is located off the coast of San Cristobal. The remains of a lava cone eroded by the sea, two vertical rocks rising 500 feet above the ocean, form a small channel that is navigable by small boats.

This Galapagos Islands natural monument has become a favorite sight due to the many tropicbirds, frigate birds and boobies that fill the sky in this area. Beneath the sea, the crystal waters offer a brilliant show of colorful tropical fish, such as rainbow fish, and sharks, like hammerhead-, reef- and white tip sharks.

After lunch, we visited Cerro Brujo, this island is ripe with noisy, frolicking, jolly sea lions who will welcome us to their home with open fins. This island also offers great snorkeling opportunities as well as the chance to see blue-footed and Nazca boobies.

In the morning, we will take a short flight to Isabela Island, the largest island in the archipelago and the place where the most volcanic activity in the Galapagos is reported. The island is formed by six shield volcanoes: Alcedo, Cerro Azul, Darwin, Ecuador, Sierra Negra, and Wolf — five of them still active — making it one of the most volcanically active places on Earth.

In the afternoon, we explore the incredible ecosystem and wildlife of the island, enjoying great views of flamingos and marine iguanas in the saltwater lagoons, white sand beaches, and mangrove forests. This area is filled with birdlife including American oystercatchers, herons, finches, and many shore birds, along with the ever-present sea lions and marine iguanas.

One of today’s highlights is the Tortoise Breeding Centre, where we’ll see giant tortoises in various stages of development — from eggs to hatchlings, juveniles, and subadults. We will also visit the Wall of Tears, a massive lava rock wall built in the 1950s by prisoners held on the island during its time as a penal colony.

After dinner, we can enjoy a breathtaking sunset on the beach of Puerto Villamil.

Today we will visit Tintoreras Islet, located a short distance from Puerto Villamil and home to a great variety of wildlife. We will enjoy a fantastic snorkeling experience in its turquoise, crystalline waters, inhabited by white-tipped reef sharks, Galapagos penguins, marine turtles, and sea lions.

Later, we will take a walk to explore the islet’s beaches, surrounded by mangroves. This is one of the few sites where marine iguanas can successfully reproduce.

Today, we explore the amazing formations of lava created by the last eruptions of the volcanic island along the seashore. This magical place has been featured in BBC and National Geographic documentaries. It is a labyrinth of lava arches among the waves, with crystal-clear waters filled with giant sea turtles, eagle rays, sea lions, colorful fish, and white-tipped reef sharks.

Turtles swim their own highway from the mangroves to the open sea through “Los Tuneles.” Here, we will have the best snorkeling opportunity to see all these amazing animals, including the playful Galapagos penguin.

After the trip, enjoy some optional activities such as snorkeling at “Concha de Perla” or simply relax on the exotic white-sand beaches of Isabela Island.

Today you will be picked up and transferred to Santa Cruz and 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’ll take a boat to Academy Bay where you can swim and snorkel with all kinds of exotic fish and marine life, including the famous sea lions. These curious animals often swim right next to you. You may also spot the iconic blue-footed boobies.

Afterward, climb to a nearby viewpoint—if you’re lucky, you might spot white-tipped reef sharks in the ocean below. Later, walk along Playa de los Perros, home to many basking sea iguanas. The enormous cacti, red-hued rocks, and turquoise sea offer stunning photo opportunities.

In the morning, we will visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn more about the many endemic species seen in the wild, as well as the ongoing conservation and management efforts taking place throughout the Galapagos Islands.

After our final breakfast on the Galapagos Islands and the last photos taken of sea lions, we will transfer to Baltra’s airport in time to catch the flight back to the mainland.

Today our trip will end and you will have your international departures. 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”!