7-DAY THE BEST OF GALAPAGOS ADVENTURE
Transportation
Private and comfortable land transportation.
Accommodation
Accommodation based on double occupancy
Meals
6 Breakfasts & 2 lunches
Outdoor Gear
Snorkeling mask and fins, life vest.
Activities
Activities described in the itinerary
AJ Expert
Certified AJ expert English-speaking adventure
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Would you like a quote for this tour?
TRIP ACTIVITIES
TRIP OVERVIEW
Unique Experiences:
- Snorkel through lava formations alongside sea turtles, penguins, seahorses, sea lions, and sharks at Lava Tunnels.
- Hike to the top of Sierra Negra Volcano on Isabela Island and admire the surrounding moon-like landscapes
ITINERARY
Meet your AJ trip leader and group at 18:00.
Welcome to Quito! The largest and best-preserved colonial city in 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 arrival time, you can spend your day exploring the old town of Quito and the surrounding area. ADVENTURE JOURNEYS can help you 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.
SERVICES INCLUDED
- 🏨 Accommodation: Sheraton Quito Hotel.
- 🍽️ Meals included: None.
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 Baltra Island. Once we arrive, we head to Puerto Ayora, the largest town in the Galapagos.
From here, we will take a quick boat ride to the largest island in the archipelago, where most of the volcanic activity in the Galapagos is reported. The island was formed by six shield volcanoes—Alcedo, Cerro Azul, Darwin, Ecuador, Sierra Negra, and Wolf; five of them are still active, making the island one of the most volcanically active places on Earth.
Galapagos Islands are located 600 miles (965.6 km) from the coast of Ecuador. It is important to note that getting there involves air, road, and sea transportation.
SERVICES INCLUDED
- 🏨 Accommodation: Isamar Hotel or similar.
- 🍽️ Meals included: Breakfast.
Explore the amazing lava formations created by the island’s last eruptions along the seashore. This magical place has historically been featured in BBC and National Geographic documentaries. It is a labyrinth of lava arches, filled with crystal-clear water and home to sea turtles, eagle rays, sea lions, sharks, and more.
The turtles navigate their own highway from the mangroves to the open sea through “Los Tuneles”. Here, we will have the best snorkeling opportunity with all these beautiful animals, including the curious Galapagos penguins playing around.
Before or after the trip, you can enjoy some optional activities such as biking or simply relax on the exotic white-sand beaches of Isabela Island. We recommend you take some time to visit the giant tortoise breeding center located within walking distance from the hotel.
Boat ride to the Lava Tunnels time: 1 hour each way
Snorkeling time: 2 sessions of 1 hour each
What to wear today: Shorts, long-sleeve water t-shirt, sandals or tennis shoes, bathing suit, hat or cap, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, buff.
SERVICES INCLUDED
- 🏨 Accommodation: Isamar Hotel or similar.
- 🍽️ Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.
After breakfast, around 08:00, you will depart for Sierra Negra Volcano. You will drive to the highlands of Isabela, where you’ll start the hike. The volcano, with an altitude of approximately 1,500 meters and an outer diameter of nine kilometers, is the second largest lava dome in the world.
After returning to the pier around 14:30 and a brief orientation, we’ll begin kayaking in the bay. Wildlife sightings include penguins, blue-footed boobies, pelicans, marine iguanas, sea turtles, sea lions, eagle rays, and juvenile sharks (“Tintoreras”).
To end the day, at 16:30 we’ll visit Concha & Perla, a charming beach accessible via a boardwalk through mangroves. There we will snorkel in turquoise waters full of marine life such as colorful fish, pelicans, mockingbirds, marine iguanas, and sea lions.
Hiking time: 4 hours total
Distance: 6 miles (9.6 km) — Optional extension to Volcan Chico: 10 miles (16 km)
Elevation gain: 950 ft (289.5 m)
Max elevation: 3687 ft (1124 m)
Kayaking time: 2 hours
Snorkeling time: 1 hour
What to wear – Hiking: Shorts, t-shirt, tennis shoes, rain jacket, hat, buff, sunscreen, mosquito repellent.
What to wear – Kayaking & Snorkeling: Sandals, shorts, long-sleeve water shirt, bathing suit, hat, sunscreen, mosquito repellent.
SERVICES INCLUDED
- 🏨 Accommodation: Isamar Hotel or similar.
- 🍽️ Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.
In the morning, we will travel from Isabela to Santa Cruz Island to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. Once we arrive, we will check in at the hotel. We will then visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn more about many of the endemic species seen in the wild, as well as the ongoing conservation and management efforts on the Galapagos Islands.
In the afternoon, we will head to the ‘Primicias’ reserve in the highlands of Santa Cruz, home to the famous Galapagos tortoises. Hiking through Primicias’ beautiful landscape with these lumbering giants is an unforgettable experience! We will also see other highland wildlife, such as pintail ducks, egrets, flycatchers, finches, and frigatebirds, which gather at a freshwater lake to wash the salt off their feathers.
Afterward, return to Puerto Ayora to spend the evening in the Galapagos’ most populous town.
SERVICES INCLUDED
- 🏨 Accommodation: La Isla Hotel or similar.
- 🍽️ Meals included: Boxed breakfast.
After our final breakfast on the Galapagos Islands and the last photos taken of sea lions, we have a transfer to Baltra Airport in time to catch the flight back to the mainland.
SERVICES INCLUDED
- 🏨 Accommodation: Sheraton Quito Hotel.
- 🍽️ Meals included: Breakfast.
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”!
SERVICES INCLUDED
- 🍽️ Meals included: Breakfast.
Trip Companions
Inclusions
What’s Included?
- Transportation: Comfortable land and sea transportation; speedboat Santa Cruz – Isabela – Santa Cruz.
- Accommodation based on double occupancy: 5* hotel in Quito, 3* hotels in Galapagos.
- Meals:6 Breakfasts & 2 lunches.
- Activities: Snorkeling in the Lava Tunnels, Trekking to the top of Sierra Negra active volcano, snorkeling, and kayaking in Tintoreras, visiting the Charles Darwin Research Station, hiking in Santa Cruz highlands.
- Gear: Snorkeling mask and fins, life vest.
- Trip Leader: Certified AJ expert, English-speaking adventure leader, and local guides
What is not included?
- My Own Room supplement.
- Airfare Quito – Galapagos – Quito round trip.
- International flights.
- Airport transfer (international flights).
- Travel insurance (suggested).
- Meals not described in the itinerary.
- INGALA transit card: $ 20 USD per person, cash only (subject to change).
- Galapagos National Park fee: $ 200 USD per person, cash only (subject to change).
- USD $10 pier-use fee at Puerto Villamil.
- Wetsuit for rent: $10 USD.
- Tips for guides and drivers.
Calendar & Price
Unique Experiences:
- Snorkel through lava formations alongside sea turtles, penguins, seahorses, sea lions, and sharks at Lava Tunnels.
- Hike to the top of Sierra Negra Volcano on Isabela Island and admire the surrounding moon-like landscapes
Meet your AJ trip leader and group at 18:00.
Welcome to Quito! The largest and best-preserved colonial city in 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 arrival time, you can spend your day exploring the old town of Quito and the surrounding area. ADVENTURE JOURNEYS can help you 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.
SERVICES INCLUDED
- 🏨 Accommodation: Sheraton Quito Hotel.
- 🍽️ Meals included: None.
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 Baltra Island. Once we arrive, we head to Puerto Ayora, the largest town in the Galapagos.
From here, we will take a quick boat ride to the largest island in the archipelago, where most of the volcanic activity in the Galapagos is reported. The island was formed by six shield volcanoes—Alcedo, Cerro Azul, Darwin, Ecuador, Sierra Negra, and Wolf; five of them are still active, making the island one of the most volcanically active places on Earth.
Galapagos Islands are located 600 miles (965.6 km) from the coast of Ecuador. It is important to note that getting there involves air, road, and sea transportation.
SERVICES INCLUDED
- 🏨 Accommodation: Isamar Hotel or similar.
- 🍽️ Meals included: Breakfast.
Explore the amazing lava formations created by the island’s last eruptions along the seashore. This magical place has historically been featured in BBC and National Geographic documentaries. It is a labyrinth of lava arches, filled with crystal-clear water and home to sea turtles, eagle rays, sea lions, sharks, and more.
The turtles navigate their own highway from the mangroves to the open sea through “Los Tuneles”. Here, we will have the best snorkeling opportunity with all these beautiful animals, including the curious Galapagos penguins playing around.
Before or after the trip, you can enjoy some optional activities such as biking or simply relax on the exotic white-sand beaches of Isabela Island. We recommend you take some time to visit the giant tortoise breeding center located within walking distance from the hotel.
Boat ride to the Lava Tunnels time: 1 hour each way
Snorkeling time: 2 sessions of 1 hour each
What to wear today: Shorts, long-sleeve water t-shirt, sandals or tennis shoes, bathing suit, hat or cap, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, buff.
SERVICES INCLUDED
- 🏨 Accommodation: Isamar Hotel or similar.
- 🍽️ Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.
After breakfast, around 08:00, you will depart for Sierra Negra Volcano. You will drive to the highlands of Isabela, where you’ll start the hike. The volcano, with an altitude of approximately 1,500 meters and an outer diameter of nine kilometers, is the second largest lava dome in the world.
After returning to the pier around 14:30 and a brief orientation, we’ll begin kayaking in the bay. Wildlife sightings include penguins, blue-footed boobies, pelicans, marine iguanas, sea turtles, sea lions, eagle rays, and juvenile sharks (“Tintoreras”).
To end the day, at 16:30 we’ll visit Concha & Perla, a charming beach accessible via a boardwalk through mangroves. There we will snorkel in turquoise waters full of marine life such as colorful fish, pelicans, mockingbirds, marine iguanas, and sea lions.
Hiking time: 4 hours total
Distance: 6 miles (9.6 km) — Optional extension to Volcan Chico: 10 miles (16 km)
Elevation gain: 950 ft (289.5 m)
Max elevation: 3687 ft (1124 m)
Kayaking time: 2 hours
Snorkeling time: 1 hour
What to wear – Hiking: Shorts, t-shirt, tennis shoes, rain jacket, hat, buff, sunscreen, mosquito repellent.
What to wear – Kayaking & Snorkeling: Sandals, shorts, long-sleeve water shirt, bathing suit, hat, sunscreen, mosquito repellent.
SERVICES INCLUDED
- 🏨 Accommodation: Isamar Hotel or similar.
- 🍽️ Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.
In the morning, we will travel from Isabela to Santa Cruz Island to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. Once we arrive, we will check in at the hotel. We will then visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn more about many of the endemic species seen in the wild, as well as the ongoing conservation and management efforts on the Galapagos Islands.
In the afternoon, we will head to the ‘Primicias’ reserve in the highlands of Santa Cruz, home to the famous Galapagos tortoises. Hiking through Primicias’ beautiful landscape with these lumbering giants is an unforgettable experience! We will also see other highland wildlife, such as pintail ducks, egrets, flycatchers, finches, and frigatebirds, which gather at a freshwater lake to wash the salt off their feathers.
Afterward, return to Puerto Ayora to spend the evening in the Galapagos’ most populous town.
SERVICES INCLUDED
- 🏨 Accommodation: La Isla Hotel or similar.
- 🍽️ Meals included: Boxed breakfast.
After our final breakfast on the Galapagos Islands and the last photos taken of sea lions, we have a transfer to Baltra Airport in time to catch the flight back to the mainland.
SERVICES INCLUDED
- 🏨 Accommodation: Sheraton Quito Hotel.
- 🍽️ Meals included: Breakfast.
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”!
SERVICES INCLUDED
- 🍽️ Meals included: Breakfast.
What’s Included?
- Transportation: Comfortable land and sea transportation; speedboat Santa Cruz – Isabela – Santa Cruz.
- Accommodation based on double occupancy: 5* hotel in Quito, 3* hotels in Galapagos.
- Meals:6 Breakfasts & 2 lunches.
- Activities: Snorkeling in the Lava Tunnels, Trekking to the top of Sierra Negra active volcano, snorkeling, and kayaking in Tintoreras, visiting the Charles Darwin Research Station, hiking in Santa Cruz highlands.
- Gear: Snorkeling mask and fins, life vest.
- Trip Leader: Certified AJ expert, English-speaking adventure leader, and local guides
What is not included?
- My Own Room supplement.
- Airfare Quito – Galapagos – Quito round trip.
- International flights.
- Airport transfer (international flights).
- Travel insurance (suggested).
- Meals not described in the itinerary.
- INGALA transit card: $ 20 USD per person, cash only (subject to change).
- Galapagos National Park fee: $ 200 USD per person, cash only (subject to change).
- USD $10 pier-use fee at Puerto Villamil.
- Wetsuit for rent: $10 USD.
- Tips for guides and drivers.
Calendar & Price
Is this tour for me?
Would you like a quote for this tour?
Let me turn your travel dreams into unforgettable adventures.
EXCELLENT
Based on 552 reviews
Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Suzanne GVerified
Amazing 10 day Ecuador land trip with Alfonzo We had a wonderful 10 day trip exploring Ecuador with our guide, Alfonzo. He was knowledgeable, enthusiastic and fun. We learned about the history and culture of Ecuador and heard personal stories about Alfonzo’s family and life in Ecuador and the Galapagos. We hiked mountains, visited historic sites, hot springs and the Amazon and ate local food (including grubs!). We lucked out and our friends and us (4 people) were the only partipants on our tour so we got extra attention and could help shape our experience more. Also, Alfonzo’s knowledge of the English language is impressive. He even got our jokes and joined in. I would strongly recommend using Adventure Journeys and ask for Alfonzo for your Ecuador land tour.Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Jan LVerified
Wonderful Quito visit Sol our guide gave us a wonderful taste of Quito and the surrounding area. We visited a biscotti making business, the equator solar museum, a colourful market in an Andean town, another town that sold leather and finally visited a waterfall On a second day we had a walking tour of historic Quito. She was an excellent guide with great humour and very friendly and helpful to all our group
Owner's reply
Hey there!We're thrilled that you enjoyed your journey through Quito. Hope you're planning your next adventure with us soon so that you can build even more memorable moments. Keep on enjoyingTake care!Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Nicky SVerified
Excellent Tour Guide Alfonso from Adventure Journeys was an amazing tour guide. He went above and beyond to make sure our experience was exceptional. I highly recommend him.
Owner's reply
Hey there!Wow, we're thrilled that you found your travel experience with us so compelling. We're always glad to offer unforgettable experiences to our dear guests. Hope to see you back here for another adventure soon.Take care!Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Alexander SVerified
Alfonso: the Best Guide in Ecuador Alfonso is the best! He made the trip absolutely incredible! He is so knowledgeable and really went above and beyond to make sure we had the best experience possible.
Owner's reply
Hey there!Thank you for telling us how great your experience was. We really appreciate the feedback and kind words of our guests. We hope to see you here back soon for another adventure.Take care!Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
tony mVerified
Ecuador Is Incredible. Such a great trip! Alfonso was our guide -- he is fantastic. The itinerary gives you a pretty good overview of Ecuador. My favorite days were those we spent in the Amazonian forest near Tena, hiking on Chimborazo, and exploring Cuenca. We were able to stay in a couple of haciendas -- those were wonderful.
Owner's reply
Hey there!Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us. We appreciate being part of such moments, and would love to show you even more the next time.Take care!Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Jane BVerified
Once in a lifetime trip Fantastic trip Leo our guide was amazing and our driver. Knowledgeable and always felt safe. Full on and I felt I saw everything I had wanted to see and more.
Owner's reply
Hey there!Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We'd love to have you here soon for another experience. Take care!Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
EMRANA AVerified
Bucket list experience! 5 days in galapagos seeing the giant tortoises snorkelling and hiking the islands. Jose was a superb guide who shared his knowledge freely and made every experience delightful.
Owner's reply
Hey there!Thanks for sharing your experience; we really appreciate your feedback. We'll wait to see you back here soon enough for another adventure.Take care!Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
Andrew TVerified
David was an excellent tour guide in Quito. He was very attentive,knowledgeable and always willing to help everyone. His Enthusiasm ,professionalism made our trip enjoyable and memorable. Thanks to his hard work and thoughtful arrangements, had a wonderful and pleasant experience throughout the tour. We truly appreciate everything he did for us and highly recommend him to other travelers.
Owner's reply
Hey there! We're thrilled that you enjoyed your time with us this much. Hope to see you back soon so that you can enjoy even more memorable experiences.Take care!Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
James PattersonVerified
Quito City Tour with Wellington The while trip was amazing and gave us great insights of Quito.
Owner's reply
Hey there!Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us; we really appreciate it. Hope to see you back here soon.Take care!Posted on Tripadvisor![]()
kari sVerified
An Unforgettable Journey Ecuador is a wonderful place. It is a land of breathtaking contrasts. I discovered its charms thanks to David, who is the best guide I have ever encountered in my many travels. He has expert knowledge, which he shares in a way that is both interesting and engaging. Additionally, he takes excellent care of the entire group, ensuring no one is overlooked. You can really tell he loves what he does
Owner's reply
Hey there!We're thrilled about your wonderful experience here. We'll prepare something special for your next visit. Thank you for your feedback and kind thoughts.Take care!Showing only 4-5 star reviews
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