Galapagos Cruises
Active
Classic
Family
Unique Expeditions
Biking
Canyoning
Canoeing
Culture
Fishing
Hiking
Kayaking
Rafting
Snorkeling
Camping
Trekking
Wildlife
2 Days Adventure
3 Days Adventure8-DAY GALAPAGOS DISCOVERY
8-DAY GALAPAGOS DISCOVERY
Transportation
Private and comfortable land transportation.
Accommodation
Accommodation based on double occupancy
Meals
7 breakfasts, 3 lunches.
Outdoor Gear
Top-tier gear for the activities described in the Itinerary
Activities
Activities described in the itinerary
AJ Expert
Certified AJ expert English-speaking adventure
Is this tour for me?
Classic
Light moderate
Max. 12 / Av. 8Would you like a quote for this tour?
or
TRIP ACTIVITIES
Kayaking
Snorkeling
Swimming
Trekking
WildlifeTRIP OVERVIEW
Discover the enchanted Galapagos Islands which offer endless opportunities to witness a unique abundance of wildlife in a setting unlike any other on the planet. Due to its isolation, the Galapagos formed a natural sanctuary that preserves species, allowing them to evolve over countless millennia. This is one of the few places on earth that allows such close and intimate contact with wildlife. The tour also provides many benefits to local communities and is socially and environmentally responsible. Be part of an educational and inspirational journey of a lifetime in one of the most fiercely protected marine wilderness in the world!
ITINERARY
Meet your AJ trip leader and group at 18:00 pm.
Welcome to Quito! The largest, 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 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.
SERVICES INCLUDED
- 🏨 Accommodation: Sheraton Quito Hotel or similar.
- 🍽️ Meals included: None.
Today you will be transferred to the airport to catch your flight to Baltra airport in the Galapagos Islands. Upon arrival you will be picked up and transferred to Santa Cruz, a nearby island, crossing the narrow Itabaca channel by ferry. From here we will continue by car to our first stop in the highlands of Santa Cruz. The highlands are home to the iconic giant Galapagos tortoises. Here you will visit a private ranch where you will enjoy lunch before heading out for a walk in search of the giant tortoises. During this visit, you will also visit some lava tubes, which are formed when the surface of a lava stream solidifies. After this tour, you will continue by private vehicle to your hotel. Here you will have a meet and greet with your local guide who will explain the following day’s itinerary to you. Enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure to relax and introduce yourself to this beautiful Island.
SERVICES INCLUDED
- 🏨 Accommodation: La Isla Hotel or similar.
- 🍽️ Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.
Today after breakfast you 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 will take a boat to Academy Bay where you can swim and snorkel with all kinds of exotic fish and marine life, as well as the famous sea lions; they are very curious animals and like to swim next to you underwater. Here you can also see the sought-after blue-footed boobies. Afterward, climb to a nearby viewpoint, and if you are lucky, you can see white-tipped reef sharks swimming in the ocean below.
In the afternoon we will 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.
SERVICES INCLUDED
- 🏨 Accommodation: La Isla Hotel or similar.
- 🍽️ Meals included: Breakfast.
Today we will take a quick boat to the largest island in the archipelago and 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 still active, making it one of the most volcanically active places on Earth.
Upon arrival, we will visit the giant tortoise breeding center and the flamingo lagoon to admire this incredible species in their natural habitat.
In the afternoon we will visit Tintoreras Islet, located a short distance from Puerto Villamil and home to a great variety of wildlife. Its turquoise, crystalline waters are inhabited by white-tipped reef sharks, Galapagos penguins, marine turtles, and sea lions. One of its beaches, surrounded by mangroves, is one of the few sites where marine iguanas can reproduce successfully.
SERVICES INCLUDED
- 🏨 Accommodation: Isamar Hotel Galapagos or similar.
- 🍽️ Meals included: Boxed breakfast.
After driving up from Puerto Villamil to the trailhead, we will prepare our backpacks for the hike into a young forest ecosystem, a world of recent geological history. Our destination is the rim of Sierra Negra Crater, an active volcano that last erupted in June 2018. Upon arrival, we take in breathtaking views and explore the circumference of the massive, lava-filled crater, a caldera that is over six miles across at its widest point.
If we feel energetic enough, we can continue our hike to Volcan Chico, a secondary crater that has a wild landscape of puffing fumaroles and colorful lava formations—great examples of the dramatic geological events that have formed the Galapagos Islands over millennia.
In the afternoon you will have time to enjoy the crystalline water of Concha Perla and practice some snorkeling to observe marine wildlife.
SERVICES INCLUDED
- 🏨 Accommodation: Isamar Hotel Galapagos or similar.
- 🍽️ Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.
Explore the amazing formations of lava created by the last eruptions of the volcanic island along the seashore. This magical place has historically been filmed by BBC and National Geographic for their documentaries. It is a labyrinth of lava arches made of crystal clear water full of 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 snorkeling, biking, or just relaxing on the exotic white-sand beaches of Isabela Island.
SERVICES INCLUDED
- 🏨 Accommodation: Isamar Hotel Galapagos or similar.
- 🍽️ Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.
After our final breakfast on the Galapagos Island and the last photos taken of sea lions, we have a transfer to Baltra’s airport in time to catch the flight back to the mainland.
SERVICES INCLUDED
- 🏨 Accommodation: Sheraton Quito Hotel or similar.
- 🍽️ Meals included: Breakfast.
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”!
SERVICES INCLUDED
- 🍽️ Meals included: Breakfast.
Inclusions
What’s Included?
- Transportation: Comfortable land and sea transportation. Land transfers for domestic flights are included.
- Accommodation based on double occupancy: 5*hotel in Quito, 3* hotels in Galapagos.
- Meals: 6 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches.
- Activities: Hiking to the top of Sierra Negra active volcano, snorkeling and kayaking in Tintoreras, snorkeling at the lava tunnels, visiting the Charles Darwin Research Station, hiking in Santa Cruz highlands.
- Gear: For snorkeling, fins and a mask.
- Trip Leader: certified AJ expert, English-speaking adventure trip leader, and local guides.
What is not included?
- International flights.
- Domestic flights to Galapagos.
- Galapagos Ingala Card – $ 20 USD.
- Galapagos National Park Fee – $ 200 USD.
- Isabela Pier Fee – $ 10 USD.
- My own room supplement.
- Airport transfers (International flights)
- Travel insurance (suggested).
- Meals not described in the itinerary.
- Tips for guides, drivers, and hotels.
Calendar & Price
Discover the enchanted Galapagos Islands which offer endless opportunities to witness a unique abundance of wildlife in a setting unlike any other on the planet. Due to its isolation, the Galapagos formed a natural sanctuary that preserves species, allowing them to evolve over countless millennia. This is one of the few places on earth that allows such close and intimate contact with wildlife. The tour also provides many benefits to local communities and is socially and environmentally responsible. Be part of an educational and inspirational journey of a lifetime in one of the most fiercely protected marine wilderness in the world!
Kayaking Snorkeling Swimming Trekking WildlifeMeet your AJ trip leader and group at 18:00 pm.
Welcome to Quito! The largest, 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 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.
SERVICES INCLUDED
- 🏨 Accommodation: Sheraton Quito Hotel or similar.
- 🍽️ Meals included: None.
Today you will be transferred to the airport to catch your flight to Baltra airport in the Galapagos Islands. Upon arrival you will be picked up and transferred to Santa Cruz, a nearby island, crossing the narrow Itabaca channel by ferry. From here we will continue by car to our first stop in the highlands of Santa Cruz. The highlands are home to the iconic giant Galapagos tortoises. Here you will visit a private ranch where you will enjoy lunch before heading out for a walk in search of the giant tortoises. During this visit, you will also visit some lava tubes, which are formed when the surface of a lava stream solidifies. After this tour, you will continue by private vehicle to your hotel. Here you will have a meet and greet with your local guide who will explain the following day’s itinerary to you. Enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure to relax and introduce yourself to this beautiful Island.
SERVICES INCLUDED
- 🏨 Accommodation: La Isla Hotel or similar.
- 🍽️ Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.
Today after breakfast you 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 will take a boat to Academy Bay where you can swim and snorkel with all kinds of exotic fish and marine life, as well as the famous sea lions; they are very curious animals and like to swim next to you underwater. Here you can also see the sought-after blue-footed boobies. Afterward, climb to a nearby viewpoint, and if you are lucky, you can see white-tipped reef sharks swimming in the ocean below.
In the afternoon we will 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.
SERVICES INCLUDED
- 🏨 Accommodation: La Isla Hotel or similar.
- 🍽️ Meals included: Breakfast.
Today we will take a quick boat to the largest island in the archipelago and 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 still active, making it one of the most volcanically active places on Earth.
Upon arrival, we will visit the giant tortoise breeding center and the flamingo lagoon to admire this incredible species in their natural habitat.
In the afternoon we will visit Tintoreras Islet, located a short distance from Puerto Villamil and home to a great variety of wildlife. Its turquoise, crystalline waters are inhabited by white-tipped reef sharks, Galapagos penguins, marine turtles, and sea lions. One of its beaches, surrounded by mangroves, is one of the few sites where marine iguanas can reproduce successfully.
SERVICES INCLUDED
- 🏨 Accommodation: Isamar Hotel Galapagos or similar.
- 🍽️ Meals included: Boxed breakfast.
After driving up from Puerto Villamil to the trailhead, we will prepare our backpacks for the hike into a young forest ecosystem, a world of recent geological history. Our destination is the rim of Sierra Negra Crater, an active volcano that last erupted in June 2018. Upon arrival, we take in breathtaking views and explore the circumference of the massive, lava-filled crater, a caldera that is over six miles across at its widest point.
If we feel energetic enough, we can continue our hike to Volcan Chico, a secondary crater that has a wild landscape of puffing fumaroles and colorful lava formations—great examples of the dramatic geological events that have formed the Galapagos Islands over millennia.
In the afternoon you will have time to enjoy the crystalline water of Concha Perla and practice some snorkeling to observe marine wildlife.
SERVICES INCLUDED
- 🏨 Accommodation: Isamar Hotel Galapagos or similar.
- 🍽️ Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.
Explore the amazing formations of lava created by the last eruptions of the volcanic island along the seashore. This magical place has historically been filmed by BBC and National Geographic for their documentaries. It is a labyrinth of lava arches made of crystal clear water full of 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 snorkeling, biking, or just relaxing on the exotic white-sand beaches of Isabela Island.
SERVICES INCLUDED
- 🏨 Accommodation: Isamar Hotel Galapagos or similar.
- 🍽️ Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.
After our final breakfast on the Galapagos Island and the last photos taken of sea lions, we have a transfer to Baltra’s airport in time to catch the flight back to the mainland.
SERVICES INCLUDED
- 🏨 Accommodation: Sheraton Quito Hotel or similar.
- 🍽️ Meals included: Breakfast.
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”!
SERVICES INCLUDED
- 🍽️ Meals included: Breakfast.
What’s Included?
- Transportation: Comfortable land and sea transportation. Land transfers for domestic flights are included.
- Accommodation based on double occupancy: 5*hotel in Quito, 3* hotels in Galapagos.
- Meals: 6 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches.
- Activities: Hiking to the top of Sierra Negra active volcano, snorkeling and kayaking in Tintoreras, snorkeling at the lava tunnels, visiting the Charles Darwin Research Station, hiking in Santa Cruz highlands.
- Gear: For snorkeling, fins and a mask.
- Trip Leader: certified AJ expert, English-speaking adventure trip leader, and local guides.
What is not included?
- International flights.
- Domestic flights to Galapagos.
- Galapagos Ingala Card – $ 20 USD.
- Galapagos National Park Fee – $ 200 USD.
- Isabela Pier Fee – $ 10 USD.
- My own room supplement.
- Airport transfers (International flights)
- Travel insurance (suggested).
- Meals not described in the itinerary.
- Tips for guides, drivers, and hotels.
Active
Adventure
Moderate
StandardMin, 2 pax / Any Day
ClassicLight moderateStandardMax. 12 / Av. 8
Active
AdventureModerate
CasualMin, 2 pax / Any Day
Active
AdventureModerateCasualMin, 2 pax / Any Day
Active
AdventureModerateCasualMin, 2 pax / Any Day
ClassicLight moderateStandardMax. 12 / Av. 8
Active AdventureModerateStandardMax. 12 / Av. 8
ClassicLight moderateStandardMax. 12 / Av. 8
ClassicLight moderateStandardMax. 12 / Av. 8
FamilyModerateStandardMax. 12 / Av. 8Calendar & Price
Is this tour for me?
ClassicLight moderateMax. 12 / Av. 8Would you like a quote for this tour?
or
Let me turn your travel dreams into unforgettable adventures.
