17-DAY GALAPAGOS & ECUADOR WILDLIFE ADVENTURE

Welcome to Quito! The largest, 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 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 and the place where Charles Darwin based his theory of the evolution of species. We will board a morning flight from Quito to the island of San Cristóbal. Once arrived, 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 in this hike is flooded along the shoreline at high tide. It is a fairly leisurely walking activity that takes you through a lot of lava rocks and some mangroves. During this excursion, we will have the possibility to spot the red-billed tropicbird, blue-footed bobbies, and Nazca bobbies. We also get to see yellow warbler birds, frigate birds, and several species of Darwin’s finches along the beach.

In between the rocks, we can find marine iguanas, which you can only see in Galapagos. After that, we will enjoy a shallow-water snorkeling activity to spot sea lions and sea turtles. Sea lions are very curious and approach to swim next to you underwater. They may also be lazing over rocks or just lazy dozing in the sand. We also have the time to go for a refreshing swim, explore the waters with our snorkel equipment and enjoy the beach.

The Espanola island (or Hood, in honor of the British admiral Samuel Hood) is, at 60 km², one of the smaller islands that form the Ecuadorian archipelago of the Galapagos islands. It is the oldest of all, with about 300 million years of existence. Uninhabited, there live several animal species of interest, such as the endemic mockingbird of Hispaniola, the Galapagos dove, the Galapagos Gull, the marine iguana, the albatross, and pinnipeds.

Two places are especially popular with visitors: Gardner Bay, which has a beach renowned for its beauty, and Punta Suarez, of interest for its variety of birds.

Gardner Islet is the most beautiful in all of the Galapagos. It is home to many colonies of sea lions and turquoise water makes a beautiful contrast with white sand consisting of shell dust. On the rocks are mixed large marine iguanas and zayapas.

Cucuves fight for their territory and inspect the backpacks of tourists. About 50m from the shore is a rock where you can find tropical fish and rays while doing surface diving. But more spectacular is Gardner Rock which can be reached with a panga. This is home to white-fin reef sharks and other colorful sea dwellers very popular among divers.

Punta Suarez is located on the west end of the island. The tourist trail is about 2km long and goes from one end of the island to the other while revealing the spectacular life of the birds. There are many blue-footed boobies nesting, you should be careful not to step on one of their nests (depending on the season). You can observe red marine iguanas that are spread in the sun or the buzzards on the top of the trees. They hunt juvenile blue-footed boobies. Following the path you can find masked boobies that are nesting almost all year round on the cliffs.

The culmination of the tour is undoubtedly the colony of Galapagos albatrosses, which are endemic to this island, finding them nowhere else on the islands or in the world. In the middle of March and the end of December, there are around 12,000 of these fascinating birds with wings of about 2.40 m. On the cliffs, they seem to be really uncomfortable but when they fly they are the kings of the sky.

A very short distance from the colony of albatross is the Hollow Blower. This is a water source up to 20m (50-75 feet) high that has been created by the waves. All the energy is pressed through a small hole between the cliff. The phenomenon resembles a geyser.

In the morning, hop to Isabela Island, 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, Cerra Azul, Darwin, Ecuador, Sierra Negra, and Wolf; five of them are still active which makes the island one of the most volcanically active places on earth. Once we arrive enjoy an incredible hike to The Arnaldo Tupiza breeding center, located 1.2 km from Puerto Villamil. The trail passes through mangrove ecosystems, wetlands, lava fields, carob forests, and Manzanillo. The center will cover the different pens where turtles observed populations: Casserole, Five Hills, Roca Union, San Pedro, Five Hills, Caleta Iguana, Tables, and Cerro Paloma and belong to the species present in the volcanoes Cerro Azul and Sierra Negra.

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.

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 comprised 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.

In the morning, traverse 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 ‘El Chato’ reserve in the highlands of Santa Cruz, home to the famous Galapagos tortoises. Hiking through El Chato’s 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 to wash the salt off their feathers at a freshwater lake. Afterward, return to Puerto Ayora to spend the evening in Galapagos’ most populous town.

The checkpoint to visit Santa Fe is the northwest of the island. It is a beautiful turquoise bay with two white sand beaches populated by sea lions (Zalophus wollebaeki) sunbathing. The landing is made at any of the beaches and the trail begins behind the vegetation, such as saltbush, Galapagos thornbush, leatherleaf trees, palos santos. The path is rocky, but it is not a quick or difficult hike, it takes about an hour and a half to look at the different wildlife such as Santa Fe lava lizards, Darwin finches, Galapagos doves, Galapagos snakes, rodents, and perhaps the Galapagos hawk (Buteo galapagoensis) looking for potential prey. The star on Santa Fe is the pale land iguana (Conolophus pallidus), endemic to the island, this means that it is the only place where you can find it. Santa Fe Island also has a type of cactus found only there (the cactus Opuntia echios var Barringtonensis) larger and thicker than any other in Galapagos, reaching a height of twenty-five feet and a circumference of about five feet. The trail ends at the second beach.

This is a flat, rocky island, that requires comfortable shoes for hiking, the trail is only 2 miles, but do not forget a bottle of water and sun protection because the visit is about an hour and a half.

North Seymour is a small island located at the north of Baltra (also known as South Seymour, by the location of the airport). The land is quite barren and rocky and the vegetation consists mostly of cactus, palo santo trees, green sticks, muyuyos, and sesuviums. The island is one of the most beautiful attractions in the Galapagos, and we can find the most iconic animals on the islands. It is one of the few places where we can enter and visit the colony of frigate birds (Fregata minor), nesting in the bushes near the trails. The male frigate birds in their mating season inflate their red gular sack to attract females.

Later, we find the famous blue-footed boobies (Sula nebouxii), which also nest on the island. They can be seen performing courtship, which is one of the most amazing spectacles of nature. They are seen incubating eggs, feeding their chicks, or juveniles training to become strong and able to fly and fish on their own.

We can also find land iguanas (Conolophus subcristatus) around the cactus patrolling their territories, Darwin finches, Galapagos doves, lava herons, sally light foot crabs (Grapsus grapsus), and playful sea lion pups on the banks.

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.

Today we will start this adventure at 6:30 am departing from Quito, our first stop will be the Antisana, which is located at 5758 meters (18,891 ft) above sea level. Here our adventure will start by hiking this volcano while trying to spot an Andean Condor in its natural territory. After this, we will drive to the cloud forest.

Upon arrival, we will start our hike through the cloud forest, where we will be able to see many birds in their natural habitat, including hummingbirds, cock of the rock, and many other species.

Then we will head back to the lodge for lunch and a second hike to look for more animals, especially one of the newer species discovered, the olinguito, which is part of the raccoon family.

For those who are birdwatching fans, this is the perfect location to see some unique birds, which is why this day starts really early in the morning when the birds are more active.

You will also be able to see a Kinkaju, which is a carnivorous animal. You may see them walking and feeding around the cloud forest. Additionally, you cannot miss the opportunity to see a Tayra, a very unique mammal.

These first two days of this adventure are full of different animals that are quite special and cannot be found in many other places.

Hands-on cultural experience – AJ Sustainable Sacha WarmiKuna women project

After breakfast, we will head to Pijal, a small village located in the heart of the Andes, to visit one of the AJ sustainable projects called Sacha WarmiKuna (“women from the mountain”). This is a fantastic effort developed by AJ and local women with the purpose of supporting their families and empowering women in the local society by providing an alternative income source beyond housekeeping.

At the project, you will experience an unforgettable cultural encounter, immersing yourself in the spirit of South-American women and their skills in textiles and culinary traditions passed down through generations. You’ll help prepare “Aji”, a local spicy salsa that is part of their identity, and share a delicious traditional lunch made with fresh produce harvested the same day from nearby organic fields.

Later, we will begin our journey to the magnificent Cuicocha Lake.

This will be an early morning. After breakfast, we will head to the cloud forest to begin our day watching the majestic spectacled bear. We’ll hike to a strategic viewpoint where sightings are more likely—especially during the fruiting season, when these elusive mammals climb trees in search of food.

This day offers a full immersive experience of patience and observation as we quietly wait and try to photograph these incredible creatures in their natural habitat, making sure we don’t disturb them.

After this adventure, we will head to a warm and welcoming homestay where we’ll share a delicious dinner and rest for the night.

On this final day of our adventure, we will wake up early and enjoy a hearty breakfast before heading back into the cloud forest. Today, we’ll take a different route that will bring us as close as 100 meters (328 ft) to the spectacled bears. With patience and quiet observation, we’ll have the chance to see them eating, climbing trees, and engaging in their daily behaviors in their natural habitat.

It’s a rare privilege to witness these majestic animals so closely and respectfully. After a few unforgettable hours, we will return to our homestay, filled with incredible memories and stories to share from this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

This will be our last night at the homestay, a perfect time to relax and reflect on the incredible journey we’ve shared.

On our final morning of this unforgettable wildlife adventure, we will rise early for breakfast and head out on one last journey into the cloud forest. With a bit of luck and patience, we’ll once again get the chance to spot the spectacled bear—this time possibly as close as 100 meters (328 ft). We’ll observe them feeding, climbing trees, and going about their daily routine, soaking in every moment of this magical encounter.

Later in the day, we’ll make our way to the charming Otavalo region, known for its rich culture and stunning scenery, where a peaceful stay at the beautiful Hacienda Zuleta awaits.

Today we will have the extraordinary opportunity to observe one of Ecuador’s most emblematic species: the Andean Condor. Near Hacienda Zuleta, there is a dedicated conservation project aimed at protecting this magnificent bird, the national symbol of Ecuador.

This majestic, large black bird can sometimes be seen soaring gracefully above the forest or perched on tall trees. Known for being monogamous and highly active during the daytime, the condor’s impressive wingspan and striking presence make it easy to spot—even from a distance. With some luck, we’ll witness them gliding through the sky in their natural habitat.

Today marks the end of our unforgettable journey. After breakfast, we’ll transfer you for your international departure. Take with you cherished memories, incredible photos, and perhaps a piece of your heart — as Ecuador will surely be calling you back for more adventures.

We wish you a heartfelt “Buen viaje!”