Galapagos Islands Adventure

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Book this package
per person, double occupancy* based on Jan 17, 2019 departure from MIA
$600 Early Bird Discount. Expires Oct 4, 2018.*   All prices reflect savings.

Overview

Featuring Explore the flora, fauna & spectacular scenery of two biodiverse Galapagos Islands: Santa Cruz & Isabela, with an extra night on Isabela!
Style Small Group TourTravel with a small, intimate group of 15-24 likeminded travelers escorted by an English speaking guide and/or tour manager for some or all of your journey. More of these packages
18 travelers max, dedicated tour escorts & guides throughout
Departures Scheduled Dates; select from 24 open departures, January – December 2019
Price Includes
  • Flights
    Flights
  • Transfers
    Transfers
  • Hotel
    Hotel
  • Meals
    Meals
  • Guides
    Guides
  • Round-trip flights from Miami (MIA) including fuel surcharges and taxes and fees
  • All transfers, ground transportation & Galapagos flights
  • Transportation between islands in shared charter speedboat
  • Superior class accommodations in Quito and in the Galapagos
  • 10 Meals: 6 breakfasts, 1 lunch & 3 dinners
  • Comprehensive sightseeing tours with a naturalist guide on the islands
  • Snorkeling gear
  • Galapagos National Park Fee ($100), Transit Control Card ($20), & Isabela Port Fee ($10)
Optional
  • Optional Quito Extension
Highlights
  • Discover Los Gemelos lava chambers
  • Mingle with Galapagos tortoises at a Giant Tortoise Reserve
  • Explore Tortuga Bay
  • Kayak to see the blue-footed boobies
  • Observe marine life at Concha de Perla,
Departs Miami (MIA); other gateways on request (flight schedule)
Themes Active,  Bucket List,  Nature & Wildlife
What to Expect This fast-paced, locally hosted tour involves a significant amount of walking or hiking, often on uneven terrain, and reaches high altitudes requiring a high level of physical fitness to fully enjoy the trip.
As Seen in
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Prepare for your trip Already booked? Find everything you need to know before you go, including information about passport & visa requirements, flights, luggage, and more.


Galapagos Islands Adventure itinerary

The Galapagos Islands are among Ecuador’s jewels. More than 600 miles offshore in the Pacific, these islands are home to fascinating species of birds and animals such as marine iguanas, giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, pelicans and even a few penguins. Follow in the intrepid footsteps of Charles Darwin on an active adventure and discover the unique wildlife that inspired his theory of evolution. Stay on Santa Cruz and Isabela Islands traveling from island to island via speedboat rides for an incredible Galapagos experience, which includes flights, first-class hotels and most meals, as well as a fast-paced program of hiking, exploration, and observation of the islands' delicate ecosystems.

Plus, our program is new and improved this season, now with an extra night on Isabela Island, making your experience even more spectacular! Spend your extra day visiting Flamingoes Lagoon and relaxing as you soak up the beauty, sunshine, and wildlife of those biodiverse islands. 

So lace up your boots, strap on your daypacks, and don't wait a moment longer to book our new Galapagos Islands Adventure package. Space is truly very limited, and at these prices, you won't find a better value-for-money vacation anywhere.

Dates, Prices & Options

Departure Dates & Prices

Early Bird Discount: Save up to $600 per person if you book by Oct. 4, 2018!
Departures & Prices
per person, double occupancy*
2019 DEPARTURES
Depart / Return Package Price Early
Bird		 Early Bird
Good Thru		 Your
Price
Departs: Thu, Jan 17, 2019
Returns: Thu, Jan 24, 2019
Book by Thu, Oct 4, 2018 (midnight ET) to get the current early bird discount! 		Jan 17 – Jan 24 $3399 –$600 Oct 4 $2799 Select
Departs: Thu, Jan 24, 2019
Returns: Thu, Jan 31, 2019
Book by Thu, Oct 4, 2018 (midnight ET) to get the current early bird discount! 		Jan 24 – Jan 31 $3399 –$600 Oct 4 $2799 Select
Departs: Thu, Feb 7, 2019
Returns: Thu, Feb 14, 2019
Book by Thu, Oct 4, 2018 (midnight ET) to get the current early bird discount! 		Feb 7 – Feb 14 $3399 –$600 Oct 4 $2799 Select
Departs: Thu, Feb 21, 2019
Returns: Thu, Feb 28, 2019
Book by Thu, Oct 4, 2018 (midnight ET) to get the current early bird discount! 		Feb 21 – Feb 28 $3449 –$600 Oct 4 $2849 Select
Departs: Thu, Mar 7, 2019
Returns: Thu, Mar 14, 2019
Book by Thu, Oct 4, 2018 (midnight ET) to get the current early bird discount! 		Mar 7 – Mar 14 $3449 –$600 Oct 4 $2849 Select
Departs: Thu, Mar 14, 2019
Returns: Thu, Mar 21, 2019
Book by Thu, Oct 4, 2018 (midnight ET) to get the current early bird discount! 		Mar 14 – Mar 21 $3399 –$600 Oct 4 $2799 Select
Departs: Thu, Mar 28, 2019
Returns: Thu, Apr 4, 2019
Book by Thu, Oct 4, 2018 (midnight ET) to get the current early bird discount! 		Mar 28 – Apr 4 $3499 –$600 Oct 4 $2899 Select
Departs: Thu, Apr 4, 2019
Returns: Thu, Apr 11, 2019
Book by Thu, Oct 4, 2018 (midnight ET) to get the current early bird discount! 		Apr 4 – Apr 11 $3499 –$600 Oct 4 $2899 Select
Departs: Thu, Apr 11, 2019
Returns: Thu, Apr 18, 2019
Book by Thu, Oct 4, 2018 (midnight ET) to get the current early bird discount! 		Apr 11 – Apr 18 $3499 –$600 Oct 4 $2899 Select
Departs: Thu, Apr 25, 2019
Returns: Thu, May 2, 2019
Book by Thu, Oct 4, 2018 (midnight ET) to get the current early bird discount! 		Apr 25 – May 2 $3449 –$600 Oct 4 $2849 Select
Departs: Thu, May 2, 2019
Returns: Thu, May 9, 2019
Book by Thu, Oct 4, 2018 (midnight ET) to get the current early bird discount! 		May 2 – May 9 $3399 –$600 Oct 4 $2799 Select
Departs: Thu, May 16, 2019
Returns: Thu, May 23, 2019
Book by Thu, Oct 4, 2018 (midnight ET) to get the current early bird discount! 		May 16 – May 23 $3449 –$600 Oct 4 $2849 Select
Departs: Thu, May 30, 2019
Returns: Thu, Jun 6, 2019
Book by Thu, Oct 4, 2018 (midnight ET) to get the current early bird discount! 		May 30 – Jun 6 $3449 –$600 Oct 4 $2849 Select
Departs: Thu, Jun 13, 2019
Returns: Thu, Jun 20, 2019
Book by Thu, Oct 4, 2018 (midnight ET) to get the current early bird discount! 		Jun 13 – Jun 20 $3449 –$600 Oct 4 $2849 Select
Departs: Thu, Jun 27, 2019
Returns: Thu, Jul 4, 2019
Book by Thu, Oct 4, 2018 (midnight ET) to get the current early bird discount! 		Jun 27 – Jul 4 $3449 –$600 Oct 4 $2849 Select
Departs: Thu, Jul 11, 2019
Returns: Thu, Jul 18, 2019
Book by Thu, Oct 4, 2018 (midnight ET) to get the current early bird discount! 		Jul 11 – Jul 18 $3449 –$600 Oct 4 $2849 Select
Departs: Thu, Jul 25, 2019
Returns: Thu, Aug 1, 2019
Book by Thu, Oct 4, 2018 (midnight ET) to get the current early bird discount! 		Jul 25 – Aug 1 $3449 –$600 Oct 4 $2849 Select
Departs: Thu, Aug 8, 2019
Returns: Thu, Aug 15, 2019
Book by Thu, Oct 4, 2018 (midnight ET) to get the current early bird discount! 		Aug 8 – Aug 15 $3499 –$600 Oct 4 $2899 Select
Departs: Thu, Aug 22, 2019
Returns: Thu, Aug 29, 2019
Book by Thu, Oct 4, 2018 (midnight ET) to get the current early bird discount! 		Aug 22 – Aug 29 $3449 –$600 Oct 4 $2849 Select
Departs: Thu, Sep 5, 2019
Returns: Thu, Sep 12, 2019
Book by Thu, Oct 4, 2018 (midnight ET) to get the current early bird discount! 		Sep 5 – Sep 12 $3399 –$600 Oct 4 $2799 Select
Departs: Thu, Sep 26, 2019
Returns: Thu, Oct 3, 2019
Book by Thu, Oct 4, 2018 (midnight ET) to get the current early bird discount! 		Sep 26 – Oct 3 $3399 –$600 Oct 4 $2799 Select
Departs: Thu, Oct 10, 2019
Returns: Thu, Oct 17, 2019
Book by Thu, Oct 4, 2018 (midnight ET) to get the current early bird discount! 		Oct 10 – Oct 17 $3449 –$600 Oct 4 $2849 Select
Departs: Thu, Oct 24, 2019
Returns: Thu, Oct 31, 2019
 		Oct 24 – Oct 31 $3449 – – – Closed
Departs: Thu, Nov 7, 2019
Returns: Thu, Nov 14, 2019
Book by Thu, Oct 4, 2018 (midnight ET) to get the current early bird discount! 		Nov 7 – Nov 14 $3449 –$600 Oct 4 $2849 Select
Departs: Thu, Dec 5, 2019
Returns: Thu, Dec 12, 2019
Book by Thu, Oct 4, 2018 (midnight ET) to get the current early bird discount! 		Dec 5 – Dec 12 $3449 –$600 Oct 4 $2849 Select

If you want a few extra days to explore on your own, we may be able to arrange for you to stay later than the scheduled dates, including extra hotel nights and separate airport transfers, for an additional charge. Ask us about prices and availability when you reserve. More information Want to extend your trip?

Options & Fees

Galapagos Islands Adventure
Rooming Selection
Double Occupancy included
Single Room Supplement +$599
Taxes & Fees
Galapagos National Park Fee of $100 included
INGALA Tourist Control Card of $20 included
Isabela Port Fee of $10 included
Quito Optional Extension1
Quito Optional Extension
Jan 24, 2019;  Feb 7, 2019;  May 16, 2019;  May 30, 2019 +$699
Jan 17, 2019;  Apr 11, 2019;  Apr 25, 2019 +$799
Feb 21, 2019 unavailable
All other departures +$599
Rooming Selection
Double Occupancy included
Single Room Supplement +$249

1. This extension requires a minimum of 2 passengers to operate.

So that we can offer you the best deals, our packages are, like most hotels and cruises, priced based on double occupancy rooms or cabins. We charge solo travelers an extra fee to cover the extra costs of single occupancy rooms or cabins. (Consider: if you booked a $200/night hotel room solo, you would pay the $200 yourself; but if a couple booked the same room, each one would pay only $100.) But you only pay extra for the rooms or cabins, nothing else, including meals, sightseeing, tips, etc.

Want to find a roommate and avoid single occupancy fees? We can help! Learn more Why are single rooms more?

Flights & Departure Cities

Departure Airports
Miami (MIA) included

This package includes round-trip flights from the city listed above. Please review the flight schedule, especially if you're booking connecting flights.

Want to fly from another city? We can arrange flights from most major cities. Ask us for a quote for flights from your preferred city when you reserve, and we'll get back to you with the price and availability within 3 business days. Of course, you can also book your own connecting flights. More information

How to Make a Reservation

To make a reservation, simply select an available departure date and reserve online using our secure booking system. Or call one of our travel specialists at 800-555-5765. But first, check out our Things to Know section.

We only require a per-person deposit payment, which you can pay with your credit card or PayPal account. This deposit will be applied towards the cost of your package, and is generally non-refundable. The balance is due 75 days prior to departure (or within 72 hours, if you're booking less than 75 days prior to departure), and can be paid by credit card, PayPal, check or money order.

Deposit
Deposit $1200

Itinerary

Day 1: Depart USA/Arrive Quito, Ecuador

Accommodations: 1 night Wyndham Quito Airport Hotel or similar, Quito.

  • Depart the USA on your flight bound for Quito, Ecuador
  • Upon arrival in Quito this evening, meet our representative and transfer by hotel shuttle service to your hotel for check-in

Old Town, QuitoFull Day Itinerary: This evening, arrive in Quito (9,350 feet above sea level) and after customs formalities, you will be met and transferred by scheduled shuttle service to your hotel for check-in and overnight.

Day 2: Quito, Baltra Island & Santa Cruz Island

Accommodations: 2 nights Hotel Solymar, Puerto Ayora. Included meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

  • Transfer to the airport for your flight to Baltra Island
  • Take a short ferry ride to Santa Cruz Island
  • Discover Los Gemelos lava chambers
  • Explore a 600-acre private giant tortoise reserve
  • Continue to Puerto Ayora for check-in and welcome drink
  • Enjoy a welcome dinner with fellow travelers

Sea lionFull Day Itinerary: After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport for your flight to Baltra, gateway to the Galapagos Islands to begin your adventure. Next, take a short ferry ride across Itabaca Channel to Santa Cruz Island, then drive through the various micro climates on your way to the village of Puerto Ayora on the south side of the island.

Today you'll see Los Gemelos (The Twins), two enormous collapsed lava chambers - an awe-inspiring visual reminder of the power of nature. The path to the lava chambers is a wonderful introduction to the great biodiversity of the Santa Cruz Highlands, teeming with endemic flora and fauna, including a Scalesia Forest draped in liverwort and mosses, as well as numerous birds such as Darwin Finches.

Giant tortoise, Santa Cruz IslandAfterward, drive to a 600-acre private reserve where giant Galapagos tortoises freely roam, graze and sleep. Feel free to mingle with these gentle giants. As prehistoric as these creatures look, wait until you hear what they sound like! Galapago is Spanish for tortoise, and the islands were named for these amazing creatures. There will be a selection of field boots for your use if conditions are muddy.

Next, you'll have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore the remnants of an illuminated lava tunnel. Created by ancient lava flows, the tunnel is 1350 feet long with a ceiling nearly 20 feet high in most places, adorned with stalagmites & stalactites, mineral-colored walls, and a rippled lava floor.

Continue to Puerto Ayora to check into your hotel. You may choose to visit the Charles Darwin Center independently in the afternoon. Later this evening, enjoy a welcome dinner with fellow travelers.

Day 3:  Santa Cruz Island &  Tortuga Bay

Included meals: Breakfast.

  • Set out on tour of beautiful Tortuga Bay
  • See exotic native species on a walk through a cactus forest
  • Continue to a sandy beach to observe marine creatures in the shallow water
  • After a chance to swim, take a short hike to an iguana nesting site
  • Walk through a prickly pear forest 
  • Kayak in Punta Estrada to visit the home of the blue-footed boobies

IguanaFull Day Itinerary: Depart after breakfast for a tour of Tortuga Bay. A short hike down a path will take you through a cactus forest, home to numerous Darwin Finches, Mockingbirds, Yellow Warblers, Lava Lizards and many more of the Galapagos’ endemic and native species. From the white sandy beach, you will have a chance to observe different marine species, like sting rays and baby reef sharks in the shallow waters of the mangroves.

After an opportunity to swim, take a short hike to a marine iguana nesting site. The walk back is through a prickly pear forest carpeted in crimson sesuvium with black lava outcroppings. Continue back to the hotel on foot or via speed boat.

This afternoon, kayak at Punta Estrada where you will paddle through towering lava channel walls to visit the home of the blue-footed boobies.

Day 4: Santa Cruz Island & Isabela Island

Accommodations: 2 nights Iguana Crossing, Puerto Villamil. Included meals: Breakfast & dinner.

  • Morning at leisure
  • Board a speedboat and set off for Puerto Villamil on Isabela Island
  • Enjoy a short exploration of Puerto Villamil

Isabela IslandFull Day Itinerary: This morning, enjoy your bayside hotel at leisure. This afternoon, board a shared charter speedboat and set off for Puerto Villamil on Isabela Island. The trip takes approximately two hours, and you may see some marine life such as whales, dolphins and manta rays among others. Upon arrival at Puerto Villamil, check in at your hotel. Afterwards, enjoy a short exploration of Puerto Villamil. This evening, meet with fellow travelers for dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 5: Isabela Island

Included meals: Breakfast.

  • Explore a small group of islands called Las Tintoreras
  • Take a walk through a lava field that is home to a colony of marine iguanas
  • Visit the Flamingoes Lagoon

Blue footed boobiesFull Day Itinerary: After breakfast at the lodge, board a small craft and head out to Las Tintoreras, a small group of islands located just off the coast of Puerto Villamil. Here, you’ll take an intriguing walk through a jagged lava field, passing abundant colonies of nesting marine iguanas and sea lions, to see a small canal of shallow waters, full of resting white-tipped reef sharks. After the walk, you have the opportunity to snorkel in this warm, shallow bay surrounded by mangroves, for an opportunity to see white-tipped reef sharks, sea lions, sea turtles, and of course, the mystery of the mangrove below the surface.

This afternoon, visit the Flamingoes Lagoon, an area where these unique birds come to rest and feed.

Day 6: Isabela Island &  Santa Cruz Island

Accommodations: 1 night Hotel Solymar, Puerto Ayora. Included meals: Breakfast & dinner.

  • Set out to see Concha del Perla
  • Board a speedboat and return to Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island
  • Enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant

Full Day Itinerary: After breakfast at the lodge, set out to see Concha de Perla to observe the fascinating marine life.

This afternoon board a shared charter speedboat heading back to Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. Upon arrival at the hotel, check in and enjoy some free time. This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner on your last night in the Galapagos.

Day 7: Santa Cruz Island & Quito, depart Quito

Included meals: Breakfast.

  • Transfer to the Baltra airport for your flight back to Quito. Enjoy the comforts of the Layover Stay lounge before your international flight back to the USA that will depart late tonight.
  • Or take advantage of your already included airfare and extend your stay in Quito!

Day 8: Arrive USA

  • Arrive in the USA early this morning

Inter-Island Transportation

The Galapagos Islands are connected by shared charter speedboats that take travelers from one island to another. Most of the boats tend to be small, and the trip from island to island can be choppy. Be patient with this means of transport, as it is not possible to enjoy the incredible experiences found only on these islands without being able to get from place to place. Generally the trips can last 2 hours. While the inter-island trips can be bumpy at times due to rough seas, you'll travel in the relative comfort of our boats, which are among the best in the islands.

Important Travelers Notes

Due to the fragile ecosystem on the islands, there are very few roads accessible by motorized vehicles. Some venues within the islands may be accessed by foot only. When touring the islands, you may expect considerable amount of walking, often on uneven terrain. If you are prone to motion sickness, we highly recommend that you bring medication to counter the effects of motion sickness. We strongly recommend that you consult with your physician regarding any concerns.

The hotels on this tour are the finest properties available on the Galapagos, These are small, intimate and unique hotels, with all the necessary amenities, but accommodations are more basic than lavish, as the delicate island ecosystems cannot support large luxury hotels. Click the hotel names above for more details.


Quito Optional Extension

Why not take advantage of your already-included international airfare to extend your stay in Quito! Passengers taking the post-tour extension will arrive in the U.S. 2 days later than the dates listed.

Day 7: Arrive Quito

Accommodations: 2 nights Swissotel Quito. Included meals: Breakfast.

  • Upon arrival in Quito this evening, transfer to your hotel for check-in

Day 8: Quito

Included meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

  • City tour of Quito and Equatorial Monument

Full Day Itinerary: Today, enjoy a city tour of Quito. Arguably one of the loveliest of all South American cities, Quito offers a spectacular setting surrounded by mountains and several snow-capped volcanoes, included the still-active Mt. Pichincha. Begin your walking tour at the Presidential Palace. Continue to the Monastery of San Francisco. Quito's oldest church and the largest colonial building constructed in Latin America. Visit the largest neo-gothic basilica in the Americas, noted for its gargoyles int he form of native Ecuadorian animals such as iguanas, armadillos and Galapagos tortoises. The next stop, LaCompañía de Jesús, has an ornate and richly sculptured facade and interior, with colored columns, 10-sided altars, and gilded balconies.Quito and Cayambe Volcano

After lunch, drive north of Quito to the Equatorial Monument, the Mitad del Mundo ("Middle of the World"), commemorating the exact place where Charles Marie de la Condamine established the Equator, where you can stand with one foot in the northern and one in the southern hemisphere.

For those interested in seeing a spectacular panoramic view over Quito and the snow-capped surrounding volcanoes of Cayambe, Cotopaxi and Chimborazo, take a ride on the Teleférico. This gondola lift transitions to approximately 13,285 ft above sea level for a breathtaking experience. For those who opt out of the Teleférico ride, enjoy a visit to the Quito National Museum. NOTE: The Teleférico experience reaches high altitudes and may not be suitable for all passengers. Warm clothes are suggested.

Later this evening, join fellow travelers for an included dinner.

Day 9: Quito & Otavalo, depart Quito

Included meals: Breakfast & lunch.

  • Explore the Otavalo Market
  • Visit the Peguche Waterfall
  • Transfer back to the airport for your international flight home

Full Day Itinerary: After breakfast travel to Otavalo, the land of the “Otavaleños” Ecuadorian community where all families speak Quichua as their first language and Spanish as their second. See women garbed in colorful embroidered clothing, and men in broad-brimmed hats with blue ponchos.

Explore the Otavalo Market located around the Plaza de Ponchos, the most famous indigenous market in Ecuador. The Otavaleños travel to the town to sell a multicolored variety of handicrafts including sweaters, ponchos, hats, necklaces and other handmade products.Otavalo Market vendor

Following lunch, visit the Peguche Waterfall that offers great views of the falls from several hiking trails and bridges.

Later today, transfer back to Quito. Enjoy the comforts of the Layover Stay lounge before your international flight back to the USA that will depart late tonight.

Day 10: Arrive USA

  • Arrive in USA early this morning

Hotels

Swissotel Quito

Swissotel Quito

Deluxe

Swissotel Quito is one of the city’s top luxury hotels, located in the commercial and residential area of the Floresta neighborhood.

More information

Wyndham Quito Airport

Wyndham Quito Airport

Deluxe

Experience the warmest of welcomes when you visit the 4-star Wyndham Quito Airport hotel. With a prime location at the Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO), the Wyndham Quito Airport is your top choice for an overnight stopover or day-room in transit. From the moment you step into the lobby, you will find impeccable services and amenities. Relax in your well-appointed room, indulge in the finest international dishes at the onsite restaurant or meet up with friends at the lobby bar for a signature cocktail.

More information

In the unlikely event that a particular hotel is not available, a similar or better hotel may be substituted.

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