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Galapagos Essentials 7 Days
Quito, Ecuador
Overview
The Galapagos Islands are one of the most isolated regions in the world and is home to a number of endemic wildlife species. Take a 7-day tour from Quito through the islands of Baltra and Lobos for a closer look at the sea lions, blue-footed boobies, tortoises, and more. This tour is inclusive of lodging, most meals, and transportation between the islands.
- Explore the incredible Galapagos Islands on a 7-day tour from Quito
- See endemic species like blue-footed boobies and the Galapagos tortoise
- Learn about the importance of the isolated islands and Charles Darwin
- This is a semi-inclusive tour including most meals, lodging, and transport
What's Included
Transportation: Airport transfers (national flights), sea transportation Santa Cruz - Isabela islands round trip, comfortable land transportation
Accommodations based in double occupancy: First Class hotel in Quito, 4-star hotels in Galapagos
Activities: Hiking in Santa Cruz highlands, Snorkelling, Isla Lobos, Academy bay day tour
Meals Included: 6 breakfasts and 3 lunches
Gear: Snorkeling mask and fins, life vest
Trip Leader: Certified EPL expert English-speaking adventure Trip Leader (minimum 4 people for this service) and naturalist local guides in Galapagos National Park
Dinner
Breakfast (7)
Lunch (4)
My Own Room supplement: USD $850
International flights
Airfare Quito - Galapagos - Quito round trip
Airport transfer (international flights)
Travel insurance (mandatory)
Meals not described in the itinerary - estimated budget USD $180 USD
INGALA transit card: USD $20 per person, cash only (subject to change)
Galapagos National Park fee: USD $100 per person, cash only (subject to change)
Snorkeling gear (mask and fins) for optional activities: USD $8 per day per person
Wetsuit for rent: USD $10
Tips for guides and drivers
Departure & Return
What To Expect
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival in Quito City
1 Stop
Welcome to Quito! The biggest, best-preserved colonial city of America was declared an 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 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.
Duration: 1 hour
Admission Ticket Free
Accommodation:
Dann Carlton Hotel or SimilarMeals:
Not IncludedDay 2
Travel day to Galapagos
1 Stop
Today you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to the Island of Baltra in the Galapagos Islands. On arrival you will be picked up and transferred to Santa Cruz a nearby island, crossing the narrow Itabaca channel by ferry and then continuing by car. Your first stop will be at the highlands of Santa Cruz. The Highlands home of 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 transport to your hotel. Here you will have a meet and greet with a local guide who will explain the following days itinerary to you. Enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure to explore this beautiful Island.
Duration: 8 hours
Admission Ticket Included
Accommodation:
Hotel Fiesta or SimilarMeals:
Breakfast Lunch Day 3
Bay Tour Exploration
1 Stop
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 sea lions and all kinds of colourful fish. Here you can see the blue-footed boobies. etc. Afterwards, climb to a nearby viewpoint and if you are lucky, you can see white-tipped reef sharks swimming in the ocean below. Afterwards, take a walk to ‘Playa de los Perros’ where many sea iguanas are found resting in the sun. The enormous cacti, the red colour of the rocks and the turquoise colour of the ocean make for great photo opportunities.
Duration: 8 hours
Admission Ticket Included
Accommodation:
Hotel Fiesta or SimilarMeals:
Breakfast Lunch Day 4
Free time and travel to San Cristobal Island
1 Stop
Enjoy a morning at leisure or explore the beautiful island Santa Cruz on your own. In the afternoon you will be met and transferred from your hotel to the dock of Santa Cruz from where you will take a boat (approx. 2 1/2 hours) to the island of San Cristobal. Upon arrival at the dock in San Cristobal. Here you will have a meet and greet with another local guide who will explain the rest of your itinerary to you. The remainder of the evening is yours to enjoy at leisure on this stunning island.
Duration: 8 hours
Admission Ticket Included
Accommodation:
Hotel Blue Marlin or SimilarMeals:
Breakfast Day 5
Isla Lobos Tour
1 Stop
This morning, after breakfast, you will be met and transferred to a dock where you will take a quick boat ride to the nearby Isla Lobos. During this boat trip, you will observe a lot of sea life before even setting foot on the island. Upon arrival, enjoy a guided tour where you will have the chance to observe frigate birds, blue-footed boobies, manta, sea lions and sometimes sharks that all inhabit the island. The white coral beaches of San Cristobal are great to walk around, relax and swim in the shallow waters before you came back to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.
Duration: 8 hours
Admission Ticket Included
Accommodation:
Hotel Blue Marlin or SimilarMeals:
Breakfast Lunch Day 6
Travel to Quito
1 Stop
Enjoy some more free time this morning before transferring to the airport of San Cristobal. From here, you will take a flight back to Ecuador's mainland. Upon arrival in Quito, you will be collected from the airport and transferred to your hotel for one more evening at leisure before saying goodbye.
Duration: 8 hours
Admission Ticket Included
Accommodation:
Dann Carlton Hotel or SimilarMeals:
Breakfast Day 7
End of Services
1 Stop
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
- Not wheelchair accessible
- It is our intention to adhere to the itinerary described; however, due to our travel style, on occasions it may be necessary or desirable to make small changes. Weather conditions and unpredictable local circumstances may lead us to make alterations to the route and/or travel times. Hotels and flight schedules might change according to availability. Any mention to specific wildlife in the itinerary or trip details is not a guarantee that it will be seen during the trip.
- 2h 45 min each way from Quito to Galapagos. Regular size aircraft. About 140 passengers
- 2 hours each way from Santa Cruz to San Cristobal
- 45 minutes each way - Lava Tunnels
- 20 minutes each way - Isla Lobos
- 45 minutes Airport transfers in Quito
- 45 minutes Airport transfers in Galapagos
- Tintoreras: 1 hour.
- Lava Tunnels: 2 times of 1 hour each.
- Short hikes 1-hour average
- All year
- December to May: 80ºF to 90ºF / 25ºC to 30ºC. June to September: 60ºF to 70ºF / 15ºC to 20ºC. October to December: 70ºF to 80ºF/ 15ºC to 25ºC
- The waters of the Galapagos Islands are a unique mixture
- of warm and cold water, ranging between 65ºF and 85ºF
- From sea level to 600m (1900ft)
- Day 15-34ºC / 59-93ºF - Night 12-17ºC / 53-62ºF
- Moderate to easy there are short hikes in El Chato, Academy day tour, Isla Lobos snorkelling is easy.
- Traveling with Adventure Journeys you will have the possibility to experience and taste local food and snacks. Your guide will help you identify typical food and suggest the best places to enjoy it. Some meals are not included in order to give you some flexibility about where what and with whom to eat. You have the option to share these meals with the group, however, there is no obligation to do this. If you have any allergies or food restrictions, please inform AJ prior to your departure.
- All prices are based on double occupancy. If you are travelling solo, you will be matched with another participant of your same sex. If you prefer to have a single room, please contact AJ prior to your departure to arrange your accommodation at an extra cost.
- All AJ guides and trip leaders are highly experienced, licensed to operate in Ecuador and certified as Wilderness Adventure First Aid responders. We always carry a complete first aid kit in our trips. In some location and for some activities, local guides join the trip leaders to provide an added service. In the Galapagos Islands, minimum 4 participants for the AJ trip leader service are required.
- Clients receive a conservationist interpretation of the ecology of the Andes, Amazon Rainforest and Galapagos Islands with the factors that threaten it. We aim to promote long-term conservation of both Local People cultural identity and their environment. Your visit will encourage them to support responsible ecotourism. We transport out and recycle all non-organic garbage.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
Cancellation policy
All sales are final and incur 100% cancellation penalties. Learn more about cancellations.
