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Galapagos Group Land Adventure

Galapagos Small Group Tour - Example 8 Day Tour
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Join like-minded travelers on an 8-day small group multi-sport vacation to explore the Galapagos Islands by hiking, kayaking, biking, and snorkeling. What else can you fit into your action-packed Galapagos itinerary? Sea lions, marine iguanas, dolphins, turtles, and an abundance of birdlife swoop over you as you paddle and play. Return to eco-friendly hotels for delicious meals and excellent service after long days of adventure. Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, and Isabela Islands are the three most popular destinations to visit. This Galapagos Multisport Adventure is perfect for active families and groups of at least four active people who want to see wildlife and have fun at the same time.

**NOTE: This is a joinable group tour with set departure dates. For all departures, visit the Galapagos Multisport itinerary page.**
Enjoy seeing the beauty of these islands on an exciting kayak trip.Experience group kayakBiking adventure in galapagosWildlife crossingHiking in Sierra NegraSierra Negra Volcano Hiking tourYoung Nazca Booby with hikersGalapagosBiking along Galapagos BeachGroup Hiking in GalapagosExplore the amazing kicker rockExplore the Lava TunnelsBlue-footed booby mating danceA young sea lion rests on the sands of the Galapagos IslandsA pair of friendly sea lionsSwimming sea turtleGalapagos Tortoise close upBeach on Isabela islandFrigate BirdSea lions being lazy on the beachSnorkelling With Turtles In The GalapagosSnorkeling with friends
Highlights
  • Sea kayak and snorkel with sharks, sea lions, sea turtles, and tropical fish
  • Learn about Galapagos conservation in Charles Darwin Research Station
  • Bike to the Walls of Tears in Isabela
  • Snorkel with sea turtles, rays, penguins, and sea lions
  • Trek to the top of Sierra Negra active volcano
  • Walk among giant Galapagos tortoises in their natural habitat
Activity Level: Moderate
Activities that provide a reasonable level of physical challenge and elevate the heart rate. Focused on more active pursuits including multisport tours. Travelers may be active 5-7 hours total each day. Recommended for travelers with active lifestyles.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Arrive in Quito

Arrive in Quito on the flight of your choice today. After clearing customs, meet your hotel shuttle for the quick drive to your hotel. Settle in and relax after your day of travel.

Day 2: Fly San Cristobal | Hiking and Snorkeling

 Return to the airport to catch an early flight to San Cristobal Island to begin your Galapagos tour. Upon arrival, meet your guide and transfer to your hotel in the town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Here, you will have a short briefing to prepare for your upcoming adventure.

In the afternoon, visit "La Loberia," a beach that is home to large Galapagos sea lions.  Enjoy a leisurely walk for about an hour that takes you through lava rocks and mangroves. Along the way, keep an eye out for the red-billed tropicbird, blue-footed bobbies, and Nazca bobbies that live in this area. Along the shore, you can witness yellow warblers, frigate birds, and various species of Darwin's finches. Between the rocks, you may also see marine iguanas, which are exclusively found in the Galapagos. At the end of your walk, you will have an opportunity for some shallow water snorkeling to observe sea lions and sea turtles. Enjoy the beach and go for a refreshing swim before returning to your hotel.

Day 3: Snorkel San Cristobal's Northern Coast

Travel to San Cristobal's northern coast by boat, where you will have the opportunity to visit Kicker Rock, popularly known as the Sleeping Lion (Leon Dormido).  Small boats are able to access the narrow waterway that was formed by the remains of a lava cone eroded by the sea. The remaining two vertical rocks, standing 500 feet (150 meters) above the ocean, are home to many tropic birds, frigate birds, and boobies that fill the skies and turn this natural monument into a stunning sight. The pristine waters beneath the sea offer a magnificent show of colorful creatures and you might even be lucky enough to spot hammerhead and white tip sharks. Spend some time on the beach after lunch before returning to the hotel.  

Day 4: Biking Isabela | Wall of Tears | Snorkel Concha y Perla

After breakfast, transfer by a small plane to Isabela Island, the largest island in the Galapagos and one of the most volcanically active places on the planet. Set out on a bike ride through a variety of environments and ecosystems, including white sand beaches, mangrove forests, brackish lagoons, and a lava tube cave. Isabela is well known for the 5 subspecies of giant tortoise that live in its cloudforests, and as you ride you may see these, as well as flamingos and other wildlife. Isabela’s salty lagoons are also home to a wide range of sea birds, offering some of the best birding in the Galapagos. Your ride will bring you to el Muro de las Lagrimas (Wall of Tears). Prisoners were forced to build this wall of lava rocks to keep them distracted back in the days when the island was used as a penal colony. After lunch you have the chance to walk through the mangrove forest to Concha y Perla bay for snorkeling.

Day 5: Arnaldo Tupiza Hike | Lava Tunnels Snorkeling

In the morning, enjoy a lovely 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. Once you arrive at the center, you will be able to see several different species of giant tortoise that come from the Cerro Azul and Sierra Negra volcanoes. These species include Casserole, Five Hills, Roca Union, San Pedro, Five Hills, Caleta Iguana, Tables and Cerro Paloma.

In the afternoon, explore the amazing formations of lava along the seashore, created by the last eruptions of this volcanic island. This magical place has historically been filmed by BBC and National Geographic for their documentaries. It is a labyrinth of lava arches and 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, you will have the best snorkeling opportunity with all these beautiful animals, including the curious Galapagos penguins. Before or after the trip, you can relax on the exotic white-sand beaches of Isabela Island.  

Day 6: Sierra Negra & Volcan Chico Hike | Tintoreras Islet Kayak

From Puerto Villamil, you will journey to the highlands for a 6 mile (9 km) hike near the rim of the Sierra Negra Volcano. Sierra Negra is an active volcano which last erupted into a blazing show in October 2018. From this altitude, you will enjoy a fantastic view of the 5 mile-wide crater, the Perry Isthmus, and the other volcanoes beyond. From here you will continue to Chico Volcano, with its puffing fumaroles and striking lava formations. Isabela offers an out-of-this-world environment that exemplifies the dramatic geological events that have forged the Galapagos Islands.

This afternoon, visit Tintoreras Islet, a short distance from Puerto Villamil and home to a variety of wildlife, via kayak. White-tipped reef sharks, Galapagos Penguins, marine turtles, and sea lions live in its blue, crystalline seas. One of its beaches, which is surrounded by mangroves, is one of the few places in the world where marine iguanas may successfully spawn.

Day 7: Charles Darwin Research Center | Santa Cruz Highlands | Biking to Garrapateros Beach

Cross from Isabela to Santa Cruz Island in the morning by boat. After checking in to your hotel, visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to discover more about the Galapagos Islands' ongoing conservation and management initiatives. You will also have the opportunity to see many of the endemic species of tortoise that may be found in the wild on the islands.

After visiting the tortoises in the Research Station, head to the Santa Cruz highlands where the iconic Galapagos tortoises can be found roaming freely. You'll have lunch at a private ranch before going on a trek in search of giant tortoises. You'll also see some lava tubes, which emerge when a lava stream's surface freezes.

Afterward, ride your bikes to Garrapateros Beach on the other side of the island. Make a stop at the Trapiche along the way to learn about the sugarcane liquor production process. Finally, return to your hotel to celebrate your wonderful journey. Spend your final evening in the Galapagos tasting a variety of traditional and fusion Galapagos meals while sipping a glass of wine and taking in the breathtaking views of the bay and town.

Day 8: Baltra Airport | Quito

In the morning, say your final goodbyes to the Enchanted Islands as you transfer back to Baltra Island to catch your flight back to the mainland. 
Remain at the Quito airport to connect with your flight home (departing after 9 PM this evening), or add more time to explore Ecuador.

Accommodations

Quito - Hotels

San Cristobal - Hotels

San Cristobal - Campsites

Puerto Villamil - Hotels

Puerto Ayora - Hotels

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
$3,845 2-3 travelers

Notes

Select a Date
Contact us for the special rate for solo travelers on this departure.
Included
  • 7 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 1 Dinner
  • 7 Nights Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
  • INGALA Transit Control Card
  • Gear Rental: Snorkeling, Kayaking, & Biking
  • Isabela - Santa Cruz boat transfer
  • San Cristobal - Isabela flight 23kg baggage weight limit
  • Expert English-speaking adventure trip leader and naturalist local guide in Galapagos National Park.
  • Pier-use fee at Puerto Villamil: Lobito bus (round trip).
Excluded
  • Gratuities
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Additional excursions during free time
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
  • Galapagos Park Entrance Fee: $200 per adult, $100 per child under 12. Payable upon arrival to the Galapagos, only in cash dollars. Subject to increase by Galapagos Park Service.
  • Internal Flights: Mainland Ecuador - Galapagos - Mainland Ecuador: $475-675
  • Contact us for upgrade options to fly between Isabela and Santa Cruz if you need to skip the two-hour water taxi ride. Flight cost is $323 per person with a 23kg baggage limit.

Map

When to Go

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Good to ideal period to travel, and many people choose to visit at this time.

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Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
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