Galápagos Islands | Exploring the Islands by Land

Upon arrival in Quito you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

After breakfast this morning take a city tour of Quito including a visit to the Middle of the World Monument. The city tour may be substituted with a full day excursion to Otavalo market, Cotopaxi National Park, Antisana Reserve, or Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve for an additional cost.

This morning transfer to the airport for your flight to the Galápagos Islands where you will be met by your local guide. Transfer by speedboat to Floreana, the sixth largest island in the archipelago. It has a colorful history, with varying accounts of how the island was settled and how its first residents (German immigrants) mysteriously disappeared. The only family remaining from the original settlements are the Wittmers, who continue to live on the island. After lunch, enjoy a walking excursion to La Lobería to view Galápagos sea lions on the beach and a swim nearby in Lobería Bay. Hike along almost 3000 feet of trail going through the Galápagos National Park where you can also see marine iguanas and sea turtles. Dinner at a local restaurant this evening.

After breakfast, hike in the highlands of Floreana to Asilo de La Paz (Peace Haven), where caves used by pirates in the 17th and 18th centuries are located. Hike to the hilltop for views of the island, and to possibly see the endemic Medium Tree-Finch. After lunch at a local restaurant, kayak and SUP (stand-up paddleboard) in the Lava Lodge Bay.

Today, head to Isabela Island via speedboat. Upon arrival, check into the hotel, then visit the Interpretation Center to learn about the archipelago, including the natural history of the islands and the impact of humans on the ecosystem. After lunch, visit Las Tintoreras, with time for snorkeling. The Tintoreras Islets are across the bay from Puerto Villamil and feature a great variety of wildlife. Snorkel among small outcroppings of volcanic rock in the crystalline, turquoise waters, which are home to sea lions, marine turtles, Galápagos Penguins, marine iguanas, and the white-tipped reef sharks for which the islets are named. Dinner at the hotel.

Spend a full day hiking at Sierra Negra. Measuring over six miles across from north to south and more than five miles from east to west, Sierra Negra is one of the most impressive examples of a volcano in the archipelago. Hike up to the edge of the caldera, with a boxed lunch on site. At the completion of the hike, return to the hotel.

This morning, go kayaking in the bay. After lunch at a local restaurant, take an afternoon bike ride with a stop at the infamous Muro de las Lágrimas, or "Wall of Tears." This wall was erected in the 1940s and '50s when the island housed a penal colony. Numerous prisoners died in the course of building the stone wall, leading many locals to give it the now-famous name. According to lore, from time to time, it is possible to hear the convicts' cries in the vicinity of the wall.

Early morning transfer to Puerto Ayora by speedboat. After breakfast, enjoy the breath-taking views of the archipelago at Cerro Mesa and then continue on to Garrapatero Beach. Spend the afternoon snorkeling and enjoying the nice sandy beaches surrounded by mangroves.

In the morning, head to Tortuga Bay, one of the largest and most beautiful beaches in the Galápagos. Enjoy the spectacular white sand beach, where you can walk along the shore and swim among marine iguanas, sharks, and sea turtles. After lunch, head to the Santa Cruz highlands and go hiking in the densely forested areas of El Chato, a reserve where giant tortoises can often be seen cooling themselves in ponds. Tree and ground finches, Vermilion Flycatchers, and Cattle Egrets may also be seen along the walking trails.

After a morning visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station, transfer to Baltra for the flight back to mainland Ecuador. Stay at the airport to check in for your evening flight home.