Experience the Galapagos Islands

During the Galapagos Islands Experience you have two options to explore the stunning islands, made famous by Charles Darwin who developed the theory of natural selection, while studying the unique wildlife there.
You can choose to go island hopping by boat (over four days), or you can join an overland tour that island hops, perfect if you do not have sea legs. This can be booked as a standalone trip if you are short on time, but if you are not, then you can add on two extra weeks on a conservation project, to really get to know the islands. Lets face it if you are going all that way, you would be nuts not to.

The Galapagos, is one of the worlds most unique locations for wildlife, but it is pretty remote. Over 1000 kilometres off the pacific coastline of Ecuador, you will need to fly into the airstrip located in the Galapagos, and for this reason we include flights from Quito with this trip. This does push the price up somewhat, however this experience is totally unique, and in our opinion the Galapagos is one of the locations you have to visit in your lifetime. What better time to do it than if travelling to Ecuador. Obviously the big draw for the Galapagos Islands is the animals, but be warned on the Galapagos the animals completely lack fear! This gives you a chance to easily swim next to sea lions, penguins and other marine life. Also it is a paradise for snorkelling; you can see manta rays, turtles, sharks and more.

The Galapagos Islands are known for the famous giant tortoises, and these unique islands are a UNESCO’s World Heritage site. This archipelago contains 13 main islands, 6 smaller islands, and 107 rocks and islets.

Photos

Itinerary

The trip starts in Quito in Ecuador, where you will be picked up from the airport and taken to a hostel on the first two nights, this gives you an opportunity to relax before flying to the Galapagos Islands the next day.

Once you have arrived in the Galapagos Islands, you then have the option between two different trips both lasting four days, a land tour, or boat tour. Please note your preferred option needs to be booked and selected at the time of booking, we can not guarantee you will receive your preferred option if booking at short notice (under 12 weeks).

Highlights include:

• Arrival in Quito
• Two nights in Quito (one before and one after the Galapagos trip)
• Transfer to the Galapagos Islands (flight ticket included)
• The four-day Galapagos tour (boat or land option)
• Optional two week wildlife conservation extension

Galapagos boat option

Four days from Tuesday to Friday:

Day one

Baltra, Santa Cruz, El Chato

Day two

Isabela Island– Humedales, Muro de las Lágrimas

Day three

Isabela Island – Centro de Crianza Arnaldo Tupiza, Sierra Negra.
Santa Cruz – Bahía Ballena, Isla Edén

Day four

Santa Cruz – Cerro Dragón, Caleta Tortuga Negra, Baltra – transfer out or transfer to the reserve (morning departure)

Galapagos land option

Day one

We fly from Quito or Guayaquil to the Island of Baltra. At the airport in Baltra, we will meet up with our English speaking guide who will take us to the port of Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz Island) for lunch. Afterwards, we will take the public speedboat to Isabela Island, which lasts approximately three hours. We will arrive to Hotel San Vincente Galapagos or  Hotel La Laguna Galapagos. After a brief rest at the hotel, we will head to Flamingo Lagoon, which is the largest coastal lagoon found in the Galapagos and is one of the main reproductive sites for the grand majority of flamingos.

Day two

Early in the morning, after breakfast, we’ll take an excursion to the Sierra Negra Volcano. This volcano is located 13 miles from Port Villamil and has the second largest volcanic crater in the world, measuring six miles in diameter and 300 feet deep. To arrive at this incredible sight we travel in bus or similar vehicle for 45 minutes to the Galapagos National Park where we will register our visit and then begin our hike to the Sierra Negra Volcano. We will then proceed to the Volcan Chico where you can feel the warmth of the ground as proof of the volcano’s activity. Here we’ll stop for a packed lunch before returning to the hotel. After a brief rest, we’ll have the chance to go snorkelling or swimming at Concha Perla where we can observe the colourful fish, sea urchins, starfish, sea lions, or even sea turtles. Accommodation provided in Hotel San Vincente Galapagos or Hotel La Laguna Galapagos.

Day three

After breakfast we will go to the giant tortoise breeding centre, where we will visit El Muro de las Lagrimas or the Wall of Tears. From 1946 to 1959, Isabela was designated a penal colony by the Ecuadorian government and prisoners were obligated to build a wall with enormous blocks of lava. The arduous labour and harsh conditions in which the prisoners lived in gave the wall its name. Additionally, we will visit a small lava tunnel and another flamingo lagoon, and then we will return to the hotel to have lunch.
In the afternoon, we will sail to Islote Tintoreras. It is called this due to a large crevice with very clear calm water in which white-tip sharks known as tintoreras come daily to rest on the bottom. We can also observe penguins, sea lions, and marine iguanas and go snorkelling with sharks as well as other colourful tropical fish while enjoying the beaches of Isabela Island.

Day four

After breakfast, we will travel to Baltra airport, if you are booked on the four-day option, or you will transfer to the conservation reserve to start the conservation project. On the way we will stop by Los Gemelos, The Twins, two volcanic depressions at Santa Cruz or the Charles Darwin Research Station.

Conservation Project Extension.

If you are booking a three-week option, you get two exciting weeks staying in San Cristóbal helping out on a conservation project. you will be based in a private reserve on the San Cristóbal Island.

San Cristóbal

San Cristóbal is charming as is the capital of the Galapagos, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, located on it. This island is one of the five inhabited islands of the Galapagos archipelago that for decades has been dedicated to agriculture, mainly producing sugar cane and coffee. About 5,400 people live here, and many work for the government or in fisheries.
The highland forests of the populated islands in the Galapagos chain have been greatly altered due to the introduction of exotic and invasive species of animals and plants. Highland conservation, development and poverty issues have been almost completely neglected by conservation, development and government agencies. As a result of the lack of fruit and vegetable production on the Galapagos Islands, boats from the Ecuadorian mainland unload fruits and vegetables to hotels, restaurants, and markets on a daily basis. Quarantine regulations are consistently ignored and at least two exotic and/or invasive flora or fauna species enter the islands each day. This is the reason why one of the main current problems on the Galapagos islands is the introduction of non-native species (plants and insects), estimated at one or two new species introduced to the islands every day, mainly through the importation of food to the islands from mainland Ecuador.
Importantly, the local population, lacking most government services and suffering high unemployment levels, is almost completely excluded from working in and benefiting from the tourism industry: tour operators do nearly all their business from their boats, ignoring business possibilities with local Galapagueños.
The biological station and reserve sites is located in the highlands of the island, on a 200 hectares site, where there is still native vegetation. The native vegetation consists of Miconias, ferns and other native herbaceous species. The reserve is mainly an organic agricultural and habitat restoration project.

Itinerary and activities during the conservation project

Volunteers will work on both the habitat restoration and agricultural components while at the reserve. In addition foundation staff will lead volunteers on various destination hikes to a nearby lagoon, native forests, beaches, and local villages to explain the ecological and human dynamic of Galapagos. Opportunities to work on group research and monitoring projects are available.

Activities

The volunteer activities are organized on a weekly basis, which emphasize certain areas of interest. A typical week for a volunteer is as follows:

• One day: reforestation (collecting seeds, classifying seeds, nursery work, out planting within the reserve or nearby reserve, help maintain reforestation lines, etc.)
• One day: personal project (develop your own project or support different conservation projects that are being developed at the station at the time).
• One day: station maintenance (trail maintenance, sign elaboration for trails, basic construction activities, help clean fresh water supply, help in kitchen, etc.)
• One day: organic agricultural activities (help maintain and secure food production for the station).
• One day: guided hike throughout reserve and/or nearby related areas (learn about biodiversity themes, natural history, & ecology.).
• Occasionally volunteers are expected to work half days Saturdays, but for the rest of the weekend volunteers may dedicate their time to rest, read, wash clothes, and/or travel locally to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno and use the internet and phone services.

The end of the project

Please note you need to make your own way back to the airport after a conservation project has ended, this can be arranged locally and is very easy. The trip ends on the Galapagos (although you do have your return flight back to Quito, alternatively if you wanted to add on another trip like a Surf and  Spanish in Ecuador programme, you can also fly to Guayaquil).

Activities at the weekends

In San Cristóbal you may be lucky to see the red footed booby – the least seen of the bunch. It’s also the home of the Chatham mockingbird, only found here on the island. There are many visitor sites, some of which can be reached by foot from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. It’s a charming, peaceful island, and worth the visit. Take your time in the village to get to know the people.

If you want to see where the frigates nest, go past the Centro de Interpretación, northeast into scrub forest. It’s a great 35 minute walk to the cliff areas of Cerro Tijeretas, and you don’t need a guide.

There’s a good surfing spot at Playa Punta Carola. The waves may be too big and daunting for swimmers, and so we recommend Playa Mann (through Avenida Northia) or Playa de Oro. The waters are calmer and there are some beach hotels as well.

Take a 20 minute walk south of town to La Loberia. Here you’ll enjoy the sea lions, marine iguanas, bird watching, and even tortoises. Don’t forget to always stay on the path. Try not to disturb the wildlife!

Take a boat trip

Accommodation

The night before and after your Galapagos trip you will stay in a hostel in Quito, giving you some time off in Quito to Explore.

The accommodation for the next four nights depends on whether you have selected the land option or the boat option:

Boat option

Depending on the dates of your trip the vessel you will be on varies, but as standard you can expect to share rooms on board, there are typically between 8 and 14 passengers per trip, and these are tourist class boats which are perfectly comfortable. All meals are included during the boat trip.

Land option

During the land option, you will stay at several different hostels located on each of the four different islands you will visit. We vary the hostels we  use depending on availability and seasons, but the hostels are clean, comfortable, very secure and great places to chill at the end of the tiring day exploring the islands.

Accommodation during the conservation project.

The station is composed of two houses with of mixed construction (native bamboo and cement) containing 11 rooms each and resting areas. Separated from the houses you have the dining room and kitchen. The accommodations are rustic, with room for groups of up to 35 people. Please note that the accommodation is basic, but this actually adds to the experience.

Price

Dates

Please contact us with your preferred start dates and we will check availability.