Ecuador: Galapagos Isabela Island, Santa Cruz Island, and San Cristobal Island

You are here:

No cruise, but an island hopping adventure takes you into the middle of nature on the Galapagos Islands

  • Snorkel with sea lions
  • Visit the giant tortoises
  • Climb the Sierra Negra volcano
  • Relax on gorgeous Pacific beaches
  • Explore the Galápagos Islands on public speedboats
  • Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station

The Galápagos Islands aren’t just about cruising – try an island hopping trip on speedboats instead! This tour gets you really close to the action – and trust us, there’s always plenty of action on the archipelago – while keeping costs lower than you’d expect from an island experience. Besides that, there’s no shortage of activities to keep you busy, with everything from snorkeling to a volcano hike in the Sierra Negra. We end the day relaxing in authentic accommodation surrounded by the sounds of the islands’ wildlife and birds, giving a whole new meaning to the word “paradise”.

Difficulty Condition

Travel Program

Individual arrival in Qutio.
Arrival possible at any time. Your adventure begins tonight with a welcome meeting where you will meet your guide and fellow travelers. Please see the notice in the lobby (or ask at reception) for the time and place to meet the group. Opt for an optional dinner afterwards at a local restaurant with your new travel companions. If you are unable to attend the welcome meeting, our representative will leave all the important information at your hotel reception so you know what time to be ready the next day.

Optional Activities:
– City Tour in Quito and Equator
50-60USD per person. Take a city tour of Quito including Old Town (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Basilica del Voto Nacional, La Compañía Church, Plaza San Francisco, Plaza Grande and Panecillo, a statue of the Virgin of Quito. Travel 25 km north to the “middle of the earth” at 0° latitude and stand with one leg in both hemispheres.

– Cotopaxi volcano
70-100USD per person. Enjoy a spectacular 2-hour drive to Cotopaxi Volcanoes National Park to see the world’s highest active volcano (5,897m). Visit a museum in the park and hike around a lagoon at the base of the volcano to learn about the flora and fauna at this altitude. Continue driving up the volcano to the car park at over 4,500m. Hike for an hour and a half to the refuge and after a short break continue to the glacier (weather permitting). In the afternoon you return to Quito. Park admission is not included and will be divided by the number of travelers in the group.

– Teleferico Quito
$8 per person. Enjoy spectacular views of Quito from this aerial tramway that ascends the Volcán Pichincha. You can take a hike to the top or just enjoy the ride.

Accommodation: Hotel Eugenia (or similar)

Overnight
Hotel

Flight
Arrival to Ecuador.

Driving
1 hours aprox.

Hiking
1 hours aprox

Meals
-/-/-

Morning flight from Quito to the Galápagos Islands. Drive across Santa Cruz Island to the city of Puerto Ayora. Our first trip together takes us to the Charles Darwin Research Station to see the famous giant tortoises up close. Get to know your fellow travelers over a few drinks in the evening. Toast to new adventures with new companions!

Visit the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center, a great place to see many species of tortoises and land iguanas being bred. Here you can see the famous Galápagos tortoises up close – an enclosure houses adult tortoises and a nursery takes care of the hatchlings until they are around three years old, when their shells have hardened.

This area is also home to the Charles Darwin Research Station, a scientific organization established in 1964 dedicated to the conservation of the Galápagos ecosystem through the efforts of scientists, researchers and volunteers. While the facilities themselves are not open to visitors, the research station provides a place of study for international scientists and offers training for naturalist guides.

Activities included:
– Visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station

Driving time: approx. 3 hours

Accommodation: Hotel Coloma (or similar)

Overnight
Hotel

Driving
3 hours aprox.

Hiking
3 hours aprox

Flight
Go by plane.

Meals
B/L/-

We board a speedboat and head to Isabela Island. Enjoy the view around you – you might even spot dolphins or whales next to the boat! After dropping off our stuff at the hotel, you can use the free afternoon to explore the town of Puerto Villamil or relax on the beach.

Accommodation: Hotel Iguana (or similar)

Overnight
Hotel

Driving
5 hours aprox.

Hiking
4 hours aprox

Meals
B/L/-

A hike takes us today to the Sierra Negra and experience a volcano up close. Hike to the 10 km wide crater of the Sierra Negra volcano, the largest basaltic caldera in the Galápagos Archipelago. The route leads over the lunar-like landscape of lava fields and fumaroles. Enjoy spectacular views north towards Fernandina Island and over Isabela. The volcano last erupted in June 2018; it was the most recent eruption in the Galapagos. This hike is 7 km (3.5 km in each direction).

In the afternoon you can snorkel, visit the giant tortoise sanctuary or see the flamingo lagoon.

Optional Activities:
– Snorkeling Isabela Island / 4-5 hrs
140-150USD per person. Grab your swimwear and a snorkel and hit the water to explore what lives beneath the sea. Drive to Los Tuneles, about 40 minutes boat ride from Puerto Villamil. The lava formations and mangroves make it ideal for snorkeling. Keep an eye out for eagle rays, sea turtles and large schools of colorful fish.

– Snorkeling at Islote Tintoreras / 2-2:30 hrs
45-50 USD per person. Go snorkeling at the small island of Las Tintoreras south of Puerto Villamil. It’s the perfect place to experience the magic of the underwater world up close. Enjoy a quiet little cove with turquoise waters where you can spot white tip reef sharks, which are quite common in this archipelago. (The town owes its name to this shark, called Tintorera in Spanish.) Keep an eye out for sea lions, sea turtles, marine iguanas and rays, and sharks.

– Surf lesson
45-55 USD per person. Grab your swimsuit and prepare to face the waves. Learn how to find and surf the right wave with a surfing lesson from local experts. Enjoy the fresh sea air and the water and keep an eye out for the many sea creatures.

– Trip to Flamingo Lagoon
Spend some time exploring the natural beauty of Isabela. Enjoy a walk to the Galápagos Islands’ largest coastal lagoon, which is also an important breeding ground for flamingos. Stop at a viewpoint along the way and visit natural swimming pools, beaches, and mangrove swamps.

Activities included:
– Sierra Negra Volcano Hike

Accommodation: Hotel Iguana (or similar)

Overnight
Hotel

Driving
5 hours aprox.

Hiking
4 hours aprox

Meals
B/L/-

Return to Santa Cruz Island by speedboat, where you’ll have the afternoon at leisure to explore the city or hike to nearby Tortuga Bay for a swim. Later, explore Puerto Ayora and sample local specialties at the Santa Cruz Brewing Company. Enjoy a bite to eat or visit a local bar for a drink (and dance!).

Accommodation: Hotel Coloma (or similar)

Overnight
Hotel

Driving
5 hours aprox.

Hiking
4 hours aprox

Meals
B/L/-

We take another speedboat to San Cristóbal Island and here we visit the Galapagos National Park Interpretation Center near town to learn about the unique history of the islands ecosystems, flora and fauna. Learn about the history of the Galápagos Islands, from the early days of their volcanic formation to today’s conservation efforts. Visit the Human History Exhibit to learn about the discovery and settlement of the islands, and discover the natural history and diversity of flora and fauna that make the Galápagos Islands so fascinating.

Keep an eye out for sea lions as you stroll along the Malecón, and look for a place to watch the sunset with a drink.

Activities included:
– Visit to the information center

Accommodation: Hostel
shared rooms

Overnight
Hotel

Driving
5 hours aprox.

Hiking
4 hours aprox

Meals
B/L/-

The day is free for you to explore the island of San Cristóbal. You can snorkel at the impressive Kicker Rock or Isla Lobos, visit the white sandy beach of Playa Mann or get up close and personal with the sea lions in La Lobería.

Optional Activities:
– Snorkeling Isla Lobos
90USD per person. Snorkel right off the beach on dreamy Isla Lobos amidst sea lions and their curious and playful cubs. Spot frigate birds nesting on the shore and the famous blue-footed boobies. Be sure to bring your camera to capture photos of this wonderful wildlife paradise.

– Snorkeling Kicker Rock
$125 per person. Embark on a snorkeling adventure at Kicker Rock, one of the Galápagos Islands most impressive sights and home to an incredible variety of marine life thanks to the abundance of food in the water here. Explore this rock that rises 150m above sea level and is divided by a narrow channel that can be navigated by small boats. The water surrounding the rock attracts numerous sharks and other fish, making for a unique and exciting snorkeling experience.

– Visit to La Lobería
Beach At La Lobería Beach you will be greeted by a colony of sea lions. Keep your eyes peeled for marine iguanas basking on the black rocks and sea turtles in the bay’s shallow waters.

– Visit Playa Mann
Visit this white sandy beach just a short walk from the town. Go for a swim or watch snoozing sea lions.

Accommodation: Hostel shared rooms

Overnight
Hotel

Driving
5 hours aprox.

Hiking
4 hours aprox

Meals
B/L/-

Today it’s time to say “Adios!” to the Galápagos Islands. In the morning our flight back to Quito starts. After the drive to the hotel you can relax a little before you go out together again in the evening in the city.

Driving time: approx. 2 hours

Accommodation: Hotel Eugenia (or similar)

Overnight
Hotel

Driving
5 hours aprox.

Hiking
4 hours aprox

Meals
B/L/-

Departure possible at any time.

Overnight
Hotel

Driving
1 hour aprox.

Hiking
1 hour aprox

Flight
Go back home by plane.

Meals
B/-/-

Included meals: B=breakfast; L=lunch; D=dinner

What's Included

Services included in the prices:

  • Galapagos round trip for young people according to the program
  • Transport, accommodation and meals according to the program
  • domestic flights
  • Excursions, activities and visits as per itinerary
  • Visit to the Interpretation Center on San Cristobal
  • Hike to the Sierra Negra volcano
  • Visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station
  • Port Tax Isabela

Not included:

  • Meals and drinks not mentioned
  • Optional excursions and activities
  • Galapagos National Park Fee (USD 100)
  • Galapagos Transit Card (USD 20)
  • Personal expenses, tips

What to Bring

What to Bring or take fo Day Hiking and Technical Equipment for Climbing Expedition

This equipment list is compiled to provide you with adequate help when choosing your equipment for a climb. Most items are required. Please consider each of them and make sure you understand the function and exclusive use for mountaineering, before substituting or removing items from this list. Please note that this list has been carefully annotated by the organizer. Remember that mountaineering, climbing or mountain expeditions tours is an extreme, risky sport, therefore everything related to it is of great attention.

Hiking backpack for hiking 50 to 60 liters

Light gloves for hiking or (Optional Mittens waterproof)

Medium weight socks

Sleeping bag (-15º to 20ºC)

Small daypack for one day hiking 30 liters

Weather-appropriate clothing (think moisture-wicking and layers)

Hiking boots or shoes

Medium weight parka with fibber fill or down

Rain poncho (or rain gear)

Long-sleeved shirts

Fleece or Wool sweater and/or trousers

Lightweight pants

Cotton short-sleeved shirts or t-shirts

Water bottle for hiking or trekking

Strong waterproof duffel bag

Flashlight with spare batteries and bulb

Towel for personal hygiene each participantFirst-aid kit

Regular and long underwear

Knife or multi-tool

Light cap and wool hat

Sunglasses with UV certification, Sun block, lips

The rest of the list Essentials as appropriate for your hike

Grooming and personal hygiene kit

One Hiking Buff per person

3 Locking carabiners, we recommended per person

We recommend 2 ice screws for each client

1 Daisy Chain (Life Line) per each person

2 Ice axes (per person) technical, we recommended GRIVEL company

1 ATC descender (Rappel), this is very necessary for technical mountains

2 Cords for prusik, very important (Size Cord 6 mm x 10 m. long)

Gloves(Good gloves) for expeditions over 6000meters

Harness for climbing

Sleeping pad / Mattress, we recommend with air or inflatable mattress

Crampons, we recommended GRIVEL company

Walking sticks – Trekking Poles (optional), a pair per person, we recommended GRIVEL company

Down Jacket for expedition

Very important to have personal clothing such as pants and jacket with GOROTEX certification

First aid kit, for high mountains, because we as guides cannot medicate clients

Backpack Capacity 60 liters, it is better to have a bigger backpack to go comfortably to the high camps, because here you have to carry all your personal things

Gaiters or Leggings, now modern boots already have built-in (Incorporated), but better to have an extra pair

Dressing appropriately for the mountains can make the difference between a pleasant trip and a really uncomfortable one. Clothing must provide the right degree of temperature, perspiration and be well ventilated. Preferably cotton clothing should be avoided, as in humid conditions they absorb body heat.

In general, the weather conditions in in the Andes of South America can vary from day to day and even throughout the day. Therefore, clothing must be versatile.

Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have regarding the necessary equipment.

Prices & Dates

FROM/TO

PRICE (USD)

TRAVEL STATUS

01 JUN 2024 / 09 JUN 2024

$ 3950

🟢

Join Now

FROM/TO

PRICE (USD)

TRAVEL STATUS

01 JUL 2024 / 09 JUL 2024

$ 3950

🟢

Join Now

FROM/TO

PRICE (USD)

TRAVEL STATUS

01 AUG 2024 / 09 AUG 2024

$ 3950

🟢

Join Now

FROM/TO

PRICE (USD)

TRAVEL STATUS

01 SEP 2024 / 09 SEP 2024

$ 3950

🟢

Join Now

Please note: Insurance for emergency evacuation is required for this trip. Call for more details.

» Additional dates available upon request
» Rates may vary from July 26th to 31th for the national holidays

Prices (per person):

1 PAX2 PAX4 PAX6 PAX8 PAX10 PAX12 PAX14 PAX
7900 USD3950 USD3850 USD3750 USD3650 USD3550 USD3450 USD3350 USD

Deposit for reservations: — USD (– EUR) ✓ Full payment 40 days before. No refund if you cancel less than 30 days!

Places: 🟢 *Available
Trip-code: Number ►ECU-
Duration: 09 days
Participants: Minimal: 4 Maximal: 12
Members: We don’t have an open group to join – We can open a new group – Contact us!
Country / Location: Ecuador
Mountain Guide: Eric Albino Lliuya
Other dates / additional info: Contact us!

3% early bird discount when booking 6 months prior to departure 2024

Legend Booking-information:
EZZ Single room supplement
🟢 On this trip, places are still available.
🟡 On this trip, only a few places left.
🔴 This trip is sold out / closed.

Eric Raul Albino Lliuya

Expert guide certified by AGOMP
General Sales Manager of Peru Expeditions

Hans Honold | Certified Mountain and Ski Guide

For a trip with a Professional Certified Mountain Guide from abroad with your own language that you speak, please request us to get in touch. We have guides working for our company from all over the world who are members of IVBV/UIAGM/IFMGA Certified Guides.

It is very important to have accident coverage for trekking and climbing mountains, more if you go a technical mountains over 6 thousand meters, we oblige and recommend buying travel insurance with our partner Global Rescue, you get the peace of mind that the finest medical, security evacuation, field rescue, intelligence and telehealth.

Videos

Frequently Asked Questions

What our travelers or clients always ask questions before joining our trips, tours & expeditions, read all the information provided here.

Suggested FAQs

Every day we have active walks around approximately 4, to 5 sometimes 6 hours of walking, everything is according to your pace and physical condition of each person, in each of our travel programs you will find more detailed information, and if If you need more information about each day of the travel program, we can schedule a call via WhatsApp to clarify your doubts or questions, for this please contact us. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066

For our mountain climbing trips: If they are easily accessible mountains: For easy-climb mountains, well, you don’t need much experience, but if you already want to climb mountains above 6,000 meters and the conditions become more difficult, we recommend if you already want to go through mountains above 6,000 meters, have a basic or intermediate course for a good preparation. It is very important to be physically, technically and psychologically prepared.

Regarding the preparation of children: Everything will depend on which mountain you want to climb with your children, once you are clear on which of our tours or mountains you want to go with your children, we can give you some advice or see how to prepare them before going with they.

Regarding older people: It all depends on the condition of experience and how well the person is in health, on many occasions older people are the best to walk in the mountains because they have more experience, so it is always good to ask and find out about their experience of older participant. If you have any other questions, please contact us. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066

To do long-distance hiking you need to at least train or do some tours such as visiting lagoons to get the experience and feel comfortable with what you do, it is always good before doing a long-distance hiking tour to test yourself so as not to be with the problems of altitude sickness during the trekking, and if you travel with children it is good to first train them before taking them, if they are accompanied by an adult of legal age, they must do a good acclimatization before going on the long-distance tour or with high altitude camps If you want to know or learn more advice, we can schedule a call via WhatsApp to clarify your doubts. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066

The preparation is according to what type and what technical level you want to go and climb a trek or mountain, the preparation will always gain experience little by little.

For this type of demanding or technical climbing sports, it is recommended to do some summits above 5 thousand meters beforehand and have good knowledge of high mountain technical equipment such as the use of technical ice axes, ice screws, correct use of crampons, and of course all the technical material. For more information, we can schedule an appointment to be able to explain in more detail everything about the mountain equipment and the preparations prior to joining our outings. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066

For the pick-ups of each trip, depending on the place or the trip that you are going to make with us, the meeting point is always at our office, in one of our trips we pick you up where you are staying or staying, or in some cases a A representative of our company will pick you up and then ship you to your transport to continue with your destination of the tour or trip you have booked with us. If you wish to request more information, do not hesitate to contact us. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066

In all our trekking or mountaineering trips we do not include personal equipment in our prices, so you have to have your own equipment: Personal equipment (such as boots, ice ax, crampons, harness, sleeping bag, mat, Goretex, etc. ) and also within each page of the trips that we sell is a small list so you can see it on our website.

Our company can also rent the materials that you would need for your trip, see the list here on our website: https://peru-expeditions.org/equipment-rental/ . For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066

In our trips, either hiking or mountaineering: Depending on the type or destination of the trip that you are going to book, in some parts of the treks you go with mules or donkeys or sometimes with horses, and within the mountain trips, the approach camps are also They go with mules or donkeys, but there are some stretches where pack animals can no longer reach. In this part, our logistics is fully supported by the porters.

Who are the porters? They are people from the area who were born and live in the heights of the towns, they are very strong and are very acclimatized, the reason is that after the tourist season ends they dedicate themselves to agriculture and livestock for that reason they are people They are used to the altitude and have lived in nature all their lives and they are happy to be in the mountains together with our expeditions. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066

About accommodation or meals during the tour: Well, depending on the type of tour, when the tour is a classic cultural tour or a city tour, we eat during the route in tourist restaurants and sleep in category hotels that the client has requested.

If the tour is with camps and trekking: During the activity, logistics we include the service of Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner with traditional and typical meals of the region where you are going to travel with us, during the night we stay in tents, and we have a special tent for the kitchen and another for the dining room.

If the trip is at altitude or in the mountains: We bring special high mountain food, It are quicker meals to cook and we provide complete logistics such as Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, and we sleep in special 4-season high mountain tents, with the best tents. If you have any questions or concerns, we can schedule an appointment via Whatsapp to clarify all your doubts and give you better information so that your trip is an unforgettable tour.

Safe and effective vaccines are available that provide strong protection against serious illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. Billions of people have been vaccinated against COVID-19. Getting vaccinated is one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself against COVID-19, help end the pandemic and stop new variants emerging.

We also recommend having accident insurance, we always recommend. We are Partners –Global Rescue. If you have any other questions about the trip we can schedule a date for a calling via WhatsApp. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066

For all the trips that we offer within our main tourist destinations such as South America and Central America, also including the ascent of the 7 continents and the 7 highest peaks of each continent, on each page of our website for each trip we indicate that month or what season to travel, then please read the information you find in our travel offers for each tour. If you have any other questions you can contact us by WhatsApp with one of our travel experts. Thank you so much. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066

In mountains above 5000 meters: A local guide takes a maximum of 3 clients = Ratio 3pax = 1 local guide

In technical mountains: In large-big mountains we manage the travel policy, a guide and a maximum of 2 clients = Ratio 3pax = 1 local guide. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066

For all the trips that we offer within our main tourist destinations such as South America and Central America, also including the ascent of the 7 continents and the 7 highest peaks of each continent, on each page of our website for each trip we indicate that month or what season to travel, then please read the information you find in our travel offers for each tour. If you have any other questions you can contact us by WhatsApp with one of our travel experts. Thank you so much. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066

We as a local company and connoisseurs of tours have departures on different dates. The best thing to do is to join a travel group to take care of your budget, and of course you can join our groups, but on trips like mountaineering we recommend going in small groups. To join a group, ask us for the dates and we will send you the necessary information to be able to join any of our trips.

Why go in a private trip: For trips whether trekking or high mountains, going privately is the most recommended option, but the costs are more expensive. So, if one joins a group, the prices will be more reasonable. In the mountains, the only disadvantage is if you are in a wall with another partner and if one of the participants gets tired or gets sick. In this case, you have to abort or cancel the summit and return together. For more information, contact us. We can schedule a call via WhatsApp to clarify all your questions.

In a mountain, for example, if 3 people go and one of the participants falls ill on the route, for security reasons they have to cancel or abort the summit or return all together. The same in a technical mountain if the climbing partner gets sick they all have to return, for these reasons sometimes it is better to go private only because for a single person the costs are more expensive for the same reason that the trip would already be private .

For more information please contact us. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066

About the meteorological conditions of the climate, we try to organize the trips of each tour in the best season to have the best views and enjoy the selected trip but sometimes even is good season we can have bad weather, in this case on hiking or treks trips The complications are minimal, but when this happens during high-altitude climbing expeditions, the complications can become very difficult, that is why the bosses or leaders of the local guides must always make the most correct decision for the safety of our passengers, so we always recommend listening to the best advice from the local guide assigned for each tour. If you have any other questions please contact us. For calls or inquiries to this number: +51 943 081 066

Additional information

We help in the purchase of air tickets: we set up convenient flight options with each participant of the trip and book tickets such as international flights and domestic flights in each destination city of the countries that we offer our trips. We recommend you booking international flights tickets well in advance so we can find current flights offer prices from the airlines. In order for us to search for and book your flight, please contact us and we will be happy to help you!. → More information click here
About a Satellite Phone or inReach® Messenger - GARMIN: On each trip we recommend having a satellite phone at your disposal. The possibility of quick contact from anywhere on the mountain will guarantee your safety on the road. In case of need (for example, contact with the family or the travel company), for this service the participants have to request to rent a satellite phone, of course this service has an additional cost, contact us or ask our office for more information. A practical device is to have an inReach® Messenger - GARMIN also helps for any emergency. → More information click here
Many of the participants or clients of our adventures, hikes and expeditions in the mountains are people who sign up alone, but in some of our trips you will be able to find a travel partner companion to join a group. We have many options for you from day tours, short treks, long duration tours, and even the most extreme climbing high mountains on each country or South American continent and other destinations, as like the destinations you can see on our website. The mountains are a great place for rapid integration and a very healthy sport. → More information click here
Our mountain guides or tour leaders: All of our Tour Leaders are multiple conquerors of the peaks they lead the expeditions to. Each of our cultural guides, high mountain guides, mountainbike guides, among others are internationally recognized and certified guides, such as the certifications of (UIMLA) Union of International Mountain Leader Associations & (IFMGA) International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations. The mountaineering experience, skills and knowledge of your guides are a priority for us. → More information click here

Reviews

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

YOU ARE AN ADVENTURE LOVER and you want to experience something extraordinary and extreme?

You are an adventure lover and you dream of leaving with a thrill. Peru Expeditions Tours is also an option for you. Take advantage of our travel offer that we have for you!

“We don’t sell tours, we provide memorable lifetime experiences.”

We are a recognized tour operator 100% peruvian company that specialists in adventure and traditional tours service.