Ecuador: Santa Cruz Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz, Floreana, Isabela, and Quito

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Island hopping in Galapagos

Visit one of the world’s premier wildlife viewing destinations

  • Be amazed by the unique wildlife of the Galápagos Islands
  • Hike the Sierra Negra Volcano – the second largest volcanic crater in the world
  • Walk across the lava fields
  • Spot flamingos in a secluded lagoon

We know the dilemma: you want to spend as much time as possible exploring the Galapagos Islands and you need to get to the islands as easily as possible. We have the solution for you: We take care of your flights from Quito and back – at the best deal. Visit the Charles Darwin Station in Puerto Ayora and hike the lava fields of Chico Volcano for beautiful views of the surrounding islands. At Isla Isabela, you can come into contact with the impressive giant tortoises and explore the local wildlife before heading back to Quito, where you can relive your newfound experiences.

Difficulty Condition

Travel Program

Individual arrival in Quito. 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.
We recommend that you book an additional stay in Quito before or after your trip in order to get to know the numerous sights and excursion destinations around the city.

Accommodation: Hotel Mercure Quito (or similar)

Overnight
Hotel

Flight
Arrival to Ecuador.

Driving
1 hour aprox.

Hiking
1 hour aprox

Meals
-/-/-

Transfer to Quito Airport for the flight to the Galápagos Islands. Landing in Baltra and transfer to the hotel on Santa Cruz Island. Later, get an introduction to the islands’ unique wildlife and history with a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station. The flight from Quito to Baltra is unaccompanied. Local representatives are on hand to assist you on both sides to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Visit the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center, a great place to see many species of captive turtles and iguanas that were on the brink of extinction. Here you can see famous Galápagos tortoises up close – an enclosure for adult tortoises and a nursery enclosure for the young animals up to about three years old when their shells have hardened.

Also visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, a scientific organization established in 1964 that works to preserve the Galápagos ecosystem through the efforts of scientists, researchers and volunteers. In addition, it serves as a study site for international scientists and offers training courses for nature guides.

Activities Included:
– Visit to the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center and Charles Darwin Research Station

Accommodation: Hotel Coloma (or similar)

Overnight
Hotel

Driving
3 hours aprox.

Hiking
3 hours aprox

Meals
B/L/-

Walk to “Las Grietas” on the other side of Academy Bay in the morning. Traverse a cactus forest in search of Darwin’s finches and lava lizards en route to Las Grietas, a local swimming spot. The cool, bright turquoise water separates two volcanic cliffs. Fed by the sea from one end and a river from the other, this unique brackish water pool is perfect for swimming.

In the afternoon we take the speedboat to the nearby island of Floreana. By visiting supported, community-run facilities such as guesthouses and restaurants, you are helping to establish community-based tourism on the island.

Floreana Community Restaurant:
To support the people of Floreana even more, our local partner agency offers training in all aspects of tourism, including gastronomy. The community will take care of your physical well-being during your stay on this small island, with meals divided between different members so that as many as possible can benefit from tourism. By eating at the community restaurants, you are helping the first community-based tourism operator in the Galápagos to be self-sustaining.

Floreana Community Pension:
Floreana is a small remote island in the Galápagos Archipelago. Many of its 150 residents have been living here for three generations since the island was first settled. With most visitors to the islands arriving on ships that don’t stop at the village, there aren’t many opportunities for people here to take advantage of the tourism boom. We are investing in community education and infrastructure to build the first ecological community-based tourism program in the Galápagos, primarily benefiting small business owners and the island’s unique wildlife.

Activities included:
– Swimming in Las Grietas

Driving time: approx. 2 hours

Accommodation: Floreana Community Guesthouse

Overnight
Hotel

Driving
3 hours aprox.

Hiking
3 hours aprox

Meals
B/L/-

Walk along the black sand beach to Loberia. You can snorkel or swim at the beach. Snorkel directly from the beach at Loberia and get up close and personal with the numerous animals in the water around the Galápagos Islands. You must be able to swim well for this activity. The sea can be rough here and there are strong currents. We continue to the rarely visited highlands of Floreana. Head to the rarely visited highlands of Floreana. Hear tales of the pirates, whalers, sealers and buccaneers who once lived in this remote and unique landscape. Enjoy guided walks to spot birds and other wildlife and learn about natural history.

Activities included:
– Snorkelling excursion off Loberia
– Excursion to the Floreana highlands

Accommodation: Floreana Community Guesthouse

Overnight
Hotel

Driving
3 hours aprox.

Hiking
3 hours aprox

Meals
B/L/-

Drive to Isabela Island. You hike up the active volcano Sierra Negra, where you circumnavigate the largest volcanic crater in the world. Lace up your hiking boots and climb the Sierra Negra volcano, the largest basalt caldera in the Galapagos archipelago. On the way you will see the smoking fumaroles and the “sulphur volcano” (large amounts of sulfur from the fumaroles). The volcano last erupted in October 2005, the most recent eruption in the Galapagos

. Hike to the summit for a bird’s eye view of this magical landscape. We then continue to the lava fields of Chico Volcano, where we enjoy views of the surrounding volcanoes and islands.

Activities Included:
– Sierra Negra Volcano Excursion

Driving time: approx. 2.5 hours

Accommodation: Hotel Iguana (or similar)

Overnight
Hotel

Driving
3 hours aprox.

Hiking
3 hours aprox

Meals
B/L/-

Free time in the morning. Optionally, you can take a boat trip to “Islote Tintoreras” where you can see white tip reef sharks, marine iguanas, blue footed boobies, rays and penguins. Later we visit the giant tortoise breeding station. Cross the town’s wetlands and visit the giant tortoise sanctuary. Walk past sunbathing iguanas and flamingos, and head into the sanctuary’s forest to see these gentle giants in their natural habitat. When the giant tortoise was threatened with extinction in the late 1950’s, this program was set up to protect these noble creatures.

Explore the area with a short walk, spot flamingos in the wetlands and experience a stunning Isabela sunset on the beach. On the way we will stop at a viewpoint and visit ponds, beaches and mangrove swamps.

Optional Activities:
– Surf
Lesson 45-55USD 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.

– Swimming
Enjoy a refreshing swim and keep an eye out for the local marine life.

– Snorkeling at Islote Tintoreras
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.

– Snorkeling
140-150USD per person. Grab your swimwear and a snorkel and hit the water to explore what lives beneath the sea. Los Tuneles or Las Tintoreras beach are good spots (keep an eye out for eagle rays and turtles).

Activities included:
– Visit to the giant tortoise breeding center

Accommodation: Hotel Iguana (or similar)

Overnight
Hotel

Driving
3 hours aprox.

Hiking
3 hours aprox

Meals
B/L/-

Take a speedboat to Santa Cruz Island, where you can spend the afternoon exploring Puerto Ayora town or shopping. In the evening you have free time to explore this bustling little town and visit some of the local restaurants and bars or do some last minute shopping. Enjoy a short stroll to the beautiful white sands of Tortuga Bay. Relax on the beach, hike along the mangroves and spot land iguanas and birds, rent a kayak and explore this marine wonderland. Keep an eye out for tintoreras sharks, sea turtles and manta rays in the shallows.

Optional Activities:
– Kayaking in Tortuga Bay (15USD per person)
Grab a life jacket and embark on a kayaking adventure in the mangroves of Tortuga Bay. Look out for a variety of marine life including colorful reef fish, rays and turtles as you paddle through the blue waters. Relax on a beautiful, fine, white sand beach and soak up some sun – you might see some iguanas on the shore, which are also enjoying the sun’s rays here.

Activities Included:
– Hike to Tortuga Bay

Hiking route: approx. 8 km
Travel time: approx. 3 hours

Accommodation: Hotel Coloma (or similar)

Overnight
Hotel

Driving
3 hours aprox.

Hiking
3 hours aprox

Meals
B/L/-

Return to Baltra for flight back to Quito. Upon arrival in Quito, transfer to the hotel for one last night in the city. Our guide in Quito can arrange many of the available day trips in and around Quito if you still have some time to spare. We highly recommend planning additional post-trip nights in this lively city.

Driving time: approx. 3 hours

Accommodation: Hotel Mercure Quito (or similar)

Overnight
Hotel

Driving
3 hours aprox.

Hiking
3 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 according to program
  • Transport, accommodation and meals according to the program
  • Domestic flights (Quito – Santa Cruz and back)
  • Excursions, activities and visits as per itinerary
  • Floreana community restaurants
  • Visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station
  • Visit to Las Grietas
  • Snorkeling in La Loberia
  • Visit to the Flamingo Lagoon
  • Hike to the Sierra Negra volcano
  • Visit to the turtle sanctuary
  • Visit Tortuga Bay with hike on Santa Cruz Island
  • Port Tax Isabela

Not included:

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

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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

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

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