The Galapagos Islands are one of the most unforgettable destinations one could have on a travel bucket list. Also known as the Enchanted Islands, this is a destination for anyone interested in adventure, nature, animals, pristine beaches, active volcanoes and even history.
Surrounded by wonders, the Galapagos Islands are the best place to disconnect from the rest of the world, but what to do in the Galapagos? There are hundreds of things to do, and here are the top 5.
1. Snorkeling
This is one of the favorites for many visitors. Snorkeling is the chance to get up close and create and intimate contact with the marine wildlife. For snorkeling you don’t need any training, however, it’s important that you get briefed thoroughly before.
You can choose a variety of sites around the Galapagos to snorkel, such as Kicker Rock near San Cristobal, Pinnacle Rock on San Bartolomé, and Devil’s Crown off the coast of Floreana.
2. Hiking
The Galapagos Islands are a World Heritage Site, so given their national park status not every part of the park can be explored.
However, trails are marked for those who enjoy hiking; in Galapagos you can enjoy a unique lava rock trail where you will see blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas, and sea lions.
3. Kayaking
Yes, sea kayaking! You don’t really need any training to paddle along the rugged shoreline of the Galapagos Sea. You will be able to see several animals swimming by your side, including penguins and sea lions.
4. Biking
You can sign up for any cycle tour depending on how advanced you want it to be, take part in fun rides through the divine scenery. Cycle exploring some of the highest points on the island while you enjoy the native flora and fauna.
5. Scuba diving
For this one you need to have some experience or training, but don’t worry you can sign up for a scuba diving course. Then you can go deep into the hidden waters of the Galapagos and swim by the side of white-tip sharks, marine iguanas, penguins, golden rays, hammerheads and more.
The Galapagos islands are the perfect place to disconnect from the outside world, this top 5 activities are the most popular but not the only ones. Galapagos is a place where you can find anything to do.
We can help you planning your trip to the Galapagos. Contact us!
Sacha Warmi Project Half-Day Trip on 22 May, 2021
Review: Due to a curfew in Ecuador we did this trip instead of another we had planned. It was great to experience a rural area and spend time with a family. We got to see the things they were growing and a nice rose farm. They were so hospitable and made us a great meal!
Sacha Warmi Project Half-Day Trip on 18 Jun, 2021
Review: A wonderful introduction to the hospitality and history of an indigenous community on my first day in Ecuador. We were welcomed into the home of a family, went on a guided tour of the community farm (with newborn animals and various crops), learned about the medicinal use of plants, hiked with community members to an overlook of the Otavalo valley with folklore and stories, and were treated to a wonderful home cooked meal. I highly recommend this trip for anyone who is interested in the culture and real-life experience of Ecuador.
El Altar + Papallacta Hot Springs
Pax: Kristen Hecht. Review: This experience was AMAZING! I loved all the hiking and activities, the lodges and accommodations were varied and unique, I liked trying all the different types of Ecuadorian foods, and above all, my guide Paul was great! He was very enthusiastic, knowledgeable, motivating, and personable. I...
Galapagos & Amazon Adventure
Pax: Mary Martha Henson. Review: Phenomenal experience seeing this beautiful country and her people. It was a action packed itinerary with lots of adventure, learning about the Ecuadorian culture and seeing the diverse landscapes - all that make Ecuador a country to visit!
Ecuador Trekking Avenue of Volcanoes
Pax: Marissa. Silkroski. Review: It was a fantastic trip. Both our guide and the owners of every accommodation we stayed at were amazing. The views along the routes we took every day were so beautiful that it's hard to describe them.
The Best of Ecuador & Galapagos
Pax: Rebekah Staples. Review: My experience in Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands was incredible. Paul went above and beyond to make sure everything was seamless.
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The trip was so great! Our guide Paul told us so much about his country. He was always in a great mood and organized everything very well. The selected restaurants... read more were great and the picnics were the culinary highlight. We tried so many delicious Ecuadorian dishes. We would immediately travel again with Adventure Journeys and then wish Paul as a guide ☺️
Franziska K
1 enero 2022
My 8 year old daughter and I took this trip together and we loved everything from beginning to end. The guides are knowledgeable, kind and patient. The sights are beyond... read more beautiful. We saw an incredible number of animals in the Galapagos including a marine iguana swimming and climbing up a ladder to a dock. The sea lions ate hilarious to watch and so fun to see while snorkeling. Our time in the Amazon was amazing and unlike anywhere else we have been. This was the best trip EVER!!!
Jennifer C
10 mayo 2022
Adventure Journey's 8-day Avenue of the Volcanoes trekking tour was the most MEMORABLE and AMAZING trip I've ever had!
Every aspect of this trip was so well executed.... read more
I want to start by giving a big shout-out to Nicole Tapia who corresponded so quickly to every email and question that we had, starting from weeks before the trip up to the day we left. She was always pleasant and so helpful!
Next big shout-out goes to Jorge Coronel, THE BEST guied ever. He was knowledgeable about the mountains, trails, and local culture and was always eager to answer our questions and cheer us on if things felt more challenging. It was very apparent that he does what he does because it is truly his passion. He was also very personable and it felt like we were hanging out with a friend each day! He was hands down one of the biggest factors that made this trip so amazing.
The Ecuadorian highlands were one of the most beautiful places I've been to. Each of the hikes and locations we went to were breathtaking and picturesque, and I lost count of how many times I said "wow, that's so beautiful!" The lodging that was provided was all so lovely and unique from each other and were experiences within themselves, and the food! The food was always so delicious!
I could go on about how spectacular this trip was and if I could give more than 5 stars, I would. Do yourself a favor and book this trekking tour!!
aos_PNW
1 febrero 2022
This trip beyond met our expectations. We learned so much about the animals, plants, people, culture, geography, climate, food…(the list goes on), in both Galápagos and Ecuador. We had very... read more high expectations for Galápagos, but ended up also falling in love with Ecuador, both really amazing places. The trip was so well organized, with a variety of actives, good mixture of really active days broken up a little bit with some down time/days. The trip was also very family friendly, our 8 year old enjoyed it as much as our 11 year old and as us parents; there’s something for everyone. The tour guides and locals are also amazing, very knowledgeable and kind. Lastly, we were a little nervous about COVID, but the vaccination rates are so high and everyone is masked inside and outside, hand sanitizers everywhere, we felt very safe, and returned covid-free. Highly recommend!! …
Grace C
1 agosto 2021
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This trip was one of our favorite adventures ever. We did a couple add on excursions prior to the full tour starting and had our guide, Paul, all to our... read more selves. He was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic about Ecuador. Once the full tour started we also got to meet our driver, Jose who made the best picnics. His guacamole is some of the best we have ever had! While we booked this trip for all the adventure there were also really cool cultural experiences. One was a home stay in the jungle and another was a visit to an indigenous community. We would definitely recommend Adventure Journeys for any trip to Ecuador (or Peru or Colombia). …
Chris H
26 julio 2021
My spouse and I had an amazing time on this trip this 7-day trip! Nicole (our adventure specialist) was organized and very responsive to our needs/questions from the time we... read more booked, until the time we flew back home. Nicole assisted us the entire way and we never felt abandoned, which made us feel comfortable and safe to really enjoy our vacation. She even assisted in scheduling our COVID tests and arranged for the doctor to come right to our hotel lobby to obtain our samples, once back in Quito. Our concierges were on friendly and on time. Our guide (Maritza) was personable, professional, helpful, and knowledgeable. Even better, our hotel room was right off the beach, with an exquisite ocean view!! Galapagos was an incredible experience, and we would definitely like to return in the future. Highly recommend!
Rachel J
1 enero 2022
My wife and I were totally enthralled with the trip. AJ guides were all amazing. Would definitely use them again. We had 3 separate guides, and they were all excellent... read more in knowledge and attitude and care.
jke1136
22 agosto 2021
The trip was so great! Our guide Paul told us so much about his country. He was always in a great mood and organized everything very well. The selected restaurants... read more were great and the picnics were the culinary highlight.
We tried so many delicious Ecuadorian dishes.
We would immediately travel again with Adventure Journeys and then wish Paul as a guide ☺️
franziskakW440TW
20 enero 2022
