THE BEST OF GALAPAGOS ADVENTURE
Discover the enchanted Galapagos Islands through this island-hopping tour! The islands offer endless opportunities to witness a unique abundance of wildlife in a setting unlike any other on the planet. Due to it’s isolation, the Galapagos formed a natural sanctuary that preserves species, allowing them to evolve over countless millennia. This is one of the few places on earth that allows such close and intimate contact with the wildlife. The tour also provides many benefits to local communities and is socially and environmentally responsible. Be part of an educational and inspirational journey of a lifetime in one of the most fiercely protected marine wilderness’ in the world!.
Unique Experiences:
- Snorkel through lava formations with sea turtles, penguins, sea horses, sea lions and sharks at Lava Tunnels
- Hike to the top of Sierra Negra Volcano on Isabela Island and admire the surrounding moon-like landscapes
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DepartureQuito / Ecuador
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IncludedActivitiesLand TransportationMeals detailed in the itinerary
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Not IncludedDomestic flightsFees and entrances to parks and museumsAirport tranfer in & outInternational flight
DAY 1: QUITO ARRIVAL DAY
Meet your AJ trip leader and group at 18:00pm.
Welcome to Quito! The largest, best-preserved colonial city of America - declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. The city is considered the Cultural Capital of South America and is located on the equator in a valley at the foothills of the Pichincha volcano. Depending on arrival time, you can spend your day exploring the old town of Quito and the surrounding area. ADVENTURE JOURNEYS can help you to organize a day trip (please request in advance). In the evening, one of our trip leaders will meet you at the hotel’s lobby for a welcome briefing at 18:00 hours. At this time we will discuss the details and questions you may have regarding the adventure. Our first day is an acclimation and information day.
Accommodation: Swissôtel Quito
Meals included: none.
DAY 2: GALAPAGOS - ISABELA ISLAND
Accommodation: Cormorant Beach House or similar.
Meals included: Breakfast.
DAY 3: SNORKEL AT LAVA TUNNELS
Accommodation: Cormorant Beach House or similar.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.
DAY 4: HIKE SIERRA NEGRA - KAYAK AND SNORKEL IN TINTORERAS
Accommodation: Cormorant Beach House or similar
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch.
DAY 5: CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH STATION
Accommodation: Silberstein Hotel or similar.
Meals included: Breakfast.
DAY 6: FLIGHT BACK TO QUITO
After our final breakfast on the Galapagos Island and the last photos taken of sea lions, we have a transfer to Baltra's airport in time to catch the flight back to the mainland.
Meals included: Breakfast.
DAY 7: DEPARTURE
Today our trip will end and you will have your International departures. Take with you your memories and photos and leave a piece of your heart, as you will want to return to Ecuador soon to experience more of this enchanted land. We wish you a "Buen viaje"!
Meals included: Breakfast.
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What's Included?
- Transportation: Comfortable land and sea transportation; speed boat Santa Cruz – Isabela – Santa Cruz.
- Accommodation based in double occupancy: 5* hotel in Quito, 3+ star hotels in Galapagos.
- Meals:6 Breakfasts & 2 lunches.
- Activities: Snorkeling in the Lava Tunnels, Trekking to the top of Sierra Negra active volcano, snorkeling, and kayaking in Tintoreras, visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, hiking in Santa Cruz highlands.
- Gear: Snorkeling mask and fins, life vest.
- Trip Leader: Certified AJ expert English-speaking adventure leader and local guides.
What is not included?
- My Own Room supplement: USD $610.
- Airfare Quito - Galapagos - Quito round trip (Estimated Budget USD $535).
- International flights.
- Airport transfer (international flights).
- Travel insurance (mandatory).
- Meals not described in the itinerary - estimated budget USD $180.
- INGALA transit card: $ 20 USD per person, cash only (subject to change).
- Galapagos National Park fee: $ 100 USD per person, cash only (subject to change).
- USD $10 pier-use fee at Puerto Villamil.
- Wetsuit for rent: $ 10 USD.
- Wetsuit for rent: USD $10
- Tips for guides and drivers - estimated budget USD $120.
IMPORTANT DETAILS
FLIGHT TIME: 2h 45 min each way from Quito to Galapagos. Regular size aircraft. About 140 passengers.
DRIVING TIME
- 45 minutes Airport transfers in Quito.
- 45 minutes Airport transfers in Galapagos.
- 45 minutes each way to Sierra Negra
BOAT TRAVEL TIME
- 2 hours from Isabela to Santa Cruz
- 45 minutes each way - Lava Tunnels
- 15 minutes each way - Tintoreras
PROVINCE: Pichincha and Galapagos.
TERRITORY: Quito City and Galapagos Islands National Park.
KAYAKING TIME: 1-2 hours.
SNORKELING TIME Tintoreras: 1 hour. Lava Tunnels: 2 times of 1 hour each.
HIKING TIME Short Hikes. Sierra Negra: 30 minutes easy uphill; 1 and a half hours on flat terrain; 30 minutes downhill; 2 hours same way back.
SEASON: All year.
WEATHER TEMPERATURES: December to May: 80ºF to 90ºF / 25ºC to 30ºC. June to September: 60ºF to 70ºF / 15ºC to 20ºC. October to December: 70ºF to 80ºF/ 15ºC to 25ºC.
WATER TEMPERATURE: The waters of the Galapagos Islands are a unique mixture of warm and cold water, ranging between 65ºF and 85ºF.
ALTITUDE: From sea level to 600m (1900ft).
AVG. TEMP.: Day 15-34ºC / 59-93ºF - Night 12-17ºC / 53-62ºF
DIFFICULTY LEVEL: Moderate to Challenging the hiking in Sierra Negra is moderate but long and muddy during the wet season (from July to November); snorkeling is easy.
ACCOMODATION: All prices are based on double-occupancy. If you are traveling solo, you will be matched with another participant of your same sex. If you prefer to have a single room, please contact AJ prior to your departure to arrange your accommodation at an extra cost.
MEALS: Traveling with Adventure Journeys you will have the possibility to experience and taste local food and snacks. Your guide will help you identify typical food and suggest the best places to enjoy it. Some meals are not included in order to give you some flexibility about where, what and with whom to eat. You have the option to share these meals with the group, however there is no obligation to do this. If you have any allergies or food restrictions, please inform AJ prior to your departure. Vegetarians, Vegans and Gluten Free people are very welcome in our trip, our guides are always ready to coordinate with chefs and restaurants for substitute meals for them, as Ecuador is very well known for its great diversity of gastronomy.
YOUR TRIP LEADERS AND GUIDES: All AJ guides and trip leaders are highly experienced, licensed from the Tourism University to operate in Ecuador and certified as Wilderness Adventure First Aid respondents. They all have approved several extra training courses for kayaking, rafting, biking and horse riding, besides this they all are Ecuadorian and have a fantastic personality. We always carry a complete first aid kit in our trips. In some locations and for some activities, local guides join the trip leaders to provide an added service and make sure we practice sustainable tourism involving local indigenous people in our operation.
SUSTAINABLE ECO AND CULTURAL TOURISM: Clients receive interpretation and education about the ecology and conservation of the Andes, Amazon rain forest and Galapagos Islands, and learn about the factors that threaten it. We aim to promote long-term conservation of both local people cultural identity and the environment. We transport out and recycle all non-organic garbage and we prefer to work with local suppliers. Your visit will encourage the local communities to support responsible eco-tourism as a sustainable alternative for their living.
HEALTH INFORMATION: Please inform AJ of any existing medical conditions (i.e. pregnancy, diabetes, etc). Yellow fever, Hepatitis B vaccination and Malaria Medication are recommended when traveling to the tropics. Please ask your doctor for advice.