Compare Best of Galapagos by Intrepid Travel vs Andes & Galapagos by Audley Travel
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
| Trip |
4.5 | Great
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 10 days | 14 days |
| Price From | $ 3,522 | $ 7,655 |
| Price Per Day | $ 352 | $ 547 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Private guided tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
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| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Internal airfare and ground transport included |
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| Meals Included | N/A | N/A |
| Description |
Amazing wildlife, both on land and underwater, is the main drawcard of the remote Galapagos Islands. On this nine-day trip through the best of the Galapagos, you’ll uncover the outstanding natural beauty of these islands both on foot and by boat, looking for giant tortoises, sharks, blue-footed boobies, pelicans, seals, iguanas, dolphins, whales and birdlife along the way. Trace Darwin's theory of evolution, go snorkelling across multiple islands, hike up a volcano for the best views and soak up the experience with a group of likeminded travellers and a local leader who knows all the best spots. |
Ecuador may be slightly dwarfed by other South American countries, but it punches well above its weight. It’s tempting to pass through only the mainland en route to the celebrated Galapagos Islands, but our specialists would urge you to holiday in continental Ecuador, too. They’re able to help you experience all the country’s beguiling variety in a tailor-made Ecuador itinerary. |
Day 1 Quito
Bienvenidos! Welcome to Ecuador. Your adventure begins in Quito with a welcome meeting at 2 pm. After, you’ll join your local leader for a tour of the historic centre. Catch the Matro to the Parque de la Alameda and visit sites such as the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus – a famous neo-Gothic church known for its facade representing Galapagos tortoises, Andean condors and Amazon alligators. You’ll also visit La Compania de Jesus, considered by many to be the most beautiful church in the Americas. The tour will finish at San Francisco Square, then you’ll have free time to relax or head out for dinner in Quito’s Old Town – your leader will have plenty of recommendations!
Day 2 Isla San Cristobal, Galapagos
Catch an early morning transfer to Quito airport for your flight to San Cristobal Island in the Galapagos. The flight includes a stop in Guayaquil to pick up additional passengers (you will not need to disembark the plane). After joining up with your fellow travellers and your local naturalist guide on San Cristobal, head to La Loberia where you'll put on snorkelling gear for the first time and go for a swim among sea lions and maybe even some sea turtles! Return to town for a free evening tonight and maybe head out with the group for some fresh seafood.
Day 3 Isla San Cristobal
Take a 45-minute boat ride to Leon Dormido (Kicker Rock) this morning. On the way, you might be able to spot nesting frigates and blue-footed boobies. You might even get the chance to swim among the sea lions again. At Leon Dormido, you can snorkel and look for sea turtles, manta rays and the harmless Galapagos shark. Eat lunch on the boat, then head to the Interpretation Center. Learn about the history of the 'Enchanted Islands' and the conservation projects that seek to preserve them. Continue to Frigatebird Hill (Cerro Tijeretas) – it's quite a climb to the top, but well worth the amazing views of the bay. Then, return to town in the late afternoon for a free evening.
Day 4 Isla Floreana/ Isla Isabela
Take an early morning boat ride to Isla Floreana this morning. Along the way, keep your eyes peeled for dolphins and whales. When you arrive, you’ll go on your next snorkelling adventure in the clear blue waters and then break for some lunch. After, venture to a black-sand beach that belongs to the Witmers – descendants of some of the first settlers on the Galapagos. The town here – Puerto Velasco Ibarra – has about 150 residents and an intriguing history involving deaths, disappearances and murders. Later in the afternoon, wave goodbye to Floreana and continue to Isla Isabela, where you’ll spend the night.
Day 5 Isla Isabela
This morning, you’ll hop on a small Zodiac boat and cruise to Las Tintoreras (Shark Alley), looking out for blue-footed boobies and the famous Galapagos penguin. Take a short walk on this isolated islet and popular iguana nesting site, then snorkel in a calm inlet with colorful fish and winding underground lava tubes. This area is also frequented by green sea turtles that like to rest on the calm, sandy bottom. Return to Isla Isabela and visit the Arnaldo Tupiza Tortoise Breeding Center, where you'll observe giant tortoises in all stages of development. After learning about the thousand turtles that are preparing for life here, you’ll head to a brackish lagoon to observe flamingos. Later today, take a kayak around the island. This evening, find a sandy resting spot and soak in your first Isabela sunset – arguably the most beautiful of all the islands!
Day 6 Isla Isabela
Start your last day on Isla Isabela with a visit to the Sierra Negra Volcano – one of the Galapagos’ most active volcanoes and the world's second-largest crater! Weather permitting, you’ll take a challenging hike of around 17 km up the rocky mountain. After, make your way back to town for some free time to curl up with a book, rest your tired muscles or venture down to the water for a swim before dinner.
Day 7 Isla Isabela / Isla Santa Cruz
Jump aboard a private speedboat this morning and head to Isla Santa Cruz. When you arrive, leave your bags at the hotel and head to the Santa Cruz Highlands. Your first stop is a tortoise ranch, where giant tortoises roam the grounds, wandering freely from the national park. Here, you’ll have a cooking class with an expert chef who will teach you how to make the famed encebollado – a local fish soup considered one of the best in the world! This hearty dish uses slow-cooked albacore tuna and a savoury broth made of onions, cilantro and spices. The dish is traditionally served with yuca (a starchy root vegetable) and garnished with lime and green onions. Enjoy the fruits (or soup) of your labour for lunch, then spend some time wandering the grounds with the slow-paced residents. After lunch, you’ll visit an organic sugar cane farm run by a local family for a trapiche tour (a sugar cane mill used in artisanal sugar production). See how the family harvests and processes sugar cane as well as cacao and how it really is a community effort.
Day 8 Isla Santa Cruz
Take a morning walk in Tortuga Bay after breakfast. Along the way, keep an eye out for eagle rays, sea turtles and blue-footed boobies. After returning to town for lunch, you’ll pass through a local fish market on the way to The Galapagos Conservancy. Here, they help protect the Galapagos' unique biodiversity. Learn how The Intrepid Foundation supports the Galapagos Conservancy Women in Sustainable Entrepreneurship (WISE) program, which provides critical capital for sustainability initiatives and builds the entrepreneurial capacity of Galapagos women. After, head to the Charles Darwin Research Station – an international non-profit organisation that’s dedicated to the scientific research and conservation of the archipelago’s environment and biodiversity.
Day 9 Quito
Say goodbye to the Galapagos today and take a flight back to Quito, making a stop in Guayaquil on the way. You'll arrive in Quito later in the afternoon, where your adventure comes to an end. You're free to leave at any time – maybe you’d like to extend your stay and head out for a final dinner with your group. If you need additional accommodation, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time.
Day 10 Quito
This morning your adventure comes to an end in Quito. As there are no activities planned for the final day, you can depart the accommodation at any time. Because there is little time spent in Quito on this trip, we recommend staying a few extra days to see more of Ecuador. If you choose to stay on, we’d be happy to assist you with booking accommodation. Ecuador has some of the most beautiful churches in the Americas, including the lavish La Companie de Jesus, which is decorated with seven Tonnes of gold. Not far from the capital, there are volcanoes, hot springs and Incan ruins to explore. Consider doing one of our one-day sightseeing tours of Quito, which can include the Old Town, markets and the city's culinary delights (see urbanadventures.com).
Day 1 : Quito
Today you begin your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to Quito. On arrival in Quito you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
Day 2 : Quito
Enjoy a guided city tour of Quito.
Day 3 : Hacienda Cusin
Travel north along the Pan America highway through pretty villages to your rural hacienda.
Day 4 : Quito
An early start to visit the colourful and vibrant market at Otavalo. You will have time to explore and perhaps barter for goods before returning to Quito for the night.
Day 5 : Riobamba
Travel down the Avenue of Volcanoes with your private guide, exploring en route and enjoying the views of Cotopaxi.
Day 6 : Cuenca
Onward to Cuenca, with a train ride along the Devils Nose.
Day 7 : Cuenca
Explore Cuenca colonial city with your guide, including one of the famous panama hat factories.
Day 8 : Guayaquil
Travel by road through the beautiful El Cajas National Park all the way to sea level and Guayaquil.
Day 9 : Galapagos Islands
Transfer to the airport in time for your flight to the Galapagos islands. Here you will be met by a member of your hotel who will take you to your accommodation.
Day 10 : Galapagos Islands
Today you'll take a yacht trip to either North Seymour Island or Santa Island. At North Seymour, you can take a guided walk through woods of palo santo trees in order to observe colonies of blue-footed boobies and magnificent frigate birds. At Santa, you'll follow your guide on a short hike through opuntia cacti, looking out for land iguanas, lava lizards and sea lions.
Day 11 : Galapagos Islands
Today you'll visit the crescent-shaped Plazas Islands by yacht. These small islands are dense in wildlife and plant life. Prickly pear cacti and the low-lying succulent plant sesuvium (which changes hues with the seasons) carpet the island. You have a good chance of seeing sea lions, swallow-tailed gulls and land iguanas.
Day 12 : Galapagos Islands
Today you'll visit Bartolomé Island. Here, you can climb to the island's summit for far-reaching views over the surrounding islands. It's a geologically intriguing place, with tuff cones and lava formations. The sea here is often busy with sea lions and penguins so it's worth keeping your eyes peeled.
Day 13 : International return flight
You will fly back to the mainland to connect with your international flight home.
Day 14 : International return flight
Arrive home today to complete your journey.
