Best of Ecuador, Galapagos Tour

Arrival at Mariscal Sucre, Quito international airport. 

Meet and greet with your English-speaking private guide. 

Transfer to the city centre and check in at your hotel (50 min). 

Discover with your guide the least-altered and best-preserved Latin American capital. 

Take a walk to visit the colonial churches and monasteries of this urban jewel, the first city in history to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Starting at Independence Square, flanked by the Presidential Palace your visit will include the Metropolitan Cathedral of Quito, the Archbishop's Palace and the City Hall. 

Ramble through the city's old streets on your way to El Sagrario church and its exquisitely carved stone façade and step inside the awe-inspiring church of the Society of Jesus. 

Walk on to the Convent and Church of San Francisco, one of the greatest religious buildings on the South American continent. 

Drive up to the top of the Panecillo hill for breathtaking panoramic views of Quito. 

In the afternoon, drive out of the city to the Equatorial Valley (50 min), north of the capital, where you will visit the 'Middle of the World' monument. 

A monument and a museum exhibiting an ethnographic collection indicate the Equator line. 

Drive back to Quito. 

Free evening and overnight in Quito.

Your day begins with a transfer from your hotel to Quito International Airport, accompanied by an English-speaking driver guide (1 hour).

You will then board a domestic flight from Quito to Baltra (2.5 hours).

Upon arrival at Baltra Airport, our agency staff or your naturalist guide will greet you and assist with your transfer.

First, you will take a public bus to the Itabaca Channel (10 minutes), followed by a short ferry ride to Santa Cruz Island (10 minutes).

Once on the island, a vehicle will take you through the scenic highlands of Santa Cruz (45 minutes), where your first stop will be at Los Gemelos Craters. These twin volcanic sinkholes are surrounded by lush vegetation, including the endemic Scalesia trees, offering a unique introduction to the island’s highland ecosystem.

After exploring Los Gemelos, you will visit a local ranch where you can observe giant tortoises roaming freely in their natural habitat and learn about their behavior and life on the islands.

The tour continues with a guided walk through one of Santa Cruz’s volcanic lava tunnels (100 meters / 328 feet), during which your guide will explain the geological history and volcanic activity that shaped the Galapagos.

Following this exploration, you will be transferred to Puerto Ayora for check-in at your hotel (30 minutes), where you can settle in and enjoy the rest of your afternoon at leisure.

Free evening and overnight at your hotel on Santa Cruz Island.

Please note that a municipal tax of 10 USD / person must be paid in cash upon arrival at the dock.

Your day begins early with a transfer from your hotel to the passenger dock (approx. 10 minutes), where you will take a water taxi to board the speedboat heading to Isabela Island (2 to 2.5 hours of navigation).

Upon arrival at Isabela, another water taxi will take you from the boat to the passenger dock (10 minutes), followed by a short land transfer to your hotel (5–10 minutes).

Once settled in, you'll visit Poza de Flamingos, a semi-natural lagoon formed from old quarries, where you can observe the striking pink flamingos. These birds, white as chicks, turn reddish-pink as adults due to their diet, making for a beautiful and iconic Galapagos sight.

Then you will explore the Wetlands Complex, a network of trails showcasing the island's diverse ecosystems. Your visit will include several key sites:

• La Playita, a quiet beach trail
• Los Tunos Viewpoint and Pozas Verdes, where you can observe native flora and fauna; Playa del Amor, a rocky beach popular with locals
• The Tunnel of the Estuary, a 75-meter trail that ends in a lava tunnel
• Poza Redonda, a 50-meter path leading to a pool inside a collapsed lava tube
• La Poza Escondida, a trail through a mangrove forest ending in a tranquil pool
• The Estero, a 227-meter lava rock trail with a picnic area used by the local community for recreation.

Each site offers unique perspectives on the volcanic landscape and biodiversity of Isabela Island.

Later in the day, you’ll take a guided excursion to Tintoreras, a group of small black lava islets located just off the coast.

This 3-hour tour begins with a panga ride around the bay for wildlife observation, where you might spot lava herons in the mangroves, Galápagos penguins, and sea lions along the shore.

After disembarking, you’ll walk along an easy black lava trail to reach the Tintoreras channel, where whitetip reef sharks are often seen resting in the shallow waters.

The excursion concludes with snorkeling in the calm, clear waters around Tintoreras, which provide excellent underwater visibility and the chance to observe marine life up close.

Afterward, you will return to your hotel.

Free evening and overnight at your hotel on Isabela Island.

Depending on the schedule assigned by the Galapagos National Park, your tour may begin in the morning (from 7:30 am to 1pm) or in the afternoon (from 11 am to 4:30pm).

Your naturalist guide will pick you up from your hotel and escort you to the dock (10 minutes), where a boat will be waiting.

You will then embark on a scenic ride to Cabo Rosa Tunnels (45 minutes), with your first stop at the Finados site. Known for its calm, crystal-clear waters, Finados is considered one of the best snorkeling spots in the Galapagos. Here, you’ll snorkel among an abundance of marine life, including colorful reef fish, sea turtles, marine iguanas, white-tipped reef sharks, rays, sea lions, and even seahorses—all amid stunning underwater lava tunnels formed by ancient volcanic activity.

After snorkeling, the excursion continues with a guided walk over the lava formations of the Cabo Rosa Tunnels.

This unique volcanic landscape is home to numerous seabird species such as blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, pelicans, herons, and frigate birds, all of which can often be observed resting or nesting on the black volcanic rock.

Following the tour, you will return to Puerto Villamil by boat (45 minutes) and transfer back to your hotel (10 minutes).

Free afternoon or free morning depending on the assigned schedule.

The evening is at your leisure to relax, explore the town, or enjoy a quiet dinner after a day of unforgettable wildlife encounters and exploration.

Overnight at your hotel in Isabela Island.

Your day begins very early with a transfer from your hotel in Isabela to the passenger dock (10 minutes).

From there, you will take a short water taxi ride to reach the speedboat that will transport you to Santa Cruz Island (2 to 2.5 hours of navigation).

Upon arrival at Santa Cruz, another water taxi will take you to the passenger dock (10 minutes), followed by a short transfer to your hotel (5–10 minutes).

After settling in, you'll begin your first excursion with a visit to Las Grietas, one of the most iconic geological sites on the island. This impressive natural formation features two towering volcanic rock walls separated by a crystal-clear channel of water, perfect for swimming and snorkeling. The surrounding area is dotted with striking giant cacti, adding to the dramatic landscape.

In the afternoon, you will visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, located in Puerto Ayora. This renowned biological research center offers rich insight into the Galápagos Islands’ history, ecology, and conservation efforts.

Through a series of interpretation rooms and exhibits, you’ll learn about the islands’ evolution, native species, and environmental challenges.

One of the highlights is viewing the embalmed figure of the legendary Lonesome George, the last known individual of his species.

The station also operates a respected giant tortoise breeding center, where you can observe these iconic creatures at various stages of development, helping to ensure their survival for future generations.

Transfer to your hotel.

Free overnight on Santa Cruz Island.

Transfer from your hotel in Puerto Ayora to Itabaca Channel (45–50 minutes).

Upon arrival, you will take a shared ferry across the channel to Baltra Island (10 minutes), followed by a short shared bus ride to the Baltra Airport (10 minutes).

Once at the airport, you will check in for your domestic flight to the mainland.

Direct flight to Quito (2 hours 30 minutes).

Upon landing in Quito, you will be welcomed by your English-speaking driver guide who will assist you with your private transfer to your hotel (45 minutes).

Check-in and installation at your hotel.

Rest of the afternoon free to take a stroll or relax.

Free evening and overnight in Quito.

At the indicated time, transfer to Quito Airport (1 hour). 

Check-in and assistance.