Galapagos Walking Adventure

Begin the adventure in Quito, Ecuador’s capital, high in the Andes. To make things easy, there are free transfers from the airport to the hotel for everyone today – check the Joining Instructions for further details.

Around 6pm, say hola to your Quito tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead.

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• Accommodation:Hotel Vieja Cuba (or similar)

This morning, we take a guided tour of the Old Town. Quito is the second-highest capital in the world, standing at 9,350ft (2,850m) on the western cordillera of the Andes. It is one of the smaller and more attractive of the colonial capitals in South America. Due to the altitude, you are advised to take it easy at first and drink plenty of water.

After, you may wish to join an optional excursion to the equator, which is just 40 minutes’ drive north of Quito. Here, you visit the fun – and interactive – Intiñan Equator Museum, which explores indigenous culture and traditions, as well as unique phenomena related to the geographic location.

Your tour leader ensures a big Ecuadorian welcome by arranging a group dinner tonight.

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• Accommodation:Hotel Vieja Cuba (or similar)
• Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Transfer to Quito Airport and fly to San Cristóbal in the Galapagos Islands.

On arrival, we settle into our hotel and have time for a light lunch in the small town and a visit to the Galapagos Interpretation Center, a great introduction to the natural history of the archipelago.

This afternoon, we walk (3mi/5km) to the cliffs at Las Tijeretas to see frigatebird colonies and there’s time to swim and snorkel close to a sea lion colony.

Please inform your tour leader if you are not a confident swimmer, or if you have never snorkelled before so they can assist you accordingly. Sea conditions can change. At times, the waves and currents can be strong, plus the shore is rocky.

• Distance:5 km / 3.1 miles
• Accommodation:Hotel Paraiso Insular (or similar)
• Meals included:Breakfast

Travel (40 minutes) by small motorboat to León Dormido (also known as Kicker Rock), an impressive lava tuff formation. Several species of nesting seabirds reside here, including masked boobies. We can snorkel in the deep water and, with any luck, spot eagle rays, Galapagos turtles, hammerhead sharks and a great variety of fish.

Continue by boat, enjoying lunch en route, to one of three white-sand beaches for a walk: Playa Ochoa, Playa Manglecito or Cerro Brujo. Playa Ochoa is an expanse of white sand dominated by a large sea lion colony and is home to many birds and marine iguanas. Playa Manglecito offers both the opportunity to visit a white-sand beach and a mangrove area. Cerro Brujo is in a volcanic zone, has abundant vegetation and is home to sea lions, marine iguanas and many birds.

• Accommodation:Hotel Paraiso Insular (or similar)
• Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Drive to the San Cristóbal highlands after breakfast. A one-hour walk brings us to the fringe of El Junco Lake, one of the few permanent freshwater lakes in the Galapagos, where frigatebirds often bathe nearby. The highlands offer panoramic views across the smaller islands lapped by the Pacific.

After, we visit a reserve where Galapagos giant tortoises roam free. After lunch at a local restaurant, we can visit La Loberia, a sea lion nursery, the perfect place to unwind and snorkel, surrounded by sea lions and marine iguanas.

• Accommodation:Hotel Paraiso Insular (or similar)
• Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

A three-hour navigation by speedboat takes us to Floreana, one of the first islands to be inhabited in the Galapagos, yet still relatively untouched by development – don’t expect to see many restaurants or shops!

See Boat Transfers in the Is This Trip for You? section for more information on our crossings.

En route, we may see whales, dolphins and sea birds. After lunch at one of the few local restaurants, we visit the highlands and see lava caves once used by pirates and a large enclosure of Galapagos giant tortoises.

• Distance:3 km / 1.9 miles
• Accommodation:Lava Lodge (or similar)
• Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After an early breakfast, we go on a walk to discover the black volcanic beaches, which are home to red iguanas and sea lion colonies. There is also time to snorkel this morning (please note, the visit to this beach might be done in the late afternoon on Day 6 on some departures). Just before midday, we navigate by speedboat (2hr 30min to 3hr) to Isabela.

This afternoon, we walk (2.5mi/4km) to the Wall of Tears, a reminder of Isabela’s very different past when the island was used as a penal colony. Between 1946 and 1959, convicts were forced to build this wall from huge lava blocks simply as a form of punishment, which, combined with the harsh conditions, led to many deaths.

After this sobering visit, we hike back to the town through mangroves, wetlands and along sandy beaches. This is one of the best places on the islands to view migratory birds, including Wilson’s phalaropes, blue-winged teals and, if we’re very lucky, ospreys. This region has also seen the reintroduction of Galapagos giant tortoises and we are likely to encounter several on our walk.

• Distance:10 km / 6.2 miles
• Accommodation:San Vicente Hotel (or similar)
• Meals included:Breakfast

It’s our toughest hiking day, but one that’s worth the effort as we tackle trails on the active Sierra Negra. This shield volcano has the second-largest volcanic caldera in the world and there is a chance of spotting the striking and endemic Galapagos vermilion flycatcher.

Our five to six-hour hike begins on a wide dirt track through the highlands, which climbs gradually (and can be muddy after rain). The terrain then turns more demanding as we cross exposed, uneven lava fields. With little shade, loose gravel and rough ground underfoot, this section requires steady footing and careful concentration!

The otherworldly landscapes are incredible, and we pass many volcanic features along the way, where we can observe fumaroles and a variety of lava formations. To keep us fuelled, we’re provided with a box lunch.

• Distance:16 km / 9.9 miles
• Accommodation:San Vicente Hotel (or similar)
• Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

We head to Cabo Rosa, where volcanic activity has shaped a maze of lava tunnels, arches and shallow channels along Isabela’s coast. A 30-minute walk across the formations gives us an excellent chance to spot blue-footed boobies, nesting Nazca boobies, marine iguanas and Sally Lightfoot crabs. Below, white-tip reef sharks and sea turtles often rest in the sheltered water.

We then slip into the channels for a snorkel, keeping watch for sea turtles, rays, marine iguanas, Galapagos penguins and the wonderfully well-camouflaged seahorse. Lunch is served aboard the boat.

• Accommodation:San Vicente Hotel (or similar)
• Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Spend 15 minutes travelling to the islet and lava channels of Las Tintoreras, one of the best places in the Galapagos to see whitetip reef sharks, penguins and sea lions. This protected site is named after the white-tip reef sharks (tintoreras in Spanish) that are often seen resting in the narrow lava channel separating the island from Isabela.

A 40-minute walk explores the islet and back to the boat, before we jump into the water for a snorkel! The afternoon is free for swimming, snorkelling, walking or just relaxing on one of the beaches around Puerto Villamil.

• Distance:3 km / 1.9 miles
• Accommodation:San Vicente Hotel (or similar)
• Meals included:Breakfast

Following breakfast at our hotel, we navigate by motorboat (2hr 30min) to Santa Cruz. Arriving, we have the option of visiting the Charles Darwin Research Station, which is home to the headquarters of the Charles Darwin Foundation. This is the main research hub on the islands and scientists come from around the world to study the flora and fauna here. After our visit, we have lunch at a local restaurant.

Our destination this afternoon is Tortuga Bay, a long stretch of white sand. The trail leading to the beach is paved and takes between 45 minutes and one hour, with the chance to see Galapagos finches and lizards. The beach itself is scattered with marine iguanas, who lay among the clusters of black rocks or stroll along the sand. In the water, turtles can sometimes be seen. Swimming is not recommended here due to strong currents. After a relaxing afternoon, we hike the same route back towards the main town of Puerto Ayora where our hotel is located.

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• Distance:6.5 km / 3.7 miles
• Accommodation:Mainao Hotel (or similar)
• Meals included:Breakfast

Visit either Bartolomé Island, South Plaza Island or North Seymour (depending on national park restrictions).

South Plaza has a remarkable vegetation of succulents and cacti that provide a unique habitat for land iguanas. The iguanas form small colonies at the base of the tall opuntia cacti, waiting for their flowers and dead pads to fall to the ground so they can feed. The island rocks are home to swallowtail gulls, shearwaters and sea lions.

North Seymour is a flat, boulder-strewn island and a major nesting site for frigatebirds. It’s also a good place to see blue-footed boobies performing courtship rituals and sea lions playing in the powerful surf.

Bartolomé is a spectacular scene of dramatic lava cones, clear seas and affords perhaps the most famous view of the Galapagos Islands, looking across the red cinder cones to the recent black lava fields on James Island.

If possible, we snorkel today where the water is calm, and enjoy lunch on the boat.

Upgrade to a superior or a suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details

• Distance:7 km / 4.3 miles
• Accommodation:Mainao Hotel (or similar)
• Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast, we drive to Baltra airport, where we say a fond farewell to our Galapagos tour leader.

Our flight via Guayaquil returns us to Quito, where we meet our mainland tour leader and have the rest of the evening at leisure.

Upgrade to a suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details

• Accommodation:Hotel Vieja Cuba (or similar)
• Meals included:Breakfast

Our adventure ends after breakfast, and we begin our return journeys home. If you’d like to continue your exploration of Quito with extra nights, speak to your sales representative.

• Meals included:Breakfast