7-Day Galapagos Essentials
Quito, Ecuador
168 hours
What You Will Do
Experience the Galapagos Islands from the comfort of a land-based expedition! The islands offer endless opportunities to explore a unique abundance of life in a setting unlike any other on earth. The Galapagos form a natural sanctuary that preserves species, allowing them to evolve since countless millennia. This is one of the few places on earth that allows such insight with so much wildlife. This holiday also provides flexible time to spend on your own and discover them with the sand beaches well-signed trails in the Galapagos forest, and the lots of wildlife. Enjoy real-time encounters with the most amazing wildlife up your fingertips and discover the power nature with the evolutionary changes of such unique animals. Snorkel through lava formations with sea turtles, penguins, sea horses, sea lions and sharks at Lava Tunnels.
What's Included?
- Trip Leader: Certified AJ expert English-speaking adventure Trip Leader
- Activities: Hiking in Santa Cruz highlands, Snorkelling, Isla Lobos, Academy bay day tour
- Lunch
- Meals Included: 6 breakfasts and 3 lunches
- Breakfast
- Gear: Snorkeling mask and fins, life vest
- Accommodations based in double occupancy: First Class hotel in Quito, 4-star hotels in Galapagos
- Transportation: Airport transfers (national flights), sea transportation Santa Cruz - Isabela islands round trip, comfortable land transportation
What's Not Included?
- My Own Room supplement
- International flights
- Airfare Quito - Galapagos - Quito round trip
- Airport transfer (international flights)
- Travel insurance (mandatory)
- Meals not described in the itinerary
- INGALA transit card Fee
- Galapagos National Park Fee
- Snorkeling gear (mask and fins) for optional activities: USD $8 per day per person
- Wetsuit for rent: USD $10
- Tips for guides and drivers
Cancellation Policy
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Itinerary
Meeting Point
Meet you trip leader and group for the Welcome Briefing at 18:00pm, at the hotel´s lobby.
1
Day 1 '̣Arrival in Quito City' Quito Old Town
1 hour
Show 6 more stops
Additional Information
This activity is operated by Adventure Journeys
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- It is our intention to adhere to the itinerary described; however, due to our travel style, on occasions it may be necessary or desirable to make small changes. Weather conditions and unpredictable local circumstances may lead us to make alterations to the route and/or travel times. Hotels and flight schedules might change according to availability. Any mention to specific wildlife in the itinerary or trip details is not a guarantee that it will be seen during the trip.
- 2h 45 min each way from Quito to Galapagos. Regular size aircraft. About 140 passengers
- 2 hours each way from Santa Cruz to San Cristobal
- 45 minutes each way - Lava Tunnels
- 20 minutes each way - Isla Lobos
- 45 minutes Airport transfers in Quito
- 45 minutes Airport transfers in Galapagos
- Tintoreras: 1 hour.
- Lava Tunnels: 2 times of 1 hour each.
- Short hikes 1-hour average
- All year
- 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
- The waters of the Galapagos Islands are a unique mixture
- of warm and cold water, ranging between 65ºF and 85ºF
- From sea level to 600m (1900ft)
- Day 15-34ºC / 59-93ºF - Night 12-17ºC / 53-62ºF
- Moderate to easy there are short hikes in El Chato, Academy day tour, Isla Lobos snorkelling is easy.
- 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.
- All prices are based on double occupancy. If you are travelling 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.
- All AJ guides and trip leaders are highly experienced, licensed to operate in Ecuador and certified as Wilderness Adventure First Aid responders. We always carry a complete first aid kit in our trips. In some location and for some activities, local guides join the trip leaders to provide an added service. In the Galapagos Islands, minimum 4 participants for the AJ trip leader service are required.
- Clients receive a conservationist interpretation of the ecology of the Andes, Amazon Rainforest and Galapagos Islands with the factors that threaten it. We aim to promote long-term conservation of both Local People cultural identity and their environment. Your visit will encourage them to support responsible ecotourism. We transport out and recycle all non-organic garbage.
Guide Options
- Guide - English