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Top Galapagos travel experience, Giant tortoise
Hammerhead sharks in the Galapagos

Best Things to Do in Galapagos Islands

Iconic Attractions & Hidden Gem Travel Experiences

Galapagos Islands

Ecuador's Galapagos Islands, where Charles Darwin formulated the ideas that led to his Theory of Evolution, lie nearly 800 miles out in the Pacific Ocean. Isolated for millennia, they serve as a living laboratory of wildlife, some found nowhere else on earth. Reptiles, birds, and marine mammals are all part of the show, and they're generally as tame as house cats. By taking a week-long small ship cruise tour, you can visit several islands and experience the Galapagos in all their diversity.

Top Galapagos Islands Experiences

Getting closer to wildlife than at any other place on the planet, on islands where animals have no fear of humans.

 Viewing the mesmerizing courtship “dance” of the blue-footed booby, in which the two birds lift one foot, then the other, and peck at each other with their bills.

 Snorkeling among sea lions, sea turtles, barracuda, and (harmless) sharks in crystal-clear, warm waters.

 Spotting the world’s most northerly -- and some of the world’s smallest -- penguins, frolicking in the water.

 Marveling at sleek black frigate birds – known as the “pirates of the sea” – as they swoop down and steal food out of other birds’ mouths.

 Stepping carefully amid hundreds of marine iguanas as they emerge from the sea where they’ve been feeding, then scurry up on the rocks to dry out.

 Watching as colorful red-orange Sally Lightfoot crabs skitter across a shallow tide pool.

 Climbing a volcanic hill via boardwalk for a panoramic view, which astronaut Buzz Aldrin once compared to a moonscape.

 Sharing a field with dozens of giant tortoises as they inch along, looking like they just emerged from the dinosaur era.

Visiting the Charles Darwin Research Station and learning about his amazing discoveries.

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Galapagos Islands Tours Reviews & Ratings

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Excellent
1,303
Great
212
Average
17
Disappointing
7
Terrible
11
Christine
·
2024-02-27
Written on
Volcanoes and Galapagos
Very varied activities. Suited me because I wanted to be land based on the Galapagos Islands to be able in the evening wandering along the beach watching the iguanas and blue footed boobies do their thing .
Great to see the old part of Quito and visit Mindo, Otavalo and Cotopaxi. Enjoyed the market in Otavalo for handicrafts
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Denise
·
2024-02-14
Written on
Volcanoes and Galapagos
Katie
·
2024-02-10
Written on
Volcanoes and Galapagos
It was all tremendous!!! So many wonderful sights and experiences. The volcanoes, experiencing the local culture, hummingbirds in the cloud forest, standing on the equator line, snorkeling with sealions, turtles and sharks. Amazing wildlife, beautiful place, lovely people. felt safe and secure the entire time despite recent concerns. Go on this trip!! you won’t regret it x
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Trusted Customer
·
2024-02-09
Written on
Volcanoes and Galapagos
After the FCO advice changed a week before we were due to go, our thanks to Carmel and Melanie at Explore for rearranging the itinerary and our flight at the end of the holiday.
That said, we always felt safe with the Ecuadorian people. There were no obvious problems and life seemed to be continuing as normal despite the initial media reports.
The holiday was a great mix of volcanoes, wildlife and sea life with our excellent guide Fabian, who made sure everything ran on time and imparted a wealth of knowledge to us.
Highlights were feeding hummingbirds, snorkelling with turtles, reef sharks and sealions and wild and beautiful beaches. Snorkelling equipment provided for the 3 snorkels was good quality and at no extra cost
Don't miss the opportunity to buy gifts in Otavalo market or elsewhere on the mainland as Galapagos is much more expensive for everything.
Hotels were all very good quality, clean and comfortable with good breakfasts. Everything mentioned in the notes was included - no "optional extras" costs.
We were disappointed with Parque Condor as notes said we would get up close to rescued Condors. The park is a bird of prey centre with the birds in cages and there were only 2 Condors in a cage. There was a flying display of three different birds, but was all in Spanish.
We were able to leave some items that we didn't need in the hotel in Tumbaco when we flew to Galapagos.
If taking US Dollars, take 20 dollar bills and smaller. 50 and 100 bills can be hard to change
Overall a fantastic trip, value for money and a privilege to be able to experience as much as we did.
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Trusted Customer
·
2024-02-09
Written on
Volcanoes and Galapagos
Trusted Customer
·
2024-02-08
Written on
Volcanoes and Galapagos
The trip met all of my expectations.

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