Compare Galápagos Adventure: Snorkelling & Sea Lions by G Adventures vs Galapagos & Mainland Ecuador Multisport Tour by Adventure Unbound

Day 1 Quito

Arrive at any time.

If you are not able to attend the welcome meeting, our representative will leave all important information at your hotel’s reception indicating what time to be ready the next day. If there is any confusion on arrival, please do not hesitate to call the contact number listed in this dossier.

Booking pre- or post-trip accommodation is highly recommended to fully experience the city and take advantage of the many optional activities available. Opt to pre-book the "Quito City Tour & Equator Line" activity on the checkout page ahead of time to include this optional on your tour.

Day 2 Quito/Santa Cruz Island

Wheels up! Fly to the Galápagos Islands. Transfer across Santa Cruz island to town and take a guided visit in the afternoon to the Charles Darwin Research Station for an opportunity to see the famous tortoises up close. Get to know the group in the evening over a few drinks. Cheers to new adventures with new friends!

Day 3 Santa Cruz Island/Isabela Island

Hop on a speedboat and head to Isabela Island. Soak up the views around you — you might even see dolphins or whales alongside the boat! After dropping your stuff at the hotel, get up close and personal with a volcano as you hike the Sierra Negra. Explore the incredible landscape and admire spectacular views from above.

Please note that travel between islands is done by speedboat. The ride can be quite rough, especially from July to December. Make sure to bring sea sickness medication if you are prone to sea sickness.

Day 4 Isabela Island

Take advantage of a full free day on Isabela Island where optional activities abound to do as much or as little as you like. Choose to take an excursion to Los Tuneles, go snorkelling at Tintoreras, take a surf lesson or just laze on the beach.

Please note that space may be limited for optional activities during high season, these activities are operated by third-party operators and will be subject to availability.

Day 5 Isabela Island/Santa Cruz Island

This morning enjoy a snorkelling excursion at Concha de Perla. Travel by speedboat back to Santa Cruz Island and enjoy a free afternoon exploring the town. Later, head out to explore Puerto Ayora town, time for shopping or enjoy a bite to eat.

Day 6 Santa Cruz Island/San Cristóbal Island

Take another speedboat to San Cristóbal Island and visit the Galapagos National Park Interpretation Center near town to learn about the unique history of the ecosystems, flora, and fauna of the islands.. Later, go snorkelling at Tijeretas to look for wildlife like sea lions, rays and marine iguanas before wandering along the malecón to look for a place to grab a drink with friends in a local place and watch the sunset, continue on to another bar or to get your drink (and dance!) on.

Please note, the accommodation for the night is multi-share in a hostel.

Day 7 San Cristóbal Island

The day is yours to explore San Cristóbal Island. You can opt to snorkel at epic Kicker Rock or Isla Lobos, visit the white-sand beach of Playa Mann, or La Lobería to mingle with the resident sea lions.

Day 8 San Cristóbal Island/Quito

Say "Adios!" to the Galapagos Islands and board a morning flight back to Quito. Transfer to the hotel to kick back and relax before enjoying the last night in the capital city.

Day 9 Quito

Depart at any time.

Day 1: Meet and Greet City Tour of Quito, Sundial Equator Project, Hacienda Cusin

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hacienda Cusin

Awake, gather your luggage, and depart your hotel for a morning meeting in the heart of Colonial Quito. Meet your guide and fellow travelers for a brief meeting in the lobby of Hotel Patio Andaluz before embarking on the day’s adventures.

Your adventure begins with a gentle walk along the cobblestoned streets of Colonial Quito, the capital of Ecuador. Founded on the ruins of an Inca city, Quito is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Architectural structures including St. Augustine Convent, La Compania de Jesus, Municipal Building, Presidential Palace, Archbishop’s Palace, and Independence Plaza are astonishing indications of Ecuador’s history and culture. You will also see one of the greatest religious structures of the New World: The Church of San Francisco.

Next, we make our way to a sundial located precisely on the equator in one of the most fertile valleys in the region. Here, an astral-archeological expert will share knowledge about how Ecuador has 12 hours of daylight throughout the entire year. Later this afternoon, we drive approximately 45 minutes to Hacienda Cusin, a restored 17th century Andean estate. At 8,500 feet above sea level, the quaint hotel looks like a picture from a postcard with its lush courtyards and cobblestone pathways. Marvel in the vibrant décor and breathe in the serene view of the Andes in the distance as the day comes to a close.

Day 2: Angla Settlement, Zuleta, Embroidery Artisans

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hacienda Cusin

Activity: Hike Angla to Zuleta

Distance: 7.5 miles

Difficulty: Easy-Moderate

Approximate Time: 2.5-3 hours

This morning, we travel to the small Angla settlement, where we have the opportunity to learn about modern educational culture from local students. We will spend time speaking with local school children, learning about their background and culture while helping them with their daily school activities.

Next, we begin an easy-to-moderate 7.5 mile hike through the area’s cattle farms, pastures, hills, and eucalyptus forests. During the 2.5-hour hike, we will likely have the chance to stop and speak with locals. In some cases, they choose to accompany us on our journey! We continue to walk until we reach the stunning landscapes of Zuleta, a town known for high-quality handicrafts. We are warmly-welcomed into the home of a local family of high-quality embroidery artisans, who will happily show us their craft. At the end of the day, we drive back to our accommodations at the Hacienda Cusin for a comfortable night of rest.

Day 3: Kayak San Pablo Lake, Indigenous Women Project, Otavalo Indigenous Market

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: The New Wyndham Gran Condor Quito

Activity: Kayak San Pablo Lake

Distance: 2.5 nautical miles

Difficulty: Easy

Approximate Time: 2.5 hours

Rise and enjoy breakfast with coffee or tea as we prepare for a morning of paddling near the picturesque Andes Mountains. We drive to our starting point, San Pablo Lake, which is located close to the “Father Mountain” of Ecuador’s indigenous mythology – Imbabura Volcano. You may choose to paddle a kayak or a stand up paddleboard (SUP), and our qualified guide will give a safety talk before we get started.

This afternoon, we drive to the village of Peguche to visit an elderly Otavaleno woman, Matico Lema. She has devoted the majority of her life to helping other local woman hone and develop traditional Ecuadorian skills, and she will show us how she prepare food, weaves, and dye textiles.

Lastly, we will visit Otavalo: the largest, most famous handicraft fair in South America. Indigenous weavers from Otavalo and the surrounding areas sell their products in the market, and artisans from all across the country bring sweaters, ponchos, blankets, scarves, shawls, woven textiles, tagua carved figurines, Andean musical instruments, paintings, ceramics, jewelry, and more. We will spend some time meandering through the market before heading back to our accommodations in Quito.

Day 4: Flight to Galapagos, San Cristóbal Island, Hike Frigate Hill, Snorkel Darwin’s Bay

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Blue Marlin

Today, we travel to one of the greatest wildlife destinations in the world, the Galapagos Islands! This morning, we transfer from our hotel to the airport in Quito, where we check in and fly to San Cristóbal Island in the Galapagos Archipelago. You are greeted by our naturalist guide who accompanies us to our hotel for lunch and gearing up for afternoon exploration.

After lunch, we visit the Cerro Tijeretas Environmental Center to learn about the fascinating volcanic geology of the islands. We also learn about San Cristóbal’s history, including the 1835 arrival of Charles Darwin, his theories and findings, and other fun facts about the history of the island.

We then hike Frigate Hill, which is rich with stunning coastal views dotted with frigatebirds, also known as “the pirates of the seas.” As we descend, we stop to snorkel with sea turtles and sea lions in Darwin’s Bay. We then continue to Carola Beach, where we are able to stop and enjoy the sunset.

Day 5: Snorkel Kicker Rock, Kayak Puerto Baquerizo - Manglesito

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Blue Marlin

Activity: Sea Kayak from Puerto Baquerizo to Manglesito

Distance 4-6.5 nautical miles

Difficulty: Moderate to challenging (depends on water conditions)

Approximate Time: 3.5 hours

We begin our day with a relaxed 30-minute sailboat ride to Kicker Rock, which is also known as Leon Dormido (Sleeping Lion). This formation holds an intriguing history, as it is formed by the remains of a lava cone eroded by the sea. Vibrant fish surround the natural phenomenon, making it a wonderful place for snorkeling.

After a brief snorkel session, we kayak from Manglesito to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the capital of Galapagos. We paddle for approximately 3 hours, covering 4 nautical miles. On this path, we pass Lobos Island and other coastal areas that serve as fantastic photo opportunities for blue-footed boobies, brown pelicans, sea turtles, marine iguanas, and beautiful flora.

Day 6: San Cristóbal to Isabela, Flamingo Lagoon, Giant Tortoise Breeding Center, Hike the Wetlands

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Casa de Marita

Activity: Hike the wetlands of Isabela

Distance: 2 miles

Difficulty: Easy

Approximate Time: 2 hours

This morning, we begin by transferring to the airport to catch a small plane and fly from San Cristóbal to Isabela. Upon arrival in Isabela, we enjoy lunch and leisurely explore the island via a boardwalk that spans atop marshlands and humedales – brackish lagoons that provide a habitat for marine iguanas, flamingos, and numerous birds. We continue along wooden walkways that lead to the giant Galapagos tortoises breeding center.

Recovering the giant tortoise population has been a priority of the Galápagos National Park, and their immense recovery efforts have heeded incredible results. More than 2,000 giant Galápagos tortoises have been bred and released into the wild in just a few years. We spend time with these incredible creatures before we move on to a walk along the beach, which brings us through town and back to our hotel. Here, you are free to take a swim, explore town, or relax on your own.

Day 7: Hike Sierra Negra and Volcano Chico

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Casa de Marita

Activity: Hike Sierra Negra and Volcano Chico

Distance: 11 miles

Difficulty: Moderate-challenging

Approximate Time: 6 hours

Today, we begin by driving approximately one hour to the highlands of Isabela. On the commute, notice a significant difference between environments as weather and vegetation begins to change. We begin our hike on a path that leads us to the edge of the Sierra Negra volcano, which remains active to this day. The most recent eruption occurred in 2005, and deposited a new layer of volcanic lava on the landscape. It has the second-largest caldera in the world, spanning approximately 6.5 miles.

We continue our walk to Volcano Chico, where we will see its unique lava formations and learn about different types of lava. Steam rises from cracks beneath our feet as we ponder how organisms can adapt and grow in such conditions. From here, we can also see surrounding volcanoes and islands.

Day 8: Hike Wall of Tears, Snorkel Concha Perla

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Casa de Marita

Activity: Hike Wall of Tears

Distance: 4 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Approximate Time: 3 hours

Enjoy a hearty breakfast before we begin today’s hike to the Wall of Tears, a 25-meter lava rock wall built by prisoners during penal colonial times in Ecuador. Many locals claim they can still hear cries of prisoners coming from the wall. In addition to learning about the haunting history of the wall, there are plenty of opportunities for wildlife viewing. Throughout our hike, be on the lookout for fiddler crabs, finches, and giant Galapagos tortoises in black mangroves.

We sit down for a light lunch before we head to our afternoon snorkel spot: Concha de Perla. This calm, shallow bay boasts crystal clear water and, with luck, sea lions and Galápagos penguins! After our snorkel, we make our way back to our hotel where the evening is yours for exploration or relaxation.

Day 9: Speed Boat Isabela to Santa Cruz, Visit Giant Tortoises, Kayak Academy Bay to Punta Estrada

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Angermeyer

Activity: Sea Kayak

Distance: 2.6 nautical miles

Difficulty: Easy

Approximate Time: 2 hours

Today, we begin with a comfortable 2-hour speed boat ride to the island of Santa Cruz. Upon arrival, we have time to relax before we begin our journey to a private farm that prioritizes conservation of native and endemic vegetation for the habitat of gigantic Galapagos tortoises. As we visit this farm, we have plenty of opportunity to marvel at the tortoise in its natural splendor. Their dome-shaped shell is often seen partially-submerged in mud ponds, in an effort to combat skin parasites and regulate body temperature. Once we are finished at the farm, we continue our exploration to the volcanic origins of the island by journeying through a lava tunnel.

Next, we drive back to our hotel and gear up for an afternoon of paddling. As we paddle from Academy Bay to Punta Estrada, look for blue-footed boobies and marine iguanas resting on the shoreline cliffs! Here, we are able to kayak near mangroves that are home to golden rays, sally lightfoot crabs, and lava herons. A nearby tranquil canal is lined with prickly pear opuntia cactus and resting common noddy birds.

Day 10: Puerto Ayora to Baltra, Flight to Guayaquil/Quito

Meals Included: Breakfast

Awake to a tranquil breakfast before catching our transfer across the island of Santa Cruz to Baltra’s airport. We catch a flight at Baltra’s former US Navy airport back to Guayaquil or Quito. Upon arrival, we arrange luggage and transfer to the hotel of your choosing.

Extend Your Trip: You may be able to fly home this day but many will choose to stay another night on the mainland or even extend their trip to Machu Picchu.

If you are to stay, we suggest booking the Wyndham Hotel in either Quito or Guayaquil.

*Itinerary subject to change due to Galapagos National Park regulations and restrictions.