Compare Galapagos Experience by Intrepid Travel vs Highlights of Colombia, Ecuador & Galapagos by Audley Travel
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| Trip |
4.5 | Great
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 7 days | 16 days |
| Price From | $ 1,255 | $ 9,538 |
| Price Per Day | $ 179 | $ 596 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Private guided tour |
| Lodging Level | Basic | Standard |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included | N/A | N/A |
| Description |
Follow in the footsteps of Charles Darwin on this wildlife-filled adventure through nature’s playground. Snorkel with sea lions, get up close to giant tortoises, scale a volcanic crater and discover the incredible evolutionary history of the Galapagos Islands, all under the guidance of an expert naturalist guide. With accommodation on Isla San Cristobal, Isla Santa Cruz and Isla Isabela, this trip is perfect for people who don’t want to tour the islands on a cruise. Included activities are both educational and immersive, while still allowing you plenty of free time to relax or get active at your own pace. |
Enjoy a walking tour of Quito with your guide. Exploring how the landscape has been shaped by volcanic activity. Explore Isabela Island further, journeying to the mangroves. |
Day 1 Isla San Cristobal
Welcome to the Galapagos! Meet the other travellers in your group at 1pm, at the hotel listed in the ‘Joining point’ section of the Essential Trip Information. Check in to your hotel and then kick-start your adventure with an included visit to the Galapagos Interpretation Center to learn about the human and natural history of this island cluster. Afterwards, you’ll have your first snorkel at Tijeretas where you may be joined on your swim by sea turtles, rays, fish and sea lions.
Day 2 Isla San Cristobal
Enjoy a free day on Isla San Cristobal, with plenty of optional activities on and off the island if you want a little structure. The optional boat ride to Isla Lobos is one of our favourite excursions and gives you the chance to snorkel with varied marine life, spot birdlife on shore and relax near sea lions on the beach.
Day 3 Isla Santa Cruz
Early in the morning, take a 2.5-hour public speed boat ride to Isla Santa Cruz. On arrival, have breakfast and settle into the hotel before a mid-morning visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station. The station's visitor centre and museums contain information about the islands and the conservation efforts being made to preserve the unique ecosystem here. It's also a great place to have close encounters with giant tortoises. In the afternoon, head to the higher part of the islands to observe these giants roaming in their natural habitat.
Day 4 Isla Isabela
Today you’ll travel to Isla Isabela where you’ll check-in to the hotel and enjoy breakfast. The island is the largest in the Galapagos and one of the most volcanically active places on earth – and you have a free day here to explore at your own pace. A worthwhile optional activity today is an excursion to Las Tintoreras, where white-tipped sharks rest during the day and marine iguanas nest.
Day 5 Isla Isabela
Start the day with a visit to the Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre for a close encounter with these placid giants. Here you can see tortoises in different stages of development as well learn about the preservation program for this unique species. Take a bus to the highest part of Isabela where Sierra Negra Volcano is located. Weather permitting, go for a hike up to the crater to enjoy spectacular views and the possibility of sighting the rare vermillion flycatcher. The challenging 17-kilometre hike takes between 5–6 hours, but at the top you'll be able to enjoy spectacular views. After the hike, make your way back to town in the late afternoon for some free time to curl up with a book or venture down to the water for a relaxing swim before dinner.
Day 6 Isla Santa Cruz
Return to Isla Santa Cruz in the morning and enjoy breakfast on arrival at the island for some free time this morning. Maybe take part in an optional activity like the excursion to Tortuga Bay – an immaculate natural paradise where you can go kayaking, observe marine iguanas or swim with harmless sharks. After lunch (own expense), jump on a boat to La Loberia where you can swim in the waters that the area’s sea lions call home. Then, it’s off to Punta Estrada to observe birds like blue-footed boobies and pelicans. Finally, visit Playa de Los Dogs to see a large number of iguanas, the only sea-going lizard in the world that lives in these volcanic landscapes.
Day 7 Isla Santa Cruz
With no activities planned for today your Galapagos adventure comes to an end after breakfast. Bid any travellers continuing on to Quito goodbye. You are free to leave the accommodation at any time, provided you comply with the hotel’s internal check-out policy. If you wish to leave the Galapagos Islands today, you are responsible for organising your own flights, as well as travel arrangements to the airport.
Day 1: Quito
Accommodation options: La Casona de la Ronda, Casa Gangotena, Hotel Hilton Colon & Patio Andaluz
On arrival in Quito you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
Day 2: Quito
Accommodation options: La Casona de la Ronda, Casa Gangotena, Hotel Hilton Colon & Patio Andaluz
Enjoy a walking tour of Quito with your guide.
Day 3: The Galapagos Islands
Accommodation options: Galapagos Odyssey, Casa Opuntia, Casa Opuntia & Floreana Lava Lodge
Transfer to the airport for your flight to the Galapagos Islands. Upon arrival in the Islands you will be met and taken to your boat for the start of your cruise.
Day 4: The Galapagos Islands
Accommodation options: Galapagos Odyssey, Casa Opuntia & Floreana Lava Lodge
Today will be spent exploring Isabela Island. Lava herons are often spotted in the mangroves here, as are sea lions and Galapagos penguins. There is an optional snorkel and swim: white-tipped reef sharks often come to rest in the shallow waters. In the afternoon you'll hike to the Sierra Negra and Chino volcanoes, exploring how the landscape has been shaped by volcanic activity.
Day 5: The Galapagos Islands
Accommodation options: Galapagos Odyssey, Casa Opuntia & Floreana Lava Lodge
Today you'll explore Isabela Island further, journeying to the mangroves and lakes on the north coast which are a haven for birdlife. In the afternoon you'll take a Zodiac trip around Elizabeth Bay. Wildlife commonly seen here includes sea turtles, spotted eagle rays and flightless cormorants.
Day 6: The Galapagos Islands
Accommodation options: Galapagos Odyssey, Casa Opuntia & Floreana Lava Lodge
This morning you'll explore Fernandina Island, which has the largest population of marine iguanas in the Galapagos. Later you'll take a Zodiac tour of Tagus Cove on Isabela island, keeping an eye out for Galapagos penguins, and take a short but steep hike up the cliff side for great views over the island and some nearby volcanoes.
Day 7: The Galapagos Islands
Accommodation options: Galapagos Odyssey, Casa Opuntia & Floreana Lava Lodge
Today you'll visit Santiago Island, with optional snorkeling and kayaking around a beach that's a nesting site for marine turtles.
Day 8: Bogotá
Accommodation options: Hotel Abadia Colonial, Hotel de la Opera & Sofitel Bogotá Victoria Regia
Today you will disembark your cruise and will fly back to mainland Ecuador where you will connect with a flight to Bogota. In Colombia you will be met and taken to your hotel for the night.
Day 9: Hacienda Bambusa
Accommodation: Hacienda Bambusa
Enjoy a morning walking tour of Bogota before transferring back to the airport and fly to the coffee region. You will be met upon arrival and taken to your hacienda in the coffee region.
Day 10: Hacienda Bambusa
Today you will visit Filandia, Salento and Valle Cocora.
Accommodation: Finca Bambusa & Hacienda Bambusa
Day 11: Cartagena
Accommodation options: Hotel Alfiz, Casa San Agustin, Hotel Ananda & Hotel Las Islas
Morning coffee tour, ending at the airport for your flight to Cartagena where you will be met and taken to your hotel.
Day 12: Cartagena
Accommodation options: Hotel Alfiz, Casa San Agustin, Hotel Ananda, & Hotel Las Islas
Enjoy a tour of Cartagena with your guide.
Day 13: Cartagena
Accommodation options: Hotel Alfiz, Casa San Agustin, Hotel Ananda & Hotel Las
Time at your leisure to further explore Cartagena.
Day 14: Return home
Transfer to the airport for your flights home.
Day 15: International return flight
Transfer to the airport for your flights home.
Day 16: International return flight
Arrive home today to complete your journey
