10-Day Galapagos Multi-Sport

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
Arrival Day - Quito
1 stop
Quito (Pass by)
Meet your AJ trip leader and group at 18:00pm. Welcome to Quito! The largest, best-preserved colonial city of America - declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. The city is considered the Cultural Capital of South America and is located on the equator in a valley at the foothills of the Pichincha volcano. Depending on arrival time, you can spend your day exploring the old town of Quito and the surrounding area. ADVENTURE JOURNEYS can help you to organize a day trip (please request in advance). In the evening, one of our trip leaders will meet you at the hotel’s lobby for a welcome briefing at 18:00 hours. At this time we will discuss the details and questions you may have regarding the adventure. Our first day is an acclimation and information day.
Day 2
Galapagos - San Cristobal Island / La Loberia - Snorkel
1 stop
1
La Loberia
Today we get ready to explore the most amazing archipelago on the Pacific coast and the place where Charles Darwin based his theory of the evolution of species. We will board a morning flight from Quito to the island of San Cristóbal. Once arrived, we have a transfer to the hotel in the town of Puerto Moreno and a short briefing about the next days, before the adventure begins. In the afternoon we will head to "La Loberia", which is both a home beach and nursery for large Galapagos sea lions, we can spot them while snorkeling, as they are very curious and approach to swimming next to you underwater. They may also be lazying over rocks or just lazy dozing in the sand. We also get to see yellow warbler birds, frigate birds, and several species of Darwin’s finches along the beach. In between the rocks, we can find marine iguanas, which you can only see in Galapagos. We also have the time to go for a refreshing swim, explore the waters with our snorkel equipment and enjoy the beach.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 3
Galapagos - San Cristobal Island / Kicker Rock - Snorkel
1 stop
2
Kicker Rock
In the morning, we will take a boat to Kicker Rock, located off the coast of San Cristóbal, also known as the Sleeping Lion (Leon Dormido) because of some resemblance. This is the remains of a lava cone eroded by the sea, two vertical rocks rising 500 ft (150 m) above the ocean form a small channel that is navigable by small boats. This Galapagos Island’s natural monument has become a spectacular sight due to the many tropicbirds, frigate birds and boobies that fill the sky in this area. Beneath the sea, the crystal waters offer a brilliant show of colorful fish, such as rainbow fish and sharks, like the hammerhead and white tip. After lunch, we will spend some time on the beach and travel back to the hotel. Boat ride to the Kicker Rock time: 1 hour each way Snorkeling time: 2 times of 1 hour each What to wear today: shorts, water long sleeve t-shirt, sandals or tennis shoes, bathing suit, hat or baseball cap, sun cream, mosquito repellent, buff.
3 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 4
Galapagos - Isabela Island / Biking
1 stop
3
The Wall of Tears
In the morning, hop to Isabela Island, the largest island in the archipelago and one of the most volcanically active places on Earth. The island was formed by six shield volcanoes: Alcedo, Cerro Azul, Darwin, Ecuador, Sierra Negra, and Wolf—five of which are still active. In the afternoon, we will explore the beautiful coastline along an exclusive bike trail, which takes us through a rich ecosystem home to flamingos, marine iguanas, and giant tortoises. We begin with a visit to the Wall of Tears, a massive lava rock structure built by prisoners when the island served as a penal colony in the 1950s. The trail continues through white sand beaches, mangrove forests, and lagoons, filled with birdlife such as American oystercatchers, herons, flamingos, finches, and other shorebirds—as well as sea lions and marine iguanas.
3 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 5
Galapagos - Isabela Island / Snorkel at Lava Tunnels
1 stop
4
Los Tuneles
Explore the stunning lava formations along the seashore, shaped by the island’s most recent volcanic eruptions. This magical place—featured in BBC and National Geographic documentaries—is known as “Los Tuneles”. It’s a mesmerizing labyrinth of lava arches and crystal-clear waters teeming with marine life: sea turtles, eagle rays, sea lions, reef sharks, and more. Sea turtles navigate through these waters, moving from mangroves to the open sea as if on their own underwater highway. This site offers the best snorkeling opportunity in the Galapagos, with close encounters with these creatures, including the playful and curious Galapagos penguins.
6 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 6
Galapagos - Isabela Island / Hike Sierra Negra - Kayak at Tintoreras Islet & Snorkel in Concha Perla
2 stops
5
Sierra Negra
After driving up from Puerto Villamil to the trailhead, we will prepare our backpacks for the hike into a young forest ecosystem, a world of recent geological history. Our destination is the rim of Sierra Negra Crater, an active volcano that last erupted in June 2018. Upon arrival, we take in breathtaking views and explore the circumference of the massive, lava-filled crater, a caldera that is over six miles across at its widest point. If we feel energetic enough, we can continue our hike to Volcan Chico, a secondary crater that has a wild landscape of puffing fumaroles and colorful lava formations; great examples of the dramatic geological events that have formed the Galapagos Islands over millennia. Hiking time: 4 hours both ways Hiking distance: 6 miles (9.6 km) (10 miles -16 km- optional to Volcan Chico) Hiking elevation gain: 950 feet (289.5 meters) Maximum elevation while hiking: 3687 feet (1124 meters)
4 hours • Admission ticket included
6
Las Tintoreras
At 14h30, we’ll return to the pier for a kayaking excursion in the bay, where wildlife viewing is spectacular. Expect to see penguins, blue-footed boobies, sea turtles, sea lions, pelicans, rays, iguanas, and possibly juvenile reef sharks (“Tintoreras”). To end the day, we’ll visit Concha & Perla, a peaceful beach with turquoise waters, reached via a scenic boardwalk through the mangroves. There, you’ll snorkel among sea lions, tropical fish, marine iguanas, and more.
3 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 7
Galapagos - Santa Cruz Island / Charles Darwin Station - Hike with Giant Tortoises
2 stops
7
Santa Cruz Island
In the morning, we will travel from Isabela to Santa Cruz Island to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. Upon arrival, we will check in at the hotel and then visit the research station, where you’ll gain insight into the unique endemic species of the Galapagos and the critical conservation efforts in place to protect them.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
8
Santa Cruz Island
Later, we’ll drive to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island, home to the iconic giant Galapagos tortoises. Our first stop is a private ranch, where we’ll enjoy a delicious lunch. Afterward, we’ll go for a nature walk to look for tortoises in their natural habitat. The visit also includes exploration of impressive lava tubes formed by ancient volcanic flows
3 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 8
Galapagos - Santa Cruz Island/ Free Day - Optional Diving
1 stop
9
Santa Cruz Island
Today, you can experience the Galapagos at your pace to your own desire, whether that be scuba diving or just time to relax on the beach! As an option, you can go on a self-guided exploration walk through the dry forest to Tortuga Bay (3.5 mi/ 5.6 km), a beautiful white sand beach and a nesting site to thousands of marine turtles. This beautiful place invites for swimming or snorkeling. Alternatively, you can join any of the optional activities (at an extra cost), such as a trip to Floreana Island, Bartolome Island, or a scuba-diving day trip, just to mention a few.
5 hours • Admission ticket not included
Day 9
Flight back to Quito
1 stop
Santa Cruz Island (Pass by)
After our final breakfast on the Galapagos Island and the last photos taken of sea lions, we have a transfer to Baltra's airport in time to catch the flight back to the mainland.
Day 10
Quito - Departure
1 stop
10
Quito Airport Shuttle
Today our trip will end and you will have your International departures. Take with you your memories and photos and leave a piece of your heart, as you will want to return to Ecuador soon to experience more of this enchanted land. We wish you a "Buen Viaje"!
2 hours • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Specialized infant seats are available
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
• 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.
• Flight time: 2:45 hours each way from Quito to Galapagos. Regular size aircraft. About 140 passengers.
• 45 minutes from San Cristobal to Isabela. Small size aircraft. 9 passengers. (personnel baggage allowance of 25 lbs) (20 lbs for check in baggage and 5 lbs for carry-on baggage equals 25 lbs total) ( Extra baggage USD 2,00 per extra pound - it can be paid directly).

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