For two-week Diving/Land tour combinations, please contact us.
Based on all the variables in tours that Galapagos has to offer, we’ve selected what we consider to be the best tour for the price. The bare bones of our trip cover the entire time in Ecuador from arrival to departure in Quito and include a one-week cruise, national flights and hotels either end. If your sole interest in visiting Ecuador is to see these magnificent Islands, then this is the way to do it. The itinerary is also designed to combine with other visits on mainland Ecuador should this be desired. It is designed to provide the most satisfying Galapagos experience. If you are interested in any mainland extensions or day-tours that combine with this trip, please contact Xavier, our mainland Ecuador specialist, to find out more.
We’ve chosen the same great boat for all our cruises, an incredible itinerary and a second-to none guide. With a capacity of 16 passengers, seven crew and the naturalist guide, you’ll spend a week touring around the best of these pristine islands.
This tour would suit someone who really wants to get the most out of their once-in-a-lifetime visit to this part of the world. It is action-packed with plenty of kayaking, snorkeling and great hikes. We search for whales, dolphins and manta rays whilst cruising around the most spectacular volcanic coastline. Every excursion is carefully thought out.
Snorkeling and Kayaking
We pay a lot of emphasis on snorkeling and kayaking in our cruises but these are offered as extra activities and are fitted around the hiking excursions. The hikes tend to be focused around the start and end of the day for optimum wildlife opportunities and avoiding potentially uncomfortable sun. Water activities are optional and are centered around the middle of the day. We snorkel as often as possible depending on group interest. We usually snorkel at least once a day and sometimes even two or three times! For many, the snorkeling turns out to be the highlight of their trip as there is so much to see. Kayaking is a good alternative for the non-snorkelers and is a great way to get away from it all and experience the wilds of Galapagos at your own leisure. Another thing that many non-water people tend to do is to relax on deck, read, catch up with the journal and reflect on the days activities while the others tire themselves out with all the extra activity. It’s quite a treat to have the boat to yourself!
On-board talks
Apart from the knowledge shared with you on the islands by your expert naturalist, informal on-board lectures will also enhance the overall experience. Talks ranging from ‘Climate and Currents’, ‘Geology and formation’, ‘Human History’, ‘Evolution’, ‘Conservation’, ‘The Marine Environment’ to ‘Life in Galapagos’ and ‘The Politics of Ecuador’ may grace your ear-drums or help you catch up on some sleep. Each naturalist has his/her specialties and is a mind of information!
Navigating during the day
Although the larger navigations are done at night, there will be some shorter legs undertaken during the middle of the day. During all daytime navigations we should always be on the look-out for activity and animals in the ocean. Of the array of interesting seabirds that fly around the boat, the frigates are the ones that follow us enabling great views of them in flight and up close.
If you keep your eyes on the sea as we move, you’ll also catch glimpses and good views of sharks, rays, turtles, tuna and sunfish.
Whales and dolphins are a real treat if they turn up! If we get the opportunity, we’ll turn the boat and see if we can observe them from up close. Bottle-nose dolphins will often ride the bow; orcas can occasionally be seen feeding; hump-back whales, from July to October, will give birth in these waters. They will often breach, leaping clearly out of the water. The most likely evidence you’ll see of a whale nearby though would be the blows of Bryde’s Whales. 85% of all cetacean (whales and dolphins) sitings are of these tropical whales. They barely show their back, let off a bushy blow, then back down they go!
"Thanks again for an awesome trip" - Jennifer Young, USA
"...an absolutely brilliant time, the highlight of our trip so far." - Mark Dann, UK
"It really was a fabulous trip - once again many, many thanks to you for all the organisation and trouble you took to make it so great for us all." - Pamela Blakely-Globe, England
" Thanks ever so much for such a wonderful experience, I had the time of my Life" - Jill Winn, Glasgow, Scotland
