Island Hopping in the Galapagos
Island Hopping in the Galapagos
Island Hopping in the Galapagos
9 Days Starting and ending in Quito, Ecuador
Visiting: Quito, San Cristóbal, Isabela, Floreana Island, Isabela Island, Galapagos Islands, Santa Cruz, Galapagos Islands, Galapagos Islands
Tour operator:
Tour code:
AGSB
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
6 - 16
Age range:
16-99
Trip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable journey with the "Island Hopping in the Galapagos (2025)" tour, exploring the breathtaking landscapes and unique wildlife of Ecuador's Galapagos Islands. Begin your adventure in Quito before flying to San Cristóbal, where you'll visit La Lobería and Isla Lobos, perfect for snorkeling and observing sea lions. Discover the highlands of Floreana with its pirate lava caves and giant tortoises, and snorkel the vibrant waters of Las Tintoreras. Enjoy a full-day excursion to one of the stunning uninhabited islands like Bartolomé or North Seymour, each offering a unique glimpse into the archipelago's diverse ecosystems. With comfortable accommodations in charming, family-run hotels and guesthouses, this tour promises an immersive experience in one of the world's most extraordinary natural wonders.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Start Quito
Location: Quito
Accommodation Name: Wyndham Quito Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Welcome to Ecuador! There’s plenty of adventure on your trip, but today’s all about settling into the hotel. There are free transfers available for all clients today – make sure to check the Joining Instructions for further details. A local guide will welcome you to Quito and explain the schedule for the next few days.
Classic accommodation: Hotel Wyndham (or similar)
Day 2 : Fly To San Cristóbal; Visit La Lobería
Location: San Cristóbal
Accommodation Name: Hotel Paraiso Insular
Meals Included: Breakfast
Transfer to Quito Airport and fly to San Cristóbal in the Galapagos Islands. Your Galapagos guide will be at the airport to take you to the hotel for check-in and our first briefing about our time in the Galapagos. We have time to explore the town and enjoy a restaurant lunch before our visit to La Lobería, a wonderful place surrounded by mangroves, volcanic rocks and sea lion colonies. It’s a perfect spot to snorkel, enjoy time on the beach, or have a short walk along the shore.
Classic accommodation: Hotel Paraiso Insular (or similar)
Day 3 : Morning Visit Isla Lobos; Afternoon Relax On Playa Ochoa
Location: Isabela
Accommodation Name: Hotel Paraiso Insular
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Start your day with an exciting tour to Isla Lobos, a small island near the coast of Isabela. This excursion will take you by boat to one of the best spots for observing sea lions in their natural habitat. Isla Lobos is also an excellent location for birdwatching, including frigatebirds and blue-footed boobies. You’ll have the opportunity to snorkel in the clear waters around the island, swimming with marine turtles, rays, and occasionally, white-tip reef sharks.
After exploring Isla Lobos, return to Isabela for lunch. In the afternoon, head to Playa Ochoa, a beautiful white-sand beach with turquoise waters, ideal for relaxing and enjoying a breathtaking natural setting. Playa Ochoa is known for its tranquility and beauty, perfect for swimming, sunbathing, or simply taking in the scenery. The beach also offers excellent opportunities for birdwatching and snorkelling in the nearby waters. At the end of the day, return to your accommodation in Isabela, where you can relax and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the island.
Classic accommodation: Hotel Paraiso Insular (or similar)
Day 4 : Boat To Floreana Island; Visit The Highlands
Location: Floreana Island
Accommodation Name: San Vicente Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A three-hour navigation by motorboat takes us to Floreana Island, one of the first Galapagos islands to be inhabited. En route, we may see whales, dolphins and sea birds. After lunch, we visit the highlands, where one of the few sources of freshwater in the entire archipelago exists. We also visit lava caves once used by pirates and see a large enclosure of Galapagos giant tortoises.
In the afternoon, we'll transfer to Isabela Island by speedboat (approximately 2.5 or 3 hours).
Classic accommodation: San Vicente Hotel (or similar)
Day 5 : Morning Visit To Las Tintoreras Islet; Afternoon Exploration At The Wall Of Tears
Location: Isabela Island, Galapagos Islands
Accommodation Name: San Vicente Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
We spend the morning sailing to the islets and lava channels of Las Tintoreras, one of the best places in the islands to see white-tipped reef sharks, penguins and sea lions, with time for snorkelling. On this morning’s excursion, we may be lucky enough to spot the endangered Chatham mockingbird.
This afternoon, we visit the Wall of Tears, a sad reminder of Isabela’s very different past when it was used as a penal colony. Between 1946 and 1959, convicts were forced to build this wall from huge blocks of lava as a form of punishment, which, combined with the harsh conditions, led to many deaths.
Classic accommodation: San Vicente Hotel (or similar)
Day 6 : Sail To Santa Cruz; Visit Tortuga Bay; Afternoon Optional Visit To Charles Darwin Research Station
Location: Santa Cruz, Galapagos Islands
Accommodation Name: Grand Hotel Lobo de Mar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Navigate by motorboat to Santa Cruz very early this morning. Upon arrival in Santa Cruz we visit Tortuga Bay, a 3,280ft (1,000m) stretch of white sand regarded as one of the best beaches in the Galapagos. The trail leading to the beach is paved and takes between 45 minutes to one hour, with possibilities to observe Galapagos finches and lizards along the way. The beach is scattered with marine iguanas, who lay among the clusters of black rocks or stroll along the sand. In the water, turtles can sometimes be seen, though swimming is not recommended here due to the strong currents.
In the afternoon, we have the option of visiting the Charles Darwin Research Centre, home to the headquarters of the Charles Darwin Foundation. This is the main research centre on the islands and scientists come from all over the world to study the flora and fauna. There is also the chance to visit the lively fish market, where we can see the daily catch and sample some of the freshest seafood you’ve ever tasted.
Classic accommodation: Grand Hotel León Marino (or similar)
Day 7 : Full Day Boat Tour To An Uninhabited Island
Location: Galapagos Islands
Accommodation Name: Grand Hotel Lobo de Mar
Meals Included: Breakfast
Visit either Bartolomé Island, South Plaza Island, Santa Fe Island or North Seymour (depending on the national park restrictions). South Plaza Island has a remarkable vegetation of succulents and cacti that provide a unique habitat for land iguanas. The iguanas form small colonies at the base of the tall opuntia cacti, waiting for their flowers and dead pads to fall to the ground so they can feed on them. The island rocks are home to swallowtail gulls, shearwaters and sea lions. North Seymour is a flat, boulder-strewn island and a major nesting site for frigatebirds. It’s also a good place to see blue-footed boobies performing courtship rituals and sea lions playing in the powerful surf. Bartolomé is a spectacular scene of dramatic lava cones, clear seas and affords perhaps the most famous view of the Galapagos Islands, looking across the red cinder cones to the recent black lava fields on James Island. If possible, we snorkel today (usually around Bartolomé) where the water is calm.
Classic accommodation: Grand Hotel León Marino (or similar)
Day 8 : Transfer To Baltra Airport, Fly To Quito And Overnight
Location: Quito
Accommodation Name: Hotel Vieja Cuba
Meals Included: Breakfast
After a few days following the footsteps of Darwin, Cousteau and world-renowned scientists, it is time to say goodbye to the Enchanted Islands. After breakfast this morning, we drive to the airport at Baltra and fly to Quito where we have a final night.
Classic accommodation: Hotel Vieja Cuba (or similar)
Day 9 : End Quito
Location: Quito
Meals Included: Breakfast
Our adventure ends after breakfast this morning.
What's Included
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All breakfasts and three lunches included
All breakfasts and three lunches are included on this trip.
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All accommodation
All accommodation is provided during the tour.
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All transport and listed activities
All transport and activities listed in the itinerary are included.
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Tour leader throughout
A tour leader will accompany the group throughout the trip.
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Arrival and departure transfers
Transfers are provided upon arrival and departure.
What's Not Included
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Travel insurance
Travel insurance is not included and must be arranged separately.
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Single accommodation (available on request)
Single accommodation is not included but can be requested at an additional cost.
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Visas or vaccinations
Visas and vaccinations are not included and must be arranged by the traveler.
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Compulsory Galapagos taxes US$220 paid locally
Compulsory Galapagos taxes amounting to US$220 must be paid locally.
Accommodation
We spend seven nights in hotels and guesthouses. Hotels and guesthouses on the Galapagos Islands are generally small, family-run establishments. Typical hotels include Wyndham Quito Hotel, Hotel Paraiso Insular, San Vicente Hotel, and Grand Hotel Lobo de Mar, offering amenities like sundecks, bars, and indoor pools.
Food
All breakfasts and three lunches are included on this trip.
Hotel breakfasts are normally buffets with toast, cereal, eggs, fruits and tea/coffee. For lunch and dinner, the tour leader will recommend various options in convenient locations, usually booking restaurants and eating with the group. For the included meals at restaurants, they are usually a set menu with two or three options. The choice of meals in some areas of the Galapagos can be limited but special dietary requirements can usually be catered for if we are advised at the time of booking. When flying to and from the Galapagos, snacks are usually included on the flights.
Mode of Transport
The tour includes flights to and from the Galapagos Islands, with transfers available. Travel between islands is by motorboat, with excursions to various islands and islets. Arrival and departure transfers are also included, ensuring seamless transportation throughout the journey.
Check out our Q&As
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What type of accommodation is provided during the tour?
The tour includes seven nights in hotels and guesthouses, which are generally small, family-run establishments on the Galapagos Islands. The typical hotels used are Wyndham Quito Hotel in Quito, Hotel Paraiso Insular in San Cristóbal, San Vicente Hotel in Isabela, and Grand Hotel Lobo de Mar in Santa Cruz.
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Are meals included in the tour package?
Yes, all breakfasts and three lunches are included in the tour package. Hotel breakfasts are typically buffets, and for included meals at restaurants, a set menu with two or three options is usually provided.
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What activities are included in the tour?
The tour includes various activities such as visiting Isla Lobos for snorkeling and birdwatching, exploring pirate lava caves and giant tortoises in Floreana, snorkeling at Las Tintoreras, and a full-day excursion to one of the uninhabited islands like Bartolomé or North Seymour.
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Is there a tour leader throughout the trip?
Yes, a tour leader is present throughout the trip to guide and assist the group.
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What is the transportation arrangement for the tour?
All transport and listed activities are included in the tour. This includes transfers from Quito to the Galapagos Islands and between the islands.
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Are there any additional costs not included in the tour price?
Yes, additional costs not included in the tour price are travel insurance, single accommodation (available on request), visas or vaccinations, and compulsory Galapagos taxes of US$220, which are paid locally.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus Adventure Travels allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus adventure travels, 43 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Exodus Adventure Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus adventure travels charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
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