About this trip
Ten days moving between the Galapagos Islands by boat and on foot, with wildlife the whole point of the trip. Expect giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, sea lions, iguanas and, in the water, sharks, rays and maybe dolphins or whales.
You'll snorkel off several islands, hike up a volcano for the views, and follow some of the ground that shaped Darwin's thinking on evolution. A local leader who knows the islands travels with the group throughout.
This is a small-group trip built around nature rather than nightlife or towns — most days involve a boat ride, a walk, and time in the water.
What you'll do
- Snorkel with sharks, rays and turtles off multiple islands
- Look for giant tortoises in the highlands
- Spot blue-footed boobies, pelicans and other seabirds on land walks
- Hike up a volcano for views across the archipelago
- Watch for sea lions, iguanas, dolphins and whales along the way
- Travel between islands by speedboat with a local guide
- Includes a 17km hike over rocky ground (roughly 6-7 hours), so bring proper walking shoes
- Inter-island transfers are by speedboat and can be rough — worth checking with a doctor if you're prone to seasickness, especially June to August when the water is choppier
- Snorkelling happens on multiple days and confident swimming is required, with no alternative activity offered
Worth it if you value knowledgeable guides and seeing wildlife without fighting crowds. Think twice if tight flight logistics worry you.
- Guides consistently exceptional at spotting wildlife underwater and on land, making each activity genuinely memorable.
- Small group size means you're not jostling with other tourists to see animals; well-coordinated scheduling prevents that chaos.
- Flight arrangements have failed catastrophically for at least one group, leaving five people stranded at Santa Cruz airport.
- Ten days is genuinely the right length to see everything the islands offer without feeling rushed.
Distilled from real traveller reviews on TourRadar — we don't edit out the bad bits.
The same-vibe trips, side by side — price, value per day, and how each is moving. Only we can lay two operators' trips out honestly.
Sorted by fit — never by who paid. Price moves and availability come from our own daily tracking.
Getting there
Opens Trip.com, pre-filled — one-way so you can book your return whenever. Prices & booking shown there.
Where to stay
A night before your tour in Quito · 1 Jan – 2 Jan
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