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Duration: 9 days
4-10 Travelers: $2,995 per person
3 Travelers: $3,450 per person
2 Travelers: $3,995 per person
For those wishing to experience the Galapagos Islands by land instead of by sea, we offer our Galapagos Multi-Sport Adventure. This diverse land-based Galapagos trip includes daily visits to the central and southern islands and overnights in hotels. You'll spend nine magical days observing the Islands' vast array of wildlife from the up-close perspective afforded by kayaking, snorkeling, mountain biking and trekking. This unique tour combines the best of Galapagos nature, wildlife, history and landscapes with adventure and sports activities.
Private Departures can be arranged for the Galapagos Multisport Adventure Tour. Please regarding details and private departure costs.
SCUBA Diving is available on this tour; please for more information.
The morning begins with a transfer to the airport for the flight to San Cristóbal Island. After arrival and check-in at a comfortable hotel, enjoy a welcome lunch and briefing. You’ll hike out of town to the San Cristóbal Interpretation Center, for an overview of the island’s geology, evolution and natural history. From here take an invigorating hike to nearby Frigate Hill where you witness breathtaking views of the coastline and Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on the other side. This is an excellent bird watching spot where magnificent frigate birds, with wing spans of over six feet, soar above. The great frigates share the hill with blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, and Darwin's finches. On the way back, you'll stop for a tropical swim along the white sands of Carola or Mann Beach. Spend the night at a charming San Cristóbal hotel. The remainder of the evening is free to explore this quaint island town. (B,L)
From the sparkling coast, slip into sleek ocean kayaks and spend the day paddling along the turquoise waters to Playa Ochoa, watching sea lions, marine turtles, blue-footed boobies and frigate birds from bays and coves along the way. You will stop in Darwin Bay, the first landing site of the MS Beagle. After reaching Playa Ochoa, you will continue to nearby Isla Lobos looking for marine iguanas and swimming with friendly sea lions. Enjoy a hearty lunch before paddling to Roca Leon Dormido, the jagged remains of an old tuff cone often covered with seabirds. The jutting rocks offer excellent snorkeling in the Galapagos. Here, marine life is abundant, with hammerheads, white-tipped sharks, eagle rays, golden rays, clams, starfish, marine invertebrates and dozens of tropical fish species swimming in and out of the rocky channels. Return to the hotel to relax for the evening. (B, L)
In the morning, you take a short flight to Puerto Villamil on Isabela Island, the largest island in the Galapagos. Isabela was formed by the merging of six shield volcanoes - Alcedo, Cerro Azul, Darwin, Ecuador, Sierra Negra, and Wolf. All but one of these volcanoes is still active, making this island one of the Earth's most volcanically active places. Despite the island's potential for destruction, Isabela's wildlife is rich beyond comparison. We arrive and prepare to mountain bike the beautiful coastline, enjoying its scenery and ample wildlife. We first visit the Wall of Tears, a wall built from lava blocks by prisoners between 1946 and 1959 when Isabela was used as a penal colony. The wall was intended to keep prisoners busy and represents an interesting history of the island. We continue mountain biking along the coast exploring the white sand beaches, mangroves, and brackish lagoons. The area is filled with impressive birdlife, including herons, flamingos, finches, American oyster catchers, and many shore birds. Sea lions and marine iguanas can also be found. After returning for lunch, you hike and snorkel Tintoreras, a small set of wildlife-filled islets within the bay. Here you may be able to encounter the Galapagos Penguin, the only penguin that lives near the equator. Sharks, sea lions, illusive marine turtles and other wildlife abounds. Return to the hotel in the afternoon for a relaxing evening and dinner. (B,L,D)
After breakfast, travel to Santo Tomas, where the road ends in the highlands. The day's explorations are through a world of recent geological history still in the making. We hike dirt trails to reach the rim of volcano Sierra Negra which possesses the second largest caldera in the world. From this high vantage point, the views of the five by six-mile wide caldera and Perry Isthmus are astonishing. Sierra Negra is an active volcano that last erupted in October 2005. Following a satisfying lunch, you can chose to continue on the optional trek to Volcano Chico, an impressive area offering fumaroles and extraordinary lava formations. This site is a natural museum containing examples of the geologic occurrences that have created the Galapagos Islands. In the late afternoon, return to Puerto Villamil for our last afternoon on its exotic white beaches and to stay overnight at the hotel. (B, L,D)
This morning, you take a fast boat to Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island and visit the El Chato Reserve, a natural habitat of the Galapagos tortoise, where pintail ducks, egrets, flycatchers, finches and frigatebirds may be seen bathing in fresh water lakes. You'll explore unique volcanic tunnel formations in lava caves, and if the weather is clear, be able to see Media Luna, an ancient collapsed crater at the top of the island. We’ll continue to Los Gemelos, two volcanic craters near the top of the island and hike around through a beautiful Scalesia forest. This is the habitat for the short eared owl, one of two owl species on Santa Cruz. In the afternoon we return you to your hotel in Puerto Ayora. (B,L)
View Quito accommodations picture gallery
The morning, you'll visit famed Charles Darwin Research Station to learn about Galapagos conservation and wildlife management efforts. Here you meet Lonesome George, the last giant tortoise of his species. After exploring the Research Station, you transfer by bus to Baltra Island for the return flight to Quito. Arrive in the late afternoon and transfer to your comfortable Quito hotel. (B)
| Have more time to spend? Why not customize your trip with some of these trip extensions? Add extensions to the beginning or the end of your trip, or add to both ends. | |
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CALL
1.877.784.5400
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Saturday Departures
2 person minimum / 10 maximum
May
Jun
09-17 6 spaces left
Jul
14-22
Aug
11-19 2 spaces left
Sep
08-16
Oct
13-21
Nov
17-25 8 spaces left
Dec*
22-30 SOLD OUT!
22-30 5 spaces left
*December departures operate with a maximum of 12 passengers
Private Departures can be arranged. Please regarding private departure costs.
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