10-Day Galapagos Multisport Tour with Snorkelling and Sierra Negra

Welcome to Quito, the largest and best-preserved colonial city in America, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. Considered the Cultural Capital of South America, the city lies on the equator in a valley at the foothills of the Pichincha volcano.

Depending on your arrival time, you can spend the day exploring Quito's old town and the surrounding area. ADVENTURE JOURNEYS can help organize a day trip if requested in advance.

In the evening, one of our trip leaders will meet you in the hotel lobby for a welcome briefing at 18:00. At this time, we will discuss the details of the trip and answer any questions you may have regarding the adventure. Our first day is an acclimation and information day.

Accommodation: Sheraton Quito Hotel or similar

Meals included: In-flight

We get ready to explore the most amazing archipelago on the Pacific coast, the place where Charles Darwin based his theory of the evolution of species. We will board a morning flight from Quito to San Cristóbal Island.

Once we arrive, we will transfer to the hotel in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno and have a short briefing about the next few days before the adventure begins. In the afternoon, we will head to La Loberia, a home beach for large Galapagos sea lions.

We will hike for approximately 1 hour. The ground along this hike is flooded along the shoreline at high tide. It is a fairly leisurely walking activity that takes you through lava rocks and some mangroves.

During this excursion, we may spot red-billed tropicbirds, blue-footed boobies, and Nazca boobies. We also get to see yellow warblers, frigate birds, and several species of Darwin's finches along the beach. Marine iguanas can be found between the rocks, and these can only be seen in Galapagos.

After that, we will enjoy a shallow-water snorkelling activity to spot sea lions and sea turtles. Sea lions are very curious and often approach to swim next to you underwater. They may also be lazing over rocks or dozing in the sand. We will also have time for a refreshing swim, to explore the waters with our snorkel equipment, and to enjoy the beach.

Accommodation: Seaside Hotel or similar

Meals included: Breakfast

In the morning, we will take a boat to Kicker Rock, located off the coast of San Cristóbal and also known as the Sleeping Lion (Leon Dormido) because of its 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 navigable by small boats.

This natural monument of the Galapagos has become a spectacular site due to the many tropical birds, 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, as well as sharks like hammerheads and white-tip sharks.

After lunch, we will spend some time on the beach and then return to the hotel.

Accommodation: Seaside Hotel or similar

Meals included: Breakfast and lunch

In the morning, we will hop to Isabela Island, the largest island in the archipelago and the place where most of the volcanic activity in the Galapagos is reported. The island was formed by six shield volcanoes - Alcedo, Cerra Azul, Darwin, Ecuador, Sierra Negra, and Wolf. Five are still active, making the island one of the most volcanically active places on earth.

In the afternoon, we will explore the beautiful coastline on an exclusive trail by bike, taking us through an incredible ecosystem with a wide variety of wildlife, including flamingos, marine iguanas, and giant tortoises.

We begin with a visit to the Wall of Tears, a massive wall built with lava rocks. This site dates back to the 1950s, when Isabela was used as a penal colony and prisoners were forced to build the wall to keep them from going mad because of the isolation they experienced.

As we continue our ride along the coast, we will explore pristine white-sand beaches, mangrove forests, and lagoons. This area is filled with a plethora of birdlife, including American oystercatchers, herons, flamingos, finches, and many other shorebirds, as well as the ubiquitous sea lions and marine iguanas.

Accommodation: Albemarle Boutique Hotel or similar

Meals included: Breakfast

Explore the amazing lava formations created by the volcanic island's last eruptions along the seashore. BBC and National Geographic have historically filmed this magical place for their documentaries.

It is a labyrinth of lava arches made of crystal-clear water, full of sea turtles, eagle rays, sea lions, sharks, and more. The turtles navigate their own highway from the mangroves to the open sea through Los Tuneles.

Here, we will have an outstanding snorkelling opportunity with all these beautiful animals, including the curious Galapagos penguins playing around.

Before or after the trip, you can enjoy some optional activities such as snorkelling at Concha de Perla, biking, or simply relaxing on the exotic white-sand beaches of Isabela Island. We also recommend taking some time to visit the giant tortoise breeding center located within local distance from the hotel.

Accommodation: Albemarle Boutique Hotel or similar

Meals included: Breakfast and lunch

After breakfast, at around 0800, you will depart for Sierra Negra Volcano. You will drive to the highlands of Isabela, where the hike normally begins. The volcano, with a height of around 1,500 meters and an outer diameter of approximately nine kilometres, is the second biggest lava dome in the world.

You will have lunch at a local restaurant in the highlands at around 1300, a beautiful organic farm whose owners prepare their food with vegetables and fruits grown locally on the farm. Prepared on a lava rock grill, enjoy a delicious meal and, after lunch, take a walk among the fruit trails or simply rest in one of the hammocks and breathe the clean air beneath a big mango tree.

We then make our way back to the pier, arriving at 1430. After a short briefing, we will start kayaking in the bay, where we can enjoy the local wildlife. Along the way, we may observe penguins, blue-footed boobies, pelicans, marine iguanas, sea turtles, sea lions, eagle rays, and sometimes juvenile Tintoreras sharks.

To finish the day, at 1630, we will have a short visit to Concha de Perla, a small beach in Puerto Villamil, where we will snorkel. A short and beautiful walk through the mangroves on a boardwalk will lead you to this spot of turquoise waters and abundant wildlife. You can expect to see plenty of other tourists alongside colorful fish, sea lions, sea turtles, pelicans, mockingbirds, and maybe even marine iguanas.

Hiking time: 4 hours both ways

Hiking distance: 6 miles (9.6 km) (10 miles -16 km- optional to Volcán Chico)

Hiking elevation gain: 950 feet (289.5 meters)

Maximum elevation while hiking: 3687 feet (1124 meters)

Kayaking time: 2 hours

Snorkeling time: 1 hour

What to wear today for hiking: shorts, t-shirt, tennis shoes, rain jacket, hat, buff, sun cream, mosquito repellent.

What to wear today for kayaking and snorkelling: sandals, shorts, water long-sleeve t-shirt, bathing suit, hat, sun cream, mosquito repellent

Accommodation: Albemarle Boutique Hotel or similar

Meals included: Breakfast and lunch

In the morning, we will travel from Isabela to Santa Cruz Island to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. Once we arrive, we will check in at the hotel.

We will then visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn more about many of the endemic species seen in the wild, as well as the ongoing conservation and management efforts on the Galapagos Islands.

Later, we will continue by car to our first stop in the highlands of Santa Cruz. The highlands are home to the iconic giant Galapagos tortoises. Here, you will visit a private ranch where you will enjoy lunch before heading out for a walk in search of the giant tortoises.

During this visit, you will also explore some lava tubes, which are formed when the surface of a lava stream solidifies. Afterwards, we will continue by bike to the other side of the island, to Garrapateros Beach.

En route, we will stop at the Trapiche to learn about the process of making sugarcane liquor. Finally, we will return to Puerto Ayora to spend the evening in Galapagos' most populous town.

Accommodation: La Isla Hotel or similar

Meals included: Breakfast

Today, you can experience the Galapagos as you wish, whether by scuba diving (request in advance) or simply relaxing on the beach.

As an option, you can go on a self-guided exploration walk through a dry forest to Tortuga Bay (3.5 mi / 5.6 km), a beautiful white-sand beach and a nesting site for thousands of marine turtles. This beautiful place invites swimming or snorkelling.

Alternatively, you can join any optional activities at an extra cost, such as a trip to Floreana Island, Bartolome Island, or a scuba-diving day trip, to mention a few.

Accommodation: La Isla Hotel or similar

Meals included: Breakfast

After our final breakfast on the Galapagos Islands and the last photos of sea lions, we will transfer to Baltra Airport in time to catch the flight back to the mainland.

Accommodation: Sheraton Quito Hotel or similar

Meals included: Breakfast

Our trip will come to an end, and you will have your international departures. Take your memories and photos with you, and leave a piece of your heart behind, as you will surely want to return to Ecuador soon to experience more of this enchanted land. We wish you a "buen viaje"!

Meals included: Breakfast