Hiking Galapagos (trip)

Hiking Galapagos

  • Airport, Ecuador near Quito, Ecuador
  • Active & Adventure
Ecuador, South America, Galapagos

from $2,950* per person9 DaysYear-round
Boutique accommodations Exertion level: 3
Operator: Adventure Life Voyages 24 people max
Hike through the archipelago's remarkably surreal landscape on this unique land-based Galapagos adventure. The Hiking Galapagos tour is perfect for the traveler that prefers his or her tours active, while also allowing for plenty of flexibility and time to explore the various sites. The tour begins in San Cristobal, exploring Frigate Hill, Isla Lobos and Leon Dormido, where the waters teem with fascinating marine life -- rays, sea turtles, and yikes! Is that a shark? Travels continue onto Santa Cruz with a hike through El Chato Tortoise Reserve -- here's where we're likely to spot the Galapagos's gentle giants. Finish your Galapagos tour discovering the beauty of Isabela Island. We'll hike to the rim of the Sierra Negra volcano and admire the stunning views. This tour offers the best that Galapagos travel has to offer: scintillating waters, world-renowned snorkeling and, best of all, wildlife that is truly wild! And all while you're working those legs...

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Locations visited/nearby

Ecuador, South America, Galapagos

0 testimonials about this trip.

2 testimonials about the provider, Adventure Life Voyages:

  • Reviewer: S. Benson located in Las Cruces, NM USA
    This trip was the best, coolest, most exciting thing that I have ever done. It was more than I expected. I was undecided about a trip to Antarctica, mostly because of the price. I spoke several times with Adventure Life's staff and they were the reason I went. They took lots of time to explain that it's well worth the money - but after going, I have to disagree. It's worth a whole lot more! Bottom line: the people at Adventure Life treated me like a king, even before I signed up to go on my trip and that makes me a lifetime Adventure Life customer.
  • Reviewer: J. Lund located in Hallowell, ME USA
    We enjoyed our trip immensely - even more than we anticipated. The boat, Archipel I, was perfect and spotless. More important, the staff was terrific - and it seemed genuine. They worked hard but obviously enjoyed themselves. They were as friendly and helpful as could be. The crew was concerned about our welfare, and we felt well cared for. The guide was very well informed, but he also let us just enjoy the animals and scenery. We never felt rushed or that the guide was impatient. He adapted our schedule for maximum pleasure - such as seeing the sunrise on top of Bartolome Island without having hordes of people around. We'd recommend this trip most enthusiastically!

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Special information

  • This is a custom departure, meaning this trip is offered on dates that you arrange privately with the provider. Additionally, you need to form your own private group for this trip. The itinerary and price here is just a sample. Contact the provider for detailed pricing, minimum group size, and scheduling information. For most providers, the larger the group you are traveling with, the lower the per-person cost will be.
  • May accommodate certain types of disabilities. Contact the operator for more information.

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Quito
Overnight in Quito.

Day 2 Fly Galapagos and Hike Frigate Hill (B,L)

In the morning, we pick you up from your hotel to transfer you to the airport for your flight from Quito to San Cristobal Island. Once in the Galápagos, we welcome you with lunch and a pre-trip briefing at a local restaurant. After lunch, our adventure begins with a hike to the San Cristóbal Interpretation Center, where we learn about the volcanic formation of the Galpagos archipelago and the evolution of life on the islands. We continue our hike towards Frigate Hill along trails of lava rock featuring splendid views of the coastline and Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, while we explore dry forest and observe cacti, acacia, palo santo, Galápagos cotton, and other endemic vegetation. This is also a good time to enjoy our first encounters with local wildlife, since Frigate Hill is often visited by Galápagos species such as the magnificent and great frigate birds, blue-footed boobies, brown pelicans, gulls, herons, and numerous other land birds, including Darwin finches, warblers, and mockingbirds. On our way back we can stop for a refreshing swim at Carola Beach or Mann Beach. In the evening, we explore town and dine at a waterfront restaurant. Accommodations in San Cristobal Island.

Day 3 Hike in El Junco. Snorkel at Leon Dormido (B,L)

The day begins with a hike to El Junco Lagoon, a freshwater lake located in a collapsed caldera at 2,300 feet (700 meters) of altitude on the San Cristobal Island highlands. The lake and its surroundings comprise a beautiful Miconia forest landscape, where we will find frigate birds washing off salt from their wings, Darwin’s finches, and mocking birds. We continue on to La Galapaguera in Cerro Colorado, a new facility operated by the National Park to breed and protect the subspecies of giant turtles endemic to San Cristobal (Geochelone chathamensis). In the afternoon, visit Leon Dormido, the jagged remains of an old tuff cone and home to thousands of sea birds. We enjoy excellent snorkelling; there is a good chance of seeing Galápagos sharks, eagle and golden rays, as well as dozens of species of tropical fish, clams, starfish, and marine invertebrates. If we are lucky, we may spot hammerhead and white-tipped sharks as well. From here, we return to port where we enjoy dinner and our last evening on San Cristobal Island.

Day 4 Charles Darwin and El Chato Tortoise Reserve (B,L)

This morning we take a 3-hour boat ride to Santa Cruz Island. Stretch your legs visiting the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn about conservation and management projects in the archipelago.  Afterwards, drive to the highlands and hike through El Chato Tortoise Reserve. Along with the gentle giants we're likely to also come across pintail ducks, egrets, flycatchers, finches and frigate birds. Continue your exploration of the islands as we venture into lava caves and unique volcanic tunnel formations. Tonight, we'll relax in the hotel on Santa Cruz.

Day 5 Santa Cruz Cloudforest Hike (B,L)
After a satisfying breakfast, we'll hike into the amazing Santa Cruz cloudforest. Reaching Cerro Crocker, the highest summit on the island, we'll search the area for unique vegetation like the vermilion flycatcher. There's also an excellent chance that we'll encounter more Galapagos tortoises. We'll stop for lunch before taking an easy hike to the white sandy beaches of Tortuga Bay. This serene area is named for the sea turtles that frequent the beach to lay their eggs. We'll spend a relaxing afternoon enjoying the enchanting wildlife. Don't forget your binoculars -- there is plenty of pelicans, finches, doves, and marine iguanas to view. Overnight Santa Cruz.

Day 6 Explore Isabela (B,L,D)
Take a morning boat to Puerto Villamil on Isabela Island. Isabela is the largest and the most volcanically active island in the Galapagos. This island has six volcanoes and it is well known for the 5 subspecies of giant tortoise that live in the cloudforests. Spend the afternoon visiting the Tortoise Breeding Center and follow a trail along the coastline in search of Galapagos penguins and sea lions. Isabela’s salty lagoons are also home to a wide range of sea birds, offering more spectacular birding. Our afternoon is spent relaxing along white sandy beaches. Overnight in Puerto Villamil.

Day 7 Sierra Negra Hike (B,L,D)

We’ll begin our day with a 6-mile hike to the very rim of the Sierra Negra volcano. The view from this 6x5 mile-wide caldera is sensational. From here we’ll hike to the puffing Chico Volcano on the northeast side of the caldera. During our hike we have a good chance of seeing Galapagos hawks, short-eared owls, finches and flycatchers. Tonight we’ll spend our last evening in this quiet port town before saying farewell to the Enchanted Islands in the morning.

Day 8 Return Quito (B)

This morning we return to Santa Cruz and catch our return flight back to the mainland. Tonight, enjoy the sights and sounds of Quito -- toast your travels and the remarkable Galapagos Islands!

Day 9 Return Home (B)

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