Galapagos Discovery - 9 Days

Bienvenidos! Welcome to Quito, Ecuador. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive early, why not explore the famous Calle La Ronda, Quito's oldest street, or wander through the historic centre. You might like to visit the Parque de la Alameda, San Francisco Square and the lavish La Companie de Jesus. You may even wish to arrive a day or two early to explore beyond the city, visiting Otavalo, Cotopaxi or the Cloud Forest. After the welcome meeting, ask your leader where the best dinner spots are and consider heading out for a welcome dinner with your group.

Transfer to the airport and board your flight around midday. An Intrepid representative will provide detailed flight times on the evening of Day 1, during the welcome meeting. Arrive in Isla Santa Cruz and meet your leader and the travellers who began their journey in the Galapagos Islands at the airport, then take a bus to Puerto Ayora. Head to the higher part of the islands to have close encounters with giant tortoises and observe these giants roaming in their natural habitat. Check into your hotel, then kick-start your adventure with a walking tour of Puerto Ayora with your leader. This afternoon, you’ll go on a walk to Tortuga Bay – an idyllic white sand beach where you can go kayaking, see marine iguanas or swim with harmless sharks.

Have an early start this morning and travel to Isla Isabela – the largest island in the Galapagos and one of the most volcanically active places on earth. When you arrive, join your leader for a walking tour to get your bearings, then visit a lagoon where you’ll see flamingos wading through the water – if it’s the right time of year, you might even see them nesting or doing their courtship dance. Head to the Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre for a close encounter with these placid giants. Here, you’ll see tortoises in different stages of development and learn about the preservation program for this fascinating species. 

Today is free for you to choose your own adventure on Isla Isabela. Ask your leader about the optional activities on offer – you might like to do something active, you could take a bus to the highest part of Isabela, where Sierra Negra Volcano is located, and take on a challenging 17-km hike up to the crater to see the spectacular views. If you’re lucky, you might even see the rare vermillion flycatcher. A worthwhile optional activity today is an excursion to Las Tintoreras, where white-tipped sharks rest during the day and marine iguanas nest. Otherwise, you could relax on the beach with a book, go for a swim or even do some snorkelling to discover what hidden wonders lie in Isla Isabela’s waters – you might see tropical fish, sea turtles or marine iguanas.

You’ll have an early start this morning, returning to Puerto Ayora via public speedboat. When you arrive, you’ll visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. The station's visitor centre showcases information about the islands and the conservation efforts being made to preserve the unique ecosystem here. It's also a great place to have close encounters with giant tortoises.

Travel to Isla San Cristobal this morning. The island is the largest in the Galapagos and one of the most volcanically active places on earth. Settle into your hotel, then go on a walking tour of San Cristobal with your leader. This afternoon, visit the Galapagos Interpretation Center, where you’ll learn about the human and natural history of this island cluster. Afterwards opt to hike to Tijeretas Hill or snorkel at Tijeretas where you may be joined on your swim by sea turtles, rays, fish and sea lions.

Experience Isla San Cristobal’s incredible wildlife and abundant landscapes with a 45-minute boat ride to Leon Dormido (Kicker Rock) this morning. On the way, you might be able to spot nesting frigates and blue-footed boobies. You might even get the chance to swim among the sea lions again. At Leon Dormido, you can snorkel and look for sea turtles, manta rays and the harmless Galapagos shark. Eat lunch on the boat, then head back for an afternoon at your leisure. You may want to walk to Frigatebird Hill (Cerro Tijeretas) for stunning views of the bay. Ask your leader for recommendations to help you plan your afternoon.

Say goodbye to these enchanting islands and your Galapagos leader before taking a flight back to Quito, making a stop in Guayaquil on the way. You'll arrive in Quito later in the afternoon, where a local representative will take you from the airport to your hotel. Spend a free evening in Quito and consider heading out for a final dinner with your group.

As there are no activities planned, your adventure comes to an end this morning. We highly recommend staying a few extra days to see more of Ecuador. Not far from the capital, there are volcanoes, hot springs, local markets and much more to explore. If you would like to extend your stay in Quito, just contact your booking agent to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability).