Galapagos Walking Adventure

Begin the adventure in Quito, Ecuador’s capital, high in the Andes. To make things easy, there are free transfers from the airport to the hotel for everyone today – check the Joining Instructions for further details. Around 6pm, say hola to your Quito tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. Want more time in Quito? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative. Upgrade to a suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details

This morning, we take a guided tour of the Old Town. Quito is the second-highest capital in the world, standing at 9,350ft (2,850m) on the western cordillera of the Andes. It is one of the smaller and more attractive of the colonial capitals in South America. Due to the altitude, you are advised to take it easy at first and drink plenty of water. After, you may wish to join an optional excursion to the equator, which is just 40 minutes’ drive north of Quito. Here, you visit the fun – and interactive – Intiñan Equator Museum, which explores indigenous culture and traditions, as well as unique phenomena related to the geographic location. Your tour leader ensures a big Ecuadorian welcome by arranging a group dinner tonight. Upgrade to a suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Transfer to Quito Airport and fly to San Cristóbal in the Galapagos Islands. On arrival, we settle into our hotel and have time for a light lunch in the small town and a visit to the Galapagos Interpretation Center, a great introduction to the natural history of the archipelago. This afternoon, we walk (3mi/5km) to the cliffs at Las Tijeretas to see frigatebird colonies and there’s time to swim and snorkel close to a sea lion colony.

Travel (40 minutes) by small motorboat to León Dormido (also known as Kicker Rock), an impressive lava tuff formation. Several species of nesting seabirds reside here, including masked boobies. We can snorkel and, with any luck, spot eagle rays, Galapagos turtles, hammerhead sharks and a great variety of fish. Continue by boat, enjoying lunch en route, to one of three white-sand beaches for a walk: Playa Ochoa, Playa Manglecito or Cerro Brujo. Playa Ochoa is an expanse of white sand dominated by a large sea lion colony and is home to many birds and marine iguanas. Playa Manglecito offers both the opportunity to visit a white-sand beach and a mangrove area. Cerro Brujo is in a volcanic zone, has abundant vegetation and is home to sea lions, marine iguanas and many birds.

Drive to the San Cristóbal highlands after breakfast. A one-hour walk brings us to the fringe of El Junco Lake, one of the few permanent freshwater lakes in the Galapagos, where frigatebirds often bathe nearby. The highlands offer panoramic views across the smaller islands lapped by the Pacific. After, we visit a reserve where Galapagos giant tortoises roam free. After lunch at a local restaurant, we can visit La Loberia, a sea lion nursery, the perfect place to unwind and snorkel, surrounded by sea lions and marine iguanas.

A three-hour navigation by motorboat takes us to Floreana, one of the first islands to be inhabited in the Galapagos, yet still relatively untouched by development – don’t expect to see many restaurants or shops! En route, we may see whales, dolphins and sea birds. After lunch at one of the few local restaurants, we visit the highlands and see lava caves once used by pirates and a large enclosure of Galapagos giant tortoises.

After an early breakfast, we go on a walk to discover the black volcanic beaches, which are home to red iguanas and sea lion colonies. There is also time to snorkel this morning (please note, the visit to this beach might be done in the late afternoon on Day 6 on some departures). Just before midday, we navigate to Isabela. This afternoon, we walk (2.5mi/4km) to the Wall of Tears, a reminder of Isabela’s very different past when the island was used as a penal colony. Between 1946 and 1959, convicts were forced to build this wall from huge lava blocks simply as a form of punishment, which, combined with the harsh conditions, led to many deaths. After this sobering visit, we hike back to the town through mangroves, wetlands and along sandy beaches. This is one of the best places on the islands to view migratory birds, including Wilson’s phalaropes, blue-winged teals and, if we’re very lucky, ospreys. This region has also seen the reintroduction of Galapagos giant tortoises and we are likely to encounter several on our walk.