Galapagos Wildlife Expedition
The Galápagos Islands are where Charles Darwin found the theory of evolution written into the landscape — giant tortoises and blue-footed boobies go about their day unbothered by your presence. The journey begins with a night in Quito, then eight days aboard our small-group expedition yacht between seven distinct islands, guided the whole way by a certified naturalist who knows exactly where to find them.
9 days / 8 nights
Route: Quito → Galápagos → Quito
Islands: Sombrero Chino, Rábida, Isabela,
Fernandina, Santiago, Bartolomé, North Seymour
From: $7,150 per person, double occupancy
Galapagos Wildlife Cruise Day-by-Day
Day 1 – Welcome to Quito
We’ll be waiting for you at the airport.
Arrive in Quito, Ecuador’s UNESCO World Heritage capital, where we will greet you and take care of your transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Quito.
Day 2 – Quito to Galápagos
Board your expedition yacht and set sail.
Domestic flight to the Galápagos Islands — we’ll walk you through the transit card and park fee paperwork before you board, so there’s nothing to figure out on your own. Then it’s on to the Cachalote or Beluga motor yacht to begin your 8-day, 7-night expedition.
Day 3 – Sombrero Chino & Rábida
Snorkel with reef sharks and spot a rare penguin colony.
Snorkel the shallow channel at Chinese Hat Island, a nursery for thousands of marine species and a small penguin colony — expect whitetip reef sharks and Sally Lightfoot crabs along the way. In the afternoon, Rábida’s iron-red volcanic sand and resident sea lion colony.
Day 4 – Isabela: Puerto Villamil & Sierra Negra
Get up close and personal with marine wildlife.
Isabela is the largest island in the archipelago, built from six fused shield volcanoes. Spot Galápagos penguins, flightless cormorants, sea turtles, and marine iguanas against a raw volcanic landscape.
Day 5 – Isabela: Punta Moreno & Elizabeth Bay
Cruise mirror-still lagoons by panga.
At Punta Moreno, flamingos and pintail ducks gather in brackish pools scattered across a stark lava field. In the afternoon, glide by panga through Elizabeth Bay’s mangrove channels, among the calmest waters in the Galápagos, watching for sea turtles, rays, and penguins just beneath the surface.
Day 6 – Isabela: Urbina Bay & Tagus Cove
Walk among giant tortoises and land iguanas.
At Urbina Bay, wild giant tortoises and land iguanas graze freely along a stretch of coastline lifted from the sea by a 1954 geological uplift — one of the few places to see tortoises roaming free rather than at a breeding center. In the afternoon, cruise Tagus Cove’s cliffs by panga, watching for penguins and flightless cormorants resting along the rocks.
Day 7 – Fernandina & Isabela: Punta Vicente Roca
Meet the world’s only flightless cormorant.
Punta Espinoza on Fernandina, one of the most pristine islands in the Galápagos, is prime habitat for the endemic flightless cormorant, plus Galápagos penguins and hawks. In the afternoon, snorkel beneath the volcanic cliffs of Punta Vicente Roca, at the base of Isabela’s Ecuador Volcano, where sea turtles and playful sea lions share the water.
Day 8 – Santiago: Puerto Egas & Bartolomé
Climb to one of the Galápagos’ most photographed views.
Puerto Egas combines a rocky shoreline with a dark volcanic-sand beach and the most diverse shorebird activity in the islands, including Galápagos fur seals. Later, climb Bartolomé’s viewpoint for one of the most photographed vistas in the archipelago — Pinnacle Rock and the islands beyond.
Day 9 – North Seymour & Departure
Say your goodbyes before heading home.
A last stop at North Seymour, home to nesting frigatebirds, blue-footed boobies, and land iguanas, before flying back to Quito. Most guests catch an international flight home that evening. Want to extend your stay in Quito or the cloud forest first? We’re happy to help.
Jewels of Galápagos
From: $7,150 per person, double occupancy
Want the complete itinerary to read at your own pace or share with your travel companions? Download the full PDF.
This Itinerary Includes
- Round-trip domestic flight, Quito–Galápagos–Quito (valued at $580 per person)
- Galápagos National Park admission fee ($200 per person)
- Galápagos transit card ($20 per person)
- Bilingual Naturalist Guide and tour leader equipped with quality spotting scope and years of experience.
- Transfers in and out, from and to airport, hotels, and yacht.
- Accommodation based on double occupancy.
- Meals and snacks.
- Beverages including purified water, soft drinks, fruit juices, coffee & tea.
- All excursions described in program.
Not Included
- International airfares.
- Personal expenses like laundry or alcoholic drinks.
- Tips for guides, drivers, and staff.
- Travel or Medical insurance.
- Fuel surcharge, only if applied due to significant increases in fuel costs
- Any other item not specified in what is included.
Prices are based on fuel rates at the time of publication. If fuel costs rise significantly before departure, a surcharge may apply.
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Galapagos Tours
What wildlife might I see at Sombrero Chino & Rábida?
Whitetip reef sharks, Galápagos penguins, American oystercatchers, marine iguanas, lava lizards, Sally Lightfoot crabs, Galápagos sea lions, brown pelicans, Darwin’s finches, Galápagos mockingbirds, Galápagos doves, Yellow Warblers, pintail ducks, common stilts, great flamingos, Blue-footed and Nazca Boobies.
What wildlife might I see at Isabela: Puerto Villamil & Sierra Negra?
Galápagos penguins, flightless cormorants, sea turtles, marine iguanas, lava gulls, great blue herons, lava herons, American oystercatchers, small and large ground finches, Yellow Warblers, wedge-rumped and band-rumped storm-petrels, Galápagos shearwaters.
What wildlife might I see at Isabela: Punta Moreno & Elizabeth Bay?
Flamingos, pintail ducks, sea turtles, rays, penguins.
What wildlife might I see at Isabela: Urbina Bay & Tagus Cove?
Wild giant tortoises, land iguanas, Galápagos penguins, flightless cormorants.
What wildlife might I see at Fernandina & Isabela: Punta Vicente Roca?
Flightless cormorants, Galápagos penguins, Galápagos hawks, Blue-footed Boobies, sea turtles, sea lions.
What wildlife might I see at Santiago, Puerto Egas & Bartolomé?
Galápagos fur seals, Galápagos sea lions, Galápagos hawks, Darwin’s finches, Galápagos mockingbirds, marine iguanas, Sally Lightfoot crabs.
What wildlife might I see at North Seymour?
Magnificent and great frigatebirds (nesting colony), swallow-tailed gulls, Blue-footed Boobies, Galápagos sea lions, marine iguanas, land iguanas.
What should we expect on the yacht?
You will be staying in a double cabin, unless otherwise arranged. All meals and a welcome cocktail are included. All excursions are led by professional naturalist guides. You will have use of snorkel equipment, wetsuit, and kayaks. There will be a dinghy for taking us on excursions from the yacht to different islands. Additional bottled beverages, alcoholic drinks, and other sundries are available for purchase on the yacht.
Is there a breakdown of costs and discounts for children?
Yes — we’re happy to provide a full cost breakdown and pricing for younger family members traveling with you. Tailor your trip and we’ll walk you through it.
Can we add days to this trip?
Yes — we can help you add a land-based extension to this itinerary, or discuss other Galápagos options including different cruise and land-based itineraries. Tailor your trip and we’ll build it with you directly.
Do you offer other Galapagos tours?
Yes — if you’d like to see other Galápagos voyage options, we’re happy to send you selected itineraries with equally high-quality, safe boats, just as rich in nature and wildlife experiences. Tailor your trip and we’ll walk you through the options.
Important Information for All of Our Tours
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation refunds and penalties are based on the following schedule:
- If cancellation is made 120 days or more before the tour departure date, a cancellation fee of $500 per person will be charged.
- If the client chooses to reserve another Biotropica Expeditions tour that will operate within the upcoming 12 months, the cancellation fee will be $100 per person.
- If cancellation is made fewer than 120 days before departure date, no refund is available.
This policy and fee schedule also apply to all trips or extensions. We strongly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance for your protection.
Visas and Passports
VISAS: Visas are not required for U.S., Canadian or European citizens for entry into Ecuador for a stay of up to 90 consecutive days.
PASSPORTS: You will need a current passport with a minimum of 6 months remaining from its expiration date and a minimum of two blank pages for stamps. If you need a new or renewed passport, please do so well in advance. We recommend arriving in Ecuador with a color photocopy of the first two pages of your passport kept in a safe place. The best source for current information for U.S. citizens entering Ecuador can be found on the US State Department website.
Health and Safety
The US Centers for Disease Control provides general suggestions for health and vaccinations for your trip to Ecuador. We highly recommend following their suggestions. The US State Department maintains an updated travel advisory for Ecuador. We highly recommend US clients signing up for the STEP program to receive updates from the US Embassy in Quito while traveling.
Additional Expenses
Your trip with Biotropica Expeditions includes most expenses. However, you will want to bring enough cash to cover personal expenses not included in the program such as taxi rides, laundry, special gratuities, meals on your own, and gifts to bring home. If fuel rates increase significantly, it may be necessary to institute a fuel surcharge. We will provide as much guidance and warning as possible.
Money in Ecuador
The official currency of Ecuador is the US dollar. Cash is most commonly used in rural areas and family-run businesses. We recommend bringing bills in small denominations as anything larger than a $20 can be difficult to spend. ATMs are available in major cities but can be difficult to find in smaller towns and rural areas. Most credit cards, especially MasterCard and VISA, are accepted in large cities like Quito, Cuenca, and Guayaquil.
Pre- and Post-Tour Options
Some participants may want to explore Quito — the largest and best-preserved colonial center in Latin America and the world’s very first UNESCO World Heritage city. Arriving a day or two early allows time for impressive historical sites, ancient baroque art, and museums cradled in the foothills of Pichincha volcano. Activities include visiting the Alabado museum, exploring monasteries and cathedrals, and seeing the emblematic Plaza de la Independencia. Other options include the Botanical Garden of Quito or excursions to Antisana or Cotopaxi National Parks.
Would you like to personalize this tour?
Would you like to add a day, visit a different site, or make sure you see a certain bird? Please fill out our reservation request form, or contact Norby and Susy directly via WhatsApp at +593 99 901 1505.
