Galápagos — East, Central, & West Islands aboard the Eden

Duration: 10 days

Begins: Quito

Ends: Quito

Trip Code: SEV10DB

From

£4,539 per person

Angebot anfordern

or Call 01273 099433

    Get up close and personal with an incredible array of animal species on this 10-day tour that hits the east, central, and west islands of the Galápagos. Along the way, you'll have plenty of time to spot and snap photos of giant land tortoises on Santa Cruz, Darwin's famed finches in Punta Moreno, and colonies of friendly sea lions in North Seymour. Do it all aboard the Eden, outfitted with your comfort in mind.
    Is this tour for me?
    Travel Style
    Marine
    Small-ship adventures on the world’s great seas, rivers, and other places only accessible by boat.
    Service Level
    Standard
    Comfortable tourist-class accommodations with character; mix of public and private transport.
    Physical Rating
    3 - Average
    Some tours may include light hiking, biking, rafting, or kayaking in addition to walking.
    Trip Type
    Small Group
    Small Group experience; Max 16, avg 12
    Age requirement
    12+
    All travellers under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
    What's Included
    • Cruise the Galápagos Islands aboard the Eden (7 nts)
    • All meals aboard the Eden
    • Certified Galápagos National Park Service Guide
    • Isla lobos visit
    • Santa Fé and South Plazas excursions
    • Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station (Santa Cruz)
    • Excursion to see giant tortoises in the wild (Santa Cruz Island)
    • Chance to see flightless cormorants and penguins (Isabela Island)
    • Visit to the largest marine iguana colony in the Galápagos (Fernandina Island)
    • Snorkelling at Puerto Egas and North Seymour
    • Onboard snorkelling equipment and wetsuits
    • Internal flights
    • All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
    Accommodation

    Hotels (2 nts), aboard the Eden in twin-share (bunks, upper deck), twin-share (lower berths), or double cabins (7 nts).

    Meals

    9 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 7 dinners

    Transportation

    Plane, motorized yacht (Eden), van, panga, private bus.

    Staff & experts

    CEO (Chief Experience Officer)/Naturalist Guide while in the Galápagos Islands (certified by the Galápagos National Park Authority), local G Adventures Rep in Quito.

    Day 1 : Quito

    Arrive at any time.

    Opt to pre-book the "Quito City Tour & Equator Line" activity on the checkout page ahead of time to include this optional on your tour.

    Arrival Day and Welcome Meeting with G Representative

    The adventure begins today. Feel free to explore, but make sure you're back in time to meet the group. Your G Representative will review the details of your tour.

    Acommodation

    Hotel Hilton Colon

    Optional Activities - Day 1

    Cotopaxi Volcano - Full Day Trip

    Cotopaxi - Alausí

    Enjoy a spectacular 2 hour drive to Cotopaxi Volcano National Park to see the highest active volcano in the world (5,897m/ 19,347 ft). Visit a museum in the park and hike around a lagoon at the bottom of the volcano to learn about the flora and fauna found at this altitude. Continue by car up the volcano to the parking lot, at over 4,500m/14,763 ft. Walk for an hour and a half to the refuge and after a short break, continue to the glacier (if the weather holds out). Return to Quito in the afternoon. **Park entrance fee is not included and is split among the number of travellers in the group**

    Teleférico

    Quito

    Enjoy spectacular views of Quito from this sky tram up Volcán Pichincha. Choose to go for a hike at the top, or just come along for the ride.

    Quito City Tour & Equator Line

    Quito 9h

    Enjoy a city tour of Quito. Visit the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with stops at the Basilica del Voto Nacional, La Compañia Church, San Francisco Square, Plaza Grande and the Panecillo, a towering statue of the virgin of Quito who looks out over a stunning view of the city. Drive 25km (16 mi) north of Quito to the Middle of the World, latitude 0º. Stand with one foot in each hemisphere. Please note that this tour starts at 8 a.m. and ends around 5 p.m.

    Acommodation

    Hotel Hilton Colon

    Day 2 : Quito/San Cristóbal Island

    Take an early flight to the Galápagos Islands. In the afternoon, head to Isla Lobos known for its friendly sea lions.

    Plane

    Mariscal Sucre International Airport - San Cristóbal Island 3h

    Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

    Isla Lobos Visit

    Isla Lobos

    Explore this tiny island for great wildlife encounters. Either by foot or by panga, view the sea and shore birds nesting and feeding. Spot a small colony of blue-footed boobies as well as two species of sea lions.

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

    Day 3 : Santa Fé Island/South Plaza

    Visit Santa Fe island for a chance to mingle with the iguanas and visit an endemic Giant Cactus Forest. Continue to South Plaza for some great bird watching opportunities.

    Santa Fe Island Visit

    Santa Fé Island Morning

    Visit Santa Fé for amazing wildlife watching opportunities. Hike towards the cliffs along the island's northern shore to view the forest of giant prickly pear cactus (Opuntia), which is home to endemic land iguanas. It is also one of the best locations to see sea turtles, sea lions, and maybe even get a glimpse of a whitetip reef shark from the panga.

    This may well be the oldest island in the Galápagos. You will anchor at one of the most beautiful and most sheltered bays in the archipelago, and some of the best snorkeling is here, with its crystal clear and Santa Fe Island - Mapshallow waters. Certainly one of the best locations to see sea turtles, swim with sea lions and glimpse of the Galápagos White-tipped Shark. After a wet landing you will walk up to a nearby cliff to see the land iguanas through an area of Opuntia Cactus. Other animals present are the Galápagos Hawk, owls, Frigates, Pelicans, Manta Rays and mockingbirds. Offering a unique landscape Santa Fé gives provides both aquatic and terrestrial wildlife opportunities. Hiking towards the cliffs along the island's northern shore you can view the forest of giant prickly pear cactus (opuntia) which is home to endemic land iguanas. It is also one of the best locations to see sea turtles, swim with sea lions and glimpse of the Galápagos White-tipped Shark.

    South Plaza Island Visit

    South Plaza Afternoon

    Visit South Plaza, one of the smallest islands in the Galápagos, which has one of the largest populations of land iguanas. Walk along a path through a cactus forest and view a combination of dry and coastal vegetation on this lively island, home to a wide range of fauna, including incredible birdlife. Spot red-billed tropicbirds and indigenous swallow-tailed gulls resting on the cliffs, and sea lions playing in the waters.

    Eden

    Santa Fé Island - Santa Cruz Island

    When it comes to our fleet of Galápagos vessels, the Eden is made for both great value and great service. The luxury of local and international cuisine, daily excursions to explore the islands, and picturesque views of the Galápagos from the outdoor sundeck.

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

    Day 4 : Puerto Ayora

    Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and the highlands of Santa Cruz to try to see giant land tortoises in the wild, then enjoy free time to explore Puerto Ayora.

    Fausto Llerena Breeding Center & Charles Darwin Research Station Visit

    Puerto Ayora 0h45m

    Visit Fausto Llerena Breeding Center a great place to observe many species of tortoises. Brought back from the brink of extinction, see the famous Galápagos tortoise up close – a corral houses adult tortoises, and a nursery cares for the young until around age three when their shells have hardened. This area also houses the Charles Darwin Research Station, a scientific organization initiated in 1964, which works to preserve the Galápagos' ecosystem through the conservation efforts of scientists, researchers, and volunteers. While the offices themselves are not open to visitors, the research station provides a study location for international scientists and environmental education for the local community.

    Highlands Giant Tortoises Visit

    Santa Cruz Island

    Head to Santa Cruz’s verdant highlands. This is a perfect place to hike through the grounds and see giant tortoises in their natural environment, before savouring an included lunch.

    Eden

    Santa Cruz Island - Floreana Island

    When it comes to our fleet of Galápagos vessels, the Eden is made for both great value and great service. The luxury of local and international cuisine, daily excursions to explore the islands, and picturesque views of the Galápagos from the outdoor sundeck.

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

    Day 5 : Isabela Island

    Stop off in the small town of Puerto Villamil before hiking to the rim of the Sierra Negra volcano. In the afternoon, visit the wetlands and the tortoise breeding centre in the Puerto Villamil area.

    Sierra Negra Volcano Hike

    Isabela Island 1h - 2h

    Hike to the rim of the 10km (6 mi) wide crater of the Sierra Negra volcano, which has the largest basaltic caldera in the Galápagos. Trek across the moon-like landscape of the lava fields and fumaroles, and enjoy spectacular views looking north toward Fernandina and the rest of Isabela Island. The volcano last erupted in June 2018, making it the most recent eruption of the Galápagos. This hike is 7km in total (3.5 km each way).

    Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre Visit

    Isabela Island 2h - 3h

    Walk through the town’s wetlands to visit the Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre. With the giant tortoise on its way to extinction in the late 1950s, this program was established to protect these noble creatures.

    Flamingo Lagoon Visit

    Isabela Island

    Spend some time exploring Isabela's natural attractions. Enjoy a walk to the largest coastal lagoon in the Galápagos, also a principal breeding ground for flamingos. Make stops along the way at a lookout point, and to visit natural pools, beaches, and mangrove swamps. Also stop along the way at the Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre to see how these fascinating creatures are hatched, cared for and released into the wild in the ongoing efforts to protect the species.

    Eden

    Isabela Island - Punta Moreno

    When it comes to our fleet of Galápagos vessels, the Eden is made for both great value and great service. The luxury of local and international cuisine, daily excursions to explore the islands, and picturesque views of the Galápagos from the outdoor sundeck.

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

    Day 6 : Isabela Island

    Pay a morning visit to Punta Moreno on the southwest coast of Isabela to see lava formations, flamingos, and amazing views of the three most active volcanoes in the Galápagos Islands. In the afternoon, visit Elizabeth Bay which offers amazing bird and marine life viewing opportunities. Head out on the pangas and explore the shallows and mangroves to look for sea turtles and penguins.

    Punta Moreno Visit

    Punta Moreno

    Visit Punta Moreno and explore its interesting landscape, which is home to black lava flows and a unique system of brackish lagoons that draw in a wide range of wildlife. Spot Darwin’s finches, Galápagos doves, penguins, and more! Be sure to bring your camera for shots of the island’s amazing scenery. Punta Moreno boasts a panoramic viewpoint of three of Isabela’s imposing volcanoes: Alcedo, Sierra Negra, and Cerro Azul.

    Elizabeth Bay Panga Ride

    Elizabeth Bay

    Head out by panga to explore, keeping an eye out for wildlife hiding among the mangroves. Search for marine turtles, rays, and flightless cormorants in the sheltered waters. Also spot blue-footed boobies, penguins, and pelicans feeding on the abundant marine life.

    Eden

    Punta Moreno - Tagus Cove

    When it comes to our fleet of Galápagos vessels, the Eden is made for both great value and great service. The luxury of local and international cuisine, daily excursions to explore the islands, and picturesque views of the Galápagos from the outdoor sundeck.

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

    Day 7 : Tagus Cove/Fernandina Island

    Stop for a visit at Tagus Cove and hike to a lookout to get a stunning view of the bay. Spot old graffiti on the cliffs from whalers and pirates who once visited the the cove. Continue to Punta Espinoza on Fernandina, the youngest of the Galápagos Islands. Witness the large colony of marine iguanas and a variety of bird life.

    Tagus Cove Visit

    Tagus Cove

    Visit Tagus Cove, an Isabela Island anchorage site that was popular among whalers and pirates. Tour the area on foot for spectacular views of Darwin Lake (a spherical saltwater crater), the bay, and Darwin and Wolf volcanoes. Upon landing, take the wooden stairway to the trail entrance, and follow the trail through a dry vegetation zone. Opt to continue on an ascent to a promontory made up of spatter cones (small volcanic cones) or explore the area by dinghy.

    Punta Espinoza Visit

    Punta Espinoza

    Tour a number of different trails at this not-to-be-missed landing site that’s home to some of the largest colonies of marine iguanas and sea birds. Follow the path along the beach and across lava flows for a unique opportunity to explore one of the least-visited areas of the Galápagos.

    Eden

    Punta Espinoza - Puerto Egas

    When it comes to our fleet of Galápagos vessels, the Eden is made for both great value and great service. The luxury of local and international cuisine, daily excursions to explore the islands, and picturesque views of the Galápagos from the outdoor sundeck.

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

    Day 8 : Puerto Egas/Rábida Island

    On a morning excursion to Puerto Egas, walk on a dark sand beach studded with rock formations and tidal pools. Take a refreshing dip in turquoise waters and search for fish and sea turtles in the protected bay. Later, visit Rábida Island for a visit to a saltwater lagoon and sea lion colony.

    Puerto Egas Visit

    Puerto Egas

    Explore the spectacular shoreline of Puerto Egas, also known as James Bay. Spot a great number of shore birds and reptiles – the beach area is home to a plethora of wildlife.

    Snorkelling (Puerto Egas)

    Puerto Egas 0h45m - 1h

    Grab a snorkel and jump into the water right off the beach to explore Puerto Egas' interesting underwater world. Keep your eyes peeled for rays, turtles, and reef sharks while snorkelling. After, visit the large tidal pool area – marine iguanas and Sally Lightfoot crabs are everywhere.

    Puerto Egas, also known as James Bay, is where you will begin a hike on a dry trail leading you to tide pools rich in sea life, where you will see Marine Iguanas, Sally Light Foot Crabs, and the shy but adorable Galapagos Fur seals. While making the short trek, be looking for the Galapagos Hawk and one of his favorite meals the Lava Lizard. Upon returning you will find Egas Port a great place to snorkel off the beach. Attractions: Fur Seals, Galapagos Sea Lions, Marine Iguanas, Sally Light-foot crabs, tidal pools, reef sharks, turtles, rays Activities: Snorkeling, hiking Landing: wet This attractive site is dominated by Pan de Azucar (Sugarloaf hill) and the black-sand beach is bounded by low tuff cliffs sculpted by wind and sea. Sea lions cool off under the roof of a natural arch at the western end of the beach, where marine iguanas and sally lighfoot crabs roam the rocks. Puerto Egas is the archipelago's best site for Galapagos fur seals, which co-inhabit the rock platforms with Galapagos sea lions, large marine iguanas and Sallylightfoot Crabsyellow-crowned night herons. Productive rock pools picked over by lava herons, American oystercatchers and other waders. Arid-zone vegetation supports Darwins Finches, Galapagos hawks and abundant Galapagos doves. Blue footed boobies and occasional Galapagos penguins roost on rocky point with good fish watching in the clear water. Playa Espumilla's lagoon is excellent for waders, many Galapagos sea lions and nesting green sea turltes at Buccaneer Cove. Grab a snorkel and jump into the water right off the beach and keep your eyes peeled for rays, turtles, and reefsharks along the waters edge With a large tidal pool area marine iguanas and sally lightfoot crabs are everywhere.

    Rábida Island Visit

    Rábida Island

    Arrive at a red sand beach at Rábida to explore its trails. A short trail leads to a saltwater lagoon; another trail goes past the lagoon to the interior, where the revered palo santo trees grow. (When burned, the branches of this tree give off a pleasing aroma and ward off mosquitoes.)

    Eden

    Rábida Island - Santa Cruz Island

    When it comes to our fleet of Galápagos vessels, the Eden is made for both great value and great service. The luxury of local and international cuisine, daily excursions to explore the islands, and picturesque views of the Galápagos from the outdoor sundeck.

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

    Day 9 : Santa Cruz Island/Quito

    Visit North Seymour for guided walks to observe birds and wildlife, including vast sea lion colonies. Disembark at Baltra and fly back to Quito.

    G Adventures strongly recommends not booking departure flights on the day the group returns to Quito. Local flight times are often subject to change and could potentially cause issues if delayed. We recommend booking flights on the last day of the tour as noted on the Full itinerary page.

    North Seymour Island Visit

    North Seymour

    Have an amazing wildlife experience visiting North Seymour Island – this island is teeming with life! Follow trails to see all the action (you may need to give way to a passing sea lion or marine iguana while walking). Depending on the season, see blue-footed booby nests where mating pairs perform their courtship dance. Head to a rocky shore to see flocks of pelicans having lunch in a dive bomb feeding frenzy, then turn inland to a large nesting site of magnificent frigatebirds. These huge, dark acrobats have two-metre (6.5 ft) wingspans, and males, with their puffed-up scarlet throat sacks, sit precariously perched in low bushes to watch over their equally large chicks.

    Plane

    Seymour Airport - Mariscal Sucre International Airport 2h

    Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

    Acommodation

    Hotel Hilton Colon

    Acommodation

    Hotel Hilton Colon

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast

    Day 10 : Quito

    Depart at any time.

    Departure Day

    Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.

    Optional Activities - Day 10

    Teleférico

    Quito

    Enjoy spectacular views of Quito from this sky tram up Volcán Pichincha. Choose to go for a hike at the top, or just come along for the ride.

    Cotopaxi Volcano - Full Day Trip

    Cotopaxi - Alausí

    Enjoy a spectacular 2 hour drive to Cotopaxi Volcano National Park to see the highest active volcano in the world (5,897m/ 19,347 ft). Visit a museum in the park and hike around a lagoon at the bottom of the volcano to learn about the flora and fauna found at this altitude. Continue by car up the volcano to the parking lot, at over 4,500m/14,763 ft. Walk for an hour and a half to the refuge and after a short break, continue to the glacier (if the weather holds out). Return to Quito in the afternoon. **Park entrance fee is not included and is split among the number of travellers in the group**

    Quito City Tour & Equator Line

    Quito 9h

    Enjoy a city tour of Quito. Visit the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with stops at the Basilica del Voto Nacional, La Compañia Church, San Francisco Square, Plaza Grande and the Panecillo, a towering statue of the virgin of Quito who looks out over a stunning view of the city. Drive 25km (16 mi) north of Quito to the Middle of the World, latitude 0º. Stand with one foot in each hemisphere. Please note that this tour starts at 8 a.m. and ends around 5 p.m.

    Meals Included:

    Breakfast

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