Family Land Galapagos 8 Days

Today you will arrive independently to Quito, the historic capital of Ecuador, where you will meet your tour representative at your included hotel. Here you will be able to meet the rest of your group for the first time and find out more about what’s in store over the next week. You should then have time to discover some of this UNESCO World Heritage Site city at your leisure, before getting a good night’s sleep in preparation for the adventures ahead.

After breakfast this morning you will join your included transfer to the airport for your flight to San Cristóbal Island, the easternmost and one of the most historic islands in the Galapagos archipelago. After checking in to your hotel and enjoying lunch on the island we will venture out for our first taste of the Galapagos with an included visit to the island’s wildlife interpretation centre. Here you can learn all about the history of the Galapagos, from its volcanic beginnings, to its association with Charles Darwin, right up to its current conservation efforts. You and the family can take an enjoyable journey through the human and wildlife history of the islands as you start to discover first-hand what makes the Galapagos so remarkable.

The rest of the afternoon and evening will be yours to enjoy at your leisure. You may wish to spend some time chilling out on Mann Beach in the company of the resident sea lions and frigate birds, taking a bike ride around the island or renting some snorkelling equipment for your first underwater Galapagos experience. The principal town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno offers up some good dining choices for this evening.

2 nights’ accommodation on San Cristobal island with breakfast included.

After breakfast this morning it will be time for your first included snorkelling adventure as you take a quick boat ride Isla Lobos for some underwater adventuring. This scenic islet is populated by large numbers of sea lions which certainly adds to the fun element of a day snorkelling here. You can spend the day snorkelling among the families of sea lions in search of sightings of even more marine wildlife, whilst keeping an eye out for birdlife including the famous blue-footed boobies and nesting frigatebirds.

In the afternoon the boat will take you back to San Cristóbal where you can enjoy some more free time this evening.

Today you will travel by boat from San Cristóbal to Santa Cruz Island where you will be staying for the next 3 nights. After checking in to your hotel we will set off into the highlands of the island on a search for sightings of the Galapagos’ famous giant tortoises in the wild. This unforgettable excursion will allow you to see these majestic animals in their natural habitat whilst also looking out for other Galapagos wildlife and birdlife. The evening will be free for you to explore at your leisure.

3 nights accommodation on Santa Cruz island with breakfast included.

On day 5 of your itinerary you can enjoy an exciting kayaking adventure through the mangroves of picturesque Tortuga Bay. Consistently named as one of the world’s most beautiful beaches, the stunning blue waters here are home to an abundance of marine wildlife including sea turtles, rays and colourful reef fish. After a busy morning paddling on the waters you may want to spend some time relaxing on this picture-perfect beach, keeping a keen eye out for the resident iguanas, or if you’re after more adventure you could choose to take an optional surfing lesson.

On your last full day on the islands your included boat tour will take you to the areas of Playa de los Perros, Las Grietas and Lobería where you can partake in some snorkelling in the crystal clear waters which are home to sea lions and an abundance of other marine wildlife species. In the afternoon you can enjoy your included visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station and the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center where you can observe great numbers of marine iguanas and various species of tortoises. You will have the unforgettable opportunity to see the Galápagos tortoise up close and learn all about how this remarkable animal was brought back from the brink of extinction, as well as finding out more about the host of important scientific research that is continuously being carried out on the islands in order to preserve the sensitive ecosystem.

As your thrilling Galapagos family adventure comes to an end you will join your included flight back to Quito where you can enjoy some time to explore this incredible city at your own pace. Accommodation is provided in a city centre hotel tonight and the following morning it will be time to bid a fond farewell to your new found friends as you head onwards or homewards.