With this 9-day program, your whole trip is arranged, from your Quito airport pick up up to your Quito airport drop off. Flights from and to the Galapagos Islands are included. You stay in a tourist superior-class hotel in Quito and the Galapagos and tours and activities are included as well. After 9 days you will have had a great experience at the Galapagos Islands with the highlights of the Colonial capital of Quito.
9-Day Colonial Quito & Galapagos Island Hopping
Tour Summary
Gallery
Highlights
- Los TunelesSnorkel in the clear waters and swim with a lot of different unique animal species.
- Santa Cruz HighlandsYou will be surrounded by impressive flora and fauna including giant tortoises in their natural habitat and unique volcanic features.
- Old Town QuitoQuito has the biggest and the best-preserved historical center in South America.
- Tintoreras IsletA place where white-tip sharks known as Tintoreras come daily to rest at the bottom.
- Concha PerlaThe perfect place to spot several, colorful fish, playful sea lions, sea urchins, starfishes and occasionally Galapagos penguins.
- Charles Darwin StationKnown for its amazing turtles, born from 3 inches to 4 feet long, you can also see the memorial site of Lonely George.
- The WetlandsMountain biking next to giant turtles and long white beaches.
Itinerary
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DAY 1 QUITO ARRIVAL
Today, you will be picked up from Quito Airport by an English-speaking driver. Then, you will be taken to your hotel.
- Transport:Car.
- Accommodation:Hotel Ikala Quito or similar.
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DAY 2 QUITO CITY & EQUATOR TOUR
After breakfast, our guide will pick you up to do a City tour of the historical center of Quito (part of the UNESCO World Heritage list), the Pululahua Crater, and the Equator Museum (Inti Nan). You will have a local lunch in the historical center of Quito.
- Activity:Exploring. Sightseeing.
- Transport:Car.
- Meal:Breakfast. Lunch.
- Accommodation:Hotel Ikala Quito or similar.
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DAY 3 QUITO – BALTRA – SANTA CRUZ HIGHLANDS
In the morning, our driver will drop you off at Quito Airport from where you will fly to Baltra Island. At Baltra Airport, you will meet up with your English-speaking guide who will take you in the direction of the port of Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz Island). On the way, you will stop in the highlands of Santa Cruz to visit a farm where you can see giant tortoises in their natural habitat. You will have a local lunch there (only if you arrive before 2:00 PM). Afterward, you will be dropped off at your hotel in Puerto Ayora.
- Activity:Exploring. Wildlife Watching.
- Transport:Airplane. Boat. Bus. Car.
- Meal:Breakfast. Lunch.
- Accommodation:Hotel Fiesta or similar.
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DAY 4 CHARLES DARWIN’S STATION – ISABELA
After breakfast, you will visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. It is known for its amazing turtles, born from only 3 inches to 4 feet long. These species of turtles tend to interact with each other and also with humans, showing their heads for a pet. The new hatchlings are kept until they are approximately four years old and strong enough to survive on their own. After lunch, you will go to Isabela Island by public speedboat (2,5 hours).
- Activity:Sightseeing. Wildlife Watching.
- Transport:Boat. Car.
- Meal:Breakfast. Lunch.
- Accommodation:Hotel Volcano or similar.
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DAY 5 TINTORERAS – WETLANDS
Tintoreras Islet is where white-tip sharks known as Tintoreras come daily to rest at the bottom. You will have a transport that will take you to the pier of Puerto Villamil, here you will board a boat for 10 minutes to cross to the islet which is located across the bay. It will be necessary for passengers to use walking shoes or sneakers (closed shoes) to cross the volcanic rocks. You can also observe penguins, sea lions, and marine iguanas and you can go snorkeling with colorful tropical fish while enjoying the beaches of Isabela. After lunch, you will have a little break and then you will have a tour of The Wetlands, here you will visit the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center, where you will spot small and giant tortoises in their natural habitat. The next activity is a visit to The Wall of Tears.
Please keep in mind that the total length of the walk-in The Wetlands area is approximately 3 to 4 hours.
- Activity:Hiking. Sightseeing. Wildlife Watching
- Transport:Boat. Car.
- Meal:Breakfast. Lunch.
- Accommodation:Hotel Volcano or similar.
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DAY 6 SNORKELING IN LOS TUNELES
In the morning, you will go on a 30 to 40-minute boat ride from Puerto Villamil. The maximum group size is 10 participants per guide. You will explore the brilliant scenery in Los Tuneles where you will get the chance to spot large quantities of seabirds. This exciting activity takes approximately about 6 hours including the boat rides and a snack before a short hike. The departure time is between 7:00 AM and 11:30 AM and depends on availability and National Park regulations. So, depending on when you will go to Los Tuneles, you can choose to explore Concha Perla by yourself before or after this, since it is very close to the dock. If you would like to do the optional snorkeling there, you can get the snorkel equipment from your hotel and get to chance to spot even more animals.
- Activity:Exploring. Hiking. Snorkeling. Wildlife Watching.
- Transport:Boat, Car.
- Meal:Breakfast. Snack.
- Accommodation:Hotel Volcano or similar.
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DAY 7 FREE DAY ISABELA – PM BOAT SANTA CRUZ
Today you can relax at Isabela Island before you take the public speedboat at 2:00 PM back to Santa Cruz where you will spend the night.
- Activity:Relaxing.
- Transport:Boat.
- Meal:Breakfast.
- Accommodation:Hotel Fiesta or similar.
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DAY 8 BALTRA – QUITO
After breakfast, you will travel to Baltra Airport, and afterward, you take a flight back to Quito where you will be picked up by an English-speaking driver/guide at the airport.
- Transport:Airplane. Boat. Bus. Car.
- Meal:Breakfast.
- Accommodation:Hotel Ikala Quito or similar.
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DAY 9 TRANSFER OUT
After breakfast, you will be taken to the airport where your Colonial Quito & Galapagos tour ends.
- Transport:Car.
- Meal:Breakfast.
Map
9-Day Colonial Quito & Galapagos Island Hopping Map
- Meals as described in the itinerary.
- Accommodation in a single, double or triple room.
- Round trip flights between mainland Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands.
- Airport pickup and drop off at Baltra and Quito Airports at your arrival/departure times.
- Transportation on and between the Islands as described in the itinerary.
- Transportation between Baltra Airport – Itabaca Channel.
- Local naturalist guide (English & Spanish speaking).
- All activities as described in the itinerary.
- Snorkeling equipment: mask, snorkel, fins and life vest.
- 24/7 assistance in English, Dutch and Spanish.
+ Food & drinks that are not mentioned in the itinerary.
+ Entrance fee for the Galapagos National Park: $ 200 p.p. (cash only).
+ Migratory Control Card / INGALA Transit Card $ 20 p.p. (cash only).
+ Isabela dock fee $ 10 p.p. (cash only).
+ Water Taxi (small boat that takes you from the speedboat to the harbor and back).
+ Personal travel & health insurance.
+ For rent: wetsuit (recommended between May – November).
+ Optional tips for the guide.
Book now
1 guest | $ 3,935 p.p. |
2 - 7 guests | $ 3,109 p.p. |
8 or more guests | $ 2,772 p.p. |
Additional information
- Prices for 2025 are subject to change.
- For children under the age of 12, there is a 10% discount.
- Please note that the activity sequence depends on your flight schedule and the availabilities of the different tours and transportation. The sequence of your complete tour might change but you won’t miss any tours if you have an afternoon flight back to Ecuador on the last day.
- It is recommended to book flights with an early arrival time to the Galapagos Islands and a late departure time from the Galapagos Islands to make sure you can enjoy all of the activities of the tour. Late arrivals and/or early departures mean you might miss some activities.
- Try to only bring small baggage/bags since public transportation on the Galapagos Islands is quite small.
- There are no guides on the transportation by public speedboat between islands.
- It is suggested to have valid travel and medical insurance that includes COVID-19 coverage. Please inform the team of any known medical conditions you have.
- Essential items to bring include comfortable and lightweight clothing (with a jacket as a precaution), water, sunblock, sunglasses, and your passport.
- Pictures may be taken during your tour, so it is recommended to bring a USB.
- Inform yourself about food safety when traveling to tropical countries. Take the necessary precautions to avoid food poisoning (always wash your hands before eating, don’t eat street food, only eat peeled fruits, etc.).
- Tap water on the Galapagos Islands might contain bacteria and should not be consumed, not even for brushing your teeth. Bottled or purified water is always recommended.
- Rebecca Adventure Travel reserves the right to change the itinerary without prior notice due to weather conditions, availability, National Park regulations or notifications, and unforeseeable circumstances.
- When flying to Galapagos from Quito or Guayaquil, we recommend arriving in the city at least 24 hours before your flight, to avoid inconveniences in case of flight delays.
ADVANTAGES OF BOOKING WITH REBECCA ADVENTURE TRAVEL
- Impactful Travel: Develop meaningful connections that provide mutual enrichment for both travelers and host cultures.
- Empowering Locals: Support family-owned accommodations, involving local communities and contributing to local economies.
- Sustainable Travel: Preserve cultures and environments for future generations with our Huella Positiva.
- Travel With Trust: We are here for you every step of the way with solid insurance, certifications, and rebooking facilities.
- Personalized Travel Curator: Ensures your trip meets your needs and exceeds your expectations.
- When you book a tour with us you agree to our terms and conditions.
Exact Code: 25GPHCQ9
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