Galápagos Biking and Kayaking Tour: 8 Days on Three Islands

• DAY 1: San Cristóbal arrival and La Lobería

  

  Your Galápagos Adventure starts today! First, you will arrive at the airport of San Cristobal, where you will be picked up and transferred by private transport with an English-speaking contact person to your hotel in the town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. The rest of the afternoon you can enjoy a self-guided visit to La Loberia, famous for its beach and sea lions.

  • Activity:Exploring.
  • Transport:Car.
  • Accommodation:Galápagos Sunset or similar.

• DAY 2: Kicker Rock snorkelling

  

  Today you will have a day tour to Kicker Rock, your first activity in the Galápagos Multisport adventure. Here you will be able to spot different shark species (sometimes even hammerheads!), turtles, rays, and more. In some seasons you might encounter jellyfish which can sting, however a wetsuit will be provided when this is the case. After snorkeling you will continue to Manglecito or a similar beach. This white coral beach offers the opportunity to walk around and relax and swim in shallow waters before returning to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. You will have a box lunch on board.

  *It is also possible to dive at Kicker Rock (two immersions) if you have your PADI certificate ( $ 80) including equipment.

  • Activity:Exploring. Relaxing. Snorkeling. Wildlife Watching.
  • Transport:Boat. Car.
  • Meal:Breakfast. Box Lunch.
  • Accommodation:Galápagos Sunset or similar.

• DAY 3: Kayaking or paddleboarding, afternoon speedboat to Santa Cruz

  

  In the morning you will have the opportunity to either paddle board or kayak at Playa Mann. It is the perfect place to disconnect and view amazing wildlife up close. After this fun activity, return to your hotel and prepare to take the public speedboat to Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz, where you will arrive around 5:30 p.m.

  • Activity:Paddle Boarding or Kayaking. Sightseeing. Wildlife Watching.
  • Transport:Boat. Car.
  • Meal:Breakfast.
  • Accommodation:Hotel Deja Vu or similar.

• DAY 4: Santa Fe or Pinzón snorkelling and fishing day

  

  Brace yourself for an encounter unlike any other. Today you will either visit Santa Fe or the Pinzon Islands. This will depend on the Galápagos National Park Regulations and will be decided on the day the tour operates.

  If you visit Santa Fe, you will discover a pristine bay with crystal-clear waters for a thrilling snorkeling adventure. Following this, a wet landing awaits at Playa Escondida or the Garrapatero Beach on Santa Cruz Island, giving you ample time to explore this mesmerizing beach.

  Alternatively, the Pinzon Island tour unveils an amazing display of marine iguanas and playful sea lions. La Fe is a picturesque beach cradled by mangroves and rocky terrain, showcasing an array of captivating marine life from sea turtles to small sharks and colorful fish. During this specific day tour, you will also have the opportunity to experience “Pezca Vivencial,” which is translated as “experiential fishing,” focused on the enjoyment and personal connection, rather than just the catch.

  Prepare to be captivated by the extraordinary beauty of these enchanting destinations.

  *Wet landings mean the boat will get as close as possible to the beach, then you will leave the boat, stepping into the water and onto the beach.It is recommended you wear water shoes or sandals for land and water.

  • Activity:Exploring. Snorkeling. Wildlife Watching.
  • Transport:Boat. Car.
  • Meal:Breakfast. Box Lunch.
  • Accommodation:Hotel Deja Vu or similar.

• DAY 5: Cerro Mesa ride and Playa Garrapatero

  

  Your Galápagos adventure continues as you prepare to bike to the Cerro Mesa crater in the Santa Cruz highlands.You will begin in Puerto Ayora with your English-speaking guide and visit the highlands to see the giant tortoises in their natural habitat, and finally reach the Cerro Mesa crater.After your visit, you will bike down to the Garrapatero Beach where you can enjoy a refreshing dip in the ocean.From here, you will bike back to Puerto Ayora.

  • Activity:Biking. Swimming. Wildlife Watching.
  • Transport:Bike. Car.
  • Meal:Breakfast. Box Lunch.
  • Accommodation:Hotel Deja Vu or similar.

• DAY 6: Speedboat to Isabela, wetlands ride and kayaking

  

  In the morning you will depart on the public speedboat to Isabela Island.The boat leaves at 7 a.m.When you arrive at Isabela Island, you will be provided a transfer to your hotel.Afterward, you will be picked up and given instructions on the bikes where you can go off and explore the wetlands complex on your own.Later in the afternoon, you have an opportunity to kayak in Puerto Villamil along the shorelines viewing the aquatic life.

  • Activity:Exploring. Snorkeling. Wildlife Watching.
  • Transport:Boat. Car.
  • Meal:Breakfast. Snack.
  • Accommodation:Hotel La Laguna or similar.

• DAY 7: Los Túneles snorkelling

  

  You will be picked up at a coordinated time and brought to the Isabela pier where a boat ride of 45 minutes will take you to Los Tuneles. Together with your bilingual guide, you will walk through this incredible landscape and you will have the opportunity to possibly see blue-footed boobies, sea lions, and so much more.

  Then you will head to El Finado, just 10 minutes from Los Tuneles. El Finado is one of the most spectacular places for snorkeling in Isabela as the water is shallow, clear, and calm, giving you the chance to view a huge array of aquatic life like sea horses, parrot fish, hogfish, wrasses, penguins, sea turtles, and more. In the early afternoon, you will return to Puerto Villamil.

  • Activity:Biking. Kayaking. Wildlife Watching.
  • Transport:Car.
  • Meal:Breakfast.
  • Accommodation:Hotel La Laguna or similar.

• DAY 8: Flight to Baltra and departure

  

  Your Galápagos Multisport adventure comes to an end today.You will take the early speedboat, leaving at 6 a.m. to make your way back to Puerto Ayora.Upon arrival, you will then be provided a transfer from Puerto Ayora, back up through the highlands and to the Itabacca Channel.Here you will cross back to Baltra and ride the bus back to the airport.Please make sure you have a later flight departure no earlier than 12 p.m.

  • Transport:Boat. Bus. Car.
  • Meal:Boxed Breakfast.

8 Active Days in the Galápagos: FAQs

• How fit do I need to be for an active Galápagos tour?

  Normal fitness. The longest ride is the Cerro Mesa descent, mostly downhill on graded roads. Kayaking stays in sheltered water and every activity has a shorter option.

• Are bikes and kayaks included in the tour?

  Yes, along with helmets and buoyancy aids. Bikes are hybrids suited to graded roads rather than technical trails, and kayaks are stable sit-on-top doubles.

• Can you cycle on all the Galápagos islands?

  Only on marked roads. Isabela’s wetlands road and Santa Cruz’s Cerro Mesa route are the two best. National Park trails are walking-only throughout the archipelago.

• Is this Galápagos tour good for families with teenagers?

  Yes. Biking, kayaking and snorkelling all suit teenagers, and the pace keeps them occupied. Children under 12 receive a 10% discount.

• What is the best time of year for active days in the Galápagos?

  June to November is cooler and better for riding and hiking. December to May brings warmer, calmer water, which suits the snorkelling days more.