Consider yourself lucky if you have two weeks to spend in the Galápagos Islands. You could spend all 14 days in the archipelago, island-hopping around the region to see giant tortoises in the wild, snorkeling with sea lions, and hiking to volcanic craters. Or you could incorporate a week in the Galápagos into a more wide-ranging trip around Ecuador that includes time in Quito and Cotopaxi National Park. If you're feeling especially ambitious, consider combining a trip to the Galápagos with an adventure to Machu Picchu in Peru. Learn more about your options by reading over the itineraries below.

Itinerary #1: Highlights of the Galápagos Islands

Get ready for two exciting weeks of island hopping around the Galápagos, swimming with sea turtles, hiking to a volcano, and seeing blue-footed boobies in the wild on this highlights tour of the archipelago. 

Galapagos - Sea lions on Isla Santiago
Sea lions on Isla Santiago
Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Arrive on Isla San Cristóbal Isla San Cristóbal
Day 2 Tour San Cristobal Island Isla San Cristóbal
Day 3 Snorkel at Kicker Rock Isla San Cristóbal
Day 4 Day Trip to Isla Española Isla San Cristóbal
Day 5 Free Day on San Cristobal Island Isla San Cristóbal
Day 6 Fly to Isla Isabela Isla Isabela
Day 7 Hike the Sierra Negra volcano Isla Isabela
Day 8 Excursion to Los Tuneles Isla Isabela
Day 9 Relax on Isla Isabela Isla Isabela
Day 10 Speedboat to Isla Santa Cruz Puerto Ayora
Day 11 Venture to an Uninhabited Island Puerto Ayora
Day 12 Visit Another Island in the Area Puerto Ayora
Day 13 Hike, Swim & Sunbathe on Isla Santa Cruz Puerto Ayora
Day 14 Depart Islands - End of Trip  


Welcome to the Galápagos Islands! Your tour begins in Isla San Cristóbal. You'll snorkel with colorful fish and rays at Kicker Rock and take a day trip to Isla Española for wildlife viewing. Then relax during a free day on the island, swimming at the beach or renting a bike to explore. On day six, catch a domestic flight to Isla Isabela. A highlight of your stay here is a hike to the massive crater at the Sierra Negra volcano.

Another unforgettable excursion on Isla Isabela is snorkeling around the otherworldly rock formations at Los Tuneles, spotting seahorses beneath the water's surface and penguins waddling around near the shore. You'll have a free day to relax before traveling to Isla Santa Cruz on a speedboat. You'll side-trip to two uninhabited islands, keeping an eye out for blue-footed boobies and other rare birds, before the trip comes to a close. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Galápagos Islands, Machu Picchu & the Amazon

On this multicountry journey around Ecuador and Peru, highlights include boating in the Amazonian rainforest, snorkeling with penguins and sea lions in the Galápagos Islands, and hiking to the "lost city of the Incas," Machu Picchu.

Tambopata National Reserve at Collpa Chuncho, the biggest macaw clay lick in the world
Observe bright macaws in Tambopata National Reserve, the biggest macaw clay lick in the world
Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Enter the Amazon! The Amazon
Day 2 See Macaws, Monkeys & More The Amazon
Day 3 Kayaking Trip Through the Jungle The Amazon
Day 4 Transfer to Cusco & Sightsee Cusco
Day 5 Explore Inca Ruins Outside the City Urubamba
Day 6 Tour the Lost City of Machu Picchu Ollantaytambo
Day 7 Discover Stunning Scenery in the Sacred Valley Cusco
Day 8 Free Day in Cusco Cusco
Day 9 Fly to Ecuador & Get to Know Guayaquil Guayaquil
Day 10 Transfer to the Galápagos Puerto Ayora
Day 11 Yacht Tour to an Uninhabited Island Puerto Ayora
Day 12 Hike and Relax on Isla Isabela Isabela
Day 13 Snorkel Through Los Tuneles Isabela
Day 14 Depart Galápagos - End of Trip  


Kick off the trip in the Amazon rainforest! You'll spot monkeys in the trees, kayak through the jungle, and see an incredible variety of native birds. Sleep in a wilderness lodge and disconnect before you head back to civilization — the heart of an ancient civilization, to be specific, in Cusco. Tour ancient ruins in the city and adjust to the altitude before you head out of the city to explore sights like Salineras, an ancient salt production center built by the Incas.

Overnight in Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu, and sample traditional Peruvian cuisine. You'll venture to the famous "lost city of the Incas" the next day, touring the site with a guide, then drive around the Sacred Valley with its historic terraces and beautiful landscapes. Cross the border to Guayaquil, Ecuador, and spend the night in the city before flying into the Galápagos Islands. You'll spend the rest of the trip discovering the natural beauty of the archipelago, hiking on uninhabited islands, cruising on a yacht, and snorkeling with penguins past ethereal rock formations. Learn more

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Itinerary #3: Ecuadorian Highlands & Galápagos Islands Adventure 

Split your time between the majestic Ecuadorian Highlands and the Galápagos Islands on this wide-ranging two-week itinerary that takes you to Andean villages, colorful market towns, thermal springs, and the incredible Galápagos archipelago, rich with unique wildlife.

A beach on Bartolomé Island in the Galapagos
Spot iguanas on a beach on Bartolomé Island in the Galápagos
Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Arrive in Quito Quito
Day 2 Tour Quito & Mitad del Mundo  Mindo
Day 3 Visit the Cloud Forest of Mindo  Otavalo
Day 4 Shop at Otavalo Market & Visit Cuicocha Lagoon  Papallacta
Day 5 Explore Cotopaxi National Park Cotopaxi
Day 6 Hike Around Quilotoa Lagoon  Quito
Day 7 Free Day in Quito Quito
Day 8 Fly to Santa Cruz Island & Visit Charles Darwin Station Puerto Ayora
Day 9 Afternoon Boat Tour Puerto Ayora
Day 10 Day Trip to an Uninhabited Island Puerto Ayora
Day 11 Boat to an Island for Wildlife Viewing Puerto Ayora
Day 12 Hike, Bike, Swim & Relax in the Galápagos Puerto Ayora
Day 13 Depart the Islands & Enjoy Quito Quito
Day 14 Depart Ecuador - End of Trip  

This busy itinerary begins in Quito. Go for a city tour, stand on the equator at Mitad del Mundo, and explore the cloud forest of Mindo. Detour to Otavalo Market and hike around beautiful Cuicocha Lagoon before dipping into the thermal waters of Papallacta. You'll spend the next day hiking to the volcano at Cotopaxi National Park and then down to the gorgeous crater lake at Quilotoa. Backtrack to Quito, where you'll have a free day to catch your breath before the journey continues.

Fly to the Galápagos Islands, where you'll spend most of the rest of the trip. Start on Isla Santa Cruz with a visit to Charles Darwin Station. In the coming days, you'll enjoy afternoon boat tours, day trips to uninhabited islands rich with unique wildlife, and evenings spent in the laid-back port town of Puerto Ayora. Rent a bike to explore the island or go snorkeling offshore for the chance to see sea turtles and seahorses in the wild. You'll fly out of the Galápagos and spend one last night in Quito before the trip is over. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Galápagos Island Hopping: Water, Wildlife & Wilderness

Explore the Galápagos—both on dry land and under the waves—on this island-hopping journey around the islands' spectacular landscapes and wildlife habitats.

A sea turtle offshore in the Galápagos
Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Arrive at Isla San Cristóbal Isla San Cristóbal
Day 2 Interpretation Center, Frigate Birds, & La Lobería Sea Lions Isla San Cristóbal
Day 3 Snorkeling at Kicker Rock Isla San Cristóbal
Day 4 Free Day on San Cristobal Isla San Cristóbal
Day 5 Speedboat to Isla Santa Cruz, Tortoises & Charles Darwin Station Puerto Ayora
Day 6 Day Trip to an Unpopulated Island Puerto Ayora
Day 7 Free Morning & Afternoon Boat Tour Puerto Ayora
Day 8 Another Day, Another Uninhabited Island Puerto Ayora
Day 9 Speedboat to Isla Isabela & Wildlife on Las Tintoreras Islet Isla Isabela
Day 10 Sierra Negra Volcano Isla Isabela
Day 11 Free Day on Isla Isabela Isla Isabela
Day 12 Speedboat to Isla Santa Cruz & Kayaking Tortuga Bay Puerto Ayora
Day 13 Free Day on Isla Santa Cruz Puerto Ayora
Day 14 Transfer to Airport on Isla Baltra & Depart  


The trip starts when you arrive on Isla San Cristóbal. Visit the Interpretation Center and see the sea lions at La Lobería. Then go snorkeling at Kicker Rock and ride a speedboat to Isla Santa Cruz, where you'll see giant tortoises and tour Charles Darwin Station. Over the next few days, base yourself in Puerto Ayora and take boat tours to uninhabited islands to spot wildlife, snorkel, and hike. 

Midway through the itinerary, transfer to Isla Isabela, where you'll spend the next few days exploring the surroundings. Highlights include a trip to Las Tintoreras Islet and a hike up Sierra Negra Volcano. Then, it's back to Puerto Ayora for the last segment of the trip. You'll have the chance to go kayaking around Tortuga Bay and enjoy some free time to relax on the beach, go on wildlife hikes, or shop for souvenirs in town before the journey is over. Learn more    

More Great Galápagos Islands Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to the Galápagos? Check out these other Galápagos Islands itineraries, with island-hopping cruises, land-based trips, and best-of tours to hit the highlights. 

Map

Map of 2 Weeks in the Galápagos Islands - 4 Unique Itinerary Ideas
Map of 2 Weeks in the Galápagos Islands - 4 Unique Itinerary Ideas