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Introducing Galapagos Islands

Travel to the Galapagos Islands
Traveling to the Galapagos Islands is a life-changing experience, whether you visit the islands alone, with your partner, with family or friends. There are several travel options to discover the Galapagos. The best and most popular way is by cruising the islands on board yachts and ships. Another alternative is a hotel-based program from the three main ports in Galapagos.

What makes the Galapagos so unique
These remote and isolated islands are home to endemic and unique species. During the daily excursions, you'll have the opportunity to experience close encounters with amazing wildlife, fearless of human beings. Each island will bring something new to your experience. The Galapagos Islands were also recently declared a marine sanctuary!

Explore trips by duration: 5 days · 6 days · 7 days · 8 days · 9 days · 10 days · 11 days · 12 days · 13 days · 14 days

Galapagos Islands Tours & Itineraries

Get inspired by trips other travelers have loved
Isla Isabela, Galápagos
Map of Galápagos Islands Land-Based Adventure Tour: 10 Days
Galápagos Islands Land-Based Adventure Tour: 10 Days

This 10-day trip will take you to the best the Galápagos has to offer. Immerse yourself in the wildlife, culture, and unique ecosystem of the archipelago as you see the sights by bike, by foot, and in the water. This extraordinary tour includes snorkeling with sea lions, tropical fish, and beautiful manta rays. On land, there will be numerous chances to observe giant tortoises and other amazing creatures in this one-of-a-kind destination.

View of Puerto Ayora.
Map of Galapagos Islands Land-Based Adventure Tour: 6 Days
Galapagos Islands Land-Based Adventure Tour: 6 Days

Land-based tours are a more economical and comfortable alternative to cruising the Galapagos. This 6-day itinerary takes in the highlights of the three main inhabited islands — from watching giant tortoises to hiking around an active volcanic crater and snorkeling with penguins and sharks.

Sea Lions Playing Under the Waves
Map of Best of Ecuador: Quito & the Galapagos Islands - 7 Days
Best of Ecuador: Quito & the Galapagos Islands - 7 Days

This whirlwind trip takes you to many of Ecuador's top highlights in a single week. Stroll the colonial streets of Quito, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and stand on the equator at Mitad del Mundo. Then it's off to the Galapagos Islands for four days of hiking, snorkeling, kayaking, wildlife viewing, and relaxing on the beach. From snow-capped peaks to deep waters filled with sea turtles and penguins, this diverse itinerary has something for everyone.

Viewing giant tortoises in their native habitat is a highlight of the Galapagos.
Map of Galapagos Cruise: Wildlife Watching, Snorkeling & Hiking - 11 Days
Galapagos Cruise: Wildlife Watching, Snorkeling & Hiking - 11 Days

Cruising around the Galapagos Islands — viewing extraordinary wildlife and natural sights by day while motoring between islands at night — is one of the best ways to experience these magical islands. On this tour, you'll visit 11 islands in the famed archipelago, observing birdlife, sea lions, marine iguanas, sharks, giant tortoises and an array of other creatures.

Blue-footed boobies
Map of Galápagos Island Hopping: San Cristobal & Santa Cruz - 5 Days
Galápagos Island Hopping: San Cristobal & Santa Cruz - 5 Days

If you're short on time but don't want to cut back on experiences, this 5-day island hopping trip to the Galápagos is for you. Fly out of Quito, heading for San Cristobal—home of the famous sea lion colony and Kicker Rock. Then, take a speedboat to Santa Cruz, where you'll see giant tortoises and visit an uninhabited island. 

Spot flamingoes and other exotic wildlife in the Galápagos
Map of Best of Peru Tour & Galápagos Cruise - 12 Days
Best of Peru Tour & Galápagos Cruise - 12 Days

Discover ancient ruins, colonial architecture, fantastic food, and folk culture in Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and the iconic Machu Picchu. Then hop aboard the luxurious Galápagos Legend—the only cruise boat in the Galápagos with an on-deck swimming pool—for a multi-island expedition to observe the birds, iguanas, and sea creatures that make this place so special.

Make the Most of Your Time in Galapagos Islands

Have a fixed number of days? Maximize the things to see and do during your visit

Galapagos Islands Travel Advice

Read our detailed insights to make sure you have the best trip
Shark in the Galapagos
Ultimate Guide to Diving in the Galapagos

The Galapagos Islands are spectacular in so many ways, but even more so underwater. The seascapes of reefs, ledges, walls and extinct volcanic craters are teeming with wildlife...

Seals in the Galápagos Islands
Family Travel in the Galápagos Islands

The Galápagos Islands comprise one of the world's most extraordinary travel destinations, and the opportunity to observe the famous archipelago's native creatures is especially...

Our Latest Galapagos Islands Content

Meet the friendly locals when you arrive on Isla Santa Cruz
Map of Ultimate Family Trip to the Galápagos: Santa Cruz, Isabela & San Cristóbal - 14 Days
Ultimate Family Trip to the Galápagos: Santa Cruz, Isabela & San Cristóbal - 14 Days

Embark on the family adventure of a lifetime with this two-week, multi-island exploration of the Galápagos. Hop between the archipelago's three main islands, discovering the unique ecosystems of each with an itinerary of fun wildlife encounters, kid-friendly active excursions, and plenty of laid-back beach time. Kayak alongside friendly sea lions on Isla Santa Cruz, hike to volcanic craters and cycle the backroads of Isla Isabela, and snorkel through the underwater wonders of Isla San Cristóbal.

Take the kids snorkeling in the Galápagos Islands
1 Week in the Galápagos Islands - 5 Family-Friendly Itinerary Ideas

With one week in the Galápagos Islands, you and the family can visit a mainland city and at least two islands. Active families will appreciate urban exploration in Quito and outdoor adventures, such as snorkeling at Los Túneles on Isla Santa Cruz and Isla Isabela. Those traveling with little ones or seeking a leisurely pace can opt for a relaxed trip on Isla Santa Cruz. Families looking for a boating holiday and eager to visit several islands, including Isla Genovesa and Isla Plaza Sur, should choose the cruise option.

The perfect escape, stroll the famous white sands in the Galapagos archipelago
Map of Relaxed Family Trip to the Galapagos Islands: Santa Cruz, Isabela & San Cristóbal - 10 Days
Relaxed Family Trip to the Galapagos Islands: Santa Cruz, Isabela & San Cristóbal - 10 Days

Rally your mini explorers and head to the Galápagos for a leisurely-paced 10-day tour of three of the archipelago's best-loved islands. Start on Isla Santa Cruz, where the kids can get a primer on the archipelago at the Charles Darwin Research Center, come face-to-face with giant tortoises, and set sail to an uninhabited island. Hop over to Isla Isabela to snorkel with marine wildlife and while away your days at the beach, then head to Isla San Cristóbal for more aquatic fun with a family kayaking adventure.

Galapagos Islands Travel Maps

Get the lay of land, and understand distances between the places you want to visit
Galapagos Islands map: 7 Days in the Galapagos Islands - 4 Unique Itineraries
7 Days in the Galapagos Islands - 4 Unique Itineraries
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Galapagos Islands map: 5 Days in the Galápagos Islands - 4 Unique Itineraries
5 Days in the Galápagos Islands - 4 Unique Itineraries
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Galapagos Islands map: 10 Days in the Galapagos Islands - 4 Unique Itineraries
10 Days in the Galapagos Islands - 4 Unique Itineraries
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Meet our Local Travel Specialists

Experienced travel agents with a passion for Galapagos Islands
Travel specialist Liz Karen L. Jihuallanca
active 7 hours ago

Liz Karen L. Jihuallanca

Peruvian delicious food, unique culture, and fascinating history are part of me! And as a good cusqueñian, I am very proud of my culture and heritage. I have lived and worked in the USA and made...

read more...
Travel specialist Mathias Onisseit
active 13 hours ago

Mathias Onisseit

Originally from Germany, in 2010 I set out to explore South America and soon fell in love with the super-diverse country named Ecuador (and its neat little attachment Galapagos). What fascinates me...

read more...
Travel specialist Alvaro Pereira
active 4 hours ago

Alvaro Pereira

Born and raised in Ecuador, I am the ideal person to design a unique trip in my country; traveling and getting to know new and exciting places have always been my biggest passion. I believe that...

read more...
Travel specialist Linda Schulz
active 19 hours ago

Linda Schulz

Originally from Germany, I have traveled around the world and lived in Australia, Bangladesh, and finally Ecuador. Ecuador is such a diverse and beautiful country, so I soon fell deeply in love...

read more...

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Trip Reviews for Galapagos Islands

The latest reviews by travelers who booked their trip on kimkim

Galapagos 😍.. you beauty!!
Galapagos Islands | Apr 29 - May 6, 2023

Santosh
Santosh H.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Jun 06, 2023

When we set out to plan a week holiday to the Galapagos, we were overwhelmed with the many awesome destinations, activities and adventures to chose from as well as the logistics to get from one place to the next within the limited time that we had.

We reached out to Kimkim team for help and were really fortunate to have Lucia as our trip advisor.

Thanks to her wealth of knowledge and experience, we were able to plan the perfect trip that included our top destinations and every... read more

When we set out to plan a week holiday to the Galapagos, we were overwhelmed with the many awesome destinations, activities and adventures to chose from as well as the logistics to get from one place to the next within the limited time that we had.

We reached out to Kimkim team for help and were really fortunate to have Lucia as our trip advisor.

Thanks to her wealth of knowledge and experience, we were able to plan the perfect trip that included our top destinations and every adventure we wanted to experience, while visiting these wonderful islands.

I must say that dealing with Lucia was exceptionally pleasant and easy, so we have to send special thanks and appreciation to you Lucia!

She made this wonderful trip possible and was so patient, creative and wonderful in finding options that suit our plan, time and budget to make this trip possible and super special!!

Thank you for your amazing support Lucia throughout the planning process, during and after our trip to make sure we were always well taken care of, wherever we were.

We had one helluva adventure being amongst the marine life in the Galapagos.

Hotel Reviews
Andry
San Cristobal

Breakfast was nice, the rooms were clean and kept tidy, they had bathroom toiletries, even offered beach towels etc

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel La Jungla
Puerto Villamil

the rooms were clean and tidy, breakfast and service was not up to the mark as they had shortage of eggs, they did not have basic bathroom toiletries like shower gel, they provided a soap bar only, they did not provide hand towels, just the bath towels

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Coloma Galapagos
Puerto Ayora
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Kicker Rock (San Cristobal Island)
Galapagos Islands

What a start to our trip! Could not have asked for a better day out than what we had. We had one helluva a time snorkelling, spotted sea turtles, sharks, rays, different types of fish. We even did a bit of fishing 🎣 and caught a yellow fin tuna 🍣 which was then served to us in form of ceviche. We were hosted very nicely on the boat by captain and the crew. Loved every bit of it

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Wildlife Tour on Isabela Island
Puerto Villamil

If one is going for the excursion to Los Tuneles then we felt there is no point in doing this activity. We were unfortunate as well that we could not get to spot anything as the visibility was very poor during snorkelling.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Excursion to Los Túneles
Galapagos Islands

We have one helluva a time snorkeling. Sspotted sea turtles, sharks, rays, different types of fish. We were hosted very nicely on the boat by captain and the crew. Loved every bit of it

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Discovery dive in Santa Cruz Island
Galapagos Islands

We thoroughly enjoyed the diving experience and we did a bit of snorkeling as well.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Morning Bay Tour & Afternoon at leisure in Santa Cruz
Galapagos Islands

We felt that we could have skipped this tour and done something else. The visibility in the water was not good at all even though it was bright and sunny. Considering we had seen and done so much the last few days, this tour just felt a bit boring)

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Lucia Cazar

Beyond expectations
Galapagos Islands | May 26 - Jun 4, 2023

M
mindy n.
Somerset, NJ | Reviewed on Jun 05, 2023

Beyond expectations. Kim kim continues to impress with services, professionalism, and utilizing great tour partners. Whether car sevice, private city tours or week adventures. Bonita yatcht in galapogos was amazing, led by guide David read more

Beyond expectations. Kim kim continues to impress with services, professionalism, and utilizing great tour partners. Whether car sevice, private city tours or week adventures. Bonita yatcht in galapogos was amazing, led by guide David

Activity Reviews
Morning City Tour of "Calle de las 7 Cruces"
Quito

Guide daniel was very knowledgeable and friendly

Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Afternoon Visit to Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World)
Quito

So interesting, worth the stop

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Arrival Baltra Airport - Dragon Hill (Santa Cruz Island) (M/C Millennium)
Cruise Ship
Quality of Experience
Food
Transport
Espumilla Beach, Buccaneer Cove - Puerto Egas (Santiago Island)
Cruise Ship
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Vicente Roca Point (Isabela Island) - Espinoza Point (Fernandina Island)
Galapagos Islands
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Afternoon Adventure to Teleferico Cablecar
Quito
Urbina Bay - Tagus Cove (Isabela Island)
Cruise Ship
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Always eye on safety
Transport
Isabela Island: Elizabeth Bay - Moreno Point
Cruise Ship
Charles Darwin Station - Highlands (Santa Cruz Island)
Cruise Ship
Twin Craters (Santa Cruz Island) - Transfer Out to Baltra Airport
Cruise Ship
Local specialist: Lucia Cazar
Lucia
Lucia Cazar
Local specialist in Ecuador | Replied on Jun 05, 2023

Hello Mindy,
I hope you are doing great!
Thank you so much for trusting us, we are always happy to receive this kind of review, also we try to improve our services day by day, to make our passengers happy.

Best regards,
Lucía

Trip to Equador and Galapagos May-June 2023
Galapagos Islands | May 23 - Jun 2, 2023

S
Samyadev D.
Dumont, NJ | Reviewed on Jun 05, 2023

My wife Mala and I had a great trip to Equador and Galapagos. Many thanks to Mathias and his entire team.
Mathias made all the arrangements and even though we had to make multiple changes, it was never a problem.
We had to change dates of travel, no problems
We had to change our cruise ship, no problems
We wanted to do full day birding, no problems
He suggested that we stay at Tombopaxi, in Cotopaxi National park. No problems
Danny Arias was our guide for most of the days. He was very... read more

My wife Mala and I had a great trip to Equador and Galapagos. Many thanks to Mathias and his entire team.
Mathias made all the arrangements and even though we had to make multiple changes, it was never a problem.
We had to change dates of travel, no problems
We had to change our cruise ship, no problems
We wanted to do full day birding, no problems
He suggested that we stay at Tombopaxi, in Cotopaxi National park. No problems
Danny Arias was our guide for most of the days. He was very patient and knowledgeable
Neiser Arias was bird watchinf guide. He was very patient, knowledgeable and knew his birds really well. If we do a dedicated bird watchng tour, we will surely use him again
I wish we had a few more days to enjoy more of Equador
Highly recommend Mathias and his entire team for all matters Equador

Hotel Reviews
M/C Treasure
San José de Conocoto Quito

We spend 5 days and 4 nights on board. Thanks to the crew we had a most wonderful time. We had great weather and so that added to the enjoyment. The crew was fantastic. Naturalist and guide Victor Hugo was very knowledgeble and patient. During the snorkleing, he was so vigilant to ensure that every one was safe. During our hikes, he was able to answer all the questions and expose us to so much. He was never rushed, but was always on time Karen, the cruise director, ran the ship with military prcesion, but she and her crew worked very hard to make it easy for the passengers. She tried very hard to accomadate the various dietary needs. Also the entire crew were always will to help with a smile. Highy recommended. Keep up the good job

Authenticity & Character
Location
Cruising in Galapagos
Staff
Smiling, cheerful, helpful, clockwork precision
Cleanliness & Comfort
They cleaned the bathroom, made the beds everyday. The ship was always spotless and they made sure that our beach shoes were always washed before we came on board
Tambopaxi Cotopaxi Lodge
Parque Nacional Cotopaxi

Wonderful location of a hotel. Very rustic. I wish we could spend more time there. I need to learn more Spanish. the generator goes of about 11pm. I suggest that maybe along the paths, they can have a few solar lamps.

Authenticity & Character
Very rustic and quaint rooms.
Location
Right at the base of Cotopaxi. Cannot be better
Staff
Nice and friendly. I speak very little spanish and so became a little difficult
Cleanliness & Comfort
Great place.
Casa Divina Eco Lodge
Mindo

We spend 3 days and 2 nights here. It is totally in the cloud forests. Wonderful location. Camile checked us in and was very helpful. The staff were all all very helpful. Great place to start bird watching and you will see a few birds and the property/

Authenticity & Character
the whole place is a log cabin with modern amenities.The dining room tables are solid wood and weigh a ton.
Location
What a great place to have an ecolodge
Staff
Every on was extremly helpful. After the first day, we did indicate that we eat very little, so they gave us smaller portions and then did not need to waste food.Simple and tasty meals
Cleanliness & Comfort
Keeping dirty shoes out of the resturant and rooms makes keeping the place clean so musch easier
Local specialist: Mathias Onisseit
Mathias
Mathias Onisseit
Local specialist in Quito, Ecuador | Replied on Jun 05, 2023

Samyadev,

Thank you so much for your evaluation of your trip and your kind words. It was a pleasure planning this trip with you, and I was happy to see that we made the right decisions and made your trip the best possible within the little time you had available!
Of course, our team and I would be glad to welcome you and Mala again on your next trip to Ecuador, to see more of the country's beauty, including its incredible avifauna!

All the best,
Mathias