The best way to see as many of the 19 major islands that comprise the Galápagos is on a two-week tour. However, you can still pack in the best of Darwin's famed isles on a 10-day excursion that includes wildlife spotting and active adventures. Even five days allows for a quick island hop and highlights tour that covers some major sights and makes for an unforgettable experience.
With five days to spend in the Galápagos Islands, travelers have a variety of options. Choose a land-based tour that takes you to the archipelago's highlights for outdoor adventures and birdwatching, or go on a cruise that focuses on a particular interest area, like nature or wildlife. If you're certified, opt for a diving trip with daily excursions underwater to see reef sharks, sea turtles, seahorses, and more. Whichever itinerary you choose, you're sure to enjoy the natural beauty of this magnificent island chain. Read on to learn more about your options.
If you have a week to spend in the Galápagos Islands, choose between a cruise and a land-based tour. You could sail around the archipelago on a yacht, stopping at various islands to hike and view wildlife, or you could base yourself on one or more of the islands, going on daily excursions to snorkel with penguins, kayak in the sea and look for blue-footed boobies in the wild. Alternatively, get an overview of Ecuador's top highlights by combining a few days in the Galápagos with a trip to Quito and Cotopaxi National Park. Learn more about your options by reading over the itineraries below.
With 10 days to spend in the Galápagos Islands, you could opt for a land-based tour of the archipelago's natural highlights. Or choose a cruise tour that takes you around the islands, stopping to hike to volcanic craters, snorkel with penguins and sea lions, and walk around the habitats of blue-footed boobies and giant tortoises. Alternatively, work your trip to the Galápagos into a broader tour that covers Ecuador's highlights, or combine several days in the Galápagos with an adventure across the Peruvian border, ending at Machu Picchu. Find out more about your options by reading over the itineraries below.
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.
From snorkeling with sea turtles and hiking up a dormant volcano to spotting giant tortoises and penguins, a journey to the Galapagos brings an array of incredible sights and activities. With a cruise, you’ll get further from the main islands, and there’s no need to pack each day for a new hotel as your accommodation and transportation are combined. Use this guide to get the most out of your Galapagos cruise.
Planning to follow in the footsteps of Charles Darwin and spot the extraordinary wildlife on the Galapagos Islands? A great way to make this journey is on a land-based tour: sleeping in hotels by night and shuttling between the islands by day. In between, you’ll have the chance to spot giant tortoises in their native habitat, snorkel with sea lions, hike up an active volcano and spend time experiencing the culture of these Enchanted Islands.
