Classic Galapagos with Intrepid Travel

Your Galapagos experience starts in Quito, where you’ll meet your guide and fellow shipmates for the coming days. You’ll be staying in a stylish, comfortable and well-located hotel, and in the early evening, there’ll be a welcome meeting to run through some admin details and ask any burning questions about the trip. The rest of the day is free to explore Quito’s Old Town or pick up any last-minute supplies you might need.

You’ll wake up on the southern coast of Isabela, the largest of the Galapagos Islands and home to five active volcanoes. You’ll start with a visit to Las Tintoreras, a channel which is home to a huge number of white-tipped reef sharks, before continuing your walk through an ancient lava flow where you’ll often see blue-footed boobies, penguins, brightly coloured crabs and marine iguanas lazing in the sun. In the afternoon you’ll visit the Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre, before taking some free time the relax on the pristine beach at Puerto Villamil.

*There will be a $10 local tax to be paid on arrival at Isla Isabela.

You’ll disembark this morning at Puerto Ayora, one the archipelago’s main towns and home to the Charles Darwin Research Station. You’ll learn a little about the conservation work which takes place here, and it’s also the best place to see giant tortoises close-up. In the afternoon you’ll travel to the lush highlands of Santa Cruz – a very different experience where you’ll pass agricultural land, misty forests, volcanic cones and some of the island’s unique plant and birdlife.

In the evening you’ll sail to nearby Isla Santa Fe, where you’ll drop anchor for the night.

Española is one of the most spectacular Galapagos islands. Here you’ll find a huge colony of albatross, sea lions and marine iguanas as you explore the island’s trails. You’ll continue to Bahia Gardener – a stunning beach where sea lions and mockingbirds commune, and offshore you can snorkel amongst turtles and reef sharks. At Punta Suarez, you can watch enormous male sea lions relaxing on the beach, and perhaps see some elaborate albatross courtship rituals too.

Overnight, you’ll sail to Isla San Cristobal.

Most flights leave mid-morning, giving you time for your final excursion at the San Cristobal Interpretation Centre. The centre is a great way to learn about the history and geography of the Galapagos Islands, as well as how their discovery and colonisation by humans has affected this unique environment. Your flight back to Quito will usually arrive late afternoon, and you’ll be transferred back to your starting hotel in time for an evening back amongst civilisation.