The best of both worlds! A breathtaking cruise followed by a stay on a remote outer island to experience the wildlife extravaganza of the Galapagos Islands. From the heart of Quito’s UNESCO old town, you will fly off to the islands to embark your chosen vessel for a 5 night cruise heading out each day to explore the islands’ rich biodiversity accompanied by expert naturalist guides. You will then finish your trip at an ocean-front lodge on one of the outer islands, the perfect spot to hike, bike and explore the highlands volcanoes or simply relax on the pristine white beach.
NOTE:- This itinerary is based around a sample 5 night Galapagos cruise. Please contact us for detailed information on the individual boats as well as the unique day-to-day itineraries that they offer.
Itinerary Highlights
Explore the classic highlights of Quito or Guayaquil
Follow in the footsteps of Darwin on a Galapagos cruise
Snorkel with penguins, sea-lions, rays and turtles
Walk amidst giant tortoises, marine iguanas and nesting boobies
Enjoy a Galapagos sundowner from your ocean-front hotel
What’s included
Private tours for most included activities
Meet & greet airport service
Luxury or boutique accommodation at your chosen level
Expert guides in each destination
flexibility
This is an example itinerary. It is fully flexible; you can add or detract days and include hotels at your chosen budget. It departs daily.
30
Nights
Price Guide
from $TBA pp
Our quotes are bespoke for your customised trip. The prices displayed are indicative only, read more
Day 1
Mainland Ecuador
Day 2
Quito or Guayaquil
Arrive into Quito or if flights dictate better, the colourful port of Guayaquil in the south of the country overlooking the Guayas River. Two days gives you plenty of time to recover from the jetlag and find your feet in Ecuador. In Quito, you may like to explore the picturesque UNESCO protected colonial centre or head out to the official monument marking the Equator while in Guayaquil, you can wander along the bustling Melecon 2000 coastal boardwalk or take the Cacao Train out to the pretty Hacienda Danesa.
Day 3
Start of your Galapagos Cruise
Transfer to the airport for a flight out to the Galapagos Islands. Here, you will meet your fellow passengers and guide before embarking your chosen vessel for a breathtaking Galapagos cruise. Each day you will visit remote islands, join daily excursions escorted by a naturalist guide and have the chance to snorkel amidst schools of tropical fish. The following itinerary is based around a sample 5 night sweep through the islands.
After lunch, you will visit Mosquera Islet, home to a huge population of sea lions before returning to the boat for a welcome cocktail and dinner.
Day 4
Santiago & Bartolome
Your first morning will be spent walking and snorkelling at Sullivan Bay on Santiago Island, an area renowned for its spectacular volcanic formations. After lunch, visit the iconic landscape of Bartolome and swim amongst penguins at Pinnacle Rock. As the light begins to fade, enjoy a wonderful sunset overlooking the bay or take a panga ride amongst sea lions, reef sharks and rays.
Day 5
Isabela & Tagus Cove
Today, you will explore Isabela, the largest of the Galapagos islands. The day starts with a visit to Urbina Bay, a nesting site for sea turtles, penguin and flightless cormorants as well as Darwin’s finches, land iguanas and Galapagos tortoises. Next is Tagus Cove and, energy allowing, a rewarding hike up the volcano for spectacular views over the cove. Return to your vessel by kayak or panga ride surrounded by blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas, penguins and brown pelicans.
Day 6
Fernandina Island
Crossing the channel to Fernandina Island, you visit Punta Espinoza, home to flightless cormorants, Galapagos snakes, marine iguanas and the Galapagos hawk. After lunch, you will take a panga ride or snorkel at Punta Vicente Roca where you can spot turtles, Nazca boobies, pelicans and swallow-tailed gulls.
Day 7
Santiago Island
Rounding the tip of Isabela, you visit Puerto Egas on Santiago Island whose tidal pools are home to a variety of invertebrates including sea urchins, octopus and starfish. Here, you follow a trail to the Fur Sea Lion Grottos and have the chance to swim or snorkel off the beach. In the afternoon, your cruise continues to Espumilla Beach, home to the Palo Santo forest which harbours Galapagos Hawk, Darwin’s finches and nesting marine turtles.
Day 8-10
Disembark the cruise & Galapagos Island stay
Disembark the vessel at Santa Cruz after a final visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station. While your fellow passengers return to the airport, you continue by road to your oceanfront hotel on the island of Santa Cruz or take a speed-boat (or small flight) across to Isabela. Here, you end your Galapagos experience enjoying some well-deserved R&R on the beach or at the hotel, doing as much or as little as you like. For added adventure, both Santa Cruz and Isabela offer excellent walking, biking, snorkelling, paddling and swimming as well as, of course, incredible wildlife opportunities.
Day 11
Return Flight to mainland Ecuador
A note on price
The prices outlined above are a rough guide to give you an idea of costs and enable you to budget for your trip.
Guide prices are generally for private arrangements based on twin share, in well located, good quality accommodation (excluding international flights).
Please note costs are indicative and may vary due to a number of factors such as; travel date, hotel choice, room category, number of people travelling and prevailing exchange rates.
Price Guide from $TBA per person
When to travel
Ecuador sits on the equator and enjoys 12 hours of light (preferably sunshine!) each day. However, its climate is as diverse as the country’s landscapes and can be divided into 4 main zones:- the Pacific lowlands, the Andes, the Amazon and the Galapagos. On the coast, the country enjoys a tropical climate with temperatures ranging from 23-26°C. The hottest months of February to April coincide with the rainy season where days are blighted by tempestuous downpours. The highlands follow a similar pattern, wettest in April, although a good bit cooler, 16°C on average although dropping close to zero at night. The steamy Amazon is hot and sticky all year though marginally more oppressive in January and February.
The Galapagos is a year round destination whose climate is determined by the prevailing ocean currents. From December to May, temperatures reach the 30’s with short, sharp showers although the warmer waters of the Panama current lend themselves to excellent snorkelling. From June to December, the Humboldt current dominates bringing milder temperatures (early 20’s) and cooler nutrient-rich water. The mornings coincide with a sea-mist (garua) that rapidly burns off in the sun. For a month-by-month wildlife calendar, please contact an Oasis Travel consultant.
Add on’s
Ecuador’s highlands provide a compelling contrast to the Galapagos and with an extra 5 days or so, you can walk in the wonderful Cotopaxi National Park, take a ride on the famous Devil’s Nose Train and visit to the beautiful, historic city of Cuenca.
For wildife, look no further than the Mindo Cloud-forest or even Ecuador’s Amazon where you have the choice between rustic lodges dotted along the Napo River or relaxing river cruises.
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