Galapagos Islands holidays
| country: | Ecuador, Galapagos Islands |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | Departs 1 - 4 Mondays a month throughout the year |
| price: | From £2395 (10 days) excluding flights. Domestic flights £265. We can arrange flights from the UK |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
read 2 travellers reviews
the amazing things you'll be doing
This is the ultimate Galapagos exploration! Onboard our vessel the M.Y. San Jose you will be treated to a very special experience. The Galapagos Islands, 1000 kilometres off the coast of Ecuador, are a World Heritage sanctuary. As a result of the extreme isolation of the islands, nearly a quarter of all species are endemic and much of the wildlife has no instinctive fear of man. On your explorations of the islands the wildlife will astound you. Blue-footed, red-footed, and masked boobies are found alongside pelicans and frigate birds. There are giant Galapagos tortoises, land and marine iguanas, sea lions, fur seals, dolphins, whales and sea turtles - a myriad of fascinating wildlife to be discovered. Our 10-day program is the ultimate Galapagos exploration and is our most popular voyage. It is designed to offer you the best opportunities to experience the magnificent flora and fauna that make the Galapagos unique.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrive in Quito and transfer to hotel. |
| Day 2: | Morning flight to Baltra, transfer to the M.Y. San Jose. Visit Las Bachas. |
| Day 3: | Visit Rabida and Santiago Islands. |
| Day 4: | Visit Sullivan Bay and Bartolome Island. |
| Day 5: | Santa Cruz Island, including Darwin Research Station and the Highlands. |
| Day 6: | San Cristobal Island via Leon Dormido and Cerro Brujo. Visit the Interpretation Centre. |
| Day 7: | Espanola Island including Bahia Gardner, Punta Suarez and Devil's Crown. |
| Day 8: | Cruise to Floreana Island visiting Post Office Bay and Punta Cormorant. |
| Day 9: | Final excursion to Black Turtle Cove on Santa Cruz Island before returning to Baltra. Fly to Quito. |
| Day 10: | Trip ends in Quito this morning. |
travellers' tales
Most memorable? The spectacular landscapes of each island, every wildlife encounter especially snorkelling with sea lions, frigate birds in mating season, waved albatross in flight, brightly coloured marine iguanas, giant tortoises in the wild, spotting sea turtles in a mangrove swamp... I could go on! (more)
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places. highly commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
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The pristine Galapagos Islands are protected as a World Heritage sanctuary for good reason – they are home to a vast array of unique and endemic wildlife. To maintain its unique ecosystem, tourism to the islands is tightly controlled, with a limited number of tourists allowed daily and boats being forced to follow strict guidelines. Small, environmentally friendly vessels are used with a maximum of 16 berths, offering an intimate and enjoyable experience. Waste management is closely controlled on the boats and, when on land, physical contact with the wildlife is strictly forbidden. This operator is committed to using local leaders on all our holidays and, on this trip, despite taking only 16 passengers they employ a crew of 9, including a fully qualified local guide.
The plight of the waved albatross is a moving one, as many have died as a result of longline fishing off the coast of Peru. This operator has given substantial financial support to various organisations to help stop the needless slaughter of these magnificent birds by ensuring that relevant international agreements are implemented that will benefit both the birds and the legal fishing industry. The nature of this trip ensures that travellers become acutely aware of the importance of conservation and also become ambassadors for the continual protection of wildlife and wilderness the world over. By only employing staff born and bred in the regions they visit, they are supporting local economies. Through offering employment and steady revenue, tourism can ultimately make a real positive difference to local communities. This company is proud to be a member of IGTOA (International Galapagos Tour Operators Association), a non-profit association of tour operators, conservation organisations and other concerned groups that are dedicated to the lasting protection of the Galapagos. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |