Sea lions in the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

7 days · 6 nights

Andes & Sea Lions

Quito · San Cristóbal

Quito and an Andean day trip, then San Cristóbal for sea lions, giant tortoises and two days on the water.

What’s included

  • Hotels6 nights, double or twin room
  • Galápagos entryPark fee and transit card
  • GuidesBilingual guide and Park naturalist
  • Transfers and entrancesAll of them, mainland and islands
  • Snorkel gearSnorkel and wetsuit
  • MealsBreakfast daily, lunch Days 2 to 6

Itinerary

Your trip, day by day

Everything listed for each day is included. Gold boxes mark what you can choose, and you pick yours further down this page.

  1. El Panecillo hill above Quito, Ecuador Day 1 Overnight Quito

    Arrival in Quito

    Your guide meets you at arrivals, and the evening is free to let the altitude settle.

    Easyno walking

    Day 1

    Arrival in Quito

    The day, step by step

    1. Arrival

      A licensed guide from our team meets you in the arrivals hall, with your name on a sign.

    2. Drive

      About 45 minutes into the city, with time to go over the week ahead.

    3. Evening

      Free. Quito sits at 2,850 m (9,350 ft), so the first night is for letting the altitude settle.

  2. Day 2 Overnight Quito

    A full day in Quito

    A morning in the old town and lunch in town. The afternoon is yours to shape.

    • Included
    • Plaza Grande
    • La Compañía
    • San Francisco
    Pick one or two

    You can choose between these options

    • Middle of the World
    • Pichincha
    • Botanical garden

    Moderateabout 3 hours on foot, at altitude

    Day 2

    A full day in Quito

    The day, step by step

    1. Morning

      The old town on foot: Plaza Grande, La Compañía under gold leaf and San Francisco.

    2. Lunch

      In town, included.

    3. Afternoon You can choose

      Take one option below, or two. Your guide shapes the afternoon around your pick.

    You can choose between these optionsPick one or two

    These are only to look at for now. You pick yours further down on this page.

    • The Middle of the World monument near Quito

      Middle of the World

      The equator line, north of Quito

      The monument that marks the equator, and the Intiñán museum, set on the equator line.

    • The Pichincha cable car above Quito

      Pichincha cable car

      A ride above the city

      A cable car up the slopes of Pichincha, with Quito spread out below and the Andes around you.

    • The Quito botanical garden

      Botanical garden

      Orchids and greenhouses

      The orchid houses, a calm and colourful end to the day.

  3. Day 3 Overnight Quito

    A day beyond Quito

    One full day outside the city, picked when you book. Guide, transport, entrances and lunch are the same on all four.

    Choose 1 of 4

    You can choose between these options

    • Mindo
    • Otavalo
    • Cotopaxi
    • Antisana

    Easy to demandingdepends on your pick

    Day 3

    A day beyond Quito

    The day, step by step

    1. Same in all four

      Guide, transport, site fees and lunch.

    2. Your destination You can choose

      One of four, picked when you book. You can look at each one below.

    You can choose between these optionsChoose 1 of 4

    These are only to look at for now. You pick yours further down on this page.

    • Cloud forest in Mindo, Ecuador

      Mindo

      Cloud forest, 2 hours northwest of Quito

      A private reserve 1,400 m below Quito: hummingbird feeders, a cable car over the Nambillo valley to the waterfalls, a butterfly house, and coffee or chocolate made in front of you. The waterfall walk is the demanding part.

      • Moderate
      • Migrant birds, Oct to Mar
    • The Otavalo market in the Ecuadorian Andes

      Otavalo

      Highland market, 2 hours north of Quito

      Fresh bizcochos in Cayambe, views over Lake San Pablo, the Otavalo market and weaving workshops in Peguche. The day ends at Cuicocha, a crater lake at 3,100 m, with as much of the rim walk as you like. Mostly level ground; the market is biggest on Saturdays.

      • Easy to moderate
    • Cotopaxi volcano, Ecuador

      Cotopaxi

      Volcano and high grassland, at 3,800 m

      Limpiopungo lagoon with the cone reflected in it on clear mornings, wild horses on the páramo, the Owls’ Cave lava tube and the cold springs at Salitre. An optional trail climbs from the 4,600 m car park to the José Rivas refuge, about 45 minutes at altitude.

      • Moderate to demanding
    • The Antisana reserve, Ecuador

      Antisana

      High moorland, 1¼ hours from Quito

      The condor viewpoint at Peñón del Cóndor, then La Mica lagoon at 4,050 m, with white-tailed deer and curiquingues along the road. Walk the full 4 km circuit (1½ to 2 hours) or a short, almost flat stroll of 45 to 60 minutes. We start early.

      • Demanding
      • Best Nov to Feb
  4. Day 4 Overnight Puerto Baquerizo Moreno

    Flight to San Cristóbal and the highlands

    A morning flight, then up to the highlands for a crater lake, giant tortoises and lunch on a local farm.

    • Included
    • El Junco crater lake
    • David Rodríguez reserve

    Moderatelongest walk about an hour

    Day 4

    Flight to San Cristóbal and the highlands

    The day, step by step

    1. Early start

      A morning flight to San Cristóbal. Galápagos flights leave early, so the day starts early.

    2. Arrival

      Your island guide is waiting at the airport.

    3. Highlands

      El Junco, a crater lake where frigatebirds wash the salt from their wings, and the David Rodríguez reserve, with giant tortoises on the trail.

    4. Lunch

      On a local farm.

  5. Day 5 Overnight Puerto Baquerizo Moreno

    A full day at sea

    A full day on a licensed yacht with a Park naturalist: a guided walk ashore, snorkelling and lunch on board.

    Choose 1 of 3

    You can choose between these options

    • 360° tour
    • Kicker Rock
    • Española

    Moderate to demandingdeep water at Kicker Rock and Española

    Day 5

    A full day at sea

    The day, step by step

    1. Departure

      You board a licensed yacht in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, with a Park naturalist.

    2. On the route

      A guided walk ashore and one or two snorkelling stops. Snorkel gear and wetsuit are included.

    3. Lunch

      On board.

    4. Your route You can choose

      One of three routes. You can look at each one below.

    You can choose between these optionsChoose 1 of 3

    These are only to look at for now. You pick yours further down on this page.

    • The coast of San Cristóbal, Galápagos

      360° Island Tour

      A loop around the whole island

      A guided walk ashore and snorkelling from the beach at Bahía Sardina or Bahía Rosa Blanca.

    • Kicker Rock off San Cristóbal

      Kicker Rock (León Dormido)

      A rock split in two by a channel

      Deep-water snorkelling in the channel that splits the rock, a walk ashore and a beach landing at Cerro Brujo or Manglecito.

      • Deep-water snorkelling
    • Española Island, Galápagos

      Española

      A longer crossing, April to December

      Timed to the nesting of waved albatrosses. Deep-water snorkelling and a walk among the seabird colonies.

      • Deep-water snorkelling
      • April to December

    Your route is confirmed in writing before you travel.

  6. Day 6 Overnight Puerto Baquerizo Moreno

    The town, then Isla Lobos

    A morning on foot in town, then a boat to Isla Lobos for sea lions, blue-footed boobies and snorkelling.

    • Included
    • Interpretation Centre
    • Cerro Tijeretas
    • Punta Carola

    Moderateabout 2 hours on stairs and lava rock

    Day 6

    The town, then Isla Lobos

    The day, step by step

    1. Morning

      On foot from the hotel: the Interpretation Centre, the trail up to Cerro Tijeretas, where frigatebirds nest above Darwin’s landing bay, and down to Punta Carola.

    2. 1:00 pm

      You board for Isla Lobos: an hour among sea lions and blue-footed boobies, then 45 minutes of snorkelling in sheltered water.

    3. Snack and lunch

      A snack on the way, and lunch on board in mid-afternoon.

  7. The coast of San Cristóbal, Galápagos Day 7

    Departure

    Your guide takes you to San Cristóbal airport, timed to your flight.

    Easy

Free time ideas

Puerto Baquerizo Moreno

  • Playa Lobos and Playa MannA few minutes on foot from your hotel, with sea lions on the sand at both.
  • La LoberíaTen minutes by taxi. A self-guided trail along the lava rocks and a sheltered bay where you can snorkel with sea lions.

Flight times and highland weather can change the order of visits. What the programme contains does not change, and we confirm the running order when your tickets are issued.

Make it yours

Build your trip

Three short steps: who is travelling, what you do, and where you sleep. When you send it, your order sheet is ready to download. Nothing is charged now.

Your details, and who travels

Tell us how to reach you and where to send your order sheet, then how many people travel and when. We use it only to prepare and send your trip.

How to reach you

Your group and your dates

Number of travellers

Scroll to Top