9-Nights Ecuador Galapagos Islands Land & Sea Multi-Adventure

Ecuador/Galapagos

MT Sobek

Deluxe

Vacation Offer ID 1543366

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Overview

MT Sobek

Discover the best of the Galapagos by land and sea, combining a magical 5-day cruise with the active options and flexibility of a 3-day island stay. First, enjoy curated cultural immersion in UNESCO-listed Quito, then cruise the islands in style aboard the elegant 16-passenger catamaran Alya. Hike, snorkel, and kayak at Genovesa and other remote islands, getting you amazingly close to wildlife - on land and underwater. Top it off with an action-packed stay on Isabela Island. Hike the Sierra Negra volcano, snorkel amid tubes and bridges formed by lava flows, explore the charming town, and enjoy the comforts of your beachside boutique hotel.

Highlights:

Cruise to enchanting remote islands in the Galapagos aboard a 16-passenger luxury catamaran
Snorkel top locations with chances to swim with sea lions, penguins, marine iguanas, and sea turtles
Hike a volcanic crater, snorkel lava flows, and stroll white sand beaches from your Isabela hotel

Important Trip Details:
This trip is considered easy to moderate, which is usually appropriate for travelers in generally fit condition. Your days will be filled with nature walks on the islands, plus swimming, snorkeling, daily panga (zodiac) rides, and kayaking on the cruise portion. There is one moderate hike of 10 miles with gradual elevation change of 400’ up and down (and option to do a shorter version of the hike). Please note that terrain is often varied and uneven, and can be slippery.

Minimum Age: 6

Featured Destinations

Isla Bartolome Isla Bartolome This small, barren island offers guests the opportunity to observe firsthand its volcanic formations and moon-like landscape.	Destination Guide
Isla Isabela Isla Isabela The largest of the islands, Isabela has the Galapagos' tallest peak—Volcano Wolf—at 5,487 ft/1,646 m. The island resembles a sea horse when seen on a map. Also known as Albemarle, the island was formed when six volcanoes erupted and melded together. About 2,000 people reside there, mostly on the southern tip of the island in Puerto Villamil. Few cruise ships visit the town, but they do stop regularly at several park sites elsewhere on the island. Tagus Cove on the western side, across from Fernandina Island, was a favorite spot of pirates and whalers, who scrawled the names of their ships on the surrounding cliffs. Visitors can hike from the bay up a steep hill to Darwin's Lake, the cone of an old volcano that's full of green sulfur and saltwater. Those who continue partway up the base of Volcano Darwin can take in panoramic views of nearby islands. Galapagos penguins and the world's only flightless cormorants are often visible along the shore. Three types of finches that Darwin collected on his visit to Isabela are also present. Other sites on the west coast that are often visited by cruise ships include Urvina Bay, with giant tortoises, iguanas, flightless cormorants and pelicans; Elizabeth Bay, an aquatic mangrove forest that pangas sometimes explore (with motors off) in search of green turtles, rays and sea birds that inhabit its lagoons and channels; and Punta Moreno, which offers the chance to see a variety of birds, including great blue herons and flamingos. To see the island's other sites, longer stays are required. Overnight visitors staying at Puerto Villamil can take a bus to the base of Volcano Sierra Negra and then walk or ride horses to its rim for wonderful views. Volcano Alcedo, in the center of the island, used to be the centerpiece of a four-hour hike, but a massive campaign to eradicate feral goats has put a moratorium on this excursion. The town of Puerto Villamil has a pleasant beach, with a dozen or more cafes, shops and hotels located right on the beach. Nearby is Lover's Beach, a good place to view sea birds. Las Tintoreras is a great location to watch resting whitetip reef sharks, large marine iguanas, rays and Galapagos penguins.	Destination Guide
Sombrero Chino Islets Sombrero Chino Islets Just southeast of Santiago Island is Sombrero Chino, a tiny island with a rocky lava coast that gets its name from its appearance that looks like a Chinese hat. It's crescent-shaped white sand beach is home to thousands of sally light-foot crabs and sea lions. Walking on top fragile lava rock and snorkeling with penguins and possibily white-tipped sharks makes for an exciting experience.
Sullivan Bay Sullivan Bay Sullivan Bay is located on the southeastern region of Isla Santiago belonging to the famous Galapagos Islands. This destination is known for its lava fields that many visitors enjoy exploring. This area of the Santiago Islet was active only 100 years ago and volcanic overflows still are remnant today.
Isla Santa Cruz Isla Santa Cruz Here, the Charles Darwin Station offers insight into ongoing research and conservation in the Galapagos. Also located on this island is Cerro Dragon, one of the best places to spy land iguanas.	Destination Guide
Isla Baltra Isla Baltra Today Baltra is the most important airport of Galápagos and a small navy base for Ecuador. Baltra has suffered most from human settling and does not have any visitor sites. Many cruises start from the its harbour and already there pelicans and noddies will welcome you. To the north lies Mosquera, a small sandy bank with a large colony of sea lions. Go swimming and snorkeling on the beach.
Galapagos Islands Galapagos Islands The Galápagos Archipelago is a unique world heritage. Situated on the equator 600 miles off the coast of South America, this remote volcanic archipelago remains much as it was millions of years ago. Over the centuries, animal and plant life from the Americas reached the islands and gradually evolved into new forms. Many of its species are found nowhere else on earth. Since Darwin's famous voyage, its marine and terrestrial ecosystems have provided a wealth of information and source of inspiration for people through the world. The "Enchanted Islands" continue to play an important role in our understanding of life on earth. The Galapagos experience offers world travelers a way to step back in time, to visit an isolated, relatively untouched place on earth.	Destination Guide
Quito Quito Quito is a fantastic place to visit and the best place to start your Latin American journey. Quito is also the entertainment center in Ecuador with new bars and discos opening every week and also the best place to shop, either at the small souvenir shops or at big malls. Quito has many interesting cultural sites, historical sites, museums, private galleries, churches, exhibition centers, and theaters.	Destination Guide