In January 2006, New York Times writer Tim Neville published his account of our Galapagos Island Sea Kayaking trip as he accompanied our maiden voyage with sea kayak paddle in hand. Describing the magic of these unique islands with their oceanic geologic origins, rich sea life, diverse wildlife and intriguing natural history, he aptly captured how our Galápagos Island Sea Kayaking, Snorkeling and Hiking Adventure allows you to discover all this under your own power. Experience the peace and enjoyment of walking and paddling your way through this island paradise. For a wonderful narrative about this unique trip, we invite you to read his article Galapagos Unbound.

The Galápagos Islands have been a national park of Ecuador since 1959 and organized tourism here began in the 1960s, the islands remain a far-flung destination and a visit to them is but a dream for most. Because of their famed natural history and remarkable creatures, these remote islands are revered the world over. In the effort to preserve and protect the Galapagos, access to the islands is restricted and regulated. Most tours to the Galapagos are cruise based aboard yachts carrying from ten to 100 people. Our unique journey, the only one of its kind, allows our small groups to visit sites that are not on the main routes in the most environmentally-friendly manner imaginable - under your own power. We walk and sea-kayak where other, more intrusive modes of travel would not take us, and our reward is not only what we see but the pleasure of getting there. Ours is also the only adventure that gives you the opportunity to camp on island beaches and hike to the rim of a recently active volcano.

Few places on earth allow for such intimate contact with a dazzling array of wildlife as the Galapagos islands. Words cannot describe the intense wonder of exploring these oceanic islands where the birds and animals have little or no fear of humans. On this superlative adventure you'll play in the water with sea lions, get within a few feet of blue footed boobies, marine iquanas and the giant Galapagos tortoises. You'll watch pelicans and boobies dive for fish, snorkel in transparent water rich with fishes and, if you desire, swim with sharks.

Our sturdy, speedy, and stable expedition sea kayaks are for one or two paddlers and are specifically equipped for the conditions we encounter. All kayaking portions of the trip are supported by a panga, or small launch, to ensure everyone's comfort and safety. Although participants should have some paddling experience, we begin with practice and safety instruction. Our camping sites are approved, and we adhere to leave-no-trace ethics in all our excursions.

Our itinerary takes us to five islands that include a wealth of wildlife and ecosystems. Every journey is more than its destination, and we are thrilled to offer an experience in the Galapagos unlike any other. Join us!

Available Dates

Departing from Santa Cruz
Fri. Jan 25, 2008*	Book this date
Fri. Feb 29, 2008	Book this date
Fri. Mar 14, 2008*	Book this date
Fri. Mar 28, 2008*	Book this date
Fri. Apr 11, 2008	Book this date
Fri. Aug 8, 2008	Book this date
Fri. Oct 31, 2008	Book this date
Fri. Nov 28, 2008	Book this date
Fri. Dec 12, 2008	Book this date

Rate Details
Price is starting at:
USD: $3,590.00
CAD: $3,644 *fluxuates daily
Current CAD/USD Exchange Rate: 0.9853

Adult: $3,590 per person - 6 to 8 guests
Adult: $3,390 per person - 9 to 12 guests

DAY 1 ~ Depart Home, Arrive Quito
Upon arrival in Quito, you will be met by a member of our staff and escorted to your hotel. Most flights to Ecuador arrive very late at night. We highly recommend you arrive a day early in order to have a cushion in case there are any delays for the international flights. This also allows for sightseeing in Quito. The next morning your Galapagos multi-sport adventure begins.

Overnight Swissotel.

DAY 2 ~ Quito – Santa Cruz
In the morning, we fly from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra Island. Although it is one of the smallest islands, it has 110 species of terrestrial plants. The Baltra land iguana is recognized as a separate species and is the world’s heaviest iguana. The island is home to an important nesting ground for endangered green turtles. After we arrive in Baltra, we will take the ferry across and then drive to the Santa Cruz highlands (enjoying a box lunch en route) to see wild Galapagos Tortoises. These huge creatures weigh 200 to 500 pounds and are scattered all over the island. Then we get a chance to visit the lava tunnels. These underground tunnels were dug by hot lava as it twists, turns and intertwines providing us with an exciting opportunity to view the immense effect of volcanic activity. After a rich visit, we continue on to Puerto Ayora town for some free time and shopping opportunities.

Overnight Hotel in Angermeyer Waterfront Inn. (B,L,D)

DAY 3 ~ Day Tour North Seymour & Bachas
After breakfast today, we will drive to Canal de Itabaca where a small boat will be waiting for us to take us to North Seymour. On neighboring North Seymour we find the magnificent frigatebird, well-know for its glorious red pouch. During mating season, males inflate this pouch thrown back their heads, inflate the pouch and shake it to attract female frigates. Appropriately enough, the pouch resembles a heart, although it can reach the size of a soccer ball.

Sharing the frigates’ nesting area on North Seymour are blue-footed boobies. While the frigatebird nests in saltbushes off the ground, the booby collects palo santo twigs to make ground nests. This site is also excellent for snorkeling, with many tropical fish, garden eels, mantas and even eagle rays. A real highlight is snorkeling with teenage sea lions that come to play with swimmers in the water. Imagine playing with an aquatic dog and you have the picture. We don’t touch the sea lions, but swimming and diving, they circle and swim with us in a playful manner.

After lunch on board our boat, we travel to Bachas beach which is a beautiful long stretch of white sand and the surrounding interior lagoons where we may see the greater flamingo and many other bird species. There may also be a chance to snorkel from this beach. By late afternoon we return to our hotel and everyone is on the deck for a sundowner to watch the sunset over the water.

Overnight Hotel in Angermeyer Waterfront Inn. (B,L,D)

DAY 4 ~ Garrapatero Beach
Garrapatero is an extensive beach area, including a fresh water lake where pink flamingos, heron, grebes, stilts, and other shore birds are commonly found. We begin with an early morning boat trip to Garrapatero Beach. On the way we might see sea turtles, sea lions and other marvelous animals. When we arrive in the bay we enjoy the sit-on-top kayaks for a 3-mile or so kayak along the shore. This intimate approach allows us to find the rocky areas where we might find blue-footed boobies and sea lions. We will pass through mangroves where pelicans, Bahamas ducks and frigates nesting. On Garrapatero beach you will find three different white sand beaches with turquoise water with lots of turtles, rays and Galapagos sharks. At the end of the paddle you will most likely see flamingos. After the paddle we will have time to relax before snorkeling in a bay of crystalline water.

In the afternoon we will visit the Charles Darwin Research Station which is the working Galapagos based branch of the international, non-profit Charles Darwin Foundation. Established in 1959, the Darwin Station works closely with the Galapagos National Park Service protecting the Galapagos Islands and Galapagos Marine Reserve.

Overnight Hotel in Angermeyer Waterfront Inn. (B,L,D)

DAY 5 ~ Puerto Ayora - Isabela Island

After breakfast we will take the motor boat for a 2 hours and a half sail to Isabela Island. This seahorseshaped island is the largest in the archipelago at 80 miles in length. Despite its remarkable beauty, Isabela is not a stop on most Galapagos cruises, making it a less visited site perfect for our adventures. Isabela was formed approximately one million years ago by the merger of six shield volcanoes: Alcedo, Cerro Azul, Darwin, Ecuador, Sierra Negra, and Wolf, all but one of which are still active. Two of the volcanoes,Wolf and Cerro Azul, stretch above the cloud cover and are therefore arid on their upper flanks.

Because it is a relatively young island, Isabela’s lava fields and surrounding soil do not have the varied vegetation zones of other islands. Despite this, the rich animal, bird, and marine life are beyond compare. Here there are more wild tortoises than on all the other islands combined. They roam freely in the calderas of the volcanoes.

Upon arrival on Isabela, we check into Casa de Marita, a small and charming beachfront hotel. After lunch,our first stop is the Tortoise Breeding Center, an initiative of the National Park for the conservation of Isabela’s tortoises. Then we will visit the marshlands or humedales, where elevated walkways take us over tidal lagoons that include four mangrove species and provide habitat for flamingoes and numerous migratory birds. We will come back to the hotel walking through the beautiful white sand beach of Puerto Villamil.

Overnight hotel in Casa Marita or similar. (B,L,D)

DAY 6 ~ Isabela’s Sierra Negra
After breakfast this morning we drive to the highlands of Isabela for an entirely new view and feel of the Galapagos. After an hour, we reach the starting point of our hike up Sierra Negra that last erupted on October 22, 2005 and deposited a new and dramatic layer of lava. The caldera of this volcano is the second largest in the world, with a diameter of approximately six and a half miles. On our hike, which varies from 8- 14 miles depending on the group, we can spot a variety of birds, including finches and flycatchers and if we’re lucky, the Galapagos hawk. From the rim of the caldera we hike to Chico Volcano to see fumaroles and the unusual lava formations, a striking visual record of the geological history of these islands. From our highest vantage points, enjoy views of Isabela’s other volcanoes and nearby islands. Return to our starting point of the hike and drive to town. Some may then enjoy a walk to the beach for a cool swim before dinner.

Overnight hotel in Casa Marita. (B,L,D)

DAY 7 ~ Tuneles & Tintoreras
In the morning, weather permitting, we’ll take a boat for roughly an hour to Los Tuneles: the most curious and remarkable lava formation which consists of arches and caves. We’ll walk along the shore and also snorkel in crystal clear water for an insight into the remarkable underwater world. We’ll have lunch and then head back into town to visit a small island called Tintoreras. This island is a unique volcanic formation. On its west face a primitive species of lichen flourishes in the moisture brought by the prevailing wind. Here we’ll find young marine iguanas and may see white-tipped reef sharks. In the quiet lagoon there are also boobies and if we’re lucky we’ll be able to spot the Galapagos Penguin. We may also have another chance to swim and snorkel with sea lions.

Overnight hotel in Casa Marita or similar. (B,L,D)

DAY 8 ~ Isabela to San Cristóbal
After breakfast we fly to San Cristóbal, the easternmost island in the archipelago. The island is one of the oldest in the chain, and thus its volcanic peaks are greatly eroded and vegetation is more abundant than on many islands. Upon arrival in the provincial capital and second-largest town in Galápagos, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, we will head towards Isla Lobos to snorkel with sea lions and see blue-footed boobies that next here. Depending on the time, we will have a chance to paddle form Manglecito to Puerto Grande, our camp, or paddle around the bay of Puerto Grande.

Camp Puerto Grande. (B,L,D)

DAY 9 ~ Cerro Brujo & Kicker Rock
We wake to a camp breakfast and prepare for our morning paddle. We will paddle from our camp to Cerro Brujo. After a picnic lunch in the panga, we will continue on to Kicker Rock where we’ll snorkel at a class wall site to see an incredible repertoire of marine life. (Scuba diving can be arranged in advance for an additional fee.) After snorkeling we head back to camp where we enjoy watching the birds, walking, more snorkeling and absorbing your surroundings. Another evening of conversation and camaraderie under the Galapagos stars on this, our last night in the islands.

Camp Puerto Grande. (B,L,D)

DAY 10 ~ Return to Quito
After breakfast, we’ll return to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno by small boat (panga). We head to the airport late morning for an early afternoon return flight to Quito. Depending on the flight time we will stop in Isla Lobos for another snorkelling or paddle from here up to Puerto Baquerizo. In Quito we’ll enjoy a final farewell dinner before you return home the next morning.

Overnight is Swissotel. (B,D)

DAY 11 ~ depart Quito
We have an early wake-up and breakfast before the transfer to the airport for your international flight.

Please Note: The current trip we offer is somewhat different than the one we originally ran and is described in the New York Times. Due to changes in Park Service regulations effective in March 2007, we are no longer able to camp on the island of Baltra, so our trip now has two nights camping, rather than four. The Park Service regulates our land trips in much the same way they regulate the yacht-based trips. This change came about AFTER our color brochure was printed and explains the discrepancy between it and our current itinerary. To learn more about our environmental ethic please see “Conservation and ROW” and “Responsible Travel” below.