Hike to the otherworldly Sierra Negra Volcano - one of the largest, and most active, volcanic craters in the world
Cycle to pristine beaches dotted with sea lions, blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas and flamingos
Come face to face with the Galapagos’ most famous resident, the giant tortoise, and snorkel with reef sharks and sea turtles
Want to extend your travels? Check out our Ultimate Galapagos and Amazon trip to explore Ecuador's rainforest after your island adventures
Day 1
After touching down at the airport in Quito your host will meet you and transfer you to your hotel in the Tababela area. The rest of the day you are free to enjoy the gardens at the hotel and shake off any jet lag. There will be a group meet up at 19:00 where you can get to know your guides and fellow adventurers.
Day 2
Soak up Quito's Old Town with its squares, churches and classic art before grabbing some traditional Andean food for lunch. Head up to the best viewpoint of the city at Panecillo Hill before making your way over to the San Antonio area of Quito. Here you will find La Mitad del Mundo - The Middle of the Earth. This is where Ecuador's namesake, the equator, runs through the country, and you can stand with a foot in each hemisphere.
Day 3
In Quito, hop on a plane bound for Baltra Island in the Galapagos - the flight is a spectacular one, crossing the open expanse of the Pacific Ocean for a couple of hours before the first islands come in to view. Touch down on Baltra and take a short ferry ride over to Santa Cruz Island, where you can get stuck straight into some of the island's highlights. Check out Los Gemelos (The Twins) – two giant volcanic sinkholes; El Chato Giant Tortoise Reserve, where you can observe these magical creatures in their natural habitat; and the Charles Darwin Research Station.
Day 4
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before jumping in the van and climbing into the Santa Cruz Highlands to visit an organic coffee plantation and sup a fresh cup of Joe. After lunch, drive up to the Cerro Mesa Nature Reserve where you can jump on a mountain bike and pedal (approx 10km) over to Garrapatero Beach – an amazing beach teeming with wildlife. Have some downtime on the beach, enjoy a swim, then head back to Puerto Ayora either by bike (22km) or on the bus for dinner and drinks.
Day 5
Head out to one of the largest white sand beaches in the Galapagos, Tortuga Bay. This beautiful beach is only accessible by an hour-long hike and you may spot lava lizards, native birds and huge marine iguanas. You can grab a quick dip, snorkel, or kayak here, or you can just hang out on the beach and keep the local marine life company. Hop on a speed boat to Isabela Island and check into your boutique hotel in the picturesque town of Puerto Villamil. The rest of the afternoon is free to stroll around the town and find a spot to enjoy the sunset at one of the best white sand beaches in the Galapagos.
Day 6
Tackle a spectacular hike today at Sierra Negra Volcano. After a couple of hours, you'll reach a spot where you can take in the views from the rim of one of the largest and most active volcanic craters in the world. The hike continues over to Lava Nueva, a neighbouring volcanic landscape. The hike is easy-going as you hike at a gradual pace while soaking up the spectacular surroundings. Back in Puerto Villamil by late afternoon, you can unwind on the beach with another swim in the Pacific Ocean.
Day 7
Swap hiking boots for a mountain bike today for a ride over to Muro de las Lágrimas (the Wall of Tears) – an infamous 10-metre high wall of volcanic rock that was formerly part of a penal colony. Since the prison closed down, wildlife has taken over and it now makes a truly unique place to see giant tortoises and flamingos. Continue on two wheels to the Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Centre where you can say hello to five different species of endemic giant tortoise. In the afternoon you’ll snorkel at Concha de Perla – eyes peeled for reef sharks, marine iguanas, sea lions, turtles and even penguins. Wind down with a traditional Isabela Island restaurant dinner and maybe sample the Galapagan nightlife.
Day 8
Tick off more islands today as you make your way to Islote las Tintoreras, a chain of small islands named after the white-tipped reef sharks who love to hang out here. Enjoy a boat trip around the bay to look for the famous or unique residents, such as Galapagos penguins, blue-footed boobies, sea turtles and sea lions, then visit The Cliff – a natural tunnel where sharks can often be seen resting. Jump in the water for another snorkelling adventure with the chance to see manta rays, marine iguanas, and of course the famous reef sharks of this part of the Galapagos. Bid farewell to Isabela Island later, as you take a speedboat back to Santa Cruz Island for your final evening in the Galapagos.
Day 9
Wave goodbye to the islands as you jump on a plane back to Quito. The afternoon and evening are free to explore some more at your own pace or enjoy some well-earned downtime in the hotel gardens. You'll share a final evening together with your group, sharing memories, adventure stories and probably the odd photo of a giant tortoise from your time in the Galapagos.
Day 10
Your adventure comes to an end today as your host takes you back to the airport in Quito in time for your flight home.
Our trips do not include flights, trains or other travel to the start point and back from the end point.
There are some payments that you'll need to make locally on this trip. Much Better Adventures usually include everything to make for a hassle free trip, however sometimes there are payments that must be made in person at borders or national parks which require cash payment along with your passport. Entry to the Galapagos is operated like this by the Ecuadorian government. Please make sure you bring along the following:
$200 USD in cash for the Galapagos National Park entry fee. This fee is paid by each adult visiting the Galapagos, and this payment goes towards protecting the wider national park and marine reserve. You must pay this fee on arrival at Baltra Airport while presenting your passport for immigration control. It can only be paid individually by the passport holder.
$10 USD in cash for a municipal tax to enter Isabela Island on Day 5. This is payable when presenting your passport upon arrival on the island.
Tips are not included in the trip cost. These are entirely at your discretion but there is an expectation to tip for good service. Your guide will help with advice, however, we suggest the below as a guideline per person:
Guides:
Of course, you are free to tip more or less, and the amount should be reflective of your perception of service and quality - a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.
You know your own spending habits best, so please budget an appropriate amount for things like optional meals and drinks, shopping, optional activities, and laundry.
Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures and you are required to provide your policy information before departing. Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure. We also strongly recommend it includes cancellation and curtailment insurance, should you be unable to join your trip for specific reasons such as illness. Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine (opens in new tab), as their insurance offers all of the above.
Visa requirements often change, and you are responsible for obtaining any required visas for this trip. Please check with your nearest embassy or consulate for up-to-date advice.
Looking for a private room? See Optional Extras for details and pricing.
In Quito, there will be an array of traditional Ecuadorian food to sample, including street snacks as you roam around the old town. Traditional dishes tend to be meat-heavy, however, seafood ceviche is popular and there are plenty of vegetarian optio…
For solo travellers looking for their own space, an optional private room can be booked for an extra charge, see Optional Extras for the price. Please request this at the time of booking (this is subject to availability).
To request any extras, message your host via your Much Better Adventures account once you have booked your trip.
All extras must be paid before your trip starts.
Ideal for new adventurers or those who enjoy a more relaxed pace
Anyone with a basic level of fitness can enjoy this trip. All you'll need is to be able to handle a few hours of activity every day, mixed between snorkelling, kayaking, hikin...
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Friday 24th July 2026
to Sunday 2nd August 2026
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Know before you go! Some stuff we'll provide, other things you'll need to bring.
All of our trips to Ecuador are currently running without any disruption. More information can be read here.
Yes, there are some payments that you'll need to make locally on this trip. Much Better Adventures usually include everything to make for a hassle free trip, however sometimes there are payments that must be made in person at borders or national parks which require cash payment along with your passport. Entry to the Galapagos is operated like this by the Ecuadorian government. Please make sure you bring along the following:
$100 USD in cash for the Galapagos National Park entry fee (Note: From August 1st 2024 onwards this entrance fee is increasing to $200 USD per person). This fee is paid by each adult visiting the Galapagos, and this payment goes towards protecting the wider national park and marine reserve. You must pay this fee on arrival at Baltra Airport while presenting your passport for immigration control. It can only be paid individually by the passport holder.
$10 USD in cash for a municipal tax to enter Isabela Island on Day 5. This is payable when presenting your passport upon arrival on the island.
The tap water in mainland Ecuador and Galapagos is not always friendly on the stomach for those who haven't been in Latin America for a while. There is purified water in each of the hotels which you can use to fill up each morning, so be sure to pack a reusable water bottle or two.
Yes, you are able to leave excess luggage in Quito at the start of the trip, to be collected when you return to Quito after your week in the Galapagos.
Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.
Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.
Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).
For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.
We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.
We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.
If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.
All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. You must be over 18 to join one of our trips.
You're always in good company on one of our adventures.
Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.
Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.
It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.
Don't just take our word for it:
See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.
Seasons in the Galapagos are split into the cool and dry season (June to November) and the warm and wet season (December to May). The seas are warmer, calmer and have better visibility in the warm and wet season. Rain showers in the wet season tend to be over quickly, and are often a pleasant break from the heat and sun.
Average temperatures in the warm and wet season from December to May range from a low of 22°C (70°F) to a high of 31°C (84°F).
Average temperatures in the cool and dry season from June to November range from a low of 19°C (68°F) to a high of 27°C (82°F).
The wildlife in the Galapagos can be seen year-round, as many of the big draws are resident to the islands, with few migratory species.
We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity.
What's the number?
It works out on average at 1024kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, guides, staff and office operations.
The only thing it doesn’t include right now is flights and travel to the destination. We do make an overall estimate across all our customers separately, but as we don’t book flights, have customers from all corners of the world, and no way of reliably knowing their travel plans, we simply can’t include an individual number in the figure on display here. We’ve got a goal to fix that, so that when you book, there is a way to measure and mitigate the carbon emitted by your flight too.
But what does the number mean?
Yep, hard to picture eh? To give you an idea:
What are we doing about it?
Our trips are relatively low-carbon by design, and we're working with all our hosts to develop long term carbon reduction plans. We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity, ensuring the protection of the reserve and its wildlife.
Want to know more?
Amazingly, no international travel company has ever publicly published their carbon measurements before, as far as we know. We believe that must change, quickly. So we’re openly sharing the method we used in the hope that other companies will be able to more easily follow suit and build on what we've done so far. You'll find it all here.
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