Galápagos Islands Tours
- Galapagos Unbound is rated the #1 Galapagos Multisport Tour on TripAdvisor from unsolicited, independent travelers.
- We want to know why you are traveling and will accommodate your experience to deliver the most important things you want to get out of your Galapagos vacation.
- We have exclusive access for a once-in-a-lifetime beach camping experience waking up to sea lions outside your tent!
- You kayak over gliding sea turtles and other thriving marine life in private coves and coastlines where nobody else goes.
- Our guides are personally trained in the "ROW Difference", where others will use only guides provided to them by the National Parks, not trained in delivering the full experience you deserve in what is more than likely a one-time-ever vacation.
- There is so much more!
- Please carefully read the itinerary and you'll immediately see our difference. It's a one-of-a-kind, not run-of-the-mill, Galapagos experience unlike any other tour you'll find. Further, you can trust our Galapagos programs as we pioneered (first land tours on the islands) and advocated for low-impact, land-based travel to these stunning enchanted isles.
Trip Overview
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Images & Videos
Itinerary
Day 1
Day 2
In the morning, our tour leader will pick us up from the hotel in order to head for the airport and catch our flights to Cristobal Island, the easternmost island in the archipelago. Upon arrival, our Galapagos National Park’s Naturalist Guide will greet and assist us with luggage and transfer. 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 other islands. Upon arrival in the provincial capital and second-largest town of Galápagos, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, we will have lunch. Afterwards, we will try out snorkeling and wet suit equipment before loading our luggage onto our support boat. We will paddle from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno to Manglecito Beach. It will take us 2.5 to 3 hours to cover 6 nautical miles. Along the way, we will pass near Lobos Island, where it will be quite easy to approach the local fauna as they rest on the rocks close to the coast. It is a great chance for close up pictures of blue-footed
boobies, brown pelicans, and marine iguanas. Kayaking gives us a vantage point, as it is common to spot sea turtles taking their heads out of the water to breath. If we are lucky enough, we may even find them mating on the water.
Day 3
Kicker Rock, Snorkeling, Galapagos Beach Camp
Today we will take our kayaks and paddle from our camp for roughly three hours, depending on the weather conditions. Our support boat is always close at hand if you need assistance or tire of paddling. We arrive at another pristine beach for lunch, bird watching and wildlife viewing. Then we continue in our catamaran to Kicker Rock*. Once at Kicker Rock, we snorkel through an amazing channel where you are likely to see white-tipped reef sharks, Galápagos sharks, sea turtles and eagle rays. We are sure to see hundreds of fish and sea stars. By late afternoon we return to relax at our beach camp, watch small hermit crabs scuttle along, as well as yellow warblers and other seabirds. Sunset over the Pacific is usually spectacular.
Note: The order of the activities can vary depending on National Park schedules.
*Note: Boat ride to Kicker Rock on Shared Services in groups from 4 to 7 people
Spend another night at our exclusive, once-in-a-lifetime Galapagos beach camp.
Day 4
Travel to Isabela, Sea Kayaking & Wildlife Watching
This morning we leave for the airport very early so breakfast will be when we get to town, don't worry though we will have lots of hot drinks and snacks on the boat. We fly to the island of Isabela and check into our beachfront hotel and have breakfast. Leaving our luggage at the hotel we will head to the Tortoise Breeding center, an initiative of the National Park for the conservation of Isabela’s tortoises. We will walk through the marshlands or humedales and along the beautiful white-sanded beach of Puerto Villamil.
After lunch, we choose our favorite wildlife viewing transportation, our kayaks to navigate Isabela's beautiful bay and beachfront. There is so much wildlife to see from the water, especially birdlife, with some good fortune we will encounter the tiny Galapagos penguin as they love to hang out and nest on the rocks here. Bring your snorkel gear and jump in to explore the underwater wildlife. The pure white sand on the sea floor makes this a perfect spot to snorkel or just watch the show from your kayak.
Note - The checked and carry on baggage allowance for these small planes is 25lbs per person If you are over the limit the airline will charge $2 per lb over based on availability.
Day 5
Sierra Negra Volcano, Hiking, Beach BBQ and Relaxing
Rising early, we head to the interior for a very different view of the Galápagos Islands. We drive just under an hour up to the highlands and begin our hike of Isabela’s Sierra Negra. This active volcano last erupted in 2005 and has the second largest caldera in the world with a diameter of approximately six and a half miles. The hike can vary from 6-10 miles and includes viewing the spectacular caldera and incredible lava formations. We return to town with time for relaxing on the beach, walking through town or simply resting.
Dinner on your own this evening.
Day 6
Los Tuneles, Snorkeling, Wildlife Watching
In the morning, weather permitting, we take a boat for roughly an hour to Los Tuneles*: a most curious and remarkable lava formation which consists of arches and caves. We walk along the shore and also snorkel in crystal clear water for an insight into the remarkable underwater world. We have lunch aboard the boat. From the lagoon we head to El Finado, here there is an inlet that for many years has been used by local fishermen to rest from their journeys in the ocean, a place with tranquil and shallow waters. Here we will anchor our boat and spend time snorkeling among submerged lava rocks forming caves and small reefs.
Dinner will be in a local restaurant right next to the hotel. Weather permitting, it will be a BBQ dinner on the beach.
*Note Boat ride to Los Tuneles in Shared Services in groups from 4 to 7 people
Day 7
Isla Santa Cruz, Darwin Research Station, Sea Kayaking
We wake early and set off for the day’s adventures by sea. We take a speed boat* to Isla Santa Cruz, the urban center of the archipelago and the home of the Darwin Research Station, the National Park Headquarters, and Puerto Ayora. Once we land, we drive on Santa Cruz’s main highway into the lush ecosystem of highlands. Wild Galápagos tortoises lumber throughout these dense forests, and we spend some time walking amongst them as they chew on the vegetation and roam slowly through the diverse environment.
Day 8
Santa Cruz island - Visit Tortuga Bay and Kayak
From Puerto Ayora we’ll hike on a concrete path for 1.86 miles to get to Tortuga Bay. The hike is easy and runs through a field of prickly pear (Opuntia) cacti, Matazarno, and Palo Santo trees, where mockingbirds and finches are abundant. At Tortuga Bay, we’ll find a beautiful white sand beach where we can spend some time relaxing and watching the wildlife. We’ll walk the full length of the beach until we get to the small shore with very calm waters where we can do snorkel, kayak or simply enjoy the ocean water. In the afternoon, we will kayak for one hour and a half in a calm shallow lagoon where rays, mullets, and sharks can be seen while kayaking along the rocky coastline. In the evening, at to top of our day, we will have a special farewell dinner.
*Note: The kayak activity could vary depending on tides.
Day 9
Dates & Rates
Dates | Adult (USD) | Child (USD) |
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May 11, 2024 to May 19, 2024 Lowest Tier Price | $5,850£0€0$0$0 | $5,850£0€0$0$0 |
Jun 15, 2024 to Jun 23, 2024 Lowest Tier Price | $5,850£0€0$0$0 | $5,850£0€0$0$0 |
Jul 06, 2024 to Jul 14, 2024 Lowest Tier Price | $5,850£0€0$0$0 | $5,850£0€0$0$0 |
Sep 14, 2024 to Sep 22, 2024 Lowest Tier Price | $5,850£0€0$0$0 | $5,850£0€0$0$0 |
Nov 09, 2024 to Nov 17, 2024 Lowest Tier Price | $5,850£0€0$0$0 | $5,850£0€0$0$0 |
Nov 30, 2024 to Dec 08, 2024 Lowest Tier Price | $5,850£0€0$0$0 | $5,850£0€0$0$0 |
Dec 07, 2024 to Dec 15, 2024 Lowest Tier Price | $5,850£0€0$0$0 | $5,850£0€0$0$0 |
Dec 16, 2024 to Dec 24, 2024 Lowest Tier Price - Starts on Santa Cruz | $5,850£0€0$0$0 | $5,850£0€0$0$0 |
Dec 18, 2024 to Dec 26, 2024 Lowest Tier Price - Starts on Santa Cruz | $5,850£0€0$0$0 | $5,850£0€0$0$0 |
Supplementary Information
*Free Galapagos Flights
Free mainland Ecuador to Galapagos Islands tickets on select departures. Discount totaling $615 value discount per person on the total tour price. Please inquire for additional details. Promotion does not apply to inter-island airfare. If any of these *dates depart with 8 or more we will also discount the Immigration fee of $20 per person.
2024 Pricing:
- 4 - 7 Guests - $6820 per person
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8 - 12 Guests - $5850 per person
- $615pp Guayaquil Galapagos Round Trip
- $300pp Internal Galapagos Flight and Boat Transfer
- $120pp Galapagos Park Fee and Immigration Tax. $220pp from August 1, 2024
Our trips are budgeted for full or near full sign-ups which enables us to offer trips at the lowest possible price. Because of numerous fixed costs, it is more expensive to operate a trip for a small group. Therefore, on some of our trips, in order to avoid having to cancel a trip, we have a “tier-pricing” system to avoid canceling a trip with a low number of sign ups. We have found that most people also prefer this alternative to having a trip cancelled. Thus, you will note on our trip prices there may be different price for 6-8 people versus 9-10, versus 11-12. We may initially invoice you at the higher tier price, and refund the difference depending on the final group size. Trip costs quoted are based on foreign exchange rates current at the time of this printing. We reserve the right to raise the trip fee if there are exceptional cost increases beyond our control. Prices are based on double occupancy. If desired, we will strive to pair you up with another single guest to elimate the single supplement fee however, please note that this is not always possible.
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Full service of our Adventure Consultants
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Hand-crafted itineraries
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Professional Galapagos Naturalist Guide
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Experienced English-speaking guide(s)
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Double accommodation in hotels and for camping
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Specialized activity guides based on activity of trip (kayaking, biking, hiking, etc.)
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All necessary kayaking, camping and snorkeling equipment
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All transportation as noted on the itinerary
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All meals and drinks as noted on the itinerary
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Private pre-tour orientation meeting
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International flights to Ecuador
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Ecuador to Galapagos round trip flights (*Free Ecuador to Galapagos flights may be offered on select dates)
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Internal island transfers
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$120 National Park Fee and Immigration Tax
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Gratuities
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Items of a personal nature
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Alcoholic beverages
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Travel insurance of any type
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Additional hotel nights pre or post tour
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Cost of hospitalization or evacuation if necessary
Reviews
Galapagos Islands Adventure Vacation, Winter 2020
My wife and I had an absolutely fantastic experience on our first trip with ROW/Sea Kayak Adventures in late January 2020. Our adventure exceeded our expectations in nearly every aspect. For the first part of our trip on mainland Ecuador, our accommodations in a surprisingly rural area outside Quito were upscale and the food was delicious. The trip included a guided tour of the more historic parts of Quito, and the owner of the lodge we stayed in helped us arrange an improvised trip that included a tourist site located exactly on the equator. Getting to the Galapagos Islands first involved a commercial jet to the Pacific coast and then a regional flight in a rather small prop plane to the islands--the latter explaining the trip's strict luggage weight limits. Upon arrival we were soon outfitted with kayaking gear and, after a delicious lunch in an Italian restaurant overlooking a beach that doubles as a port, we paddled along the island's shoreline to a campsite already set up just for us. There the friendly and attentive local staff made delicious meals for us, while we got to explore more of the island by paddling, snorkeling and a powerboat excursion to an offshore rock formation. Despite concerns around comfort, it turned out that the two nights we camped were my favorite part of this trip. In total, we visited three of the islands and checked off nearly everything we could have thought of to see and do. We snorkeled where Galapagos penguins are known to hang out, and saw them both on land and in the water while snorkeling. We toured the islands' interiors and saw the spectacular crater of a large volcano, Galapagos land tortoises in the wild, and a small plantation where rum and chocolate are produced by traditional methods. In addition to gorgeous land- and seascapes, we took an amazing variety of animal photographs, including the penguins, blue-footed boobies, flamingos, marine iguanas, brightly colored crabs, and the famous variety of finches that inspired Darwin. Many have been made into greeting cards and a few into framed pictures for our home. Our guide was very good at organizing our daily activities and meals, and was patient and pleasant throughout the trip. He was an exceptional communicator and was able to answer a broad range of questions in wonderful detail. He could not have been better at his job. I would recommend this trip to anyone who likes to paddle and visit new places.
Excellent Galapagos trip
My trip in January, 2020, was an excellent experience. The highlight was kayaking to the beach campsite and spending the time there. Could not have been done with any other operator and made the time truly exceptional.
AWESOME
I could not recommend the ROW galapagos trip any higher! We went over Christmas as a family, and had an incredible time. It was the perfect mix of activities, exploration, wildlife & staying in some beautiful campsites & hotels. The other families on our trip were lovely & it was so great to travel as a big group over the time. It was all organised perfectly - and is almost impossible to pick a highlight! Snorkeling with sharks & rays, a christmas eve sunset on the beach, island hopping in a sea plane... to group dinners on a remote island - it was all magic. Thank-you!!
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