Galapagos land based adventure vacation
Highlights
Quito | Isla San Cristobal | Isla Floreana | Isla Isabela | Isla Santa Cruz |Travel Team
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Small group adventure
What is a small group adventure?It's a great way to travel! Whether you are traveling on your own, with a partner or with friends, a small group trip is a fantastic way to see the world. You'll travel on a fixed itinerary that has been designed to help you discover the best of region. From the known highlights, the hidden gems that you won't find in the guidebooks.
Itineraries run on set departure dates, accompanied every step of the way by an English speaking local group leader. You chose the itinerary and the date that suits you best and you book on.
Why travel on a small group adventure?
Small groups allow us to explore where larger tour groups can't. Our maximum group size of 16 travelers allows us to use local transport to get from A to B, to visit rural villages, spend time with the locals and even stay at a local home overnight, and it allows us to give our travelers genuine, real life experiences of the countries we are visiting; what you'll be doing and how you'll travel depends entirely on your chosen itinerary.
Is an adventure right for me?
The word adventure means something different to everyone, and our range of trips reflects that. Whether you want to explore local markets, visit out of the way temples and meet local people or go on an early morning safari drive searching for the 'big five', we'll have a trip for you. If you are looking for a physical challenge such trekking the Kokoda Track or summiting Kilimanjaro, we can help with that too.
So what can I expect on this trip?
This is a classic style of small group adventure. You'll find your trip combines a good mix of included activities and free time, with some meals included as per your itinerary. We don't want you to feel chaperoned, it's your vacation not ours. Your group leader will be on hand to assist with organising anything you might wish to do in your free time, but how you spend it is up to you. Anything listed as included in your itinerary will be included in trip price; whereas anything listed as optional will be at an additional cost should you wish to take part.
These trips are great value, including things that you would struggle to organise independently, such as a night at a homestay in a remote village, or local guides around a remote place of interest. Transport will be a combination of private vehicle and public transport, whichever is the most appropriate for the route we are traveling; this might include train, plane, camel, tuk tuk, bicycle, boat…
On a majority of these trips you'll stay in 2-3 star accommodation, locally owned and reflective of the region you are traveling through. All solo travelers will be automatically roomed on a twin share basis with another group member of the same sex, unless you opt to pay for your own room at time of booking. There are no compulsory single supplements for solo travelers willing to share. Single rooms aren't available on camping trips, and you will be expected to help out with camp tasks such as setting up and breaking down your camp.
Can I book my flights with you?
Yes! We are a fully ATOL bonded tour operator meaning that we can book flights from the UK as part of your vacation package. Just ask us for a quote including flights when you make your inquiry.
Responsible tourism
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we screen every trip so you can travel knowing your vacation will help support conservation and local people.

For every visitor we take to the Galapagos we donate £25 to the Galapagos Conservation Trust www.gct.org who work to protect and conserve the Galapagos islands. We are also an active member of IGTOA, a non profit association of travel companies, conservation organizations, and other groups that seek a lasting protection of the Galapagos Islands. We lobby for conservation, fund projects, and promote and practice sustainable tourism.
We don’t use plastic bottled water, no rubbish is left anywhere by us or guides. No wildlife is disturbed and we operate a strict policy leaving the animals and flora alone.
The Impacts of this Trip
We employ local staff all the way on the trip, only use hotels owned by locals, all the food is sourced locally, we take people to locally-owned restaurants to help keep the money in the islands.
We are supporting two charities, the UK registered charity Amantani - which is very much in keeping with our ethos of small scale, targeted help that is educational & sustainable - and Huchuy Yachaq, a Cusco-based project which we support by paying a for a full time teacher. A percentage of our income goes to support those projects.


For every visitor we take to the Galapagos we donate £25 to the Galapagos Conservation Trust www.gct.org who work to protect and conserve the Galapagos islands. We are also an active member of IGTOA, a non profit association of travel companies, conservation organizations, and other groups that seek a lasting protection of the Galapagos Islands. We lobby for conservation, fund projects, and promote and practice sustainable tourism.
We don’t use plastic bottled water, no rubbish is left anywhere by us or guides. No wildlife is disturbed and we operate a strict policy leaving the animals and flora alone.

The Impacts of this Trip
We employ local staff all the way on the trip, only use hotels owned by locals, all the food is sourced locally, we take people to locally-owned restaurants to help keep the money in the islands.
We are supporting two charities, the UK registered charity Amantani - which is very much in keeping with our ethos of small scale, targeted help that is educational & sustainable - and Huchuy Yachaq, a Cusco-based project which we support by paying a for a full time teacher. A percentage of our income goes to support those projects.

7 Reviews of Galapagos land based adventure vacation
In depth story review
Reviewed on 17 May 2019 by Elizabeth Willson
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
The month of May was mating season for the birds. It was like being in the middle of an episode of "Wild Kingdom," standing two feet away from a pair of blue footed boobies doing their beautiful, intricate mating dance. Every day was another surprising wildlife encounter - snorkeling with penguins and sea turtles, hiking among (and swimming with) the marine iguanas...
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Pack light; pack quick dry washable clothing; make sure your water shoes have closed toes or fine mesh to keep out the gravel from hiking on the lava flows after a wet landing on the beach. Don't forget the bug spray & sunscreen.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Starting with the small, locally owned boutique hotel in Quito and carrying through to the local crew on the boat who introduced us to their home towns... yes, we absolutely supported the local economy. The boat was very environmentally conscious in their practices. The whole focus of the Galapagos is on conservation of a fragile and unique ecosystem. Amazing trip.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
A once in a lifetime experience. Enjoyable and interesting from the first minute to the last.
Reviewed on 02 Sep 2018 by Sheila Ellwood
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Arriving in the Galapagos and seeing so many animals so close the first afternoon: blue footed boobies, sea lions and crabs and then so many iguanas.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Just go with the flow...lots to do, good food and amazing place but don't expect hair dryers!
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Definitely benefited local people and we did our best re environmental impacts and conservation.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Excellent
Reviewed on 20 Jan 2018 by Chris Bach
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Coming face-to-face with sea lions.... actually overcoming my anxiety of snorkelling.. the great 'family' created.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Pack good shoes... bring medications, especially cold/flu JUST in case ...sun screen... and an open mind.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I honestly don't know.. we ate at local eateries, so our money went to the local economy (great food) and souveniers... i hope it benefited them
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Beyond my wildest expectations
Reviewed on 30 Apr 2018 by Kay Renicks
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Able to experience wildlife up close in their own environment.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Take underwater camera, sun protection, nausea medication. Pack light! Do not plan to go Cotopaxi right after returning from Galapagos; It should be discouraged by tour operator!
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Maybe benefit economically but not for conservation.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Galapagos part was great but Quito part was not. After returning from Galapagos, Cotopaxi was recommended but it should have not due to altitude change.
Reviewed on 17 Jul 2017 by Martin White
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Swimming with sea turtles and seeing dolphins and whales around our boat. The wildlife generally in the Galapagos is great, as is the volcanic landscape.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Be aware that there is a lot of snorkelling. If that is not your thing, this tour is not for you. Also, as a land based tour, we did not visit any uninhabited islands,
with the exception of snorkelling off Kicker Rock. If you want to see more islands, a boat based tour may be better.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
We stayed in locally owned hotels and I think more of our money ended up in the hands of local people compared to boat tours that may operate.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Fantastic. Memories of seeing all the amazing wildlife will last a lifetime.
Reviewed on 14 Nov 2017 by Lauren Jones
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Wildlife - once in a lifetime encounters; especially swimming with sealions, sharks and turtles.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
It is full on! So much activity, this is fantastic but tiring and a good level of fitness (both in and out of the water) is essential.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Absolutely, especially as our guide was a local and recommended restaurants etc
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Great once we were there.
I was fairly unimpressed with the tour operator however as they made numerous errors on our booking (some of which ie names and DOB could have been
really detrimental).
Reviewed on 25 Feb 2017 by Alison Corfield
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Swimming on beautiful beach
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Take a rain mac!
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
I think it is part of the conservation effort
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Brilliant
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