Galápagos sea lion facing Kicker Rock (León Dormido)

Galápagos Islands · Ecuador

Private Galápagos Tours with a Naturalist Guide

No crowds: your dates, your pace and a guide just for your group. Choose one of our three expeditions or combine it with the Andes.

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Galápagos expeditions

Three ways to experience Galápagos

All private, with Quito transfers and a naturalist guide on the islands.

Galapagos Encounter: 6-Day Expedition (With Quito Transfers) 6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS
5.0 · Tripadvisor

Galapagos Encounter: 6-Day Expedition (With Quito Transfers)

Includes

  • Private Quito Airport Transfers (Arrival & Departure)
  • Twin Craters & Primicias Giant Tortoise Ranch
  • Full-Day Isabela Excursion & Tintoreras Snorkeling
  • Flamingo Lagoon & Giant Tortoise Breeding Center
  • La Lobería Sea Lion Colony & Las Grietas Volcanic Canyon

From

$1,790 USD per person

See the full tour →
Galapagos Explorer: 7-Day Island Expedition (With Quito Transfers) 7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS
5.0 · Tripadvisor

Galapagos Explorer: 7-Day Island Expedition (With Quito Transfers)

Includes

  • Private Quito Airport Transfers (Arrival & Departure)
  • Twin Craters & Primicias Giant Tortoise Reserve
  • Overnight in Isabela Island & Flamingo Lagoon
  • Tintoreras Islet Snorkeling & Marine Iguana Colonies
  • Full-Day Navigable Yacht Cruise to Santa Fe or Pinzón Island

From

$2,050 USD per person

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Galapagos Grand Odyssey: 8-Day 3-Island Expedition (With Quito Transfers) 8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS
5.0 · Tripadvisor

Galapagos Grand Odyssey: 8-Day 3-Island Expedition (With Quito Transfers)

Includes

  • Private Quito Airport Transfers (Arrival & Departure)
  • Twin Craters & Primicias Giant Tortoise Reserve
  • Isabela Island Overnight, Flamingo Lagoon & Tintoreras
  • Full-Day Navigable Yacht Cruise to Santa Fe or Pinzón Island
  • San Cristóbal Island: Interpretation Center, Tijeretas Hill & La Lobería

From

$2,200 USD per person

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Galápagos + mainland Ecuador

Andean volcanoes, colonial Quito and then the islands, in one trip.

30+ activities by island

Filter by island, season or type of activity and add them to your trip.

Questions regarding wildlife timing or inter-island logistics?

For any questions, consult directly with our expedition designers in Ecuador (100% bilingual English-Spanish) or with our representatives in the USA.

Level 1: Select Your Vermilion Base Tour

When you select a base tour, included activities automatically filter out, revealing only available optional add-ons to customize your journey.

Level 2: Travel Season & Month
Filtrar por Mes Específico de Viaje:
Level 3: Filter by Island
Activity Category:
Actividades Disponibles30
Wild Giant Tortoise Sanctuary (Primicias / El Chato Ranch)
Santa Cruz✨ Customizable Add-On
Marine & Terrestrial WildlifeHalf Day (3-4 hours)

Wild Giant Tortoise Sanctuary (Primicias / El Chato Ranch)

Walk alongside iconic Galapagos giant tortoises in their natural highland sanctuary amidst lush meadows and cloud forests.

Fauna Principal:
🐾 Galapagos Giant Tortoise🐾 Darwin's Finch
Twin Craters & Endemic Scalesia Cloud Forest
Santa Cruz✨ Customizable Add-On
Volcanic Hiking & Geology1.5 hours

Twin Craters & Endemic Scalesia Cloud Forest

Two colossal volcanic sinkholes enclosed by a surreal cloud forest of Scalesia trees alive with endemic land birds.

Fauna Principal:
🐾 Woodpecker Finch🐾 Scalesia Tree
Las Grietas Volcanic Canyon Snorkeling
Santa Cruz✨ Customizable Add-On
Snorkeling & Scuba DivingHalf Day (3 hours)

Las Grietas Volcanic Canyon Snorkeling

Swim and snorkel inside a dramatic geological fissure flanked by towering basalt walls with crystal-clear emerald brackish waters.

Fauna Principal:
🐾 Blue Parrotfish🐾 Giant Opuntia Cactus
Charles Darwin Research Station & Fausto Llerena Breeding Center
Santa Cruz✨ Customizable Add-On
History, Darwin & Conservation2 hours

Charles Darwin Research Station & Fausto Llerena Breeding Center

Learn how international science and park rangers rescued giant tortoises from extinction and visit the legacy of Lonesome George.

Fauna Principal:
🐾 Hatchling Giant Tortoises🐾 Galapagos Land Iguana
Tortuga Bay Kayaking & Marine Iguana Sanctuary
Santa Cruz✨ Customizable Add-On
Snorkeling & Scuba DivingHalf Day or Full Day (4-6 hours)

Tortuga Bay Kayaking & Marine Iguana Sanctuary

Paddle tranquil lagoon waters framed by mangroves, baby reef sharks, and hundreds of marine iguanas basking on white coral powder sand.

Fauna Principal:
🐾 Galapagos Marine Iguana🐾 White-tip Reef Shark
Gordon Rocks World-Class Scuba Diving (Hammerhead Apex)
Santa Cruz✨ Customizable Add-On
Snorkeling & Scuba DivingFull Day (2 boat dives + navigation)

Gordon Rocks World-Class Scuba Diving (Hammerhead Apex)

Descend into the most iconic submerged volcanic cone in Galapagos to witness massive schools of scalloped hammerhead sharks.

Fauna Principal:
🐾 Scalloped Hammerhead Shark🐾 Spotted Eagle Ray
Black Turtle Cove Mangrove Zodiac Safari
Santa Cruz✨ Customizable Add-On
Marine & Terrestrial Wildlife2.5 hours

Black Turtle Cove Mangrove Zodiac Safari

Glide silently with silenced engines through a pristine mangrove sanctuary where green sea turtles, golden cownose rays and reef sharks mate.

Fauna Principal:
🐾 Pacific Green Sea Turtle🐾 Golden Cownose Ray
Tintoreras Islet: Shark Crevices & Galapagos Penguin Snorkel
Isabela Island✨ Customizable Add-On
Snorkeling & Scuba DivingHalf Day (3 hours)

Tintoreras Islet: Shark Crevices & Galapagos Penguin Snorkel

Trek across rugged basalt flows where dozens of white-tip reef sharks rest in crystalline fissures, then snorkel beside playful penguins.

Fauna Principal:
🐾 Galapagos Penguin🐾 White-tip Reef Shark
Flamingo Lagoon Boardwalk & Arnaldo Tupiza Giant Tortoise Center
Isabela Island✨ Customizable Add-On
History, Darwin & Conservation2 hours

Flamingo Lagoon Boardwalk & Arnaldo Tupiza Giant Tortoise Center

Stroll elevated boardwalks over brackish lagoons observing American flamingos before visiting the breeding center for Isabela giant tortoises.

Fauna Principal:
🐾 American Flamingo🐾 Sierra Negra Giant Tortoise
Los Tuneles (Cabo Rosa): Lava Bridges, Seahorses & Manta Rays
Isabela Island✨ Customizable Add-On
Snorkeling & Scuba DivingExtended Half Day (5-6 hours)

Los Tuneles (Cabo Rosa): Lava Bridges, Seahorses & Manta Rays

The most extraordinary snorkeling wonderland in Galapagos: an intricate labyrinth of natural basalt lava arches sheltering seahorses, reef sharks, and giant manta rays.

Fauna Principal:
🐾 Pacific Seahorse🐾 Giant Oceanic Manta Ray
Sierra Negra Caldera & Volcán Chico Fumaroles Trekking
Isabela Island✨ Customizable Add-On
Volcanic Hiking & GeologyFull Day (6-7 hours)

Sierra Negra Caldera & Volcán Chico Fumaroles Trekking

Trek along the rim of Earth’s second largest active volcanic caldera (6 miles across) and otherworldly lava moonscapes.

Fauna Principal:
🐾 Galapagos Hawk🐾 Isabela Land Iguana
Concha de Perla Tidal Pool Snorkeling with Sea Lions & Rays
Isabela Island✨ Customizable Add-On
Snorkeling & Scuba DivingFlexible (1.5 - 2 hours)

Concha de Perla Tidal Pool Snorkeling with Sea Lions & Rays

A calm, sheltered natural saltwater lagoon beside Puerto Villamil pier, ideal for independent snorkeling with curious sea lions and green turtles.

Fauna Principal:
🐾 Galapagos Sea Lion🐾 Green Sea Turtle
Gianni Arismendy Interpretation Center (Natural & Human History)
San Cristobal✨ Customizable Add-On
History, Darwin & Conservation1.5 - 2 hours

Gianni Arismendy Interpretation Center (Natural & Human History)

State-of-the-art interactive museum covering the archipelago's volcanic genesis, Darwinian evolution, and colorful pirate settlement history.

Fauna Principal:
🐾 San Cristobal Lava Lizard🐾 San Cristobal Mockingbird
Cerro Tijeretas Frigatebird Lookout & Bay Snorkel
San Cristobal✨ Customizable Add-On
Marine & Terrestrial WildlifeHalf Day (3 hours)

Cerro Tijeretas Frigatebird Lookout & Bay Snorkel

Hike to the scenic ridge where both Great and Magnificent Frigatebirds nest simultaneously, then descend to snorkel in a crystal-clear bay with sea lions.

Fauna Principal:
🐾 Magnificent Frigatebird🐾 Great Frigatebird
La Lobería Beach & Sea Lion Colony Coastal Sanctuary
San Cristobal✨ Customizable Add-On
Marine & Terrestrial WildlifeHalf Day (2.5 - 3 hours)

La Lobería Beach & Sea Lion Colony Coastal Sanctuary

Crescent-shaped coral sand beach hosting a massive nursery colony of Galapagos sea lions and colossal marine iguanas.

Fauna Principal:
🐾 Galapagos Sea Lion🐾 Swallow-tailed Gull
Kicker Rock (León Dormido) Shark Snorkel & Circumnavigation
San Cristobal✨ Customizable Add-On
Snorkeling & Scuba DivingFull Day (7 hours incl. pristine beach)

Kicker Rock (León Dormido) Shark Snorkel & Circumnavigation

San Cristobal’s legendary volcanic obelisk rising 500 feet from the ocean: snorkel through a vertical cleft alongside Galapagos sharks, hammerheads, and eagle rays.

Fauna Principal:
🐾 Galapagos Shark🐾 Scalloped Hammerhead Shark
Punta Pitt Expedition: The Only Site with All 3 Booby Species
San Cristobal✨ Customizable Add-On
Marine & Terrestrial WildlifeFull Day (8 hours navigable yacht)

Punta Pitt Expedition: The Only Site with All 3 Booby Species

Trek across dramatic golden tuff cliffs at the easternmost point of Galapagos, the only nesting ground shared by blue-footed, red-footed, and Nazca boobies.

Fauna Principal:
🐾 Red-footed Booby🐾 Blue-footed Booby
Punta Suárez Waved Albatross Sanctuary & Marine Blowhole
Espanola Island✨ Customizable Add-On
Marine & Terrestrial WildlifeFull Day (Navigable yacht excursion from San Cristobal)

Punta Suárez Waved Albatross Sanctuary & Marine Blowhole

The oldest island in Galapagos: witness the courtship clacking and dramatic cliff takeoffs of the entire world population of Waved Albatrosses, plus an explosive 75-foot sea blowhole.

Fauna Principal:
🐾 Waved Albatross🐾 Española "Christmas" Marine Iguana
Pinnacle Rock Summit Panorama & Galapagos Penguin Snorkel
Bartolome Island✨ Customizable Add-On
Landscape & Nature PhotographyFull Day (Navigable yacht from Santa Cruz)

Pinnacle Rock Summit Panorama & Galapagos Penguin Snorkel

The definitive postcard vista of the Galapagos Archipelago: climb 375 boardwalk steps to a surreal lunar crater overlook, then swim with penguins along golden beaches.

Fauna Principal:
🐾 Galapagos Penguin🐾 White-tip Reef Shark
North Seymour Frigatebird Colonies & Blue-Footed Booby Mating Dance
North Seymour✨ Customizable Add-On
Marine & Terrestrial WildlifeFull Day (Navigable yacht from Santa Cruz)

North Seymour Frigatebird Colonies & Blue-Footed Booby Mating Dance

Walk inches away from the world's most vibrant bird courtship colonies: male frigatebirds inflating enormous crimson throat pouches and blue-footed boobies performing high-stepping courtship dances.

Fauna Principal:
🐾 Magnificent Frigatebird🐾 Blue-footed Booby
Endemic Santa Fe Land Iguana Trail & Turquoise Bay Snorkel
Santa Fe Island✨ Customizable Add-On
Marine & Terrestrial WildlifeFull Day (Navigable yacht from Santa Cruz)

Endemic Santa Fe Land Iguana Trail & Turquoise Bay Snorkel

Encounter the world’s only population of pale Barrington land iguanas amidst ancient giant prickly-pear cacti, followed by crystalline bay snorkeling with playful sea lion pups.

Fauna Principal:
🐾 Santa Fe Land Iguana🐾 Barrington Giant Cactus
Pinzón Island Deep Snorkel (Sea Turtles & Reef Sharks Sanctuary)
Pinzon Island✨ Customizable Add-On
Snorkeling & Scuba DivingFull Day (Navigable yacht from Santa Cruz)

Pinzón Island Deep Snorkel (Sea Turtles & Reef Sharks Sanctuary)

Renowned for having the highest water clarity in the entire archipelago: swim surrounded by dozens of green sea turtles, stingrays, and reef sharks.

Fauna Principal:
🐾 Pacific Green Sea Turtle🐾 White-tip Reef Shark
South Plaza Red Sesuvium Carpet, Bird Cliffs & Hybrid Iguanas
South Plaza✨ Customizable Add-On
Landscape & Nature PhotographyFull Day (Navigable yacht from Santa Cruz)

South Plaza Red Sesuvium Carpet, Bird Cliffs & Hybrid Iguanas

One of the most photogenic islands in the world: a vivid crimson carpet of succulent Sesuvium, golden land iguanas beneath giant cactus trees, and vertical bird cliffs.

Fauna Principal:
🐾 South Plaza Land Iguana🐾 Red-billed Tropicbird
Devil's Crown Submerged Crater Snorkel & Post Office Bay Mail Tradition
Floreana Island✨ Customizable Add-On
Snorkeling & Scuba DivingFull Day (Navigable yacht from Santa Cruz)

Devil's Crown Submerged Crater Snorkel & Post Office Bay Mail Tradition

Drift snorkel inside a submerged volcanic cone pulsing with marine life, then participate in an authentic 18th-century whalers’ wooden barrel mail system still in active use.

Fauna Principal:
🐾 Scalloped Hammerhead Shark🐾 Razor Surgeonfish
Subterranean Volcanic Lava Tubes Exploration
Santa Cruz✨ Customizable Add-On
Volcanic Hiking & Geology1.5 hours

Subterranean Volcanic Lava Tubes Exploration

Venture through colossal subterranean chambers hollowed out millennia ago by rushing incandescent rivers of basaltic magma.

Fauna Principal:
🐾 Galapagos Barn Owl
Cerro Dragón (Dragon Hill) Land Iguana Trail & Flamingo Lagoon
Santa Cruz✨ Customizable Add-On
Landscape & Nature PhotographyExtended Half Day (Boat + Trail)

Cerro Dragón (Dragon Hill) Land Iguana Trail & Flamingo Lagoon

Trek through the rocky thorn forest haven of Santa Cruz’s most impressive yellow land iguanas and spot vibrant pink flamingos in hyper-saline ponds.

Fauna Principal:
🐾 Galapagos Land Iguana🐾 American Flamingo
Wall of Tears & Isabela Coastal Wetlands Cycling / Hiking Trail
Isabela Island✨ Customizable Add-On
History, Darwin & ConservationHalf Day (3 hours)

Wall of Tears & Isabela Coastal Wetlands Cycling / Hiking Trail

Pedal mountain or e-bikes down a scenic coastal trail linking mangrove lagoons, ocean bluff overlooks, and the historic basalt penal colony wall.

Fauna Principal:
🐾 Wild Isabela Giant Tortoise🐾 Galapagos Mockingbird
Urbina Bay Uplifted Coral Reef & Giant Land Iguana Expedition
Isabela Island✨ Customizable Add-On
Landscape & Nature PhotographyHalf Day (Yacht expedition)

Urbina Bay Uplifted Coral Reef & Giant Land Iguana Expedition

The 20th century’s most jaw-dropping geological event: walk across 2 square miles of ocean floor thrust up 16 feet in minutes by volcanic tectonic uplift in 1954.

Fauna Principal:
🐾 Giant Isabela Land Iguana🐾 Fossilized Brain Coral Heads
Prince Philip's Steps (El Barranco): Red-Footed Booby Metropolis & Storm Petrels
Genovesa Island✨ Customizable Add-On
Marine & Terrestrial WildlifeFull Day (Long-range expedition yacht)

Prince Philip's Steps (El Barranco): Red-Footed Booby Metropolis & Storm Petrels

The definitive "Bird Island": scale a stone cliffside stairway into the largest nesting sanctuary of red-footed boobies and Galapagos storm petrels on Earth.

Fauna Principal:
🐾 Red-footed Booby🐾 Galapagos Short-eared Owl
Punta Espinosa: World's Largest Marine Iguana Metropolis & Flightless Cormorant
Fernandina Island✨ Customizable Add-On
Marine & Terrestrial WildlifeHalf Day (Cruise expedition)

Punta Espinosa: World's Largest Marine Iguana Metropolis & Flightless Cormorant

The most pristine and volcanically active island in the Pacific: walk among thousands of marine iguanas carpeted over jet-black lava beside flightless cormorants drying their stunted wings.

Fauna Principal:
🐾 Galapagos Marine Iguana🐾 Flightless Cormorant

When to visit Galápagos

Warm & Tropical Season (December – May)

Warm waters (24-28°C / 75-82°F), tranquil seas and crystalline visibility. Short tropical showers with brilliant sun.

Peak green sea turtle nesting, marine iguanas donning vivid breeding colors, and booby courtship dances.

Cool & Nutritious Garúa Season (June – November)

Nutrient-rich Humboldt Current. Cooler waters (19-23°C / 66-73°F), invigorating ocean breezes and morning mist in highlands.

Prime season for humpback whales and whale sharks, waved albatross nesting on Espanola, hyperactive penguins and sea lions.

Galápagos FAQ

How many days do I need in Galápagos?

For a first trip, 6 to 8 days: enough to visit Santa Cruz and Isabela without rushing, with time for snorkeling, hikes and giant tortoises.

How much does a private Galápagos trip cost?

Our private expeditions start at $1,790 per person (6 days) and include Quito transfers, hotels and a guide. Flights and the National Park fee ($200 per person) are not included.

Do I need to swim or be fit?

No. Hikes are easy to moderate and snorkeling is optional, with a life vest and a guide. We adapt the pace to your group, including families with children.

Ready for Galápagos?

Tell us your dates and within 24 hours we'll send you a private, priced itinerary.