Included:

• • An experienced, certified naturalist guide with extensive knowledge of the area
  • 8-day or 12-day Galapagos island hopping adventure
  • Accommodation for 7 or 11 nights in comfy hotels (double occupancy)
  • Most meals: 7 breakfasts & 4 lunches for the 8-day tour, 11 breakfasts & 4 lunches for the 12-day tour
  • Airport transfers within the Galapagos
  • Speedboat inter-island transfers
  • Full-day Santa Fe Island tour & Bartolomé Island tour
  • Tintoreras Bay and wildlife excursion on Isabela
  • Los Tuneles snorkeling tour
  • Snorkeling equipment during included tours
  • Adventure insurance
  • 12-day tour only: Airport transfers in Quito, Quito Old Town and Mitad del Mundo tour, and Sierra Negra Volcano trek

Add-ons (pricing shown at checkout):

• • Extra night(s) at the islands

Not included:

• • Flights
  • Domestic flight  from Quito to Galápagos and return — 12-day tour only, must be booked independently
  • Galápagos National Park entrance fee
  • INGALA transit control card
  • Activities during free days
  • Personal expenses
  • Wetsuit rentals
  • Alcoholic and soft beverages
  • Anything not mentioned in the “Included” section above
  • Insurance — recommended, available to add at checkout
  • Guide gratuities — optional

This Galapagos island hopping tour suits a wide range of fitness levels. Most days involve short guided walks on island terrain, snorkeling, and time aboard the boat, with nothing that demands serious athletic preparation. Good general fitness is enough, along with comfort in the water for snorkeling sessions.

For the 12-day tour, the Sierra Negra Volcano trek is a longer and more demanding hiking day, covering several hours on uneven volcanic terrain to reach the crater rim. A regular level of activity in daily life prepares you well for either option.

Want to see what else is there in the area? Discover more Galapagos islands and Ecuador tours here!

Two fees apply on top of the tour price. First, the Galapagos National Park entrance fee, which is collected at the airport upon arrival. Second, the INGALA transit control card, a transit fee collected at the mainland airport before boarding the flight to the islands. Neither is included in the tour price.

Fee amounts can change; please check the official Galápagos National Park website for current rates before traveling.

The Galapagos is home to some of the most predictable wildlife encounters in the world. Giant tortoises at Rancho Primicias, sea lion colonies on Santa Fe’s beaches, white-tip reef sharks at Tintoreras, flamingos at Isabela’s lagoon, and penguins at Bartolomé are all reliably present throughout the year.

These are wild animals, and individual sightings can never be guaranteed, but the density and general fearlessness of Galápagos wildlife makes meaningful encounters the norm rather than the exception.

The Galapagos sits at the convergence of several ocean currents, and water temperatures vary by season and location. Surface temperatures generally range from 18°C to 26°C (64°F to 79°F). 

The cooler months from June through November, when the Humboldt Current is strongest, bring lower temperatures and increased marine wildlife activity. A rash guard or lightweight wetsuit is recommended for extended snorkeling sessions. Wetsuits are available to rent on-site.

The islands are worth visiting year-round, with each season offering different advantages. The warmer months from December through May bring calmer seas, better underwater visibility, and air temperatures around 26-28°C (79-82°F).

The cooler months from June through November tend to have rougher sea conditions but significantly higher marine wildlife activity, including peak breeding seasons for many species. Both windows offer outstanding wildlife encounters.

Both options cover the same core Galápagos island hopping itinerary across Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Bartolomé, and Isabela. The 12-day tour adds two days in Quito before flying to the islands (a guided Old Town tour and a visit to Mitad del Mundo on the equatorial line), a guided trek to Sierra Negra Volcano on Isabela, and an additional free day in Puerto Ayora at the end. 

Please note that the domestic flight from Quito to the Galápagos is not included in the 12-day price and must be booked independently.

Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:

Clothing:

• • Lightweight, breathable shirts (2-3, mix of short and long sleeve for sun protection)
  • Swimwear (2 sets)
  • Shorts and light trousers or zip-off hiking pants
  • Light layer for cooler highland and evening temperatures
  • Light rain jacket or windbreaker

Footwear:

• • Comfortable walking shoes or light trail shoes for island excursions
  • Water shoes or secure sandals for boat and beach days

Water and sun:

• • Reef-safe, biodegradable sunscreen (required inside national park boundaries)
  • Wide-brimmed sun hat
  • UV-protection sunglasses
  • Water bottle, 2L capacity

Snorkeling:

• • Personal snorkeling mask and fins (optional — equipment is included, but a personal mask improves fit and comfort)
  • Rash guard or thin wetsuit for extended snorkeling sessions in cooler months (wetsuits available to rent on-site)

Health and essentials:

• • Personal medication and basic first aid kit
  • Insect repellent
  • Motion sickness tablets if prone to seasickness on boat transfers
  • Passport and travel documents

Optional:

• • Underwater camera or waterproof phone case
  • Dry bag for valuables on boat days
  • Binoculars for wildlife spotting

Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.

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Group sizes and pricing

• • For this Galapagos island hopping adventure, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 10:1. 
  • It takes a minimum of 2 people for this tour to operate. The maximum group size is set at 30 participants.

A Galapagos island hopping adventure can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

Min. age requirements

• • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
  • Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join the Galapagos island hopping adventure on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.

If your group has participants under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

8-day tour:

The starting point of your Galapagos island hopping adventure is Baltra. To get there, most people fly into Baltra Airport (GPS).

You will meet your guide at the arrivals area of Baltra Airport on Day 1.

12-day tour:

The starting point is Quito, Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO). The guide will meet you at arrivals and transfer you to the hotel in the historic center. 

Please note that the domestic flight from Quito to Baltra on Day 3 is not included in the tour price and must be booked independently.

We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.

Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.