Angermeyer Waterfront Inn

Luxury Galapagos

Romantic Wildlife & Nature + 3 more + 3 more

Discover the spectacular Galapagos Islands in style and comfort.

11 days

from £11,440 pp

including flights

Wildlife & Nature Express + 2 more + 3 more

Peru & Galapagos Taster

Peru, Galapagos

Ancient citadels and island wildlife, two icons in one holiday.

15 days

from £7,680 pp

including flights

Wildlife of Ecuador & Galapagos

Wildlife & Nature Cruise + 3 more + 3 more

Wildlife enthusiasts? This one's for you.

14 days

from £10,025 pp

including flights

Wildlife & Nature Off-the-beaten-track + 3 more + 3 more

Peru & Galapagos In-Depth

Peru, Galapagos

The ultimate wildlife adventure through Peru & the Galapagos Islands.

18 days

from £9,995 pp

including flights

Family Galapagos

Family Wildlife & Nature + 3 more + 3 more

A wildlife and adventure packed family holiday they won't forget.

11 days

from £6,965 pp

including flights

Galapagos Taster

Wildlife & Nature Express + 3 more + 3 more

Enjoy the highlights of Ecuador and Galapagos cruising.

8 days

from £5,505 pp

including flights

Quirky excursions

View all excursions in Galapagos

Exploring the Galapagos on Foot

Don't forget to bring your walking shoes - exploring by foot is often the best way to experience the diverse Galapagos flora and fauna. There are many dedicated nature trails throughout the islands, some can be taken independently while for others you must be accompanied by a dedicated naturalist guide. Trails and paths vary from gentle strolls through mangroves and cacti forests to the more challenging ascents to spectacular look out points. All activity can be classed as gentle to moderate - the most strenuous is the caldera hike to Sierra Negra on Isabela. The main thing these trails have in common is that you are very likely to be bombarded with phenomenal wildlife sightings, whether its stepping over tangles of lazing land lizards or tip-toeing around nests of red-footed boobies!

El Garrapatero

A 30 minute taxi ride from the town of Puerto Ayora, you’ll find the attractive beach of El Garrapatero. You’ll be dropped roughly 15 minutes’ walk from the beach itself. On arrival at the beach you’ll be rewarded with tide pools, fantastic snorkelling opportunities and viewings of the resident flamingos and black necked stilts.

Snorkelling

With an almost magical array of underwater life at your fingertips, snorkelling is a wildlife enthusiasts dream in the Galapagos! Over 400 species of colourful tropical fish swim side-by-side with playful sea-lions, giant manta rays and surfacing sea turtles. Snorkelling is a big part of any trip to the Galapagos, and should be expected to feature heavily on cruise itineraries. Equipment will be provided and opportunities will be given to snorkel, usually at least once per day depending on the itinerary and the islands you are visiting. Depending on the landing site, you will either swim from the beach or disembark from the panga (a small motorised motor boat).

Puerto Ayora

With its 12,000 residents, the town of Puerto Ayora is a surprise to many who would expect the Galapagos to be home to flora and fauna alone. If it wasn’t for the swooping pelicans, diving blue-footed boobies and bobbing marine iguanas at every turn, you could be forgiven for mistaking it for any small coastal South American town. Even though the town is fairly touristy, it still an attractive relaxed spot to explore on foot. Along with the string of souvenir shops that line the main drag, the town is also home to a wide array of restaurants producing some of the best food you’ll find in the Galapagos. The main area to explore is the waterfront Avenue Charles Darwin and surrounding off shoot roads, where you’ll find the majority of the restaurants and shops. If you continue walking along this road with the ocean on your right you’ll reach the town’s main attraction, the Charles Darwin Research Centre. This is where you can learn more about the scientists and volunteers who are helping to preserve the Galapagos, as well as get the chance to see some tortoises including some babies in incubators. In total it will take you 20 minutes to walk from the main port. It is well signed, but do ask the friendly locals for directions if you need assistance.

Tortoise Reserve

The highlands of Santa Cruz are one of the best places to see giant tortoises in the wild; a tortoise reserve is usually one of the highlights of a Galapagos trip. Often a visit to a reserve will be included within a cruise itinerary, but if you are staying in a hotel during your time on Santa Cruz you may want to arrange this yourselves. El Chato Reserve is part of the National Park and requires you to be accompanied by a guide, whereas at the privately owned Rancho Primicias next to El Chato you can explore by yourselves. It will take about thirty minutes by taxi to reach from Puerto Ayora, so ask in your hotel if you’d like to arrange a visit.