La Casa de Marita

Galapagos Island Hopping

Wildlife & Nature Go Local + 3 more + 3 more

Enjoy the best islands in the Galapagos for amazing wildlife.

10 days

from £8,030 pp

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

Galapagos Taster

Wildlife & Nature Express + 3 more + 3 more

Enjoy the highlights of Ecuador and Galapagos cruising.

8 days

from £5,505 pp

Quito, Haciendas & Galapagos

Classic Wildlife & Nature + 3 more + 3 more

Experience Ecuador's rich culture and history, impressive scenery and unique Galapagos wildlife.

14 days

from £7,490 pp

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

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

Quirky excursions

View all excursions in Galapagos

Exploring the Galapagos by Panga

A 'panga' is an inflatable motorised dinghy, usually carrying up to ten passengers - they serve as the main transportation method to get from your Galapagos cruise to reach each visitor site. Nesting bird cliffs, rocky coastlines and mangrove estuaries are sometimes easier to view from the water so, where this is the case, the panga ride is used for the excursion itself.

Puerto Villamill

During your time in Puerto Villamill relaxation will be likely to be on the cards. You are in a great position as the town backs onto a wildlife rich lagoon, and the beaches and sandy roads make great spots to leisurely explore by yourselves. Ask your hotel for directions to the 1 km long boardwalk trail to the nearby Villamil Lagoon, known for its abundant birdlife. Continue to the end and you’ll reach a giant tortoise breeding centre, and another lagoon can be found another five minutes’ walk up the main road. Snorkelling at Los Tintoreras and cycling in the town are also popular. An interesting historical attraction is the Wall of Tears, a 100 metre wall built by convicts from lava rocks. The penal colony closed in the 1950s, and the wall represents an interesting period of Galapagos history. The site is around seven kilometres from the town, so is a short taxi ride.

Exploring the Galapagos by Kayak

Kayaking is a real treat in the Galapagos, and often can be booked directly from your hotel or will be included as an optional activity during Galapagos cruises. The experience can bring you face to face with curious sea lions and extremely close to surfacing sea turtles without even having to get wet! Galapagos restrictions mean that it is only possible to kayak in certain permitted areas, so do grab the opportunity to try kayaking when offered! Do let us know if this is something that you would like to experience, and we can make sure your boat or hotel includes this option.

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).

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!