La Pinta

Luxury Galapagos

Romantic Wildlife & Nature + 3 more + 3 more

Discover the spectacular Galapagos Islands in style and comfort.

11 days

from £11,440 pp

Galapagos Taster

Wildlife & Nature Express + 3 more + 3 more

Enjoy the highlights of Ecuador and Galapagos cruising.

8 days

from £5,505 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

Wildlife of Ecuador & Galapagos

Wildlife & Nature Cruise + 3 more + 3 more

Wildlife enthusiasts? This one's for you.

14 days

from £10,025 pp

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

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

Quirky excursions

View all excursions in Galapagos

Floreana

Historically fascinating, Floreana has a chequered history and was home to pirates, buccaneers and convicts. In later years the fertile soils attracted whalers, who set up 'post office' for ships to collect letters to transport to England. It is still operational today, so you can drop off a postcard or two in the wooden barrel. Although this was the first island inhabited by man, it is also home to a vast amount of wildlife. Giant tortoises have been extinct since 1840, but green turtles still nest on the beach near Punta Cormorant from December to May, and the salt lagoon is home to greater flamingos and stilts. Devil's Crown is a volcanic crater and snorkelling spot, which is a nesting site for blue footed boobies and frigate birds. During mating season blue footed boobies perform their famous courtship dance and the male frigate puffs its bright red neck to attract mates.

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.

Sombrero Chino (Chinese Hat)

Resembling a pointed hat, vegetation is just beginning to develop on this volcanic island. A trail to the beach may allow sightings of the elusive Galápagos penguin, while the cliffs are full of scuttling orange sally-lightfoot crabs. Only small boats are allowed to stop at Sombrero Chino, as the lava is fragile and can break underfoot.

Bartolome

If you've ever considered what it might feel like to walk on the surface of the moon, the volcanic landscapes at Bartolome are likely to be a familiar scene! Dotted with impressive craters, volcanoes and lava flows, it is an incredible landscape with spiralling oozing patterns of solidified lava. It may appear desolate, but one of the most fascinating things to see here is how life is slowly reintroducing itself. Green and white arid and littoral zone plants as well as the the odd lizard can be seen emerging from the cracks. Pinnacle rock is one of the most photographed spots in the Galapagos. Once you have climbed nearly 400 steps, you are rewarded with striking views of lush mangroves and two semi-circular coves that are joined in the middle. The area is also a popular snorkelling site as it is home to marine animals including white-tipped reef sharks, rays and sea-lions. There is also a white sand beach with marine iguanas, sally light-foot crabs, sea lions and, if you are lucky, Galapagos penguins.

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).