Galapagos Land and Sea based Tour
Galapagos is a year round cruising destination with warm and mostly sunny days all year. Call us for a tailor made itinerary
From £3,995 per person in twin berth with international flights from the UK
Pioneering trip to this extraordinary archipelago combining the advantages of both land and sea based exploration
Small group of like-minded travellers interested in both land and sea, wildlife and volcanic geology.
Unique opportunity to spend time on the largest and most volcanically active of the Galapagos Islands, with expert geological guide.
Privileged ‘Back stage’ tour of the Charles Darwin Research
It was Charles Darwin’s September 1835 exploration of The Galapagos, whilst serving as a naturalist on the British Ship HMS Beagle, and his subsequent 1859 publication On the Origin of the Species by Natural Selection, that first brought the world’s attention to the islands. The Beagle spent just 5 weeks in the archipelago, but her itinerary took her to most of the principle islands. The collections made by Darwin during his short stay and the notes and impressions he carried away inspired him for the rest of his life.
Today the Galapagos remain a living laboratory of evolution where birds and animals have no fear of man. Blue-footed boobies, flightless cormorants, land and marine iguanas and giant tortoises roam freely as they did thousands of years ago and anyone interested in natural history, wildlife and ecology will find a visit to these incredible islands an unforgettable travel experience.
This trip is aimed at offering you a quality insight into the islands themselves, take you beyond the standardized ‘run of the mill’ tours and combining more remote island visits with fascinating land based hikes in the most volcanically active of the islands, that of Isabela, with its last eruption in October 2005. Furthermore here is a chance to meet the experts who have dedicated themselves to this natural paradise and enjoy privileged access to the Charles Darwin Research Centre, through the funds raised by the trip to support conservation work on the islands.
On Isabela you are guided by an expert who have dedicated himself to this natural paradise and its volcanology. Enjoy access to the Tortoise research, take a hike (optional horse ride) up to the famous Sierra Negra volcano with the second largest caldera in the world and see some of the last remaining wild tortoises on Isabela.
Sierra Negra rises to an elevation of nearly 1500 meters (4890 feet) and is located in the southeast of the island. It is the largest and one of most active volcanoes in the archipelago, with 10 known eruptions since 1813. Over ninety percent of the surface of the volcano is younger than 4500 years old, with the most recent eruption being in October 2005, with a vivid fireworks display and worldwide news coverage.
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Dates
Galapagos is a year round cruising destination with warm and mostly sunny days all year. Call us for a tailor made itinerary
From: £3,955 per person in twin berth including flights to Quito.
Single supplement
We do not charge a single supplement if you are willing to share even if we cannot find a suitable roommate. Should you wish to have your own guaranteed single cabin we do have a smaller cabin that is a twin but which we will only place one single person. This will be offered on a first come first serve basis.
Includes
The price includes return flight from UK, internal flights to the Galapagos, local transport and excursions as detailed, private transfers return, accommodation in Quito and Isabela (twin/double with private facilities where available) and full board and berth on board the Beagle as described. A Year’s membership of the Galapagos Conservation Trust and a contribution is paid to the Darwin Foundation. Your flight is offset with Climate Care.
Excludes
US$100 park fees payable on arrival in the Galapagos, Travel insurance, visas, vaccinations, and items of a personal nature, such as laundry and drinks. Lunch and Dinner in Guayaquil and on Isabala.
Travelling from outside the UK?
We are happy to quote you either in US dollars or Euros for the trip without International flights.
Group
This itinerary is based on 12 people travelling. We can run the group on a smaller number of participants, but this may incur a small supplement.
Please Note:
Exchange rates correct at time of printing. We maintain the right to confirm the price at time of booking with the up-to-date exchange rate
This Trip Supports..
Galapagos Conservation TrustCharles Darwin Research Station – Galapagos
The Charles Darwin Research Station’s Botany Department carries out research on endangered endemic plants and invasive introduced plants and a subtantial collection is kept in the CDRS Herbarium. Visit the research station as part of your Galapagos Islands tour.
Plant specimens with locality information are the best indicators of past and present distributions, and permit us to evaluate range changes, both declines in native species that could indicate that they are under threat, and expansions of introduced species that could indicate that they are becoming invasive.
Since 2004 the herbarium has received vital funding support from Discovery Initiatives, from its special 10 day cruise passengers each year, and who we have had the privilege of escorting around the station and introducing to my staff and the herbarium team here. Such support is especially valuable in this case, because the herbarium has always been very difficult to finance, as most project donors will not fund such fundamental core costs.
Graham Watkins – Director CDRS
The key to this tour of the Galapagos is the expertise of its guiding staff. This is why we use the very best boats, whose guides are the best qualified on the islands, to graduate or doctorate standard in ecological sciences.
Furthermore they have excellent communication skills, speaking good English that allow you to gain real insight into these unique isles. The guides work on a rota basis so exact guide will not be known till nearer the cruise date.
You are met by Roz Cameron on arrival at the Charles Darwin Research Station and given a privileged guided tour backstage on the Station and its breeding programmes, as well as being introduced to the Herbarium section which is the beneficiary of each cruise’s funds.
Should you wish to get direct feedback from any number of our numerous clients who have travelled with us to the Galapagos and Ecuador, particularily on these popular 10 day Galapagos cruises, which we alone have run for 6 years now, please do contact us and we would be delighted to help put you in touch.
You can also order a copy of the BBC Holiday Programme with Jack Davenport in the Galapagos islands, screened three times over the last three years that was run by us in 2001.
Click here for details of other trips
Click here to read Stanley Johnston’s Galapagos article which featured in the FT
A wonderful trip of a lifetime that exceeded expectations. Huge thank you.
C Wigglesworth 2005
My highlight was snorkelling in the Galapagos and it fulfilling a childhood dream of visiting the Galapagos. Thank you for organising such a memorable holiday.
H. Mitchell 2005
The people we interacted with during the trip were open and friendly thanks to the professional ability of the staff on the ground. Everything was impeccably coordinated with a very knowledgeable guide who knew how to introduce us to the country and people.
Showed a complete respect of the visited environment. As a wildlife lover, the Amazon and the Galapagos were an incredible eye opener.
F.Chamoux 2004
“Just wanted to drop you a line to say that the trip to the Galapagos and the Amazon was fantastic. In particular the Galapagos was a truly magical experience enhanced by the guide Fausto Rodriguez and the Captain & crew of the Sagitta.
Overall a great holiday, thank you DI for organising a fabulous holiday.”
Lara Greenfield October 2006