We offer a range of Galapagos independent tours with any of our South American tours. Your hardest decision will be whether to cruise the islands by boat or stay at one of the island resorts and enjoy day trips. There is a wide variety of boats to choose from, however to avoid disappointment, it is strongly recommended you book your cruise as far ahead as possible!
We feature a small variety of the boats on offer on our website but can book any other available vessel if you have a particular option in mind.
A trip to the Galapagos Islands will be the journey of a lifetime.
The Galapagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands distributed around the equator in the Pacific Ocean. 972 km west of continental Ecuador, the archipelago consists of 13 major islands, of which only 5 are inhabited.
The mystery remains how such a large diversity of species could develop in such a remote location.
The Islands
Bartolome offers volcanic formations such as lava bombs, spatter and cinder cones. Enjoy great views of the surrounding islands after hiking to the summit. On the way see colonies of marine iguanas, lava lizards, tiquilla and various cacti. The bay is an excellent place for swimming and snorkelling with penguins, sea turtles, white-tipped reef sharks and other tropical fish.
Espanola is the gateway into and out of the Galapagos for seabird species. It features abundant sea lions and boobies and is best known for the 10,000 breeding pairs of the endemic waved albatross which nests between April and November. Gardner Bay has beautiful white sandy beaches where you can usually see a large number of sea lions.
Fernandina is just 100,000 years old and the youngest of the Galapagos Islands. It also has the most active volcano. See the Galapagos hawk, the only resident hawk and top natural predator in the Galapagos; the marine iguana (the world’s only sea-going lizard) and the Galapagos flightless cormorant, the world’s largest.
Floreana is an island of abundant plant life due to its nutrient-rich soil and adequate water supply. Settlers have farmed here for centuries, giving the island a rich human history. See the famous Post Office Bay and the Devil’s Crown which is said to offer the best snorkelling in the Galapagos.
Isabela is the largest island in the Galapagos, at more than 4,600 square kilometres. This island used to consist of six independent islands with their own active volcanoes. The extensive lava flows from the volcanoes formed what is today the seahorse-shaped island of Isabela.
Rabida has a volcano-formed beach which is dark red and often occupied by sea lions. Its considered the geographic centre of the Galapagos because it has the most diverse volcanic rocks.
San Cristobal is the starting point for many cruises. The national park has a visitor interpretation centre near the town. Donated by the Spanish government in 1998, it demonstrates that a harmonious relationsip between human beings and nature is possible.
Santiago is a large barren island with amostly volcanic landscape. Its vegetation cover has been severely denuded by the feral goat population. See marine iguanas grazing on algae beds alongside Red Sally light-foot crabs and colonies of seals swimming in deep cool-water pools.
Santa Cruz is centrally located and also the centre of Galapagos tourism. It has a population of 16,000 residents who live in the town of Puerto Ayora, the largest town in the Galapagos. The main airport, Baltra (to the north), is where many boats depart from. A 20-minute walk from town takes you to the Galapagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Research Station. At the Research Station you can get a lot of information about the islands, learn about the ecosystem and the conservation effort, and watch tortoises.
