Galapagos De Luxe – Island Hopping
Visiting the iconic Galapagos is indeed one of those places many of us dream about. Here is the perfect combination of land-based stays in two islands and a Galapagos Cruise to give space to both ocean magic and local Galapagos island life. Start your Ecuador journey with a couple of days experiencing the Echoes of History in Quito’s historic Centre.
Land in the heart of the Galapagos Islands on Santa Cruz Island. The days are spent on boat trips to North Seymour, South Plazas, Santa Fe, or Bartolome Island where, together with your guide, you will see iconic creatures and experience otherworldly landscapes. Continue the adventure aboard your yacht where you will experience everything from white-tip reef sharks, sea lions, marine iguanas, turtles, and penguins.
Conclude the trip with a stay at a small boutique hotel on Isabela Island. Here, you stay along the so-called “Galapagos Marine Iguana Highway,” offering a perfect view of the iguanas’ daily migrations between the beach and the wetlands – a perfect ending to your Galapagos adventure.
This program is a source of inspiration — each trip is unique and tailored to you.
Start in Quito old Town with a stay at Casa Santa Clara – a five-suite boutique hotel located on Plaza Santa Clara, in the heart of Quito’s Historic Center. Take a curated look at the city’s design culture — visiting concept stores & artisan workshops.
Beach Relaxation and Boat Excursions on Santa Cruz Island
Fly to the Galapagos main island of Santa Cruz, let go of all stress and welcome chill and relax at this unique hotel – part of the National Geographic’s ‘Unique Lodges of the World collection.
Here, you stay in a privileged location in the middle of a nature reserve by the beach.
Here, the spectacle unfolds right outside your window. Meet the giant tortoises of Santa Cruz or take a leisurely family cycle around the island. Climb aboard the Sea Lion yacht, and enjoy a Galapagos day-cruise to North Seymour, South Plazas, Santa Fe, or Bartolome Island where, together with your guide, you will see iconic creatures and experience otherworldly landscapes. Or explore the sea with your own kayak.
Galapagos Cruise
Hop on board your boat with a maximum 16 guests – enjoy a lunch and briefing with your crew, and start your first day of cruising to Dragon Hill for a walk and later cooling off with snorkelling in the bay ….
On this 4n/5d cruise your days are filled with morning and afternoon guided activities. The cruise runs with a fixed itinerary as for all Galapagos Cruise Boats in order to thread carefully and not overcrowd any island or any waters. You also get a chance to do lots of snorkelling and kaýaking.
Continue the adventure aboard your yacht where you will experience everything from white-tip reef sharks, sea lions, marine iguanas, turtles, and penguins.
Marine Iguanas on Isabela Island
Today you will disembark from your boat and take a speedboat to another part of the Galapagos — the wild and beautiful island of Isabela.
Here, you stay in a wonderful location, a small boutique hotel right on the beach with the ocean just outside.
Easy to walk into the small town of Puerto Villamil – a small sleepy fishing village with few tourists and yes you can find a few decent bars and restaurants for a drink and a snack.
On one of the days, you visit the small islands of Tintoreras. Here, there are white-tip reef sharks resting, sea lions, turtles, and penguins. These islands are like a miniature Galapagos. Perhaps you will be lucky and see giant tortoises in the wild. You will also visit a giant tortoise breeding center where, together with the research team, you will learn how steps are taken to ensure the survival of these giant tortoise populations.
Season: Year-round
Airport: Quito Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO).
Duration: 13 nights or as long as you wish
The price includes: All transfers by car and guide according to the itinerary, meet & greet upon arrival in Quito, 1 night with breakfast at a hotel in Quito, transit card, Galapagos park fees, domestic flight Quito – Galapagos, 5 nights/6 days boutique hotel accommodation with breakfast, activities according to itinerary, 4 nights/5 days cruise by yacht, accommodation in two double suites with full board, all activities on board with guide, kayaks, snorkeling. Speedboat from Santa Cruz to Isabela Island, 3 nights/4 days accommodation with breakfast in a double room, full-day tour according to the itinerary. Transfer to Isabela airport, flight to Baltra Airport, flight Baltra – Quito.
The price does not include: Beverages on board, gratuities, local taxes at airports in Ecuador, insurance, vaccinations, etc.
Travel etiquette: Always carry a photocopy of your passport with you. Out of respect, ask before taking photos. Dress respectfully. Feel free to bring a family photo from home; Ecuadorians are very family-oriented and it can open up great conversations. Shake hands with people. Bring bills in small denominations, maximum 20-dollar bills.
Visa: Swedish citizens do not need a visa to travel to Ecuador. The passport must contain at least two unstamped pages and be valid for at least six months after returning home.
Time zone: GMT -5
Vaccinations: Read more about vaccinations here.
Packing: Sunglasses, sun hat, sunscreen, snorkel-friendly swimwear, and shoes
Local currency: USD
Weather: San Cristóbal
Mobile network and email: Email and internet access are available
Water: Buy bottled water, make sure the bottles are recycled. The tap water quality varies.
Safety: Your safety is our priority. Roads in Ecuador are accident-prone due to poor quality, which is why we package our trips with flights. Crime is worst in the northern parts of Ecuador due to the proximity to Colombia.
More information at: Travel advice
This product meets our requirements for Ecorating, a product that is good for humans and the environment.
A cruise in the Galapagos is subject to stricter environmental regulations than almost any other tourist experience in the world, but it is not completely without environmental impact. The GNPD enforces strict visitor rules at every site: marked trails only, at least a two-meter distance from wildlife, no flash photography, only reef-safe sunscreen, a ban on single-use plastics, and a maximum group size of 16 people. The $200 park fee goes directly toward conservation efforts. The real environmental challenge lies in the long-haul flight to Ecuador, which accounts for the trip’s largest single carbon emission. Once in the archipelago, cruise-based options are better for the ecosystem than independent land travel, as onboard waste management, biosecurity controls, and naturalist guide supervision reduce the risk of invasive species and limit direct human impact.
