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Ecuador wildlife & nature

Wild Galapagos: An Ecological Wonderland

From $8,570 USD
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Overview

Wild Galapagos: An Ecological Wonderland

Continent

South America

Days

9 days

Nights

8 nights

Group Size

10 people

Activity

Moderate

Interest

Wildlife & Nature

Highlights

  • Swim with sea lions & snorkel with sharks.
  • Meet the famous giant tortoises that inhabit these exotic islands.
  • Snorkel through turquoise waters spotting rays, sea turtles & multi-colored fish.
  • Glimpse blue-footed boobies, albatrosses, and other incredibly rare birds.
  • Spot whales and dolphins on boat rides around the islands.
  • Experience the magnificent beauty of one of the world’s most celebrated destinations.
  • Travel with Cara Giaimo, wildlife expert and author of Atlas Obscura's "Wild Life: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Living Wonders".
Ecuador 9 days 8 nights

Darwin's legacy, snorkeling, volcanic landscapes & conservation insights.

Day 1

Welcome to Ecuador

Welcome to Ecuador!
Welcome to Ecuador!

Day 2

Swimming with Sea Lions

Swimming with sea lions.
Swimming with sea lions.

Day 3

Snorkeling with Sea Turtles & Sharks

Snorkeling at Kicker Rock.
Snorkeling at Kicker Rock.

Day 4

Clifftop Panoramas & Tropical Beaches

Christmas marine iguana on Española Island.
Christmas marine iguana on Española Island.

Day 5

Floreana Snorkeling & Black Sand Beaches

Black sand beaches of Isla Floreana.
Black sand beaches of Isla Floreana.

Day 6

Shark Alley

Tintoreras Hammerhead sharks.
Tintoreras Hammerhead sharks.

Day 7

Rare Birds & Sea Turtles

North Seymour frigatebird.
North Seymour frigatebird.

Day 8

Charles Darwin & A Farewell To Paradise

Onward to more adventures!
Onward to more adventures!

Day 9

Departure Day

What is included?


What is not included?


Upcoming departures

2 available dates
  • Jun 14 - Jun 22, 2025
    Price
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  • Dec 27, 2025 - Jan 4, 2026
    Price
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Additional info

Pricing & Trip Deposit

Deposit to book your trip: $250 USD.

Balance due 90 days prior to departure.

The listed price of the trip is per person based on double occupancy.

 

Traveling Solo?

You’re in good company.

Opt for a Private Room to yourself, subject to availability, for a supplemental cost of $990USD. 

Solo travelers typically make up about half of our small groups. With curiosity at the center of our experiences, there’s a natural camaraderie that develops over the course of a trip. 

If you don’t opt for a Private Room, you'll be matched with another solo traveler of the same gender.

Activity Level

Participants should be comfortable walking 2 to 4 miles over the course of a day. You should also be prepared to participate in the itinerary’s various water activities, which include swimming, snorkeling, and kayaking, as these are a highlight of the trip and some of the best ways to observe the local wildlife and geology. Please contact us directly if you have further questions about health and fitness level for this trip.

Arrival & Departure

You should plan to arrive by 1 p.m. on Day 1 and depart anytime on Day 9.  Quito International Airport (UIO) connects to a range of flight hubs in North America and Europe. The best flight connections to Quito are offered by American Airlines and Avianca Airlines.

*Airport transfers are only provided if arriving & departing on the trip dates, or if pre/post arrangements have been made through Atlas Obscura. 

Internal Flight

As part of the trip, we will have a domestic flight on Day 2 from Quito to the Galapagos Islands and on Day 8 from the Galapagos Islands to Quito. The flight is approximately 2 1/2 hours in duration and may include a stop in Guayaquil depending on the flight. 

Have more questions?

Check out the Essential Trip Information for this trip or our general FAQs.

Any questions about this trip? Don't hesitate to reach out

  • "Excellent story tellers. They made me feel like I was a life long friend and they were showing me their hometown, including all their favorite cool places and things to do there."

    Mark - Illinois

Trip Leader

Cara Giaimo

Cara Giaimo is the author of the upcoming Atlas Obscura: Wild Life: An Explorer's Guide to the World's Living Wonders. A former Atlas Obscura staff writer, Cara loves uncovering fascinating stories about the creatures we share our planet with. You can find her work in the New York Times, The Plant, Fabrikzeitung, and elsewhere. Her favorite Galapagos species is the red-lipped batfish.

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