Galapagos Island Hopping Multisport Adventure

Welcome to Ecuador and it’s capital city, Quito! Upon arrival, you’ll be transferred to our boutique hotel nestled right in the heart of the city. Feel free to explore during the day taking in the vibrant culture and rich history. Or simply relax and enjoy our former colonial house that has been converted to the perfect urban retreat. We’ll meet as a group in the lobby in the evening for introductions and to have a nice welcome dinner together. Your Explorer Chick guide will review the upcoming week and kick start the SHE-nanigans.

Altitude: 9,000′ – You may feel symptoms of Altitude Sickness including headaches and shortness of breath.

Accommodation: 4-star Boutique Hotel in the heart of Quito
Meals: Welcome Dinner

GET OUT OF BED!  YOU ARE GOING TO TOUR THE GALAPAGOS. Rise early to catch a plane to Baltra Island – the gateway to the Galapagos. Upon landing, we’ll go through the admission process. Your flight, National Park entrance and Transit Card fee ($720) are already covered in your Explorer Chick price – so leave that fanny pack zipped.

Don’t let their glacial pace fool you, your tortoise welcoming committee on Santa Cruz is PUMPED to see you! These gentle beasts are legit prehistoric, and will roam around you while you scarf down lunch. # mindlesslywander

In the evening, we check into our 4 Star boutique hotel that has recently been renovated to be kind to our environment. Before dinner, head up to the Roof top terrace to take in the views over Puerto Ayora harbor with a cocktail or relax by the pool.

Accommodation: 4-star Boutique Hotel on Santa Cruz
Meals: B, L, D

Take a trip to torty funkytown as you learn about breeding efforts to restore the tortoise population on Isabela. There’ll be opportunities for more birding, with a special visit to a common flamingo rendezvous!

We’ll then ferry back to Santa Cruz to return to our boutique hotel from Day 2. After dropping our bags, we’ll grab lunch and spend the afternoon at Tortuga Bay. Kayak, snorkel, swim, and relax on a postcard-worthy white sand beach.

Accommodation: 4-star Boutique Hotel on Santa Cruz
Meals: B, L, D

Venture to your third island – Floreana. The island is shrouded in mystery as the first European settlers became entangled in power struggles, peculiar disappearances, and alleged murders. 

The mysterious black sand beaches are the perfect backdrop to this eerie experience. But don’t worry – you’re more likely to happen upon a flamingo than a human skull!

 We will take a local transport called a “Chiva” up to the highlands of Floreana. We will drive through banana, coffee, cocoa and other tropical plantations and will visit the beautiful bay of La Loberia before returning to our lodging for the evening – a cabin lodge right on the beautiful black lava beaches of Floreana. The lodge’s cabins are situated on one of the best sites on the entire archipelago for sea views and gorgeous sunsets. It’s comfortable and cozy, with friendly local service and a casual, relaxed air.

We’ll have snorkeling gear at the ready for she who dares to dive off the creepy coast.

Accommodation: Beachfront Cabin Lodge on Floreana
Meals: B, L, D

After breakfast, take a quick boat ride to the small volcanic island of Tintoreras, a snorkeling and kayaking sanctuary. Spend the morning with more marine iguanas, birdlife, and if you’re lucky, the Galapagos penguin! (This special waddler is the only penguin that calls the equator home.) You might even glimpse white-tipped reef sharks, sting rays, and blue-footed boobies. WHAT IS THIS, PLANET EARTH?

The afternoon will be spent exploring the small coastal town of Puerto Villamil. You can shop, hang with the local marine iguanas, aimlessly wander, or grab some quiet beach time.

Accommodation: 4-star Boutique Hotel on Isabela
Meals: B, L, D

In the AM, we hop a ferry to our next island, Isabela, where we’ll stay in another bougie hotel for 3 nights.

But, it’s a quick turnaround because you have some hiking to do- right on up to the active crater of the 2nd largest caldera in the world, Sierra Negra. This baby was still spitting up lava in 2018 and stretches a whopping 6 miles! Keep your eyes peeled for Galapagos hawks, short-eared owls, finches, and flycatchers.

After a relaxing lunch, explore mangroves and tiptoe around snoring sealions to reach some of the best snorkeling in the Galapagos. The crazy-clear water is home to colorful fish, more sealions, and friggen marine iguanas! Snap an underwater picture of a gliding ‘guana to earn all our respect.

Hiking: 9.3 miles, 1800′ elevation gain, 4-5 hours hiking

Accommodation: 4-star Boutique Hotel on Isabela
Meals: B, L, D

Eat a queenly breakfast before being whisked away to the land of slow giants. All aboard the SHE-nanigan yacht to explore Cerro Mesa, the Galapagos’ show-stopping ecological wonderland and Natural Reserve where ancient tortoises roam WILD.

Lace up your boots tight because we’ll be hiking down into a caldera, pausing for jaw-dropping panoramic views from the rim. Once we get good and sweaty, we’ll break for an authentic Galapagos lunch with a local family. And to think, you were chowing down at Panera a week ago.

After we’re full up on endorphins and carbs, we’ll hit up El Trapiche for a crash course in cane alcohol wizardry and traditional coffee roasting secrets. Witness the magic of an old-school sugar cane press powered by mules. Get those senses tingling as we endlessly affirm your choice to set that out of office and book this trip.

Hiking: 6 miles. 1470’ elevation gain. 3-4 hours hiking

Accommodation: 4-star Boutique Hotel on Isabela
Meals: B, L, D

We’ll give our sun-kissed skin the day off with a visit to Charles Darwin Station. More than 200 volunteers and scientists are involved in the station’s conservation efforts – most famously breeding giant tortoises. You’ll have ample time to tour the educational exhibits, visit the baby tortoise house, and observe the other animal inhabitants.

After we get our Darwin on, we return once more to Quito. Again, this internal domestic flight from Baltra is included in your price.

As a special closing ceremony, you and your sisters will enjoy a cooking class in Quito with a local chef and share one last communal meal together.

Altitude: 9,000′ – You may feel symptoms of Altitude Sickness including headaches and shortness of breath.

Accommodation: 4-star Boutique Hotel in the heart of Quito
Meals: B, D

It’s time to trade mermaid life for real life. Hug your Explorer Chicks tight, and take home unforgettable memories and bad jokes from our untamed, wild paradise.

Meals: B

*Explorer Chick reserves the option to modify trip itineraries at the discretion of your tour director as necessary due to weather, conditions, illness, injury, group dynamics, availability, or other unforeseen incidents.

Meet up with your local guide at 9am in our Rendezvous hotel to spend the next 6 hours nerding out on all things history and culture in Quito. During your Explorer Chick Private Tour you’ll visit the La Mitad del Mundo (The Middle of the World), including it’s photo-worthy 90 foot monument marking the equatorial line, tour museums, and other significant sites

Lunch is not included however, your guide will make recommendations on a good place to stop midday for a lunch break.

Please note that we require a minimum of 3 Explorer Chicks to run this tour. Confirmations will be sent prior to your trip.