Galapagos Island Hopping: 8-Day Complete Wildlife and Snorkel Adventure

Puerto Ayora•moderate

Difficulty

moderate

Duration

8 days

Fitness Level

Suitable for travelers with moderate fitness; expect snorkeling with currents and short hikes at up to 400 m elevation.

Overview

An eight-day island-hopping loop that pairs guided wildlife excursions with free time to explore beaches, highlands and world-class snorkeling spots like Los Tuneles and Kicker Rock. Practical, active and rich in endemic species, this trip is for travelers ready to trade comfort for encounters.

Galapagos Island Hopping: 8-Day Complete Wildlife and Snorkel Adventure

Bus Tour

Wildlife

Boat Tour

Select participants and date

Date

Thu, Oct 30

Travelers

The first morning in the Galapagos feels like stepping into another set of rules. Salt hits the air, frigatebirds wheel and the public speedboat hums as it parts the glassy channel toward your first stop: Kicker Rock, two volcanic sentinels rising 140 meters from the sea. You don a mask and the current seems to dare you — sharks and rays slip through a cleft carved by millennia of erosion while blue-footed boobies patrol the sky.

Adventure Photos

Galapagos Island Hopping: 8-Day Complete Wildlife and Snorkel Adventure photo 1

Adventure Tips

Bring motion-sickness remedies

Inter-island transfers are on small speedboats; take a seasickness tablet before boarding if you are prone to nausea.

Pack light and soft-sided

Public ferries have strict luggage size limits and small cargo holds — soft bags fit better than rigid suitcases.

Carry cash for park fees

The Galapagos National Park entrance fee is paid in cash on arrival; USD is accepted.

Use reef-safe sunscreen

Sunscreen chemicals harm marine life; choose reef-safe formulas and cover up for long exposures.

Local Insights

Wildlife

Giant Galapagos tortoise
Marine iguana

History

The islands were central to Darwin's work on evolution and later became protected under Ecuadorian law as a national park in 1959, drawing strict visitor rules.

Conservation

Visitors must stay on marked trails, avoid introducing foreign seeds or animals, and pay the park fee which funds conservation; minimize single-use plastics and use reef-safe products.