Galapagos Walking Adventure: Self-Launched Edition

Fly into Quito's Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO). The city sits at 2,850m in the Andes so take it easy on arrival — drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol. Take the Aeroservicios airport bus (~£1.50) or a metered taxi (~£8) into the Mariscal district, where most budget accommodation is clustered. Spend the evening exploring the neighbourhood and grabbing a hearty set meal (almuerzo) at a local comedor for around £3-5.

🚌Aeroservicios airport bus (~£1.50) or metered taxi (~£8) from airport

🛏Community Hostel Quito or similar rated hostel in Mariscal (~£15-20/night)

• →Airport bus or taxi to Mariscal district
• →Wander the Mariscal Foch area and grab dinner at a local comedor
• →Rest and acclimatise to altitude

Quito's UNESCO-listed Old Town is one of the best-preserved colonial centres in Latin America and is entirely walkable. Pick up a free map from your hostel and explore on foot: Plaza Grande, the Metropolitan Cathedral, La Compañía de Jesús church and the panoramic views from El Panecillo hill. Book a local guided walking tour of the Old Town via GetYourGuide for around £12-15pp — many free walking tours also operate with tips. In the afternoon, consider the optional trip to the Mitad del Mundo equator monument (~40 min by bus, ~£2 each way) or the more interactive Intiñan Equator Museum (~£4 entry).

🚌Walking and local buses within Quito (~£1-2)

🛏Community Hostel Quito or similar (~£15-20/night)

• →Self-guided or guided walking tour of Quito Old Town (GetYourGuide ~£12-15pp)
• →Visit Plaza Grande, La Compañía de Jesús church and El Panecillo
• →Optional: Bus to Mitad del Mundo/Intiñan Equator Museum (~£6 total)

Take a taxi or bus to Quito Airport for your morning flight to San Cristóbal (SCY). LATAM and Avianca both serve this route — book in advance for the best prices (~£150-200 return from Quito). On arrival you'll pay the Galapagos Transit Control Card fee (~£15) and the National Park entrance fee (~£160) — these are unavoidable for all visitors. Check into your guesthouse in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, grab lunch in town, then walk to the free Galapagos Interpretation Center (Centro de Interpretación) — an excellent introduction to the archipelago's natural and human history. This afternoon, follow the signed 5km trail to Las Tijeretas cliffs to see magnificent frigatebird colonies and snorkel near sea lions.

🚌Flight Quito–San Cristóbal (~£150-200 return); walking in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno

🛏Hotel Paraiso Insular or similar guesthouse in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (~£25-35/night)

• →Fly Quito to San Cristóbal (~£150-200 return, book ahead)
• →Pay Galapagos National Park fee (~£160) and Transit Control Card (~£15) on arrival
• →Visit the free Galapagos Interpretation Center
• →Walk to Las Tijeretas (5km) and snorkel near sea lion colony (free)

Book a day tour to León Dormido (Kicker Rock) directly with a local operator in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno — tour agencies line the waterfront and you can compare prices easily. A full-day boat trip including snorkel equipment, guide and lunch runs ~£55-70pp. The dramatic lava tuff formation is home to nesting masked boobies, and the deep-water snorkel gives excellent chances of spotting eagle rays, Galapagos turtles, hammerhead sharks and abundant fish. The boat continues to one of the white-sand beaches (Cerro Brujo, Playa Ochoa or Playa Manglecito) for an afternoon walk among sea lions and marine iguanas.

🚌Motorboat day tour (included in tour price)

🛏Hotel Paraiso Insular or similar (~£25-35/night)

• →Full-day León Dormido snorkel and beach boat tour (book locally ~£55-70pp, lunch included)
• →Snorkel with eagle rays, Galapagos turtles and hammerhead sharks
• →Walk along white-sand beach with sea lions and marine iguanas

Hire a taxi for the morning (~£8-10 shared) to the San Cristóbal highlands. Walk the signed trail to El Junco Lake, one of the very few permanent freshwater lakes in the Galapagos, with sweeping views across the archipelago. Continue to the giant tortoise reserve — entry is free and giant tortoises roam without fences. Have lunch at a local restaurant in the highlands or back in town. In the afternoon, walk or take a short taxi ride to La Loberia (15 min from town), a relaxed sea lion nursery ideal for snorkelling among sea lions and marine iguanas. Snorkel gear can be hired in town (~£5/day).

🚌Shared taxi to highlands (~£8-10); walking to/at La Loberia

🛏Hotel Paraiso Insular or similar (~£25-35/night)

• →Taxi to highlands (~£8-10) and walk to El Junco Lake
• →Visit giant tortoise reserve (free entry)
• →Lunch at local highlands restaurant (~£5-8)
• →Walk or taxi to La Loberia for snorkelling (snorkel hire ~£5)

Purchase a public speedboat ticket from the waterfront ferry dock in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno to Floreana — the crossing takes approximately 2.5-3 hours and costs ~£25-35pp. Schedules are typically early morning; confirm the day before. On arrival at Puerto Velasco Ibarra, Floreana's tiny port, check into your lodge — options are limited so book ahead. After lunch at one of the island's few restaurants, join a local guide tour to the highlands (3km walk) to visit the lava caves used by pirates and buccaneers, and a large tortoise enclosure. Dinner at your lodge or local restaurant.

🚌Public speedboat San Cristóbal–Floreana (~£25-35pp)

🛏Lava Lodge or similar on Floreana (~£30-45/night, half-board often available)

• →Public speedboat San Cristóbal to Floreana (~£25-35pp, ~3hrs)
• →Walk to Floreana highlands including pirate lava caves (3km)
• →Visit giant tortoise enclosure in the highlands

Rise early for a morning walk along Floreana's black volcanic beach, home to red iguanas and sea lion colonies. There's time for a short snorkel before heading back to the dock. Take the mid-morning public speedboat to Isabela Island (~2.5-3hrs, ~£30-40pp). On arrival at Puerto Villamil, drop bags at your hotel then hire a bicycle (~£5-8/day) or walk the 7km out-and-back trail to the Wall of Tears — a haunting reminder of Isabela's penal colony past (1946-1959). The path back winds through mangroves and wetlands, prime territory for migratory birds and reintroduced giant tortoises.

🚌Public speedboat Floreana–Isabela (~£30-40pp); bicycle hire (~£5-8/day)

🛏San Vicente Hotel or similar guesthouse in Puerto Villamil (~£25-35/night)

• →Morning walk and snorkel at Floreana's black volcanic beach (sea lions, red iguanas)
• →Public speedboat Floreana to Isabela (~£30-40pp, ~2.5-3hrs)
• →Hire bicycle or walk to the Wall of Tears (~7km return, free entry)
• →Walk back through mangroves spotting migratory birds and giant tortoises

The highlight of the trip — a 16km (10 mile) hike on the active Sierra Negra shield volcano, home to the second-largest volcanic caldera in the world. This hike is only possible with a licensed local guide (mandatory inside the national park). Book a Sierra Negra day tour directly with a local agency in Puerto Villamil the day before — cost is ~£35-45pp including guide, transport to the trailhead and a box lunch. The hike takes 5-6 hours across highland tracks and dramatic exposed lava fields. Look out for the endemic Galapagos vermilion flycatcher. Wear sturdy shoes, bring sunscreen, layers and plenty of water.

🚌Tour vehicle to trailhead (included in tour price)

🛏San Vicente Hotel or similar (~£25-35/night)

• →Full-day Sierra Negra volcano guided trek (mandatory guide, book locally ~£35-45pp)
• →Hike 16km across highland tracks and volcanic lava fields
• →View the enormous volcanic caldera and fumaroles
• →Spot endemic Galapagos vermilion flycatcher

Los Tuneles (Cabo Rosa) is Isabela's most spectacular snorkel site — a maze of collapsed lava tunnels and shallow channels along the coast accessible only by boat. Book a Los Tuneles day tour from a local Puerto Villamil agency the day before (~£50-65pp, lunch included). A short boat ride and 30-minute walk across the lava formations brings you face-to-face with blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, marine iguanas, Sally Lightfoot crabs and whitetip reef sharks resting below. Snorkelling in the shallow channels offers outstanding chances of seeing sea turtles, rays, Galapagos penguins and seahorses.

🚌Boat to Los Tuneles (included in tour price)

🛏San Vicente Hotel or similar (~£25-35/night)

• →Los Tuneles boat day tour (book locally ~£50-65pp, lunch included)
• →Walk across lava formations (30 min) spotting blue-footed boobies and marine iguanas
• →Snorkel channels with sea turtles, rays, penguins and seahorses

A short 15-minute boat ride from Puerto Villamil brings you to Las Tintoreras, one of the Galapagos' best spots to see whitetip reef sharks (tintoreras) resting in a narrow lava channel, alongside penguins and sea lions. Book a half-day Las Tintoreras tour directly with a local agency (~£20-30pp including guide and boat). After a 40-minute guided walk around the islet, jump in for a snorkel. The afternoon is entirely free — swim at one of Puerto Villamil's beautiful beaches, rent a bicycle to explore the village, or simply relax with a cold Pilsener.

🚌Short boat to Las Tintoreras (included in tour); bicycle hire if desired (~£5)

🛏San Vicente Hotel or similar (~£25-35/night)

• →Half-day Las Tintoreras boat tour (book locally ~£20-30pp)
• →Guided 40-min walk spotting whitetip reef sharks, penguins and sea lions
• →Snorkel in the lava channel
• →Free afternoon: beach, bicycle or relaxation in Puerto Villamil

Take the morning public speedboat from Puerto Villamil to Santa Cruz (Puerto Ayora) — approximately 2.5 hours, ~£30-40pp. On arrival, drop your bags at your hotel in Puerto Ayora. Walk (15 min) to the Charles Darwin Research Station — entry is free and it's the best place on the islands to see giant Galapagos tortoises up close in the breeding centre. Grab lunch at a local restaurant on Charles Darwin Avenue (~£5-8). In the afternoon, follow the 2.5km paved trail from the edge of Puerto Ayora to Tortuga Bay — one of the most beautiful beaches in the Galapagos, scattered with marine iguanas. Swimming is not recommended due to currents but the lagoon behind the beach is calm and perfect for wildlife spotting.

🚌Public speedboat Isabela–Santa Cruz (~£30-40pp); walking in Puerto Ayora

🛏Mainao Hotel or similar guesthouse in Puerto Ayora (~£25-40/night)

• →Public speedboat Isabela to Santa Cruz (~£30-40pp, ~2.5hrs)
• →Free visit to Charles Darwin Research Station and giant tortoise breeding centre
• →Lunch at local restaurant on Charles Darwin Avenue (~£5-8)
• →Walk to Tortuga Bay (2.5km trail, free entry) and spot marine iguanas

Book a full-day boat excursion from Puerto Ayora to one of the outer islands — Bartolomé, South Plaza or North Seymour — depending on national park visitor site allocations. Tour agencies on Charles Darwin Avenue sell these daily for ~£70-90pp including guide, lunch and snorkel equipment. Bartolomé offers iconic views of Pinnacle Rock and snorkelling with Galapagos penguins. South Plaza is remarkable for land iguanas and dramatic seabird cliffs. North Seymour has the highest density of nesting magnificent frigatebirds in the Galapagos, plus blue-footed boobies and sea lions. Book the day before at a waterfront agency — compare two or three operators for price.

🚌Day tour boat (included in price)

🛏Mainao Hotel or similar (~£25-40/night)

• →Full-day boat tour to Bartolomé, South Plaza or North Seymour (book locally ~£70-90pp, lunch included)
• →Snorkel with Galapagos penguins (Bartolomé) or view land iguanas and seabird colonies
• →Guided national park walk with licensed naturalist guide (mandatory)

Morning at leisure in Puerto Ayora — pick up souvenirs, grab breakfast at a café, or revisit the waterfront fish market where pelicans and sea lions jostle for scraps. Take a shared water taxi (~£1) across to the Baltra Island ferry dock, then a shuttle bus to Baltra Airport (GPS) for your return flight to Quito (~£80-120 one way if booked as part of a return). On arrival in Quito, transfer back to the Mariscal district. Enjoy a final evening dinner at one of Quito's excellent restaurants — try La Ronda for traditional Ecuadorian food.

🚌Water taxi to Baltra (~£1); shuttle bus to airport (free or ~£2); flight to Quito (return fare)

🛏Community Hostel Quito or similar (~£15-20/night)

• →Morning free in Puerto Ayora — waterfront fish market and souvenir shopping
• →Water taxi to Baltra dock (~£1) then shuttle bus to Baltra Airport
• →Flight Baltra/Santa Cruz to Quito (included in return fare booked on Day 3)
• →Dinner at a traditional restaurant in Quito's La Ronda (~£10-15)

Your adventure ends in Quito. Depending on your onward flight time, spend the morning exploring any corners of the city you may have missed — the Guápulo neighbourhood and viewpoint is a lovely 20-minute walk from the Mariscal district. Quito's airport is well connected with a dedicated airport bus service (~£1.50). Consider extending your trip with a visit to the cloud forests of Mindo, the Avenue of the Volcanoes, or Cotopaxi National Park.

🚌Aeroservicios airport bus (~£1.50) or taxi (~£8) to airport

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Breakfast at hostel or local café
• →Optional morning visit to Guápulo viewpoint or Mindo cloud forest day trip
• →Airport bus to Mariscal Sucre International Airport (~£1.50)