Land-based Tour of the Galapagos

(7 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Quito, Galapagos lodge (Santa Cruz Island)

This tour is ideal for travelers who want to get the most out of the Galapagos Islands but prefer to sleep on land. It features accommodation at the best resort hotel in the Galapagos, naturalist-led excursions on Santa Cruz Island and naturalist-led day trips aboard a private yacht to landing sites on surrounding islands.

Begin in Quito, the capital of Ecuador and a historic city set among snowcapped volcanoes in the Andes. With your private local guide, tour the city center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with Spanish colonial-era architecture. Explore interesting back streets, hidden courtyards and churches with spectacular interiors. Visit the best museums, traditional workshops, markets and other sites according to your interests. Perhaps also shop for a high-quality Panama hat—an Ecuador original.

Next, fly to the Galapagos Islands, a dream destination for nature lovers, and stay four nights at Pikaia Lodge on Santa Cruz Island, the finest resort hotel in the Galapagos. Enjoy naturalist-led day trips aboard Pikaia's private 100-foot yacht to landing sites on Santa Cruz and the most interesting surrounding islands, such as Bartolome, Santiago and North Seymour. See incredible volcanic landscapes, and get close to iconic Galapagos wildlife such as giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies and marine iguanas. Depending on the season, also see mating rituals, newborns feeding, territorial squabbles and more. If desired, snorkel in areas frequented by sea lions, penguins, sea turtles and schools of colorful fish. Also enjoy a naturalist-led excursion on Santa Cruz to highlights such as the giant tortoise reserve, lava tubes, scalesia forest and the Charles Darwin Research Station, where different subspecies of Galapagos tortoises are raised.

Upon request, this tour can easily be extended to include time in the Otavalo region, Amazon basin or other highly recommended destinations in Ecuador.

Booking Information >

All Artisans of Leisure tours are private and depart daily.

Please Contact Us for more information regarding the above tour, or to begin customizing your own itinerary.

The Artisans of Leisure Style of Travel:

• Private touring with your own personal guides and drivers
• Preferred rooms in the very best luxury hotels
• Firsthand, sophisticated destination knowledge and recommendations from our travel specialists
• Itineraries that are customized according to your interests and schedule
• Artisans of Leisure upgrades and amenities
• A seamless travel experience, including all logistics, skipping lines during touring whenever possible, restaurant and spa reservations, performance tickets, private airport transfers, internal transportation, VIP and fast-track airport assistance in many destinations
• Around-the-clock support in each destination during your trip
• Unique, insider travel experiences and access to the Artisans of Leisure network of experts around the world