Please note that the Quito international airport (UIO, Mariscal Sucre) will be closed on the following dates in 2025 for preventative maintenance on the runway: April 5 & 12; May 10, 17 & 31; June 7, 14, 21, 28; September 6, 13 & 20. between the hours of 2am and 2pm. For passengers flying in or out of Quito on these dates, please double-check flight schedules with your airline in case of changes. Internal flights within Ecuador and Galapagos will be adjusted accordingly and any changes to schedules will be communicated at the welcome briefing.
Family Land Galápagos — Multi-Activities
8 days, Quito to Quito
Itinerary Notes
Family adventures are designed for groups travelling with children between the ages of 6 and 17. Your group must have a child in order to book a Family tour, and anyone under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult. The itinerary has been designed with the needs of the whole family in mind.
Itinerary
Day 1Quito
Arrive at any time.
Opt to pre-book the "Quito City Tour & Equator Line" activity on the checkout page ahead of time to include this optional on your tour.
Arrival Day and Welcome Meeting with G Representative
The adventure begins today. Feel free to explore, but make sure you're back in time to meet the group. Your G Representative will review the details of your tour.
Optional Activities - Day 1 HideShow
Quito City Tour & Equator Line
Enjoy a city tour of Quito. Visit the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with stops at the Basilica del Voto Nacional, La Compañia Church, San Francisco Square, Plaza Grande and the Panecillo, a towering statue of the virgin of Quito who looks out over a stunning view of the city. Drive 25km (16 mi) north of Quito to the Middle of the World, latitude 0º. Stand with one foot in each hemisphere.
Please note that this tour starts at 8 a.m. and ends around 5 p.m.
Cotopaxi Volcano - Full Day
Enjoy a spectacular 2 hour drive to Cotopaxi Volcano National Park to see the highest active volcano in the world (5,897m/ 19,347 ft). Visit a museum in the park and hike around a lagoon at the bottom of the volcano to learn about the flora and fauna found at this altitude. Continue by car up the volcano to the parking lot, at over 4,500m/14,763 ft. Walk for an hour and a half to the refuge and after a short break, continue to the glacier (if the weather holds out). Return to Quito in the early evening. **Park entrance fee is not included and is split among the number of travellers in the group**
Accommodation
Below is an example of the hotel we may use in this city. For the actual hotel your specific departure will be using, please check your voucher.
NH Collection Royal Quito (or similar)
Day 2Quito/San Cristóbal Island
Fly to San Cristóbal, the easternmost island of Galápagos and one of the oldest. The principal town is Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the capital of the Galápagos. Visit the beach and keep your eyes open for marine life while you chill out in the sand.
Spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing on Mann Beach or swimming with playful sea lions as the frigate birds glide on the thermals.
In the evening, opt for a dinner and sample some of the island's fresh fish and produce.
Plane
Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
Free Time
Free time on San Cristóbal gives an opportunity to make the most of the variety of activities available here. Hire a bike for a ride around the island or rent snorkelling equipment and search for marine life. Choose to take a walk around the area and enjoy island life.
Accommodation
Blue Marlin Hotel (or similar)
Blue Marlin Hotel is an excellent choice for travellers visiting San Cristobal, offering a friendly environment alongside many helpful amenities designed to enhance your stay.
Rooms at Blue Marlin Hotel offer a minibar, a refrigerator, and air conditioning providing exceptional comfort and convenience, and guests can go online with free wifi.
A pool will also help to make your stay even more special.
Meals included:
Breakfast | LunchDay 3San Cristóbal Island
Snorkelling trip to Isla Lobos to search for marine life like sea turtles and manta rays and swim with sea lions. In the afternoon
visit the Interpretation Centre and learn more about the history of the Galápagos, sometimes referred to as “the Enchanted Islands.” Spend the rest of the remainder of the day relaxing on Mann Beach or swimming with playful sea lions as the frigate birds glide on the thermals.
The day begins with a short boat ride to Isla Lobos, an islet populated by numerous sea lions, which give the island its name. Spend the day snorkelling – a fantastic opportunity to observe the abundant marine life that Galápagos is renowned for. Back aboard the boat, sail to San Cristóbal, visit the Interpretation Center and then have free time to enjoy the beaches and surrounding areas.
Boat
Climb aboard and get your float on.
Snorkelling (Isla Lobos)
Snorkel the waters of peaceful Isla Lobos, amid the families of sea lions and their inquisitive pups looking to play. Spot nesting frigatebirds and the famous blue-footed boobies resting on the shore. Be sure to bring your camera to catch some snaps at this prime wildlife watching haven.
Boat
Climb aboard and get your float on.
Interpretation Center Visit
Learn about the history of the Galápagos Islands from the very beginning of their volcanic origins through to today’s conservation efforts. Tour the Human History exhibit to learn about the islands’ discovery and colonization, and discover the natural history and variety of flora and fauna that make the Galápagos so fascinating.
Free Time
Free time on San Cristóbal gives an opportunity to make the most of the variety of activities available here. Hire a bike for a ride around the island or rent snorkelling equipment and search for marine life. Choose to take a walk around the area and enjoy island life.
Accommodation
Blue Marlin Hotel (or similar)
Blue Marlin Hotel is an excellent choice for travellers visiting San Cristobal, offering a friendly environment alongside many helpful amenities designed to enhance your stay.
Rooms at Blue Marlin Hotel offer a minibar, a refrigerator, and air conditioning providing exceptional comfort and convenience, and guests can go online with free wifi.
A pool will also help to make your stay even more special.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 4San Cristóbal Island/Santa Cruz Island
Travel by boat to Santa Cruz Island. On arrival, visit the highlands of the island to see Galápagos giant tortoises in the wild.
Speedboat
Cut swiftly through the water en route to the next stop (and hang on to your hat).
Please note: Seas can be rough during this voyage. Please bring sea sickness medication if you need it.
Santa Cruz Highlands Excursion
Visit the highlands of Santa Cruz and see the Galápagos giant tortoise in its natural surroundings. Explore the area and its incredible wildlife.
Accommodation
Hotel Dejavu (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 5Santa Cruz Island
Take a sea kayaking adventure at Tortuga Bay to explore the mangroves. Opt for a surf lesson in the afternoon.
Tortuga Bay Kayaking
Grab a life jacket and go for a kayak adventure in the mangroves of Tortuga Bay. Keep an eye out for a wide variety of marine life, including colorful reef fish, rays, and sea turtles, as you paddle the blue waters. Relax after on a beautiful fine white sand beach, and soak up some sun – you may spot some iguanas also trying to catch some rays on the shore.
Optional Activities - Day 5 HideShow
Surfing Lesson
120USD per personGrab your swimsuit and get ready to hang ten! Learn how to find and ride the waves with surfing lessons from local experts. Enjoy the fresh sea air, and try to spot local marine life while enjoying the waters.
Accommodation
Hotel Dejavu (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 6Santa Cruz Island
In the morning, walk to "Las Grietas" located across Academy Bay. Pass through a rugged cactus forest on the way to this stunning lagoon. Afterwards, enjoy time to relax at the Playa de los Alemanes. In the afternoon, visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, one of the places where you can easily spot the famous Galápagos tortoises.
Swimming at Las Grietas
Cross a cactus forest looking for Darwin finches and lava lizards on the way to Las Grietas, a local swimming hole. The cool, bright turquoise water separates two volcanic cliffs. Fed by the ocean from one end and a river from the other this unique brackish pool is perfect for swimming.
Fausto Llerena Breeding Center & Charles Darwin Research Station Visit
Visit Fausto Llerena Breeding Center a great place to observe many species of tortoises. Brought back from the brink of extinction, see the famous Galápagos tortoise up close – a corral houses adult tortoises, and a nursery cares for the young until around age three when their shells have hardened.
This area also houses the Charles Darwin Research Station, a scientific organization initiated in 1964, which works to preserve the Galápagos' ecosystem through the conservation efforts of scientists, researchers, and volunteers. While the offices themselves are not open to visitors, the research station provides a study location for international scientists and environmental education for the local community.
Accommodation
Hotel Dejavu (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 7Santa Cruz Island/Quito
Fly back to Quito, where the rest of the day is free to explore the city.
After a transfer over the island of Santa Cruz, arrive at Baltra Island for our return flight to Quito. Upon arrival in Quito, transfer to the hotel for free time and one last night with newfound friends.
G Adventures strongly recommends not booking departure flights on the day the group returns to Quito. Local flight times are often subject to change and could potentially cause issues if delayed. We recommend booking flights on the last day of the tour as noted on the Full itinerary page.
Plane
Transfer over the island of Santa Cruz to Baltra Island to catch our flight back to Quito.
Free Time
Explore the city of Quito at leisure and enjoy the best of this cosmopolitan city.
Accommodation
NH Collection Royal Quito (or similar)
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 8Quito
Depart at any time.
Departure Day
Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.
Optional Activities - Day 8 HideShow
Quito City Tour & Equator Line
Enjoy a city tour of Quito. Visit the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with stops at the Basilica del Voto Nacional, La Compañia Church, San Francisco Square, Plaza Grande and the Panecillo, a towering statue of the virgin of Quito who looks out over a stunning view of the city. Drive 25km (16 mi) north of Quito to the Middle of the World, latitude 0º. Stand with one foot in each hemisphere.
Please note that this tour starts at 8 a.m. and ends around 5 p.m.
Cotopaxi Volcano - Full Day
Enjoy a spectacular 2 hour drive to Cotopaxi Volcano National Park to see the highest active volcano in the world (5,897m/ 19,347 ft). Visit a museum in the park and hike around a lagoon at the bottom of the volcano to learn about the flora and fauna found at this altitude. Continue by car up the volcano to the parking lot, at over 4,500m/14,763 ft. Walk for an hour and a half to the refuge and after a short break, continue to the glacier (if the weather holds out). Return to Quito in the early evening. **Park entrance fee is not included and is split among the number of travellers in the group**