The perfect way to combat the winter blues is to plan ahead for your tropical vacation. Ecoventura is excited to offer you the best adventures available in the Galapagos, and what better time to decide which one is right for you than now! Both itineraries we offer provide the opportunity to enjoy Zodiac rides, sea kayaking or stand up paddleboarding, and snorkeling. Explore the islands on guided nature walks, and entertain the entire family with our designated family departures.
Choose from these incredible activities below, and start the countdown to your next adventure in the Galapagos Islands!
New in 2017 – Telescopes on Board!
With few inhabited locations (i.e. zero artificial light pollution!), the Galapagos can give you spectacular starry skies.
Starting with our first cruise departure in 2017, we will have telescopes on board (one per yacht) for passengers to stargaze the beautiful skies of the Galapagos Islands! We are excited to offer these telescopes to passengers in the new year and hope you take advantage of them while cruising with Ecoventura.
Learn about our Celestron PowerSeeker 70EQ Telescopes.
Zodiac Rides
Start your adventure by riding in an inflatable Zodiac, through shores, mangrove estuaries, coves, and caves. These serve as the main transportation from our yachts to the visitor sites. Every ride will be an excellent opportunity to take photographs of the local wildlife on the shores and estuaries, including green sea turtles, schools of golden rays, reef sharks, and more.
Upon reaching the estuaries, we will cut the engines to allow you to paddle around the mangrove and explore uninhibited. One such example, if you choose Itinerary B, you will have the chance to take a dinghy ride on the Bolivar Channel, a vibrant ecosystem where you will be able to see whales (such as Orca and humpback whales) as well as dolphins, sunfish, and many other varieties of Galapagos marine life.
Snorkeling
Photo Credit via Holy Smithereens
One of our most popular activities, snorkeling gives guests the pleasure of seeing underwater life up close and personal, without the extensive equipment and training required with scuba diving. Swim in the beautiful blue water with green sea turtles, marine iguanas, colorful reef fish, playful sea-lions, and the world’s smallest penguin. This is the chance of a lifetime to experience marine life of the Galapagos Islands right within reach.
We provide snorkeling gear free of charge. If you explore the water on the western islands where it may be a bit colder, we also provide wetsuits at no additional cost. This activity is available almost every day, and for those with no experience snorkeling, we do offer this activity from the beach.
Sea Kayaking
Traverse the tranquil waters of the Galapagos National Park with our sea kayaks. Choose either a double or single “sit on top” kayak, and after a quick lesson, you’ll be on your way to exploring the local scenery. This all-ages activity allows you to see Galapagos penguins, sea lions, blue-footed and nazca boobies, pelicans, marine iguanas, and many other beautiful sights. You may discover hidden tide pools teeming with life, or beaches of red, green, and black sand, along with the hardened lava fields at the edge of the shore. The calm seas make this activity perfect for inexperienced or experienced sea kayakers alike, and the ideal opportunity to get a little exercise while on your tour.
Guided Nature Walks
Let an expert naturalist guide you through the Galapagos Islands, where you will experience walking and hiking on beaches, lava fields, alongside cliffs, and around mangrove estuaries. This activity is available every day and will give you an incredible first-hand look at living on the islands.
These non-strenuous walks last between 2 to 3 hours where you can birdwatch, photograph the scenic views, and hear details about the issues concerning the islands. Get to know the Galapagos Islands through the eyes of the local wildlife, and because these creatures never learned to fear humans, you will have the chance to see them and take photos from up close.
Stand Up Paddle Boarding
We are so excited to add this activity to our itineraries! Ecoventura is the first tour boat operator to have SUPs on board in the Galapagos Islands. Two stand up paddle boards are available for use on each yacht, with the exception of the Galapagos Sky.
Explore these must-see sites on our stand up paddle boards:
- Itinerary A: Gardner Bay, Floreana, and Cerro Brujo San Cristobal
- Itinerary B: Tagus Cove, Isabela and Darwin Bay, Genovesa (Tower)
Summer family teen departures with EPI
Do you have a child or teen on board who is interested in science and conservation? This may be the activity for them. On Summer family teen departures, families will have the chance to work with local students and explore the reserve, visit the greenhouse area, and observe the seed identification activity.
Ecology Project International (EPI) builds a partnership between students and scientists, and hopes to inspire and improve science education and conservation. Ecoventura is the first tour boat operator in the Galapagos to add an activity with the EPI students, and we are pleased to open three excursions on our family teen departures in July 2017. Make sure to book these trips early, as they go quickly!
So which itinerary should I choose?
The choice is up to you, but both options are rich with a variety of wildlife, activities, and scenic views. Snorkeling and sea kayaking are available on either itinerary, as well as visits to the town of Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz, and into the highlands to a tortoise reserve.
Don’t miss out on these popular activities with Ecoventura! More details can be found here: https://www.ecoventura.com/galapagos-expedition/activities/
Whichever activity or itinerary you choose, we are delighted to share with you the awesome beauty of the Galapagos. We hope to see you onboard soon!
