Women's Galapagos Island Hopping Adventure

Channel your inner Darwin as you island hop in the Galapagos discovering it’s wildlife over land and under water on our Women-Only, Small Group Multi-sport Adventure Tour in Ecuador.

This is the binge worthy, Planet Earth on Netflix, but in REAL LIFE. Narrate your own nature film starring tortoises, sea lions, iguanas, penguins, boobies, reef sharks, and bold women who ugly-cry about nature just as much as you.

Over the course of 9 days, you’ll visit 3 different islands with a plethora of adventures to keep your intrepid soul curious. Snorkel, scuba, kayak, hike, and cycle amidst the wandering beasts and spewing volcanoes that make the Galapagos bucket-list worthy.

Every evening, turn down to 4 Star boutique hotels to turn up on roof top terraces with harbor views and beside pools with a cocktail. Enjoy all-inclusive perks – your internal round trip flight from Quito to Baltra, National Park Pass, and Transit Card are all included! Heck, you’ll even squeeze in some white sandy beach time to relax with a book and a neighboring sea lion. #MermaidParadise

“Well I made it home from one of the most amazing adventures of my life… The best part of this trip, was meeting 11 women who have such ambition, love of adventure, who are just bad ass, bold and amazing. Strangers who came together for a life changing epic adventure became friends for life. So much to say about the women I meet on these trips. Smart, successful, genuine, beautiful in so many ways and just not afraid to enjoy life and go on crazy adventures. These women and these trips are just good for my soul.

#explorerchick” -Explorer Chick Nicki R

SHE-nanigans include: Snorkeling, kayaking, Discover Scuba, hiking, biking, and kicking it on the beach

ITINERARY

Welcome to Ecuador

Welcome to Ecuador and it’s capital city, Quito! Upon arrival, you’ll be transferred to our boutique hotel nestled right in the heart of the city. Feel free to explore during the day taking in the vibrant culture and rich history. Or simply relax and enjoy our former colonial house that has been converted to the perfect urban retreat. We’ll meet as a group in the lobby in the evening for introductions and to have a nice welcome dinner together. Your Explorer Chick guide  will review the upcoming week and kick start the SHE-nanigans.

Fly to the Galapagos and Hang out with Tortoises

YOU ARE GOING TO THE GALAPAGOS. GET OUT OF BED! Rise early to catch a plane to Baltra Island – the gateway to the Galapagos. Upon landing, we’ll go through the admission process. Your flight, National Park entrance and Transit Card fee ($720) are already covered in your Explorer Chick price – so leave that fanny pack zipped.

Don’t let their glacial pace fool you, your tortoise welcoming committee on Santa Cruz is PUMPED to see you! These gentle beasts are legit prehistoric, and will roam around you while you scarf down lunch. # mindlesslywander

In the evening, we check into our 4 Star boutique hotel that has recently been renovated to be kind to our environement. Before dinner, head up to the Roof top terrace to take in the views over Puerto Ayora harbor with a cocktail or relax by the pool.

Ferry to Isabela, Hike Sierra Negra, and Snorkel at Concha dePerla

In the AM, we hop a ferry to our next island, Isabela, where we’ll stay in another bougie hotel for 3 nights.

But, it’s a quick turnaround because you have some hiking to do- right on up to the active crater of the 2nd largest caldera in the world, Sierra Negra. This baby was still spitting up lava in 2018 and stretches a whopping 6 miles! Keep your eyes peeled for Galapagos hawks, short-eared owls, finches, and flycatchers.

After a relaxing lunch, explore mangroves and tiptoe around snoring sealions to reach some of the best snorkeling in the Galapagos. The crazy-clear water is home to colorful fish, more sealions, and friggen marine iguanas! Snap an underwater picture of a gliding ‘guana to earn all our respect.

Kayak Tintoreras and Bike the Wall of Tears

After breakfast, take a quick boat ride to the small volcanic island of Tintoreras, a snorkeling and kayaking sanctuary. Spend the morning with more marine iguanas, birdlife, and if you’re lucky, the Galapagos penguin! (This special waddler is the only penguin that calls the equator home.) You might even glimpse white-tipped reef sharks, sting rays, and blue-footed boobies. WHAT IS THIS, PLANET EARTH?

Fuel up on lunch before heading for land. It is here we bicycle along a dark but important path: The Wall of Tears.

The mid 20th century saw an overflow of prisons in mainland Ecuador. Rather than spend money on new prisons, convicts were shipped out to sea on islands considered inhospitable and impossible to escape. Prisoners moved exhaustive hauls of lava rock to build a wall with no purpose – and no end.

Tortoise Breeding Center, Ferry to Santa Cruz and Tortuga Bay Beach

Take a trip to torty funkytown as you learn about breeding efforts to restore the tortoise population on Isabela. There’ll be opportunities for more birding, with a special visit to a common flamingo rendezvous!

We’ll then ferry back to Santa Cruz to return to our boutique hotel from Day 2. After dropping our bags, we’ll grab lunch and spend the afternoon at Tortuga Bay. Kayak, snorkel, swim, and relax on a postcard-worthy white sand beach.

Discover Scuba 

Experience Galapagos like a flipping mermaid. Oh, you don’t have your Scuba certification? No worries! Our Discover Scuba course teaches you the basics – like how to use equipment in the shallows and breathe naturally underwater. After mastering the basics, you’ll head out to open water for 2 dives that go up to 12 meters deep. Though not a certification course, you still get your fill of open water diving.

Day tripping to Floreana Island

Venture to your third island – Floreana. The island is shrouded in mystery as the first European settlers became entangled in power struggles, peculiar disappearances, and alleged murders.

The mysterious black sand beaches are the perfect backdrop to this eerie experience. But don’t worry – you’re more likely to happen upon a flamingo than a human skull!

We’ll have snorkeling gear at the ready for she who dares to dive off the creepy coast.

Darwin Station and Fly to Quito

We’ll give our sun-kissed skin the day off with a visit to Charles Darwin Station. More than 200 volunteers and scientists are involved in the station’s conservation efforts – most famously breeding giant tortoises. You’ll have ample time to tour the educational exhibits, visit the baby tortoise house, and observe the other animal inhabitants.

After we get our Darwin on, we return once more to Quito. Again, this internal domestic flight from Baltra is included in your price.

As a special closing ceremony, you and your sisters will enjoy a cooking class in Quito with a local chef and share one last communal meal together.

Farewell Ecuador

It’s time to trade mermaid life for real life. Hug your Explorer Chicks tight, and take home unforgettable memories and bad jokes from our untamed, wild paradise.