Galapagos Diving Holiday

Diving Adventure

An Underwater Paradise

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Explore the Two Sides of the Galapagos

6 days diving in the Galapagos for £3095pp

This combination of island-hopping and diving holiday gives you the chance to enjoy some of the famously superb diving in the Galapagos, but without missing out on the great sights above the waves as well.

If you'd prefer a Galapagos holiday that's just focused on diving, then let us know, but we think this holiday gives you a great mix of everything that's so fantastic about the Galapagos Islands.

Outline Itinerary

  • Day One: Arrival in the Galapagos
  • Day Two: Santa Cruz & Academy Bay
  • Day Three: Gordon Rocks and Isabela
  • Day Four: Isla Tortuga and Las Tintoreras
  • Day Five: Sierra Negra and Campo Duro
  • Day Six: Back to the Mainland

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Detailed Itinerary

Day One – Arrival and Visit to Garrapatero

Your flight from the mainland will touch down on the island of Baltra this morning, and we will pick you up and take you across the Itabaca Strait to Santa Cruz. First of all we will take you to the secluded and lovely Red Mangrove Aventura Lodge, where you can refresh yourselves and drop your luggage. Then, in the afternoon we will take you to the beautiful white sandy beach at Garrapatero. This tropical paradise is surrounded by mangrove trees and the nearby freshwater lake is one of the many attractions for the huge varieties of birds. Iguanas, penguins, oystercatchers and patillos may well all join you for a bit of R & R as you get into the Galapagos swing of things. Before dinner this evening there will be a divers’ briefing at the lunch in preparation for the dives ahead. (Lunch and Dinner Included)

Day Two - Santa Cruz and Academy Bay

This morning we will sail out to Academy Bay on the south coast of Santa Cruz for our first dive, so you get a taste of what you can expect over the next few days. As well as a vast array of tropical fish, we should also see White tip Reef Sharks, Eagle Rays, Manta Rays, Eels, turtles, and maybe marine iguanas. In the afternoon, we will visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, which is run by scientists and researchers from around the world and is dedicated to understanding and conserving the delicate ecology of the Galapagos. (B/L/D)

Day Three - Gordon Rocks & Isabela

This morning we will enjoy our second set of dives off Santa Cruz at the amazing Gordon Rocks. This collapsed caldera is one of the absolute highlights of diving in the Galapagos, with a huge number of reef fish and rays but above all... sharks. There are plenty of White-tipped Reef Sharks and Galapagos Sharks but Gordon Rocks is particularly famous for the large groups of Hammerheads that congregate here. It’s not unusual to see 30-40 Hammerheads at a time and for this reason alone, Gordon Rocks is one of the top dive sites in the Galapagos. In the afternoon, we will have a short sea journey over to our next island, Isabela, hoping to see whales and dolphins as we sail. On arrival we will check in to our lodge, located on one of Isabela’s beautiful white-sand beaches, where we can relax, swim and sunbathe before returning to the lodge for dinner. (B/L/D)

Day Four - Isla Tortuga & Las Tintoreras

This morning we will enjoy two dives off Isla Tortuga, which is a small islet just off the coast of Isabela itself. Here we have a good chance of seeing Sea Turtles, as well as Mantas, Stingrays, White-tipped Reef Sharks and Parrotfish, with the chance of Sunfish and Orcas. In the afternoon we will have a dinghy tour around the small islands of Las Tintoreras to look for sea-lions, pelicans and penguins. Setting foot on Las Tintoreras is fascinating, as you walk through the bizarre black lava landscapes and get a chance to get really close to the large iguana colonies. The islands’ bay is also home to many white-tipped reef sharks. (B/L/D)

Day Five – Sierra Negra & Campo Duro

After breakfast this morning we will head away from the lodge and up through the highlands of Isabela, to the slopes of the Sierra Negra volcano. We will then have to leave our vehicles and trek up to the volcano crater. At over 4 miles across, this is the second largest crater in the world, and the views are absolutely stunning. We will walk along the caldera edge for a few kilometres to enjoy some more spectacular views. Those who wish can also enjoy an additional trek up to Volcan Chico where you can see still-active fumaroles.

After our hike we will return to our vehicles and then drive on to the Campo Duro organic farm, where we will enjoy a delicious lunch on the farm’s lava rock-grill and then take a walk among the fruit trails or a nap in one of the farm’s hammock. You can also see the giant tortoises which live on the farm before we return to the lodge to enjoy some free time snorkelling or swimming. (B/L/D)

Back to Ecuador

After breakfast this morning, we will travel back across to Santa Cruz and then back to the airport on Baltra, where our flight will take us back across the Pacific to Quito. (B)

Galapagos Dive Holiday Options

Ecuador Tours

Ecuador Mainland - Packages from £635pp

The Galapagos attracts tourists from around the world, but there are no direct flights to the Islands, so at some point you’ll be stopping off on the Ecuadorean mainland. Our Ecuador Mainland option includes all of your transfers in Quito, your flights between the mainland and the Galapagos, and two nights hotel accommodation in Quito at either end of your Galapagos itinerary, so you can relax safe in the knowledge that everything is organised from end to end.

Ecuador Tours

Enhanced Ecuador Mainland - from £800pp

While the Galapagos is one of the most stunning places in the natural world, what’s the rush? Mainland Ecuador has plenty to offer, and this option offers everything on our ‘Ecuador Mainland’ option plus two extra nights in Quito, a tour of Quito’s beautiful colonial centre, and a full day tour of the beautiful Cotopaxi National Park and its snow-capped volcanoes. You’ll see some of the absolute stand-out sights in South America, and you only need to add two more days to your holiday!

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What's Included?

Our standard price for this Galapagos diving holiday is £3095 per person, which is based on two sharing a double or twin standard room in our chosen lodges.

It includes 8 dives and all equipment, and is suitable for beginner-intermediate divers who are already PADI certified.

That price includes all your accommodation and transport in the Galapagos Islands, flights to/from the mainland, all tours and guides, and all the indicated meals. It does not include the US$100 Galapaos National Park fee, or any services on the mainland, although we would be delighted to provide those for you as well.

Services on the Mainland

So with the exception of the National Parks fee, everything in the Galapagos Islands is included. What we don't include as standard are services on the mainland and your international flights, because for both you have a huge range of options.

On the Ecuadorean mainland, you will almost certainly need at least one or two night's accommodation in either Quito or Guayaquil, even if you're not planning to see some more of Ecuador while you are in South America. You will also probably need transfers on the mainland to get to and from the airports. Click the 'Options' tab above for a hassle-free way to include all this.

International Flights

We can organise our island-hopping holidays for any days or dates you like, and so with the international flights you will have a huge range of options depending on the date you want to travel, the route you want to fly, and your preferred departure airport in the UK.

We aren't tied to any particular airline, and we will be delighted to discuss all options with you, or you can even book the flights yourself if you prefer: it's totally up to you.

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