Galápagos Sea Kayaking the Enchanted Islands
January 8, 22; February 12, 26; March 19; April 16; May 7, 28; June 11; July 2, 16, 30; August 6
$4490 - $4590
Machu Picchu extension available upon request - call for details
Deposit: $800
Single Supplement: $100
Additional Costs:
$420 R/T Air Quito to Galapagos, $110 NPS Entrance Fee ($70 for children 12 and younger), Airport taxes and fees
River Rating  | Minimum Age |
|---|---|
| n/a | 10 yrs |
- Legend
- Directions
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Galápagos Sea Kayaking in the Enchanted Islands - Overview
Experience the natural wonder of the Galápagos Island archipelago, with its rich marine life and exotic flora and fauna, on our Galápagos Island sea kayaking adventure is the ultimate way to go. With a maximum group size of 8 adventurers, this Galápagos tour by paddle is a more intimate and unique way to experience the Galápagos Islands - without the crowds of a Galápagos cruise. Every day we explore different islands, on foot and by sea kayak, with daily opportunities for snorkeling and beachcombing. In the late afternoons our catamaran delivers us from one island to another spectacularly beautiful Galápagos habitat to explore. With a professional sea kayaking guide and an on-board naturalist, we perfect our paddle strokes and get the most out of these amazing islands, all the while learning about the natural history and unimaginably abundant wildlife.
Galápagos Sea Kayaking : Itinerary at a Glance
- Arriving on the Island of San Cristobal, your Galápagos kayaking tour begins with a visit to the new Interpretation Center
- Board the catamaran and swim with sea lions in the aquamarine waters while watching the comical blue-footed boobies at Playa Ochoa
- Sea kayak to Isla Lobos, a great place for iguana and frigate bird watching
- Paddle to Kicker Rock, a cone-shaped rock formation abruptly rising almost 500 feet from the ocean surface
- Hike to the headlands of Punta Suarez, one of the archipelago’s most prolific wildlife habitats
- Glide into Gardner Bay, where we will walk along the sandy beach, enjoy lovely views, and swim and kayak with sea lions
- Follow in the footsteps of pirates, whalers, and colonists as we explore Floreana
- Sea kayak to Punta Cormorant, where Palo Santo trees surround a brackish lagoon that hosts flamingos
- Visit the Darwin Research Station and the giant Galápagos land tortoises before stopping in town for souvenir shopping
- Take a pre-dawn climb of an extinct volcano towering above St. James Bay
- Paddle to Isla Bartolome along the frozen lava flows of San Salvador’s coastline and swim with marine turtles and Galápagos penguins
- Transfer back to Quito and rendezvous for our last meal together
- Testimonials
- Reviews
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“I most enjoyed the selection of activities and quality of guides and crew. The trip was very well organized and we truly had NO complaints. Don't change a thing!! The catamaran was great. Had enough room and privacy. The cook prepared the best food we had during our three weeks in Ecuador and Peru. ”
Ann and Steve Demeranville ~ Boston, MA
“I always have confidence that OARS will provide a completely organized and 'together' trip. The guides/naturalist provided wonderful infomation and took care of any problem or difficulty that arose.”
Donna Mathern-Schillereff ~ McKinney, TX
“The wonder of discovery...We were allowed to discover the wildlife or scenery ourselves - I enjoyed sharing the world with wildlife. The crew were amazing. They seemed to predict what we needed before we knew it. I was particularly impressed with the small details of assistance we received. (N) is a wonderful, calm, supportive and caring woman. She was inspiring throughout, carefully allowing us to experience the thrill of the wonders. I learnt a lot from her that will be carried into the rest of my life. She made sure that if we asked questions that she did not have ready answers for she would consult and explore further and then return to the question with answers. That was fantastic! (J) was the perfect naturalist. His love of nature and the islands always shone, he maintained a genuine, infectious sense of wonder throughout. They were both wonderful and I feel honoured to have lived my lifelong dream with them!”
Dr Tania Nolan ~ Strethan, Cambridgeshire, UK
- Weather
- Packing List
- Trip Planner
- Recommended Reads
| Average Temperatures | ||
| Month | High | Low |
| January | 84° | 70° |
| February | 86° | 74° |
| March | 88° | 74° |
| April | 86° | 72° |
| May | 82 ° | 72 ° |
| June | 78° | 68° |
| December | 80 ° | 68 ° |
| Ocean Temperatures | ||
| Average 76° | ||
Current Conditions
What to bring on the Galápagos Sea Kayaking the Enchanted Islands trip
This is a sample list. Please refer to your trip planner for a detailed list for your particular trip. If you do not already own any of the items on the suggested packing list feel free to call our office for suggestions. However, many of the items listed are available for purchase online in the OARStore. Please be mindful of the natural environment when purchasing items for your trip. Whenever possible, consider recyclable containers, rechargeable batteries, natural (non-toxic) sunscreens, lotions, biodegradable soaps, and so on.
Equipment:
- Duffel Bag: Bring your gear packed in a duffel rather than a suitcase.
- Backpack/Daypack: For day hikes. It should be large enough to carry water; camera and rain jacket and can double as your flight carry-on bag
- Water bottles: 2 heavy-duty and minimum 1-liter capacity each with a carabineer to attach it to the kayak. For day hikes, hydration systems like a CamelBak® are great, but you will still want 1 water bottle while in the kayak.
- Headlamp or flashlight, extra batteries and bulb
- Spare rollup duffel for purchases while in Ecuador
- Plastic Bags: Large trash bag and Ziploc bags to separate clean and dry clothes from wet and dirty.
- Camera and accessories
Personal Items:
- Sunglasses with securing strap and a spare
- Towel (small, quick-drying) and washcloth
- Toiletries including biodegradable soap and shampoo with moisturizer (Nature's Gate is recommended by our guides)
- Earplugs: It will sometimes be necessary to motor through the night to make it to the next day’s destination and waves slapping the hull can be loud.
- Sunscreen: Waterproof & SPF 30 or higher
- Lip Protection: SPF 30 or higher
- Moisturizing lotion or cream: 1 bottle (Skin tends to get REALLY DRY – this is a VERY important item!)
- Insect repellent (with deet)*
- Personal first aid kit (Band-aids, antibiotic ointment, ibuprofen, moleskin, eye drops, etc.)
- Spare pair of glasses and/or contacts (Blowing sand can cause problems for contact wearers)
- Cash for National Park entrance fee, gratuities and goodies
*During certain months, mosquitoes can be a bothersome problem. Please make sure you bring an adequate supply of insect repellent.
Any clothing you bring should be synthetic, quick drying, and breathable. This is a sub-tropical adventure and you will be exposed to sun, wind, and water. Long sleeves, long pants, and wide brimmed hats are recommended for sun protection. In general, you will need loose fitting clothes for the hotter parts of the trip and some extra layering for evenings. Keep in mind that some of what you bring may get sweaty and wet due to the humid climate. You will also encounter dust, sand, and salt, and may feel a little grubby from time to time. No fancy dress clothing is required.
Clothing:
- Long Sleeved Shirt: 2-3 lightweight and light color for sun protection. (UPF rated shirts are great)
- Long Pants: Lightweight and light color for sun protection (jeans not recommended)
- Shade Hat or Visor with tie and a spare
- Bandana
- Rain Jacket & Pants: A hooded jacket is recommended as well as good secure closures around your head, neck, wrists and ankles to prevent water from seeping in.
- Swimsuits: 2 (two piece suits recommended for women). Tankinis are a great option
- Underwear: Quick-drying
- Shorts: 2-3 pair lightweight, and fast drying
- T-shirts or lightweight fast drying tops
- Sport Sandals: 1 pair to wear in the boat and for short wet hikes (such as Teva)
- Athletic Shoes or Lightweight Hiking Boots: 1 pair, comfortable and with good tread
- Spare Shoelaces
- Hiking Socks: 3 or 4 pair mid-weight
- Casual clothes for evenings and in Quito
Optional Items:
- Sarong: also useful as a cover-up from the sun, or to discreetly change clothes
- Walking Stick: collapsible
- Binoculars: compact
- Wetsuit
- Paddling gloves
- Electrolyte mix for flavoring water
- Snorkeling gear
- Notebook and pen
Download our travel planner here:
Sea_Kayaking_Enchanted_Islands_Trip_Planner.pdf
Trip planner is in PDF format and requires Acrobat Reader.
