Wilderness Yacht Safaris

Galapagos & Amazon Yacht & Lodge Safaris
( 15 days from £1,780)

Galapagos and the Tropical Andes
£2,695 Quito - Quito 21st Nov - 3rd Dec led by BBC TV Presenter Mike Dilger

Wilderness Motor Yacht Safaris
( 11 days from £1,395)

Wilderness Sailing Yacht Safaris
( 11 days from £1,590)

Sub Aqua-Firma

Galapagos Dive Liveaboards
( 11 days from £2,295)

Galapagos Hotel Based Boat Diving
( 11 days from £1,250)
(or £1490 for premium hotel)

We can also arrange land-based diving in combination with other trips.

Canoe and Lodge Safari

Galapagos and Amazon by Sea Kayak, Hike, Bike and Horseback
( 15 days £1,950)

Galapagos by Sea Kayak, Hike, Bike and Horseback
( 10 days from £1,595)

Sail, Kayak, Hike, Bike and Horseback around Galapagos
( 11 days £1,695)


 

Renowned as the inspiration for Darwin’s Origin of Species, the Galapagos Islands require little introduction.  It is more than 170 years since the voyage of HMS Beagle, yet the diverse ocean and island ecosystems of the Galapagos remain foremost on the nature lovers’ list of destinations to explore. Since December 2001 both the islands and the Marine Park have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 13 volcanic islands, born out of ongoing tectonic activity, sit in the Pacific Ocean more than 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador.  Each has a landscape unique from its neighbour and an awe inspiring host of endemic and exotic flora and fauna.

The environment beneath the ocean surface is similarly extraordinary. Whale sharks, dolphins and whales are frequent visitors to the archipelago, whilst familiar residents include penguins, marine iguanas and the ever playful and almost ubiquitous sealions. Birdlife is abundant, diverse and fearless. Even if you are not an avid birdwatcher you will be fascinated by the range and numbers of birds around you including the graceful albatross, the blue and the red footed booby and the flightless cormorant to name but a few.

(c) Dani Wilson

We have created four main ways in which to appreciate the Galapagos to the full. Our Wilderness Yacht Safaris are a great way to approach nature, sailing gently between the islands, stopping at calm anchorages and having the freedom to discover the unique wildlife both above and below the waves by snorkeling.

As an alternative to this we offer a very special journey through the archipelago by means of kayaks, walking, mountain bikes and horses, whilst staying either at island hotels, or onboard a sailing catamaran. This provides for a more active but very personal experience, designed to bring you in close contact with the island landscapes, ecology and natural history.

The Galapagos is judged by many to be the World’s best dive location. Aqua-Firma offers divers several fully equipped Dive Liveaboards which also function as excellent natural history vessels with an onboard natural history guide. Our selected Dive Liveaboards are capable of reaching Wolf Rock and Darwin which provide some of the best opportunities in the world to experience large pelagics such as whale sharks and hammerheads.

For divers who don’t want to compromise what they see of Galapagos’s on land nature, we can either extend a dive liveaboard trip with tailor made arrangements on land; or we can arrange any number of days diving from two land bases in combination with one of our Yacht Safaris or active explorations of the Galapagos.

All of our Galapagos itineraries can easily be combined with tailor-made travel on the Ecuadorian mainland.  For further information please refer to our Ecuador country page.

Our prices include: Return flights Quito-Galapagos 3 nights boutique Cafe Cultura Hotel or similar hotel in Quito Breakfast in Quito All transfers Galapagos safari as indicated Shore excursions and zodiac activities All meals onboard vessels Coffee, tea and water All boats are accompanied by English speaking naturalist guides who have been trained by the Charles Darwin Station and are licensed by the National Park. A year's free membership of the Galapagos Conservation Trust. Our prices exclude: International flights to Quito Galapagos National Park entrance fee - $100** per person to be paid in cash at the airport in Galápagos). $10** immigration tax payable before you arrive in Galapagos. International departure tax - $40.80** Drinks, tips, snorkeling equipment and wet suits (depending on the ship). Travel insurance. (**correct at time of writing) Flights:  You can arrange your own international flights or Aqua-Firma can do this for you. Flight price guide: from £630 with KLM, Iberia, British Airways / American Airlines and Continental depending upon the time of year and seat availability.

Photographs kindly provided by: Fidi Angermeyer, Peter Lange, Dani Wilson.

Ecuador country page

Peru country page

Our prices include return flights Quito - Galapagos and 3 nights at the Boutique Cafe Cultura Hotel or similar alternative.