Russell Family
Sample Itinerary
Day 1
TORTOISE LAND
Your family’s private naturalist guide will be waiting to greet you upon arrival at Baltra Airport. Once at Galapagos Safari Camp, your guide will entertain the children with an overview of the animal species they are soon to encounter, working through a locally-produced coloring guidebook, while the parents get settled in and have some time to unwind.
After lunch you will explore the 135-acre farm, picking local tropical fruit, harvesting cacao and spotting local birds.
Before sundown you can visit the deep lava tunnels by flashlight and seek out giant tortoises roaming the National Tortoise Reserve adjacent to your camp.
Overnight Galapagos Safari Camp
Day 2
COFFEE PLANTATION & GARRAPATERO BEACH
After breakfast, make a short drive to an organic coffee plantation to learn about responsible small scale farming in the Galapagos. See coffee plants being grown and pick some beans. Next, you’re off to the most amazing viewpoint on Santa Cruz Island, Cerro Mesa, for a short wildlife walk around the massive crater and to a secluded wetland area full of exotic bird species and the occasional bathing tortoise. Lunch at the local restaurant will be enjoyed before jumping on bikes for a downhill pedal to the beach.
The afternoon will be spent having fun at the picturesque Garrapatero Beach. Explore the bay by sea kayak, and spot marine iguanas and blue-footed boobies crashing into the depths along with numerous shore birds. Visit the extensive mangrove system where you can see pink flamingos in the freshwater lagoon or observe Bahama ducks.
This evening, you’ll enjoy some time to relax while the children are engaged in a private art class with a local artist.
Overnight Galapagos Safari Camp
Day 3
EXPLORE AN UNINHABITED ISLAND
Today will be a classic day of wildlife spotting and snorkeling with sea lions on one of the uninhabited islands easily accessed by a shared day yacht from Santa Cruz, accompanied by your naturalist guide. The exact island location will depend on travel dates, but some options include:
North Seymour Island: a very short yacht ride and famous as a breeding area for blue-footed boobies. We will cap off this visit with a snorkel at Bachas Beach.
South Plazas Island: famous for its number of marine and land iguanas, soaring seabirds, and raucous bachelor sea lion colony. We will cap off this visit with a snorkel session at Punta Carrion, often inhabited by playful sea lions.
Santa Fe Island: a gorgeous bay providing outstanding snorkeling. The island is famous for endemic plant species and a rare land iguana.
Bartolome Island: one of the most scenic islands in the Galapagos, providing an amazing hike, seasonal sea turtle nesting site, and one of the best snorkeling sites in the entire Galapagos around Pinnacle Rock.
Overnight Galapagos Safari Camp
Day 4
CATCH A FISH
Galapagos Safari Camp is part of a pilot program with the National Park Service that engages local fishermen in tourism activities as an alternative source of income, with the added benefit of helping protect local fisheries from depletion. The opportunity to head out on excursions with local fishermen has become a favorite among children. The fishermen operate safe, modern speedboats, which will be privately chartered for the day.
You will be accompanied by your private naturalist guide, who will serve as a translator between your family and the fishermen. The fishermen will teach your children local fishing techniques using nets and lines and are phenomenal educators, sharing anecdotes and stories gleaned from a lifetime at sea. After some time fishing, you'll land on a secluded beach on Santa Cruz, rich in wildlife, and snorkel at hidden spots not visited by cruise ships. This excursion is both a wildlife experience and a meaningful cultural exchange that is cherished by all who participate.
Overnight Galapagos Safari Camp
Day 5
CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH STATION
Your day begins with a 45-minute walk to Tortuga Bay, one of the Galápagos' most renowned beaches. The trail passes through a landscape of prickly pear cacti before reaching Playa Brava, a long stretch of white sand often frequented by marine iguanas. Its waves attract surfers, and lessons can be arranged with advance notice.
Continue farther to Playa Mansa, a sheltered cove bordered by cacti and mangroves. Its calm, shallow waters are ideal for swimming and snorkeling, with opportunities to spot marine iguanas, sea turtles, rays, small reef fish, and juvenile reef sharks that occasionally use the mangrove-fringed bay as a nursery. You can return to Puerto Ayora on foot or by water taxi. Back in town, spend time exploring the shops and cafés near the waterfront. During the week, the fish market comes alive with fishermen, seafood vendors, and the occasional sea lion hoping for a snack.
In the afternoon, visit the famed Charles Darwin Research Station to learn of the scientific research taking place. The children will get a chance to meet the tortoises in the breeding center – one of the rarest creatures on earth. Parents will enjoy some time to wander the town of Puerto Ayora while the naturalist guide takes the children to play at the neighborhood playground with local kids or explore the fisherman’s open air market along the bustling waterfront.
Overnight Galapagos Safari Camp
Day 6
HOMEWARD
After a leisurely morning at Galapagos Safari Camp, you will be accompanied by your naturalist guide to the Baltra Airport for your flight back to mainland Ecuador.
