There are various ways to spend 10 days exploring the Galápagos Islands. To save you the effort, we've put together fun-filled itineraries, like this family-friendly trip to Quito and Isla San Cristóbal, where you'll cook Ecuadorian cuisine, stand-up paddle along the coasts, and engage in immersive wildlife experiences. If you'd like to split your time between two of Ecuador's best-known destinations, opt for something similar to this Galápagos Islands and Machu Picchu itinerary, which includes snorkeling expeditions, volcano hikes, and exploration of the ancient city. For a more relaxed pace, consider an itinerary like this relaxed family trip, where you'll leisurely hop between the islands of Santa Cruz, Isabela, and Isla San Cristóbal, with time to relax on the beach and encounter marine wildlife.
See our itineraries below or read our guide to the best 10-day trips in Galapagos Islands.
This 10-day trip will take you to the best the Galápagos has to offer. Immerse yourself in the wildlife, culture, and unique ecosystem of the archipelago as you see the sights by bike, by foot, and in the water. This extraordinary tour includes snorkeling with sea lions, tropical fish, and beautiful manta rays. On land, there will be numerous chances to observe giant tortoises and other amazing creatures in this one-of-a-kind destination.
Combine two of South America's most iconic destinations on this 10-day tour of the Galápagos Islands and Machu Picchu. You'll start in Ecuador, spending several days island hopping, snorkeling, hiking, and wildlife viewing in the Galápagos. Then you'll cross the border to Peru, spending a night in Lima, another in Cusco, and finally taking the scenic train ride to Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu. A visit to the famed "lost city of the Incas" is the perfect way to end this diverse adventure.
Visit three of the most famous islands in the Galapagos archipelago — San Cristobal, Isabela, and Santa Cruz — on this 10-day adventure. You'll hike volcanoes, snorkel around rock formations, and explore each island in-depth, keeping your eyes open for giant Galapagos tortoises and marine iguanas. The itinerary involves travel by plane and speedboat, making it possible for travelers to see far-flung areas of the famous archipelago.
Discover a nature lover's heaven through a wildlife tour that will uncover the most extraordinary sights of the Galápagos Islands. Over a week and a half, you'll discover the local flora and fauna through outdoor activities like kayaking, mountain biking, trekking, and snorkeling. This socially and environmentally-responsible itinerary features top-notch guides and immersive educational experiences, in addition to benefitting local communities.
White-sand beaches, secluded lagoons, and a spectacular array of wildlife await on this luxurious 10-day adventure in the Galápagos. It begins in Quito with sightseeing in the colonial center. Then fly to Isla Isabela, where you'll stay in high-end lodgings and enjoy daily hikes, cycling, and snorkeling excursions. The journey continues on Isla Santa Cruz, where you'll walk with giant tortoises and visit uninhabited islands. Here you can observe rare wildlife and relax on the beach before heading home.
Explore the Galápagos Islands on a yacht! This 10-day tour takes you around the archipelago to see Humboldt penguins in their natural habitat, snorkel with sea turtles, explore tidal pools, visit Charles Darwin Station, hike to a volcanic crater, and spot blue-footed boobies in the wild. After spending the first night on dry land, you'll island-hop to various islands, including San Cristóbal, Santa Cruz, Santa Fé, Plaza Sur, and Seymour Norte, stopping at various natural attractions along the way.
Spend time in Ecuador's capital city and explore the biodiverse Galápagos from the comfort of a cruise ship on this 10-day itinerary. After touring colonial churches and hiking in Cotopaxi National Park, catch a flight across the water to the Galápagos Islands and the launching point for the cruise. You'll wake up at a new island every day, maximizing your opportunities for sightseeing and exploring.
Rally your mini explorers and head to the Galápagos for a leisurely-paced 10-day tour of three of the archipelago's best-loved islands. Start on Isla Santa Cruz, where the kids can get a primer on the archipelago at the Charles Darwin Research Center, come face-to-face with giant tortoises, and set sail to an uninhabited island. Hop over to Isla Isabela to snorkel with marine wildlife, and while away your days at the beach, then head to Isla San Cristóbal for more aquatic fun with a family kayaking adventure.
Experience the best of family-friendly Ecuador and the Galápagos with this 10-day trip that delivers an exhilarating few days in Quito before some much-needed downtime on the island of San Cristóbal. Starting in the historic capital, you'll zipline through a cloud forest and zoom up a volcano by cable car before flying to the Galápagos to make friends with the sea lions and tortoises. End your trip back on the mainland with a relaxing night at the hot springs of Papallacta.
Delve into two of the most biodiverse places on earth on this 10-day, wildlife-filled family adventure. Start in the Ecuadorian capital of Quito, then head to a rainforest lodge deep in the Amazon to wake to the sounds of howler monkeys, explore winding rivers by canoe, and spot nocturnal animals on jungle walks. Then jet off to the Galápagos to snorkel alongside whitetip sharks and sea lions, meet giant tortoises, and learn about science and natural history at the Charles Darwin Research Station.
This 10-day family-friendly trip to the Galápagos Islands takes you from bustling city streets to peaceful beaches. Start in the Ecuadorian capital of Quito, exploring local culture and cuisine with a family cooking class and salsa dancing. Then, it's off to Isla San Cristóbal, where you'll greet curious sea lions, snorkel with colorful fish, and meet giant tortoises. Take a standup paddleboarding cruise along the coast, get creative at a family painting class, and head back to Quito in time to visit the interactive Yaku Water Museum.
Explore the extraordinary ecosystems of three different islands on this 10-day, family-oriented Galápagos adventure. Start in mainland Quito to kick off your trip with a visit to the equator and a fun family cooking class. Then, it's off to Isla San Cristóbal for standup paddleboarding to the island's best beaches. Explore Isla Isabela by bike and kayak alongside its friendly seals, then hop over to Isla Santa Cruz to meet giant tortoises and snorkel with seahorses and schools of colorful fish.
If you've ever dreamed of exploring the Galápagos with a healthy dose of outdoor activity, then this is the trip for you. Over the course of 10 days, you'll speedboat between several islands (some inhabited, some not) while taking guided excursions that include hiking to a dormant volcano, biking in a nature reserve, and kayaking in pristine turquoise waters—all the while looking for exotic species that you'll only find on this stunning archipelago off the coast of Ecuador.
Sample Ecuador's natural and cultural wonders on this 10-day trip. Begin in the capital, Quito, where you'll tour UNESCO-listed landmarks and take a cooking class with a local chef before fly to the world-famous Galápagos Islands. Here you'll spot iconic wildlife, from giant tortoises to sharks and albatross, as you hop from Isla San Cristóbal to Santa Cruz. Enjoy snorkeling, hikes, and standup paddleboarding along the way, and finish by touring a traditional coffee plantation.
Journey to two of the world's most fascinating ecosystems—the Amazon rainforest and Galápagos archipelago—on a 10-day adventure in Ecuador. First, dive into the nation's cuisine in a cooking class in Quito before flying to Tena, a city on the Río Napo amid the rainforests of the Amazon. Embark on jungle hikes, go bird-watching, and discover sustainable farming methods before continuing to the Galápagos. There, you'll explore uninhabited islands, go snorkeling, see tortoise hatchlings, and more.
Enjoy bucket-list eco-adventures in one of the world's best places for it: the Galápagos. Over 10 days, you'll explore the highlights of this famous archipelago as you hop between beautiful and biodiverse islands like Santa Cruz, Isabela, and San Cristóbal—plus a few uninhabited islets. The best part is that, between all the nature hikes, snorkeling trips, wildlife tours, and other excursions, you'll stay in style in some of the Galápagos' funkiest and most luxurious hotels.
Take to the seas on a luxury cruise to the highlight isles of the world-famous Galápagos. After sightseeing in Ecuador's largest city of Guayaquil, you'll fly to the islands and board a luxury cruiser, sailing first to Isla Isabela, where you'll hike to massive volcano craters and stop at a breeding center to see tortoise hatchlings. Then hop around other isles, like Fernandina and Santiago, to explore white-sand beaches before finishing the trip in the art museums of Quito, Ecuador's capital.
Step aboard the Aqua Mare, a luxury superyacht that will whisk you off to the highlights of the Galápagos archipelago. Over 10 days, you'll hop between grand isles and uninhabited islets as you spend time with famous Galápagos residents like sea lions, giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, and more. Nature hikes are also on the agenda as you explore beaches and coastal viewpoints before ending the trip with museum tours in Ecuador's dynamic capital, Quito.
Immerse yourself in the biodiversity of the Galápagos with this 10-day adventure based between two luxury wilderness camps. Taking a page from the exclusive bush lodges of Africa, your well-equipped camps on the islands of Santa Cruz and Isabela are the jumping-off points for wide-ranging adventures like visiting uninhabited islets, hiking white-sand beaches, and meeting exotic wildlife. After a week of "glamping," wind down your trip back on the mainland with a cocktail class and city tour in Quito.
