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Galápagos Ocean Cruise Family Multi-Adventure Tour

Sailing through Ecuador's Enchanted Isles

Sailing through Ecuador’s Enchanted Isles is unlike any other family adventure. Experience a living museum of evolution, where volcanic landscapes meet thriving ecosystems found nowhere else. Every day brings new discoveries—on land, at sea and just outside your cabin door.

8 days, 7 nights

Deluxe Ship

Activity Levels 1-2

Families with Kids & Teens

Best for ages 9+ (Ages 7+ ok) | Min. age to ride own bike: 8+

From $10,499 - $13,399/person

Includes up to $800 internal air

Itinerary Where You’ll Stay What to Know Bikes Reviews

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Snapshots from the Trip

Trip at a Glance

Highlights

Paddle kayaks along lava-formed coastlines, where sea turtles, rays and curious sea lions share the waters beside you
Dive into crystal clear coves on guided snorkeling excursions, spotting kaleidoscopic reef fish and marine iguanas
Bike through the cloud-kissed highlands of Santa Cruz, past farms and forests alive with Darwin’s finches and vermilion flycatchers
Step ashore on remote, uninhabited islands accessible only by expedition ship, each offering dramatic volcanic cliffs and rare wildlife
Unwind aboard your floating home base, complete with deckside views, hot tub soaks and kid-friendly activities led by dedicated Backroads leaders

See our Active Cruise Terms & Conditions.

Ports of Call

Hike/Walk

Snorkel

Kayak

Zodiac

Bike

Sample itinerary. Trip details may vary by departure.

Start Quito Airport & Travel Details

Your adventure begins in Baltra, the gateway to the Galápagos Islands
Journey on an expedition ship each day to unique coves and remote islands with opportunities to hike, snorkel and kayak at world-class sites
The younger set has access to a special kid zone on ship
Kids Adventure Leaders gather the kids for activities such as a BBQ dinner, stargazing, Spanish lessons and a private tour of the bridge with the ship’s captain
Get acquainted with iconic blue-footed boobies
Donning a snorkel and mask, discover an underwater wonderland of fascinating sea life.

Galapagos Legend

(Deluxe Ship)

Activity Options & Terrain

Nights 1-7

Galapagos Legend

Select a departure date for your ship details

| Deluxe Ship

This intimate yet spacious boutique expedition ship delivers comfort, personalized service and amenities including an outdoor bar, hot tub and stargazing deck. (pool)

View sample deck plans

View giant tortoises and learn about the breeding and life cycle of the islands’ most famous residents
Bike through Santa Cruz’s verdant highlands and visit an eco-farm that produces coffee and sugarcane
Watch Galápagos critters dart and dive among the waves and Nazca boobies perched on rocky cliffs
Hike along cactus-dotted cliffs in search of the prehistoric-looking Galápagos land iguana.

Galapagos Legend

(Deluxe Ship)

Activity Options & Terrain

Nights 1-7

Galapagos Legend

Select a departure date for your ship details

| Deluxe Ship

This intimate yet spacious boutique expedition ship delivers comfort, personalized service and amenities including an outdoor bar, hot tub and stargazing deck. (pool)

View sample deck plans

Take to the water in sturdy sea kayaks to gain a new perspective of the coastline and wildlife—if luck is on your side, you might spot rays, sea turtles, dolphins or sharks!
Explore the far reaches of this archipelago, with endless opportunities for exploration on land and sea
Look for lava lizards and frigate birds as you hike through acacia forests and take in panoramic ocean views
Relax on idyllic sandy beaches with sunbathing sea lions
Savor a final evening under the stars while moored in the turquoise waters of a sheltered lagoon.

Galapagos Legend

(Deluxe Ship)

Activity Options & Terrain

Nights 1-7

Galapagos Legend

Select a departure date for your ship details

| Deluxe Ship

This intimate yet spacious boutique expedition ship delivers comfort, personalized service and amenities including an outdoor bar, hot tub and stargazing deck. (pool)

View sample deck plans

End Quito Airport & Travel Details

Start/End
Port of Call
Trip direction

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This trip has an activity level range of 1-2

Route & Terrain Notes

Our Galápagos walking routes are generally easygoing on beach or dirt paths, but some trails require more agility as we hike over dried lava flows or rocky surfaces. The terrain is predominantly flat and rolling with few steep or technical sections. If it rains in the island highlands, the trails can become muddy. Biking in the Galápagos is mainly along paved roads and bike lanes with some short stretches of dirt road. Road obstacles can include giant tortoises, especially in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island. Some sections of our bike ride are downhill with traffic and occasional debris, so kids should be comfortable controlling speed, navigating hazards and riding with cars.

In addition to traveling by boat, we also spend a good amount of time doing water-related activities such as snorkeling and kayaking in the open ocean. Another note to keep in mind is that we use Zodiacs to reach land from our ship. For dry landings, we step from the Zodiac directly onto a dock or improvised landing, which may include uneven surfaces such as lava rock. For wet landings, we land on the beach and get our feet wet when getting on and off the Zodiac. Be sure to bring shoes that can get wet—watersport sandals with toe protection do the trick. While you can change into your walking shoes on shore, many of our guests end up simply using their sandals as hiking shoes; in this case consider a style with toe protection to help guard against sharp lava rocks on some hikes. All our Zodiac transfers involve climbing a short ladder between the ship and the boat.

Day 1

Other

Flight to Baltra Island (3.5 hours with layover in Guayaquil)

Zodiac Boat Trip

at Black Turtle Cove (1 hour)

Day 2

Kayaking

at El Barranco (45 minutes)

min. age 6+

Hiking & Walking

El Barranco Hike (1 hour)

Darwin Bay Hike (1.5 hours)

Snorkeling

at Darwin Bay (1 hour)

min. age 6+

Day 3

Hiking & Walking

South Plaza Walk (1 hour)

Santa Fe Island Hike (1.5 hours)

Snorkeling

at Santa Fe Island (1 hour)

min. age 6+

Day 4

Biking

L1 (Kids' Option)

7 miles

300 ft. gain

Level 1

12 miles

400 ft. gain

Other

Coffee & Sugarcane Farm Visit (1 hour)

Hiking & Walking

Bachas Beach Hike (1 hour)

Just For Kids

Movie Night

Day 5

Snorkeling

off of Santiago Island (45 minutes)

min. age 6+

Hiking & Walking

Puerto Egas Hike (1.5 hours)

Rábida Trail Hike (1 hour)

Kayaking

or Snorkel off of Rábida Island (1 hour)

min. age 6+

Cooking Class

Pisco Sour Making Class (half hour)

adults

Day 6

Snorkeling

at Urbina Bay (1 hour)

min. age 6+

Hiking & Walking

Urbina Bay Hike (1.5 hours)

Caleta Tagus Hike (1 hour)

Kayaking

at Tagus Cove (45 minutes)

min. age 6+

Just For Kids

Darwin Pageant & Animal Costume Contest (1 hour)

Day 7

Hiking & Walking

Espinosa Point Hike (1.5 hours)

Snorkeling

off Fernandina Island (1 hour)

min. age 6+

at Vicente Roca Point (1 hour)

min. age 6+

Zodiac Boat Trip

at Vicente Roca Point (45 minutes)

Day 8

Hiking & Walking

Giant Tortoise Walk (45 minutes)

Other

Disembark at Baltra Island; Shuttle to Baltra Airport; Flight to Quito (3.5 hours with layover in Guayaquil)

View Dates & Prices From $10,499/person

What to Know

What's Included

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Straight Talk

We want to make sure you're on the trip that's right for you. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.

Stateroom Categories

In contrast to our hotel trips, which typically have similar room categories, the Galápagos Legend offers a wide range of stateroom categories to choose from. The top-tier staterooms often fill fast, so book as early as possible if this is important to you.

Itinerary Changes & National Park Regulations

The Galápagos Islands are subject to strict national park regulations. Mid-trip itinerary changes are common as we adapt to ever-changing area openings and closures based on the ecological effects of visitor traffic. In addition, while hiking in Galápagos National Park you'll need to be accompanied by our local naturalist and hike in designated areas at all times. Kayaking activities in the islands are subject to a limited group size; therefore, though there are multiple opportunities to kayak on this trip, your ability to go kayaking when you'd prefer (or to go kayaking more than once) is subject to availability and weather conditions.

On-Your-Own Activities

During the trip there’s time for you to enjoy a scuba diving adventure. This activity is often a highlight for those who choose to do it, but due to liability issues and because it may not be to everyone’s liking, it’s not included in the cost of the trip and participation is at your own risk.

Minimum Age

While most of our Family Trips for Kids & Teens welcome children as young as four years old, this particular trip has a minimum age requirement of seven years old. Due to the more rugged nature of some activities, as well as strict national park regulations in the Galápagos, we have limited flexibility in accommodating younger children.

Commercial Flight Schedules

Our flights between the Ecuadorian mainland and the Galápagos Islands are on commercial flights with Avianca or LATAM Airlines aboard twin-jet planes. Please note that flight schedules can change with little advance warning, which may require us to adjust our activities on a travel day.

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Small Groups

More access, flexibility and connection, with an average of 14 guests.