A Perfect Family Vacation to Galapagos Islands

Brown pelican with Pinnacle rock on Bartolome Island in the back

What to expect on this itinerary

Natural history is alive in the Galapagos on this 10-day family adventure. Mystical landscapes are explored, unique wildlife is encountered, and a variety of activities allow the family to explore their own piece of the archipelago. This family vacation trip to Galapagos Islands is handcrafted and combines a traditional cruise with time discovering the Andes. Snorkel with penguins, sunbathe beside sea lions, hike volcanic history, and discover a breathtaking world.

Countries Visited

Galapagos / Ecuador

Places Visited

Quito, Galapagos, Mindo

Suggested Duration

10 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Quito – Arriving in an Ancient City

The old city of Quito leaves history hanging from balconies and courtyards. Located in a compact central area, you'll find the largest collection of Spanish colonial buildings anywhere in South America. Church domes glimmer with their 16th century Moorish roots, historic bishops' palaces have been converted into shopping and dining arcades while pastel-colored streets mingle five centuries of tales. After landing at Quito International, you'll be greeted by your guide and transferred to a hotel in the old city. Check-in and relax. The whole area is very safe and easy to walk as a family.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Day 2

Quito – Relaxed Quito City Tour

Day 3

Quito – Zip Lining and Hiking Through the Cloud Forest in Mindo

Day 4

Quito – Walking on Volcanic Slopes and Visiting the Middle of the World

Day 5

Galapagos Cruise – Spectacular Bird Nesting Sites on North Seymour

Day 6

Galapagos Cruise – An Incredible Underwater World in the Western Galapagos

Day 7

Galapagos Cruise – Swimming with Penguins and Sea Lions

Day 8

Galapagos Cruise – Intimate Encounters with Giant Tortoises on Santa Cruz

Day 9

Galapagos Cruise – Iconic and Endemic Specialties on Floreana

Day 10

Quito – Depart for Home

Trip Highlights

  • Discover the Galapagos archipelago with a 6-day cruise on the new Santa Cruz II, a spacious and comfortable boat that's ideal for family travel
  • Explore a Galapagos world above and below the water with seven naturalist guides and a selection of activities
  • Marvel at the mating displays of iconic birds, stand beside giant tortoises, find fur seals on the beach, and hike along stunning volcanic cliffs
  • Snorkel with sea lions and penguins and enjoy a glass-bottom boat ride to see different species of sharks and rays
  • Visit the true middle of the Earth and photograph the family straddling the Equator line
  • Hike on the slopes of a dormant volcano and zip line through the cloud forest of Mindo, two outdoor activities for your time in Quito
  • Discover the charms of the world's first-ever World Heritage Site with a walking tour of Quito

Starting Price

$13,900 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 242 reviews

Usha R.
Ecuador Tour Review: Quito, Galapagos Islands, History, Wildlife, 1 Week

Zicasso's trip planner is excellent! She planned a personalized itinerary for me and my family, with activities for all different ages in our travel group. We truly enjoyed our experience in Quito and the Galápagos Islands. 

Our tour guide did a wonderful job taking us around Quito and ensuring we got to fully experience the city (including historical landmarks and local spots). In addition, one of our family members had altitude sickness and he put a lot of effort into helping her get assistance and even medical care in the airport. 

Five stars for our agent and our guide.

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Jacqueline J.
Ecuador, Peru Vacation Review: Galapagos, Machu Picchu, Amazon, 18 Days

The plan by Zicasso's trip planner and the help he provided during our trip were invaluable. Unfortunately, my sister and I overestimated our abilities and underestimated our physical stamina. As he suggested, five days in the Galápagos would have been plenty. The Amazon trip was quite arduous for us, but the guide was fantastic. The Machu Picchu guide was fantastic. All our guides enjoy their work. More attention could have been paid to the altitude. My sister was sick most of the trip. We should have paid more attention to that before the trip.

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Ambili G.
Galapagos / Ecuador Tour Review: Wildlife, Cruise, Snorkeling, 12-Day Trip

We had a fantastic trip and a great Zicasso travel agent.

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Bruce M.
Ecuador, Peru Tour Review: Cable Car Ride, Chocolate Factory, Volcano, Giant Tortoises, Yacht Tours, Hiking, Amazon Rainforest, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, Kayaking, Islands, 3 Weeks

All of the guides were friendly and knowledgeable. Zicasso's travel company provided a great selection of activities and accommodations. All flights were on time and went smoothly.

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Jess M.
Ecuador Tour Review: Quito, Genovesa, Floreana, 1 Week

The trip was wonderful. We had an excellent time, with great recommendations and guides. It exceeded expectations. Our Zicasso travel agent and her company were very organized and the app they used was very beneficial. They handled every detail and were available for any troubleshooting. They worked with us to craft an itinerary that was exactly what we wanted and were excellent communicators. Highly recommended!

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Shirley B.
Peru, Ecuador Tour Review: Wildlife, Hiking, Mountains, Snorkeling, Machu Picchu, 11 Nights

We (me and my husband) took our seven-year-old to visit Machu Picchu and the Galápagos for two weeks. The trip was initially booked through Zicasso, who then referred us to our travel agent, who fine-tuned our itinerary to make all three of us happy, and it was great. We had nothing to worry about. Once we landed in Lima, the rest was like autopilot. Our drivers were ready, the hotels were amazing, and the food was awesome. They even helped us check in bags at the airports and printed our boarding passes for us since we didn’t speak much Spanish. 

My son had a blast in the Galápagos. His eyes got so big, once he got to officially snorkel, after seeing all those beautiful animals underwater. He loves nature and he got to go hiking and see all kinds of animals every day. Altitude sickness was real in Machu Picchu, but a little water and a little rest fixed it.

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

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