Planning a vacation is an exciting endeavor. Everyone travels differently, and depending on where...
What do you think about when someone brings up the Galapagos Islands? Do you think about Darwin, science, research and a unique location that’s home to strange and mysterious animals? Probably so—and that’s because although most people know touring the Galapagos Islands provides a once-in-a-lifetime experience, they probably don’t associate that experience with adventure.
Adventure is often connected with travel experiences like diving the Great Barrier Reef, or trekking the Himalayas. However, according to one of Merriam-Webster’s definitions, adventure is simply “an exciting and remarkable experience,” which is something the Galapagos Islands easily provides its visitors and more.
An Exciting and Remarkable Experience
Galapagos tours are full of adventure, partly because the islands are so unique. Like the destination itself, the adventures offer a wide variety of things to do and see. This is beneficial because visitors need a selection of adventures. For some, a more sedate adventure is essential, while others want that high-octane thrill. Galapagos tours provide several options.
The other excellent part of the Galapagos is there are several ways to experience it. You can venture on land, in the sea or by boat. You can choose to have animal encounters or to simply explore the untouched natural places. Galapagos tours offer the kinds of adventures that linger in your memory and allow you to capture incredible memories to show friends and family back home.
Galapagos Tours: Excursions and Adventures
Whether you have sea legs or prefer to dive the ocean waters, there is something for everyone. Here are just a few options you’ll have when you visit the Galapagos Islands:
- Hiking: Although the elevation in the Galapagos doesn’t go above 5,600 feet, there's plenty of good hiking for people of all skill levels. For example, on San Cristobal Island, visitors have the option to visit the Museum of Natural History and wander the area around it, or they can take that adventure one step further and go on the approximately 1-hour difficult hike up Tijeretas Hill. The high-intensity walk showcases magnificent landscapes, epic views and a frigatebird nesting colony. Other exciting hiking opportunities include everything from easier beach hikes in Gardner Bay to more challenging, lengthy hikes in places like Suarez Point.
- Snorkeling/Diving: Water sports have long provided excellent opportunities for adventure, and for many, snorkeling and diving are the best ways to immerse yourself in mystical, strange world. Exploring what lives in the depths holds great fascination, and snorkeling and diving in the Galapagos doesn’t disappoint. The waters surrounding the islands are teeming with life, and those who participate in underwater adventures will find everything from endless varieties of fish to sharks and rays. Of course, many hope to encounter the magnificent sea turtle, which happens often in the Galapagos. Many divers have called the Galapagos the best dive of their career, but snorkeling can also show you the incredible world below the surface during your time in the islands.
- Birdwatching: Probably one of the biggest draws to the Galapagos Islands are the birds. Bird watchers—both new and experienced—find an incredible range of species and truly one-of-a-kind sightings. Very little time passes where you don’t have the ability to view birds, and for those looking to fill their bird journal, the Galapagos is a thrilling adventure.
- Animal encounters: Nature is an adventure for travelers, and experiencing that first-hand is an unforgettable experience. Galapagos tours offer people the ability to encounter groups of wildlife that aren't afraid of humans, which means they're right out in the open for you to see. Whether on a hike, or beach walk, you’ll have the adventure of a lifetime viewing beasts both large and small. Different times of year give you different behaviors (such as mating seasons for certain species), but all of them are breathtaking to behold in-person.
- Photography: Photography is a timeless way to capture your adventure forever. The photo ops on Galapagos tours are numerous, and you’ll be able to remember your experiences long after you’ve left. Photographers flock to the Galapagos from around the world, and you’ll have extensive places to shoot landscape, animals, birds, plants and more.
The Ultimate Adventure
The ultimate adventure isn’t always about getting the adrenaline flowing or taking risks. Sometimes it’s about experience something new and remarkable. Galapagos cruises and tours are an ideal way to find all types adventures, from those quiet moments that stick stay with us to those heart-racing moments that make us feel like we can conquer the world.
