Two Weeks in Galapagos: Top 3 Recommendations
Two weeks' tour to the Galapagos Islands is ample time to savor the magic of this wildlife-rich archipelago. From snorkeling with sea lions to observing rare birds (don’t miss the blue-footed booby!), you’ll experience a plethora of intimate animal encounters. This long-enough, leisurely timeframe also lets you explore all corners of the archipelago, from San Cristobal to Santa Cruz and every island in between.
Or make the most of your time in this unique part of the world and combine a Galapagos Islands tour with other must-see South American sites. Whether you want to pop into Quito, explore the rest of Ecuador, or squeeze in a quick trip to Machu Picchu, we have the perfect two-week itineraries for you.
- Goranka
1. UPGRADED LAND GALAPAGOS: 10 DAYS IN THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
| Day 1 | Take a Quito tour and cable car ride up Volcán Pichincha. |
| Day 2 | Fly to San Cristóbal Island and snorkel at Las Tijeretas. |
| Day 3 | Meet curious marine life at Kicker Rock. |
| Day 4 | Visit Floreana Island and say hello to sea lions at La Lobería. |
| Day 5 | Observe rare birds and other exotic wildlife on a hike. |
| Day 6 | Transfer to Isabella Island to see breeding white tip reef sharks. |
| Day 7 | Hike Sierra Negra or snorkel Los Tuneles before traveling to Santa Cruz Island. |
| Day 8 | Fly back to the mainland and hop on a bus to Papallacta. |
| Day 9 | Soak in a hot spring while savoring epic volcano views. |
| Day 10 | Return to Quito |
The trip lets you optimize your time on the archipelago, making it an enticing option for passionate wildlife lovers. With seven action-packed days on the islands, you’ll meet a variety of adorable critters found nowhere else on Earth. Crowd favorites include sea lions, giant tortoises, iguanas, fur seals, manta rays, and sharks.
Bird watchers can add a myriad of exciting species to their lists, including hawks, penguins, flamingoes, and blue or red-footed boobies. Activities like hiking and snorkeling let you naturally encounter these creatures. To wind down at the end, you’ll spend a day soaking in soothing volcano-heated hot springs. See all 10-day tours to the Galapagos Islands.
2. BEST OF GALAPAGOS CRUISE: 12 DAYS IN THE GALAPAGOS
| Day 1 | Arrive in Quito. |
| Day 2 | Explore the capital’s highlights. |
| Day 3 | Visit the world-famous Otavalo Market. |
| Day 4 | Soak in the soothing Papallacta Hot Springs. |
| Day 5 | Settle into an Amazon jungle lodge on the Napo River. |
| Day 6 | Build a balsa log raft and sail it downstream. |
| Day 7 | Explore the scenic, hot spring-strewn town of Banos. |
| Day 8 | Admire volcanoes and glacial lakes at Cotopaxi National Park. |
| Day 9 | Fly to Santa Cruz and meet Galapagos giant tortoises. |
| Day 10 | Marvel at exotic birdlife at Chinese Hat. |
| Day 11 | Meet colorful boobies at El Barranco and Darwin Bay. |
| Day 12 | Spot reef sharks in Panga before flying to Quito. |
Why restrict your vacation to two weeks in the Galapagos when you can cover the highlights of Ecuador, too? 12-days in the Galapagos Islands gives you an action-packed excursion chock full of bucket-list highlights like exploring the Amazon jungle and sightseeing in Quito.
Explore the capital city’s top colonial sites and immerse yourself in Andean culture at the famed Otavalo Market. Delve deep into the Amazon on a hand-built balsa log raft. Then, choose your own adventure at the adrenaline junkie mecca of Banos before heading out to Cotopaxi National Park to marvel at mind-blowing Andean giants. To cap off your epic Ecuador adventure, hit the Galapagos to cozy up with curious land and marine critters. See all 12-day tours to the Galapagos Islands.
3. GALAPOGAS ISLANDS: 14 DAYS IN THE GALAPOGAS
| Day 1 | Settle into your Quito hotel. |
| Day 2 | Ride a cable car in Quito and visit the equator. |
| Day 3 | Explore Cotopaxi National Park. |
| Day 4 | Fly to Santa Cruz. |
| Day 5 | Sail around the Galapagos. |
| Day 6 | Meet wildlife at Isabella Island. |
| Day 7 | Dive or snorkel at Cabo Rosa. |
| Day 8 | Fly to Lima via Guayaquil. |
| Day 9 | Savor the Peruvian capital’s gourmet dining scene. |
| Day 10 | Tour Lima’s top natural and cultural sites. |
| Day 11 | Fly to Cusco and tour the historic city. |
| Day 12 | Visit the highlights of the nearby Sacred Valley. |
| Day 13 | Marvel at the majestic Machu Picchu. |
| Day 14 | Return to Lima for your flight home. |
Tick South America’s two most famous destinations off your bucket list on a 14-day Galapagos tour. Upon touching down in Ecuador, you’ll explore the country’s historic high-altitude capital and admire epic volcanic vistas at Cotopaxi National Park. Next is the Galapagos Islands, where you have four action-packed days to interact with its world-famous wildlife.
Once in Lima, you’ll savor Peru’s lip-smacking culinary scene at authentic food stalls and globally renowned fine dining haunts. A quick flight takes you to the ancient Inca capital of Cusco, which sits in the heart of the landmark-strewn Sacred Valley. A tour to Machu Picchu makes for the ultimate climax to this unforgettable adventure. See all 14-day tours to the Galapagos Islands.
More Information
Like the look of these awe-inspiring Galapagos islands holidays in two weeks? Our in-house team of South America experts can help you plan every little detail. Contact us to see how we can craft the perfect adventure in the Galapagos Islands and beyond.
Alternatively, check out these other itineraries:
South America 12-day tours
South America 15-day tours
South America 17-day tours
