Multisport Adventure trips stay in hotels on one or more of the 4 inhabited islands and explore the wildlife and scenery of the islands while kayaking, biking, hiking, snorkeling and possibly even stand up paddle boarding (SUP).
There are a number of different itinerary options for these trips, with differences in the number of islands visited, the length of the trip, the activities you do, and even the level of hotels and accommodations you experience. The hotels are categorized as either basic/comfort (these hotels are not on the beach, but are still well located, comfortable, but don’t have many frills), or as premium/first class (usually located right on the beach or waterfront, and are very comfortable. There are handful of luxury hotels, but they are all located on Santa Cruz Island.
What is a typical day like?
What you do on a multisport adventure varies greatly day to day. One day you’ll be hiking, and the next you’ll be kayaking and snorkeling. But basically, you will be waking up early in the morning, having breakfast at your hotel, and then embarking on your adventure. You usually have to travel for 10 minutes to an hour by speedboat or car to get to your starting point. And then your activities last most of the day, about 6 hours. You always take a break for your box lunch. You return to your hotel in the last afternoon, and you have the rest of the day to either relax or explore on your own. You’ll have dinner at a local restaurant. Every few days, you need to travel from one island to another. This is either done by an inter-island flight (45 minutes) or by public speedboat (2.5 hours).
Who should do a multisport adventure trip?
- Travelers who want to be much more active than if you were on a cruise, as rather than slow nature walks you will hike, snorkel, kayak, bike, and even stand up paddle board to view the island wildlife
- People who want to experience and learn new sports, such as kayaking or stand up paddling
- If you visit 3 or more islands you can see all, or at least most, of the island’s iconic wildlife species
- Staying on land is a great option for you if you are very prone to seasickness. We would recommend flying between islands, however, as the speedboat rides can be rough
- You are not cooped up on a boat so will be able to get out and explore on your own when not on a tour
- You may be able to choose what and where you want to eat, depending on how many meals are included in your itinerary
- If you want to check out night-life you will be able to go out to restaurants, bars, or discos in the evenings and hang out with locals.
If a multisport adventure is for you, see our Galapagos Multisport Adventure trip options.
Who should not do a multisport adventure trip?
- While you may see most or all of the wildlife species, you won’t visit as many islands and thus won’t see as much variation in the species from island to island as you would on a cruise.
- You won’t get to some of the more remote and less-visited sites, so your trip may not feel as wild as it might on a cruise
- Unless you do a day trip to an uninhabited island, you probably won’t see wildlife in as great numbers as you can at some cruise sites
- You will have to pack up and move to a new hotel every few days, depending on your itinerary
- Traveling between islands on speedboats can be quite uncomfortable and can cause seasickness, although the journeys only take about 2 – 2 1/2 hours
If a multisport adventure isn’t for you, don’t worry! There are other styles of trips out there for you:
Should I go on a naturalist cruise in the Galapagos?
Should I go on a more mellow land-based trip?
Our Favorite Galapagos Multisport Adventure Trips:
One of the very best active trips possible in the Galapagos Islands, this land-based multisport adventure combines nice accommodations with great guides and equipment and a well-planned itinerary designed to maximize recreation while seeing as much wildlife as possible. This trip is ideal for private groups or families, too. Trip Length: 7 Days Destination: San Cristobal, Isabela, & Santa Cruz Islands, Galapagos Lodging: Your choice of 3- or 4-star hotels Activities: Hiking, snorkeling, kayaking, mountain biking, wildlife viewing
For those who want to see and do a lot, but don't have a ton of time, this land-based Galapagos adventure is perfect. Hike, SUP, bike, kayak and snorkel your way across 3 diverse islands in the Galapagos Islands on this action packed 6-day multisport adventure, checking out the Galapagos' iconic wildlife all along the way. Trip Length: 6 Days Destinations: Santa Cruz Island, Isabela Island, San Cristobal Island Lodging: 3-Star Hotels in the Galapagos Activities: Wildlife viewing, snorkeling, hiking, optional surfing or boogie boarding, optional Scuba diving, optional kayaking, optional stand up paddle boarding
An adventurous exploration of the vast ecosystems and highlights of Ecuador's Andes, Cloudforest & the Galapagos Islands. Trip Length: 10 Days Destination: Galpagos Islands & Ecuador: Otavalo Market, Papallacta Hot Springs, Cloudforest, Baños & Cotopaxi National Park Lodging: First class and tourist superior hotels Activities: Hiking, Mountain Biking, Whitewater Rafting, Sea Kayaking, and Snorkeling
