Galapagos Land-Based Safaris

 

Many travelers are put off the Galapagos, believing the only way to see the islands is on a cruise, with strict schedules, and alongside 20-100 strangers. The idea of being herded from one site to the next and being confined to communal decks and compact cabins for a week or longer is not everyone’s idea of a vacation. Moreover, if you add seasickness, children, and/or honeymoon romance, a cruise will inevitably cause some trepidation.

Fortunately, there is an alternative way to experience the islands. It is the reason we founded Galapagos Safari Camp. We wanted our guests to experience the islands as we had experienced them during the years we lived and raised our own children here, and continue to experience them, so that our guests may also discover the freedom and joy that comes from being fully immersed in nature.

In this guide, we explain what a land-based safari involves, how it compares to a cruise, and what makes our Safaris different from other land-based tours.

We also address frequently asked questions and debunk common myths surrounding the cruise vs land-based decision.

1 Less distance, more depth

→ Rich in wildlife

→ The best naturalist guides

→ Creative and original experiences

 

2 Flexibility, privacy and personalization

→ Flexible dates

→ Personalized itineraries

→ Level of privacy

 

3 Comfort, privacy and sense of place

→ Personal space

→ Authentic, appropriate, sustainable

→ Central location

→ Sense of Place

If you travel to seek meaningful life experiences, to gain a sense of place, to bond with your loved ones, then our customized land-based Safaris — combining the wilderness and wonders of Santa Cruz Island with day trips to uninhabited islands — may be the right fit for you.

Rich in Wildlife

 

Wildlife encounters are a top priority, if not the top priority for most people planning a Galapagos vacation. A question we often get asked is, ‘What wildlife am I missing by not going on a cruise?’ The answer is very little, if anything. While you may see more islands on a cruise, you won’t necessarily see more wildlife.

Your chances of encountering the iconic species of the Galapagos will be the same, whether you’re on a cruise or on one of our Land-Based Safaris.

Learn more:

🔗 Galapagos Wildlife – A Guide

🔗 Wildlife seen on our Safaris

🔗 Wildlife and Nature at Camp

 

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The Best Naturalist Guides

 

One advantage of our land-based Galapagos Safaris is that our guides are able to return home to their families at the end of each day (unlike those on cruises who can be at sea for weeks at a time). This arrangement creates a win-win situation. Guides want to work with us so that they can spend more time with their families, and we are able to be very selective in our partnerships and work with only the best.

 

Highly qualified, knowledgeable guides

Since our opening in 2007, we have curated a network of naturalist guides that we consider the best in their field. Not only are they deeply knowledgeable and passionate about the Galapagos Islands, but they are also sensitive to individual needs. They understand that for most of our guests, this is a once-in-a-lifetime vacation, and are more than willing to go the extra mile to create an unforgettable Safari experience for them.

All guides are certified by Galapagos National Park and speak English. Upon request, and at additional cost, we can also provide guides who speak other languages.

 

Matching our guests and guides

We put a lot of thought into pairing our guests with the right guide. For example, some guides are better at engaging young children, while others are more comfortable with large, multi-generational groups. As your Safari Designer learns more about your needs and goals, he or she will know the right guide for you.

 

Same guide throughout

We strive to give you the same guide for the duration of your Safari, including any extensions to Isabela Island, ensuring continuity and personal attention.

 

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Creative and Original Experiences

 

Our aim is to craft experiences that are enriching and transformational. In such a fragile and fervently protected destination like the Galapagos, this often requires some creativity.

Experiences we are proud to offer include experiential fishing, gourmet chocolate tasting, surprise tea parties in lava tunnels, romantic picnics in the wilds of Santa Cruz and family celebrations.

Learn more:

🔗 Additional Safari Experiences

🔗 The Story Behind the First Galapagos Chocolate Bar

🔗 A Galapagos Graduation Celebration

Flexibility

With the exception of the occasional Small Group Safari, all our Safaris are fully customized and do not have set departure dates and fixed itineraries. We recommend a minimum of 4 or 5 nights on Santa Cruz Island and 2 nights for our Isabela Island Extension.

We can arrange all transfers from/to the mainland, as well as tours on mainland Ecuador.

Learn more

🔗 Photography and Small Group Safaris

🔗 Mainland Ecuador Tours

 

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Personalized Itineraries

 

We have guests who want to see the Galapagos wildlife but also have specific needs or special interests they’d like woven into their itineraries. Eg, scuba-diving, surfing, bird watching, conservation initiatives, photography, painting, and botany.

Or, guests who want downtime to relax and soak in their surroundings, or spend less time on a boat due to sea sickness.

We also get many multigenerational families with varying needs and interests. While it’s agreed they all want to spend quality time together, some family members may want to be more active and adventurous than others. A keen scuba-diver may like to include a couple of dives, while their other half may prefer to relax by the pool, bike to the beach, or take an art class.

Our Safaris are designed and tailored to accommodate the needs of all our guests. Ultimately, it’s not about guests fitting around our schedules but about us creating an experience that is life-changing for them.

Learn more:

🔗 Additional Safari Experiences

🔗 Multigenerational Safaris

 

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Privacy

a) Private Land Excursions (On Inhabited Islands)

 

All our land tours on the inhabited islands (i.e. Santa Cruz and Isabela Island) are private tours. You will have your own naturalist guide and chauffeur-driven vehicle at your disposal, allowing for more spontaneity during your day. If, for example, you want to stay a little longer at a particular site, it’s not a problem (provided you are observing the visiting hours of the National Park). This tends not to be possible on a cruise or on group tours that follow a strict schedule.

 

b) Private, Semi-Private, or Shared Boat Excursions (To Uninhabited Islands)

 

For our boat excursions to uninhabited islands, we offer three levels of privacy:

 

1) Shared Boat and Guide

This is the more cost-effective option and provides opportunities to meet other travelers. The maximum capacity on shared boats is capped at 16.

Note: The boats are not exclusive to guests of Galapagos Safari Camp and you may be sharing with guests from other properties. Much like a cruise excursion, the pace and overall experience may be compromised due to the diverse needs of the group, such as accommodating small children, elderly or different languages.

 

2) Shared Boat, Private Guide (‘Semi-Private’)

A practical solution is to share the boat for the journey and to have your own guide for a private tour of the island, balancing cost savings with personalized attention.

 

3) Private (Chartered) Boat

Fully private tours offer a more personalized and flexible experience, allowing you to tailor the pace and activities to the specific interests and needs of your party. This is particularly beneficial if you have young children, elderly family members, or specific language preferences. We also have more control over food and services, and details in general.

Chartering a boat has the added advantage of being able to turn back to port early if necessary, e.g. in cases of severe seasickness.

It’s important to note that due to the National Park’s strict schedules, departure times are still fixed and cannot accommodate late passengers. Additionally, if the boat does return early, all passengers must disembark, and the trip will be concluded for everyone.

 

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The Boats

For shared group tours, we work with the best local operators, selecting boats that have proven the most reliable over the years.

 

Private Boats

For a private boat trip to the uninhabited islands, we charter boats such as the ones pictured below, which comfortably fit between 8 to 10 people.

 

 

 

Boat Tours: General Points to Note

• Due to the strict rules of the National Park, everyone gets the same tour of the island following marked trails, regardless of the boat they arrive on and/or level of privacy chosen.
• Visitors must be accompanied by an official guide at all times in the National Park.
• As no food is permitted on the uninhabited islands, all meals are served onboard the boat. Lunch typically includes rice, fish and vegetables, and is served either buffet-style or at the table, depending on the boat. While the meals may not match the cuisine of Galapagos Safari Camp, they do provide a hearty option to keep you energized for your day of adventure. If you have particular dietary needs, we can prepare a packed lunch for you, providing these requirements are requested at the time of booking.

Land-Based Comfort

At the end of each day, guests return to Galapagos Safari Camp to unwind in the wilderness and natural world you have come to see, with seamless service and with all the comforts that a luxury tented camp brings.

 

Personal Space

We understand that when on vacation, our guests want some personal space, some flexibility in their arrangements, and quality bonding time with their significant others or family, not to always be in a group.

The Camp is set with 55 hectares of private land, providing guests with the space and freedom to connect with nature and each other. After a day of adventures, guests can enjoy a dip in our pool, a nap in their hammocks, or a bike ride around the property. At sunset, guests can gather for cocktails on our viewpoint, where they can swap stories with others or quietly contemplate the setting sun.

Our nine Safari Tents and one Family Suite span 200 meters of pristine land. This affords guests an unparalleled sense of personal space and privacy.

 

Dining at Galapagos Safari Camp

At Galapagos Safari Camp, we can arrange tables for each group size, from solo travelers and couples to large families and groups. You choose who to dine with.

 

Dining on a cruise boat (a comparison)

Aboard a cruise ship, everything is arranged collectively. There are set wake-up times, set excursion schedules, and set dining hours. On a cruise, the dining rooms are often designed with tables of four.

 

Learn more:

🔗 Dining at Galapagos Safari Camp

 

Honeymoons

A land-based honeymoon can be a more private, personal experience.

We welcome many honeymooners whose least romantic thought is to share every waking moment with a group of strangers. We understand they want a magical wildlife experience but also plenty of personal space too.

Learn more:

🔗 Honeymoon Safaris

🔗 Rethinking Romance in the Galapagos

 

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Authentic. Appropriate. Sustainable.

 

At Galapagos Safari Camp, you’ll wake up in the wilderness to birdsong (and not to piped music as is often how the day commences on a cruise ship). At night, you’ll be lulled to sleep by the breeze in the Scalesia trees, and the distant hoot of barn owls (not to the hum of a diesel engine).

OUR SAFARIS

What Is a Land-Based Safari?

A land-based safari (or hotel-based tour) means sleeping on land rather than aboard a cruise ship.

It does not mean staying in one place.

Each day, guests explore Santa Cruz Island by car, bicycle, kayak, or foot and take boat trips to the uninhabited islands of the archipelago.

The wildlife, the snorkelling, the tortoise reserves, the beaches, the volcanic landscapes — you experience all of it. You simply return to Camp at the end of each day instead of a cabin at sea.

 

Does land-based only mean tours on land?

No. A land-based Safari does not mean you are limited to land experiences. In addition to exploring some of the lesser-known corners of Santa Cruz by car, bicycle, and foot, our Safaris also include day trips by boat to uninhabited islands.

 

Are your Safaris the same as Island-Hopping Tours?

No. Our Safaris should not be confused with ‘island-hopping tours’, which shuttle visitors between the crowded port towns of the archipelago, our customized, land-based Safaris provide guests with an unforgettable base from which to explore the more authentic and wilder side of the Galapagos. After all, most visitors that come to the islands want to be immersed in nature and to experience wildlife in its natural setting, not to stay in towns. Or, for that matter, to be confined to cruise decks.

 

Which is better for families — a cruise or a land-based stay?

 

Our land-based safaris are a popular choice for families who appreciate personalized service, flexible schedules, and the freedom to explore the Galapagos Islands at their own pace. Explore the links below which go into greater detail on what families get out of a land-based stay.

 

Learn more:

🔗 A Family Cruise or a Family-Friendly Hotel?

🔗 Why Is Galapagos Safari Camp Family-Friendly

🔗 A Guide to the Galapagos Islands for Families