Small Group Safaris

Small group tours in the Galapagos Islands

- PLAN YOUR SAFARI -
5 DAYS / 4 NIGHTS

Small Group Tours and Founders Safaris

While almost all our Safaris are bespoke, and tailored to accommodate our guests’ interests and dates, we do organize the occasional small group tour with fixed departure dates and itineraries.

These Small Group Safaris offer great value and are a wonderful way to discover the islands and meet other wildlife enthusiasts, while still having the space and freedom of the Camp to indulge in some ‘me time’ at the end of each day, if and when required.

 

Upcoming Galapagos Small Group Tours

To view upcoming Galapagos Small Group Tours, including our Founders-led Safaris, please refer to the tabs below.

Iguana Divider

Highlights

Our Founders' Safaris are hosted by Stephanie and Michael Mesdag
Fall in love with the forested highlands of Santa Cruz, home to giant tortoises, numerous birds, and Galapagos Safari Camp
Explore ancient, underground lava tunnels.
Take boat trips to uninhabited islands to experience bewitching landscapes and encounters with dozens of species.
Discover the islands with Michael and Stephanie
FOUNDERS' SAFARI
SMALL GROUP TOURS
RATES
GALLERY
FOUNDERS' SAFARI

Founders’ Safari

Led by the Camp’s co-founders, Stephanie and Michael Mesdag, along with one of our expert naturalist guides, our exclusive Founders’ Safari is designed for a group of up to 16 guests.

This wildlife adventure includes two excursions to an uninhabited islands and various tours on Santa Cruz Island. Additionally, it provides the added opportunity to learn firsthand about the founders’ story, their motivation for creating the Camp and how their deep love and appreciation for the islands continue to inspire their ongoing efforts.

The Founders Safari is held annually, with upcoming tours scheduled for November 2025.

Founders Safari 2025
Departure 1: 1-5 November
Departure 2: 5-9 November

Read Stephanie and Michael’s story.

 

SECURE YOUR SPOT ON THE FOUNDERS’ SAFARI

 

Type of activity
LAND SAFARI
SEA SAFARI
DAY 1

SANTA CRUZ HIGHLANDS AND THE GIANT TORTOISE

Welcome to the Galapagos! After leaving the VIP airport lounge you will meet your bilingual naturalist guide who will be with you for the duration of your stay with us (according to the level of privacy chosen).

To maximize your first day in the Galapagos Islands, you will be taken to a number of visiting sites on the way to Galapagos Safari Camp.

The first stop is Los Gemelos (The Twin Craters); two colossal, volcanic sinkholes. On a gentle hike around the rim, your guide will point out the birds of the endemic Scalesia forest such as Galapagos doves and Darwin’s finches.

From Los Gemelos you continue to a reserve for giant tortoises. Your tour of the reserve will follow a gentle circuit trail where you get within meters of these iconic Galapagos creatures. Keep a look out too for short-eared owls, as they are occasionally spotted in the trees. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.

The tortoise reserve also contains a network of underground lava tubes, formed centuries ago when lava flows cooled at the edges but kept flowing in the middle, leaving cave-like tunnels in their wake. To fully appreciate the uniqueness of the Galapagos Islands, and its wildlife, it’s important to first understand the archipelago’s geology and volcanic history.

End the day at Galapagos Safari Camp, enjoying uninterrupted views of the National Park and the shimmering blues of the Pacific Ocean, without another human in sight.

DAY 2 & 3

Uninhabited Islands

You will have the opportunity to visit two of the uninhabited islands listed below. Please note that the order of visits will depend on the boat schedule.

After breakfast you will be transferred to the dock (a 30-minute drive). Once onboard your boat, you will navigate to your destination. Each of the islands’ tours include a guided walk and a guided snorkel. Lunch is served onboard the boat (food is not permitted in the National Park).

These boat navigations are often a good opportunity to chat with your guide and to learn more about these extraordinary islands and the creatures that inhabit them. Alternatively, guests often use this time to quietly reflect on their Safari by jotting down their thoughts or elaborating on sketches. As author John C. Maxwell wrote, “It’s not necessarily experience that is valuable; it’s the insight people gain because of their experience.”

Level of Privacy: Shared Safari (Shared car transfers, guide & boat)

Meals Included: B, L ,D

 

Bartolomé

Travel time from Santa Cruz: 2 hours one way

Great for: geology; iconic views; penguin sightings

The tour (0.4mi / 600m): a fairly steep climb up an unshaded, wooden stairway to the highest point on island. Penguins are often spotted at the snorkeling site.

 

Santa Fe

Travel time from Santa Cruz: 2 hours one way

Great for: Sea lions; Santa Fe iguana; Opuntia cacti

The tour: (1.1mi / 1.8km) – the trail follows two loops, one of the bay, and one that gradually ascends the coastal cliffs for panoramic views. Snorkel in a sheltered cove.

 

North Seymour

Travel time from Santa Cruz: 45 minutes

Great for: birdlife and courtship rituals.

The tour (1.2mi / 2km). The flat trail loops the western half of the island. Snorkel in surrounding waters or Bachas beach (depending on the conditions of the sea on the day).

 

South Plaza

Travel time from Santa Cruz: 1.5 hours.

Great for: brightly coloured sesuvium; birdlife.

The tour: (0.8mi / 1.2km) a gradual ramp-like ascent to the island’s cliffs. Snorkel at Punta Carrion (northeastern corner of Santa Cruz).

 

Evening at Galapagos Safari Camp

DAY 4

SANTA CRUZ: THE EAST

Your Safari will begin at Cerro Mesa, a private reserve on the eastern side of Santa Cruz Island that is rich in endemic flora and bird life, including the elusive vermillion flycatcher and seven unique subspecies of finch. Explore the various trails with your guide, ending the circuit at a viewpoint where, on a clear day, you can survey the lush landscape of Santa Cruz as well as nearby islands.

Afterwards, you will make your way to Garrapatero Beach, either by car or by bicycle. In contrast to the thick, green vegetation of the highlands, the coastal terrain is made up of black lava, white sands, turquoise waters and dense mangroves.

The picturesque, white-sanded beach of Garrapatero is an ideal spot for a picnic and secluded swimming, set far away from the cruise ship crowds and visiting sites. Kayaking can also be arranged here and is a fun way to explore the coastline and its wildlife.

Set behind the beach is a small lagoon where flamingoes are occasionally spotted.

On your way back to the Camp you will visit a working farm in the highlands that produces sugar cane liqueur and Galapagos coffee. Learn about the different methods used to refine sugar cane, including the use of a mule-driven press (note: the mule may be off-duty during your visit). There is also a demonstration of how artisan coffee is produced, from picking the berries to roasting the bean.

DAY 5

RELAX BEFORE MORNING DEPARTURE

Enjoy the serene nature and peace of the Camp this morning. Relax, walk, swim or enjoy the sunrise from our viewpoint before departure to the airport and your next destination.

DAY 5+

...OR EXTEND YOUR TRIP

This Safari can be extended with our 2 day/3 night Isabela Island Safari Extension, a Scuba-Diving Extension or any of our Mainland Safari Extensions. Please be aware that while our Extension Safaris are still led by expert guides, they are not hosted by the Founders.

SECURE YOUR SPOT ON THE FOUNDERS’ SAFARI

SMALL GROUP TOURS

Small Group Tours

Aside from our Founders’ Safaris, we do not have any Small Group Safaris scheduled at present. If you would like to be notified about future tours, please contact one of our Safari Designers who can keep you updated on upcoming opportunities.

RATES

Rates

Founders’ Safaris 2025: USD 4800 pp

 

Included:

  • Accommodation
  • English-speaking naturalist guide
  • All meals and welcome drink
  • Airport VIP services
  • Shared transfers & ground transportation
  • Shared boat excursions with snorkeling
  • Wetsuits and snorkeling equipment
  • Activities and visits detailed in the itinerary

 

Not Included:

  • Flights (all flights from mainland Ecuador to the Galapagos Islands can be arranged upon request)
  • Galapagos National Park entrance fee (as detailed in documentation)
  • Visitor transit card (as detailed in documentation)
  • Beverages
  • Laundry service
  • Insurance (please check your travel insurance is valid in your country of origin prior to your journey)
  • Gratuities

 

You can find the pricing for all our Safari packages on our Rates page:

OUR RATES

GALLERY
Galapagos Safari Camp Founders Safari
Galapagos Safari Camp Founders Safari
Galapagos Safari Camp Founders Safari
Galapagos Safari Camp Founders Safari
Family Galapagos Vacation private boat

Personalize your journey!

We’re flexible and we love to personalize. How about..?

Talks with Galapagos experts, fishing trips with locals, tea inside a lava tunnel…

…picnic in the wilds, art classes, surf classes, ceviche-making and more!

MAKE AN ENQUIRY

VOICES OF GALAPAGOS

Our Experts Say

Stephanie Bonham-Carter
Stephanie Bonham-Carter
Founder
“Santa Cruz is among the most diverse islands in the Galapagos. We love combining explorations of the forested highlands with time at the beaches.”
Michael Mesdag
Michael Mesdag
Founder
“I’m particularly fond of the fishing trips we’ve created with local fishermen. They’re an authentic way to explore the Galapagos and are always a lot of fun.”
A FEW OF OUR

Guest Reviews

A visit to Galapagos would be incomplete without an stay at the Galapagos Safari Camp
With a superb location on Santa Cruz Island, the Camp offers one of the best views in the Galapagos Islands; one that you can not miss. The location, is perfectly match with its unique infrastructure,
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TRIPADVISOR REVIEW
An Amazing Place!
It’s hard to explain the magic of Galapagos Safari Camp. It was truly a special place and you feel it from the second you step off the plane. The entire process from getting off the plane to getting
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TRIPADVISOR REVIEW
Fantastic adventures!
We stay at the Galapagos Safari Camp in November and had a fantastic stay. The staff was wonderful and the service was excellent! I have dietary issues and they went out of their way to make sure all
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TRIPADVISOR REVIEW