Galapagos Itinerary

Quito, located on the equator in a valley at the foothills of the Pichincha volcano is the largest, best preserved colonial city of America – declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. Tonight you will stay at the Sheraton Quito, and depending on your arrival time, you can spend your day exploring the old town of Quito and the surrounding area before meeting your SwimQuest hosts at 6pm for a welcome drink and dinner.

After breakfast, we head back to Quito to board our flight to San Cristóbal – your first glimpse of the archipelago from the air is a moment you won’t forget. On arrival, we transfer to our hotel in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno for a safety briefing before the adventure begins.

After a free lunch to explore the town at your own pace, we reconvene for our afternoon acclimatisation swim at Playa Mann – your first taste of those crystal-clear Galápagos waters.

After breakfast together at the hotel, we head out for one of the most exhilarating swims of the week – Kicker Rock. This iconic 490ft volcanic monolith rises dramatically from the ocean, known locally as León Dormido, or “sleeping lion.” Splitting into two groups, each with a SwimQuest guide and local host, we swim around this extraordinary landmark with hammerhead sharks gliding beneath us, green turtles drifting past and Blue-Footed Boobies launching from the clifftops overhead.

Lunch is enjoyed on the boat, before a relaxed afternoon of free time – take a leisurely swim in a secluded bay or simply soak up the surroundings. In the evening your guides will book a restaurant for dinner, and as always you’re welcome to join the group or head off on your own adventure.

The day begins with an optional sunrise dip at Playa Mann – a beautiful way to start what promises to be a memorable day. After breakfast, we transfer to our home for the next four nights, the MY Letty liveaboard, settling into twin share cabins as the real adventure begins. Before we set sail, we head to Punta Carola, a secluded white-sand beach just a short walk from the hotel and one of the finest sea lion spots in the archipelago. Our morning swim here is pure Galápagos magic, with friendly sea lions darting and twisting around you in crystal-clear water. Lunch is served on board before we head out for our afternoon swim at Darwin Point Bay,  a stunning stretch of white coral sand that winds through mangroves alive with land birds. Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies and swallow-tailed gulls are all regular visitors, while sea lions play in the tidal pools along the shore. Dinner together on board rounds off a truly spectacular first day at sea.

After breakfast on board, we head to Punta Pitt at the far eastern tip of San Cristóbal for a morning that delivers both on land and in the water. We begin with a hike into the heart of the island, where the birdlife is simply extraordinary – all three species of booby nest here side by side, found nowhere else in the Galápagos. The views are stunning, and yes, it will be hot, but the reward is a gloriously refreshing swim in the beautiful clear waters of the bay.

Back on board for a delicious lunch, before we head out to Lobos Island for the afternoon. A short walk brings you within arm’s reach of nesting birds who are utterly unbothered by your presence – one of those only-in-the-Galápagos moments. We then take to the water in a turquoise, sheltered bay where the adolescent sea lions appoint themselves as your personal swimming companions. Dinner together on board rounds off another unforgettable day.

After breakfast we head to Gardner Bay, a wonderfully sheltered spot on the eastern shore of Española Island. The beach is home to a thriving colony of sea lions and the famously inquisitive Galápagos Mockingbird – a bird so curious it has been known to investigate bootlaces, camera straps and, in our experience, goggles. Green sea turtles drift through the shallows alongside a dazzling variety of reef fish, making this one of the most joyful swims of the week.

After lunch on board, we head to Suarez Point on the western tip of Española – one of the most wildlife-packed visitor sites in the entire archipelago. We swim along a dramatic volcanic coastline before coming ashore onto a beach busy with sea lions. For those with energy to spare, a two-mile clifftop hike rewards you with breathtaking views and close encounters with Blue-Footed Boobies, Nazca Boobies and the magnificent Waved Albatross. Dinner together on board brings another extraordinary day to a close.

After a final breakfast on board, we arrive at Baltra – a fascinating island formed by the uplifting of undersea lava. If time allows we will enjoy an early dip. All too soon it’s time to say goodbye to the crew and the MY Letty as we disembark at Baltra, also known as South Seymour. A short transfer takes us to the airport for our flight back to Quito, heads full of memories and hearts full of the Galápagos.