Galapagos

30 Apr – 7 May 2027
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
From £5,595pp

View dates & book

The ultimate open water playground, offering the chance to swim alongside fearless marine life - including playful sea lions, marine iguanas, and sea turtles in one of the world's most pristine marine reserves.

Duration

7 Nights

Distance per day

2-4km

Water temperature

21-24°C

Max. group size

Ability level

All Abilities

Swim type

Sea

Non-swimming Partners

Welcome - 10% discount

Please note – as this is such an unusual destination, we have included as many details as possible in our package to ensure your experience is straight forward and stress free. We’ve worked closely with our local partners and the Galapagos National Park authorities to offer extraordinary wildlife encounters both in the water and on land. From swimming with sea lions and hammerheads to walking among nesting birds and marine iguanas, this is a once in a lifetime experience.

The Galapagos Islands are uniquely located on both sides of the equator in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The islands are situated at a point in the Pacific Ocean where three ocean currents collide, creating a unique area in the sea where warm and varying degrees of cold water meet, and an incredible array of marine life can be seen.

Highlights

Close encounters

When Darwin arrived in 1835 he was astonished by it, famously noting he could walk right up to the birds. That hasn't changed today - with no natural predators and no history of hunting, Galápagos animals are completely at ease around humans.

Sea lions everywhere!

Sunbathing on the beach, barking from the rocks, twisting through the water beside you —- Galápagos sea lions are utterly irresistible and completely shameless. Curious, cheeky and totally unbothered by your presence, they may well be the best swimming companions on the planet.

Kicker Rock

One of the Galápagos' most iconic landmarks this dramatic 490ft volcanic monolith rises from the ocean, and is even more breathtaking beneath the surface. Hammerhead sharks glide through the deep and green turtles drift below you.

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival in Quito

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.

Day 2

Arrival into the Galápagos

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.

Day 3

Circumnavigation and exploring further afield

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.

View full itinerary

Accommodation

WIFI ENSUITE AIR CON DINING DECK SUN DECK

Your adventure begins with a night at the Sheraton in Quito, where your SwimQuest guides will meet you for a welcome drink and dinner. From there, two nights at the Hotel Opuntia on San Cristóbal, the perfect base for your first Galápagos swims.

The final four nights are spent aboard your liveaboard boat, the MY Letty Cruise. This mixture of land and sea accommodation enables us to experience the very best of the Galápagos.

Rooms

The base trip price is based on you sharing a twin or double room on both the hotel and boat nights. If you are travelling solo we'll pair you with a same-sex roommate, or if you’d like a room to yourself, you can choose a sole use room for hotel nights when booking. Should you wish to book a sole use room for the duration of the trip (hotel nights and boat nights) please contact the office before booking as we have limited rooms available on the boat.

View accommodation

What's included

Included

One night in the 5* Hotel Sheraton, Quito (Ecuador)
Two nights in Hotel Opuntia in Puerto Baquerizo (San Cristobal, Galapagos)
Four nights in twin share cabins onboard MC Letty
Your flights from Quito – San Cristobal and back from Baltra - Quito
A selection of meals (breakfast on days 2, 3 and 8 and breakfast, lunch and dinner on days 4, 5, 6 and 7)
Local swim and marine specialist (English Speaking)
Two SwimQuest Guides
Full boat crew
Water safety
All visits and excursions according to the itinerary
Unlimited purified water, coffee and tea on board the boat
Galapagos National Park Entrance fee (usually USD 200 p/p)
Galapagos INGALA card (a mandatory transit control card usually USD 30,00 p/p)
Snorkelling equipment should you wish to use it
A SwimQuest cap and gift
ABTOT Financial Protection
VAT

Not included

International Flights to Quito
Wetsuits
Any additional extras / purchases (e.g. massages, services, ice creams etc)
Travel Insurance (mandatory)
Meals and services not mentioned
Purchase of any drinks outside of those provided with dinners
Sole use room supplements

Getting there

Trip begins at 6pm

Fly to Quito International Airport

Quito to Galapagos

Included in your trip price are your transfers from Quito to The Galapagos on the trip dates, going out and back. We recommend booking an extra night in Quito after the tour finishes to ensure you leave plenty of time for onward international flights. We can help with this if needed.

Around mid to late afternoon (exact internal flight times are confirmed 4 weeks prior to departure)

Reviews

Dates & book

30 Apr – 7 May 2027 (7 nights)
£5,595

Enquire Book Now