Most people see the Galápagos from a boat, sleeping on board and going ashore for short visits. This trip is built the other way round. You sleep on the islands, on a beach for two nights and then in small hotels in Puerto Villamil and Puerto Ayora. You reach a lot of the wildlife under your own power, by sea kayak or on foot. The operator was one of the first to run land-based Galápagos tours, and this itinerary was written up in the New York Times travel section back in 2006. It has been adjusted since, but the core of kayaking, hiking, snorkeling and beach camping is the same.

A typical active day has one main outing in the morning and a second, lighter one in the afternoon. On San Cristóbal that means a 6–8 km paddle on day one, then an 8 km paddle the next morning with a support boat nearby, followed by snorkeling at Kicker Rock after a beach lunch. On Isabela, the big day is the Sierra Negra hike: 10–16 km over 5–6 hours. It climbs about 220 m to the crater rim at around 1,021 m, with views over a caldera more than six miles across and lava fields from the 2005 eruption. That afternoon is free, and dinner is wherever you choose in town.

The water days are a big part of the trip. At Los Túneles you snorkel among lava arches and caves formed where lava met the sea. At El Finado, an inlet local fishermen once used as a resting spot, you look for white-tip reef sharks among the submerged rocks. Wetsuits (shorties) and all snorkel gear are provided. The water is cold, which is why they're included. Kayaking on Isabela and Santa Cruz is easy and in sheltered water, so even the less confident paddlers can relax and watch for penguins and turtles.

The beach camp is what really sets this trip apart. It's the only Galápagos land tour that includes camping on an approved island beach, and the crew use low-impact methods that go beyond standard Leave No Trace practice. You spend the evenings at Manglecito watching seabirds and, with luck, a sunset over the Pacific. Mornings start slowly, with time on the beach before the paddle.

Guiding is handled by a certified Galápagos National Park naturalist who meets the group on arrival in San Cristóbal, plus specialist kayak, snorkel and hiking guides and an English-speaking trip guide. The operator's guides carry wilderness medical and safety training and interpretation certifications. The company has been running guided trips since 1979.

The operator also points out a practical difference from a cruise. A land-based trip burns less fuel per person, and more of what you spend goes straight to islanders through local hotels, restaurants and boat operators. The trip starts and ends in Quito, with an airport-hotel night on arrival and a return flight to the mainland by about 6 PM on the last day.

What's included

- 8 nights double-occupancy accommodation (1 Quito hotel night, 2 beach camp nights, 5 island hotel nights) - Meals and drinks as noted on the itinerary - Snacks and purified water - Professional Galápagos National Park naturalist guide - Experienced English-speaking guide(s) - Specialist kayak, snorkel and hiking guides - All kayaking, camping and snorkeling equipment - Shorty wetsuits - Airport transfer on arrival in Quito - All transportation noted on the itinerary - Private pre-tour orientation meeting - Trip planning support from adventure consultants - Free mainland Ecuador–Galápagos flights on select departures

What's not included

- International flights to Ecuador - Ecuador–Galápagos round-trip flights (approx. $615, except on select departures) - Internal island flights and boat transfers (approx. $300) - Galápagos National Park entrance fee ($200 adults / $100 under 12, cash) - Tourism Migration Control Tax ($20) - Gratuities - Alcoholic drinks - Dinners on days 5 and 7, and meals on day 1 - Travel insurance - Extra hotel nights before or after the tour, including the night of day 9 - Overweight baggage charges on inter-island flights - Hospitalization or evacuation costs - Personal items