Galápagos Islands Open Water Swim Camp with Effortless Swimming

Days start early and revolve around the water. A typical day has a morning swim of around 2–2.5km, lunch, then a second swim of 1.5–2.5km in the afternoon. On day six the schedule changes: you head offshore at Los Túneles and Bahía Ballena to look for whale sharks, which for many swimmers is the reason they book. Day eight is the biggest day, with a 3km morning swim and a 2km afternoon swim along Isabela's volcanic coastline.

Coaching runs through the whole trip. Effortless Swimming coach Tasmynne Roe films you underwater early in the week, reviews the footage with you, and then gives feedback as often as you want it. The idea is that you spend the week working on two or three specific changes to your stroke rather than getting a generic set of tips. You swim in two groups, so faster and slower swimmers each get a pace that suits them.

The trip moves between two bases. You start and finish on Santa Cruz, staying at Hotel Barranco in Puerto Ayora, then transfer by boat to Isabela Island midweek and stay at La Casa de Marita in Puerto Villamil. A Galápagos National Park naturalist guide joins for seven days of swimming, and boats and kayaks shadow the group in the water.

What separates this from a standard swim holiday is the combination of a small group, a coach who has competed at World Cup level, and access to swim sites that most visitors only see from a boat. The 2027 departure (1–9 April) is sold out, with a waitlist open.

What's included

- All accommodation (8 nights) - Daily breakfasts and lunches, plus snacks, drinks/water, coffee and tea during included swims and swimming days - All coaching sessions and video analysis - All transportation (boat and other) as outlined in the itinerary, including conservation entry and park fees - Services of a local professional multilingual naturalist guide from Galápagos National Park for 7 days of swimming - Open water safety support (kayaks and boats) - Airport transfers: arrival to the hotel and departure from the hotel to the airport - Effortless Swimming camp kit

What's not included

- International and domestic flights - Visas (check requirements for your nationality) - Personal travel insurance (mandatory) - Meals and beverages not listed above or purchased outside the resort - Personal expenditure (souvenirs, laundry, tips) - Early check-in and late checkout charges - Dinners - Taxes (around USD$220 payable on arrival)