Lodge-Based Galapagos
Destination
Galapagos
Duration
9 Days
Activity Level
Active
Comfort Level
Delightful
Immerse yourself in this spectacularly abundant archipelago! On this lodge-based trip, you will stay at three unique properties run by three different families on three different islands: Santa Cruz, Floreana, and Isabela. Also, venture to Bartolomé, and consider extending to San Cristóbal for a day of traditional fishing, snorkeling at Kicker Rock, and a workshop with a local artist.
A lodge-based trip lets you see all the wildlife and varied terrain you would see on a ship-based trip. Yet forgoing a cruise in favor of lodges on land offers more opportunities for interaction with a variety of Galapaguenos, the locals who have made these islands their home. Meet farmers, conservation workers, and entrepreneurs and learn their perspectives on tourism, environmental preservation, development, and maintaining the traditions of the islands. Understand the differences between various islands’ relationships to their human populations. Also take advantage of the greater flexibility a lodge-based trip offers for active exploration, whether wandering, hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, or even stand-up paddleboarding.
Ask us about customizing this Lodge-Based Galapagos itinerary for your dates, special needs, and particular interests.
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive Quito
Arrive in Quito, Ecuador, where you will be met and transferred to your local hotel. Quito is located in a huge valley of the Andes Mountains at an altitude of 9,455 feet. It’s a great place to explore and learn about mainland Ecuador’s culture. You may also choose to extend here to visit the surrounding volcanic mountain range. Alternatively, if you are concerned about altitude, you may arrive via Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest city, located at low elevation on the coast.
Meals
None
Lodging
La Casona de la Ronda or similar
Day 2 Quito
Ecuador is full of history, fascinating indigenous cultures, slow winding rivers and lush tropical forests, spectacular snow-capped volcanoes and some of the most exciting wildlife on earth. The place to start exploring is Colonial Quito, a city of narrow cobblestone streets lined with whitewashed walls and, rising above, the steeples and cupolas of the city’s many spectacularly decorated historic churches. The city has one of the best-preserved colonial centers in all South America and its integrity was assured in 1978 when the United Nations declared Quito a World Cultural Heritage site. First on today’s agenda is a walk through the Main Plaza, the Plaza de Independencia, where you will see the Government Palace, the Cathedral, and some of the most important churches built in the 16th and 17th centuries, including the monastery of San Francisco, a building begun only 5 days after the founding of the city.
After lunch, you will have the opportunity to taste the best chocolate of Ecuador on a visit to the Pacari Chocolate Center. Experience a guided journey by story and video through the history of Ecuadorian cacao and a tasting of the award-winning Pacari chocolate. Also, learn about the agricultural side of chocolate cultivation and production and the communities that work with the Pacari company to bring the product to market. Participate in a live digital game experience from harvest through production. Later you will be able to produce truffles with real vegan organic ingredients, without sugar or milk.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch
Lodging
La Casona de la Ronda or similar
Day 3 Baltra Island / Santa Cruz
The flight from Quito (via Guayaquil) to the Galapagos is approximately 2-1/2 hours long. Dive right into adventure upon arrival at Baltra airport. Enter the airport through a special VIP lounge where you will have a chance to change clothes, put on some sunscreen and get a cool drink before transferring to the Itabaca Channel to explore its turquoise waters. There’s no better introduction to the Galapagos than to get on the water upon arrival! Choose to kayak, snorkel, or even stand up paddleboard (SUP) and see some of the famous species of the Galapagos like blue-footed boobies, sea lions, brown pelicans, a variety of herons, and white-tipped reef sharks. Glide through beautiful red mangrove forests and along lava rock cliffs on water so clear you can see sea life in the shallows.
From Itabaca Channel, head up to the Santa Cruz highlands to your tented camp is colocated with a private tortoise reserve. Perched high on a hillside overlooking the ocean, Magic Galapagos Tented Camp will be your home for two nights. Watching the colorful sunset from Magic’s western perch is the perfect segue into the evening. Feast your eyes on the mountains and forest surrounding the lodge, and enjoy the peace of having the entire hillside to yourselves (with the exception of seasonal resident giant tortoises). Dinners are sumptuous three-course affairs prepared by expert chefs in an open-air kitchen in the main lodge. A favorite post-dinner activity is a short walk to the natural lava tubes on the reserve for a nightcap in a one-of-a-kind “lava lounge!” It’s the perfect spot to relax around the fire and share stories from the day’s adventures. As you head to bed, the sounds of nature will be your lullaby and the Milky Way will be your night light.
Accommodations are in individual tree houses or semi-permanent, raised walk-in tents reminiscent of an African safari camp – but with very different wildlife! Guests share two bathhouses that have flush toilets and hot showers.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
Magic Galapagos Tented Camp
Day 4 Explore the Islands
Embark this morning on the motor yacht and enjoy a daily excursion with a welcoming crew member and knowledgeable naturalist guide as you experience the remote islands in comfort and style. Your daily excursions will take you to experience the Galapagos Islands in a safe and comfortable manner. You can visit North Seymour and Bachas, South Plazas, Santa Fe Island or Bartolome Island, and Sullivan Bay. Along the way, you might see leaping rays or other sea life, while enjoying the vastness of the Pacific. The yacht tour lets you see the Islands and their wildlife in their most pristine state. Island visited may vary according to National Park regulations.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
Magic Galapagos Tented Camp
Day 5 Floreana
After a final breakfast at Magic Galapagos, depart for Floreana Island via two-hour speedboat crossing. Of the four inhabited islands in the archipelago, this peaceful island is home to the Galapagos’ smallest human population. Because only 150 people call Floreana home, it is the least developed and most natural. It was the first inhabited island in the Galapagos, and descendants of the original population still live here. Once a pirates’ lair, the island’s history is full of mystery and legends about its first inhabitants. During your stay, you will hike, learn about the fascinating local history, and also see some of the Galapagos’ special wildlife. Look for giant tortoises, frigate birds, sea lions, Darwin’s finches, petrels, and marine iguanas, among other species.
Upon arrival on Floreana, take an open-air “chiva bus” to Floreana Lava Lodge, which overlooks one of the Galapagos’ most beautiful and secluded bays. The lodge is operated by Claudio Cruz, a descendant of one of the Island’s original inhabitants. Claudio will share his deep knowledge of the Island and its history, and also introduce you to several of his family members, giving you special insight into life on Floreana. Once you are settled in, walk or paddle (kayak or stand up paddleboard) to nearby Black Beach for some snorkeling. Then walk to a restaurant in the nearby village for lunch. The restaurant is part of a community tourism initiative that Journeys’ partner helped to develop and has been working with since 2012.
In the afternoon, set out once again to paddle the pristine waters (kayak or SUP) across the bay to explore La Loberia, a sea lion breeding ground. Once there, enjoy more snorkeling and swimming in the calm, bright water with sea turtles, sea lions, stunning rays and an abundance of tropical fish. Later, return to the lodge (30-minute walk or kayak/SUP) for a warm shower. Watch the spectacular sunset and then head back to the village for dinner where you will celebrate another incredible day in the Galapagos.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
Floreana Lava Lodge
Day 6 Floreana Highlands
After breakfast, set out for a day exploring the Floreana highlands by open-air bus (chiva), an unbeatable, historic, and comfortable way to see the island. Along the way, your naturalist guide will share the colorful history of some of Floreana’s first inhabitants, such as the Wittmers (whose descendants still live on the Island), the “Baroness,” and the pirates that once visited here. Also hear about the “Enigma of Floreana,” involving the mysterious deaths of several of the Island’s inhabitants. On reaching Asilo de la Paz (Peace Haven), your hike begins. Explore the pirate caves and visit the freshwater spring that provides water for the entire Island, with your guide sharing stories and history along the way. As you traverse the hillside you can expect to see giant tortoises lumbering through the vegetation or even on the trail.
Then walk down from the hills through a rural area where local people grow produce for their own consumption. See how the islanders have survived in this remote place and have come to understand the local environment to develop unique agricultural knowledge. On your way back to the coast, stop at Claudio’s farm, La Primavera, where you can see the extraordinary behavior of the frigate birds who “dance” as they wash their salty wings in the freshwater lake on the property. With a little bit of luck, you may be able to see males puffing up the red pouches on their chests in an attempt to attract females. Also, see where some of the delicious fruit and vegetables that you’ve been eating at the lodge come from. Continue by chiva down to Las Palmas, where the Island’s first permanent inhabitant, the eccentric Dr. Ritter, lived and is buried. Arriving in 1926, the German physician believed that with a combination of exercise and the right vegetarian diet he would live to be 150 years old. He didn’t, but his story is one of the many strange episodes that make up the intriguing history of the island.
Back at Lava Lodge, we will prepare a very special barbecue lunch, featuring delicious Cruz family recipes! Afterward, enjoy a free afternoon. Practice your kayak or SUP skills, go snorkeling in La Loberia, or simply relax and take in the beautiful Galapagos views from the Lava Lodge.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
Floreana Lava Lodge
Day 7 Isabela / Tintoreras
Today take an early morning speed boat transfer to Isabela Island. After checking into your hotel, visit the breeding center where the Islands’ giant tortoise population is presently recovering. Expert guides will explain the process of breeding and then releasing into the wild these giant, slow-moving creatures whose Spanish name (meaning saddle) gave the Islands their present title. In the afternoon explore the Tintoreras, a group of small islands off the coast of Isabela’s village of Puerto Villamil. The islands are named after the white-tipped Tintoreras reef sharks that swim in these calm waters. Like a Galapagos in miniature, on the Tintoreras you will see almost all of the archipelago’s iconic wildlife: white-tipped sharks, sea lions, turtles, rays, penguins, pelicans, and blue-footed boobies. Snorkel in the bay – and don’t be surprised if some of the penguins or sea lions jump in to play alongside you in the water.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
Isamar Lodge
Day 8 Isabela Highlands
Volcanic eruptions created all of the islands in the Galapagos, and you will get to see this geologic process first-hand as we explore Isabela, one of the youngest and most volcanically active islands of the archipelago. Spend the whole day in the Isabela highlands, beginning with a hike up to the crater of the massive Sierra Negra volcano, and then onward to the rim of the Volcan Chico. This fascinating walk usually begins with some morning fog and drizzle which sometimes persists in the shadow of the volcano, adding to its mysterious character. Despite the drizzle, you might see Galapagos hawks, finches, flycatchers, and short-eared owls en route. On reaching the rim of the Sierra Negra crater, the second largest in the world after the Ngorongoro in Tanzania, you will see the real reward for your effort. The crater is so large, and the views so expansive, photos can’t do it justice, but bring your camera anyway! Later, as you head towards Volcan Chico, you may get the feeling you are walking on Mars due to the alien landscape. While it appears to be utterly desolate, a closer look reveals small lizards scurrying among the rocks. From its rim, enjoy more amazing views along with lava tubes and fumaroles. After Volcan Chico and its extreme landscape, relax under the shade of a lovely jaboncillo tree to enjoy your box lunch while taking in the spectacular and expansive views over the central and northern parts of Isabela Island. In the distance, we will be able to see Fernandina, Pinzon and Santa Cruz Islands. We then head back down to complete our day of hiking (16 km in total) and relax on the beaches of Puerto Villamil.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
Isamar Lodge
Day 9 Baltra / Onward
Take an early morning speed boat back to Santa Cruz and then transfer by land to Baltra for your onward journey or flight back home.
Meals
Breakfast
Dates & Price
Dates
Custom & private on your dates. Contact an Adventure Specialist to create your dream trip! Schedule a call or tell us more about your dream trip!
Best Time of Year to Visit
Immerse yourself in this spectacularly abundant archipelago! On this lodge-based trip, you will stay at three unique properties run by three different families on three different islands: Santa Cruz, Floreana, and Isabela. Also, venture to Bartolomé, and consider extending to San Cristóbal for a day of traditional fishing, snorkeling at Kicker Rock, and a workshop with a local artist.
A lodge-based trip lets you see all the wildlife and varied terrain you would see on a ship-based trip. Yet forgoing a cruise in favor of lodges on land offers more opportunities for interaction with a variety of Galapaguenos, the locals who have made these islands their home. Meet farmers, conservation workers, and entrepreneurs and learn their perspectives on tourism, environmental preservation, development, and maintaining the traditions of the islands. Understand the differences between various islands’ relationships to their human populations. Also take advantage of the greater flexibility a lodge-based trip offers for active exploration, whether wandering, hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, or even stand-up paddleboarding.
Ask us about customizing this Lodge-Based Galapagos itinerary for your dates, special needs, and particular interests.
Rates Per Person
Need to Know
Rates Per Person -
Land Cost from
$9,500
Single Supplement
+ $900
Rates Per Person -
Cost does not include the following:
Flights to/from the islands – $585
National Park fee/transit card – $220
Need to Know
Not included: $120 National Park entry fee & tourist card $20
We are happy to have you participate in a Journeys International program!
Please read these terms and conditions thoroughly. They contain information that will be important to your planning and guide how we will handle any circumstances that may change in the midst of planning or while a program is underway. If after reading our materials and talking with our staff you decide to participate in a Journeys International program, please send us your deposit along with your completed Reservation Form and Explorer Information Forms. Important: Your booking is only complete once we receive your deposit, completed Reservation Form, and completed Explorer Information Form, and once we have confirmed that space is available.
Pricing and Payment
We will confirm your reservations once we receive a non-refundable booking deposit, a Reservation Form signed by each person responsible for payment, and an Explorer Information Form signed by each participating adult or the guardian for each participating child, and if space is available. Custom programs during holiday seasons may require a deposit prior to confirmation. The deposit contributes to non-recoverable costs of holding space and servicing your booking through the stages of preparation, execution, and follow-up and cannot be refunded if you choose to cancel.
We charge an additional planning fee of $250 per program for preparing customized proposals. This fee may be credited to your total cost upon booking, but it is non-refundable if you choose not to finalize your reservation.
Prices are stated in U.S. Dollars, based on double room occupancy, unless otherwise noted. We will send an invoice for your total estimated cost when we send your reservation confirmation. The balance as shown on your invoice is due 60 days prior to your program start date regardless of whether any arrangements are still pending. Although we do our best to avoid increasing prices after we receive your deposit, in some cases it may be necessary to adjust pricing after we receive payment to allow for changes in group size, rooming status, currency exchange rate fluctuations, fuel surcharges and/or other circumstances attendant to the challenges of adventure.
Late payments may jeopardize confirmation of your program participation and in some cases may result in additional fees. If we have not received final payment 30 days prior to departure, then your reservation may be canceled subject to our Cancellation & Refund Policy stated below.
Payment for airfare is required at the time of ticketing. Discounts that may be available are not available toward bookings made through third-party travel agencies, advisors, or planners.
We accept payments by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or check drawn on a U.S. bank account. Paying by credit card offers you certain consumer protections, including the ability to initiate a chargeback if you believe we have committed consumer fraud. You may not use credit card chargeback as an alternative to compliance with your agreement with these terms and conditions.
Late Signups
Early reservations are encouraged! Some programs and flights fill several months in advance. We can confirm your space once we receive your deposit and signed Reservation and Explorer Information Forms. We try, but cannot guarantee, to accept late signups. In the event that we are able to accept reservations fewer than 60 days before a program’s start date, additional fees may apply to cover administrative costs necessary to expedite your reservation confirmation and transmit your program materials. For reservations made fewer than 60 days in advance of your program’s start, full payment is due at the time of booking.
Program Changes
We understand that circumstances arise that lead you to inquire about changes to your custom program, and we aim to satisfy your requests. Once activities and accommodations have been confirmed, we charge a $50 change fee, in addition to the difference in costs for the services booked. When changes are requested less than one week before your program’s start, the change fee is $100. For changes requested after a program has begun, the change fee is $200.
Journeys International reserves the right to change or reprice any program due to acts of insurrection, strikes, weather, road conditions, acts of God or government, or any other force majeure or cause beyond the company’s control. Journeys International cannot guarantee conformity with the provided program plan at any point in time. Among other things, if necessary Journeys International may change the scheduled dates of a program; omit or alter sections of the plan; substitute lodgings, leaders, or conveyances; or change meals, activities, or waypoints; all without notice and without allowance for refunds and with participants bearing the responsibility for increased costs, if any. Should this become necessary, Journeys International will not be liable for extra costs that participants may incur as a result of changes, including but not limited to flight change fees, additional meal costs, or additional accommodations. We strongly recommend that participants purchase Travel Protection Plans, or travel insurance, adequate to cover such costs.
Cancellations & Refunds
If you must cancel before your program begins, please notify Journeys International in writing by emailing info@journeysinternational.com or writing to your adventure specialist directly. You may request a refund according to the following schedule. Some programs require additional non-refundable payments beyond this schedule, as noted in the program description. In the case of cancellation, such amounts are withheld in addition to the amounts listed here.
Days Prior to Departure | Cancellation Penalty |
---|---|
61 or more | Non-refundable booking deposit and planning fee, if applicable |
31-60 | Non-refundable booking deposit and planning fee, if applicable, plus 50% of total land costs above amount of initial deposit |
0-30 | 100% of total land costs |
Please note: cancellation of airfare, other transit, lodging, and ticketed tours and activities is subject to the policies of the individual carriers or providers and is not included in the schedule above. Additional cancellation fees are the responsibility of the traveler. We strongly recommend that all participants purchase Travel Protection Plans, or travel insurance, that includes coverage for trip cancellation or interruption and that may reimburse you for cancellation penalties and extra expenses should a circumstance force you to cancel or interrupt your participation.
Departure is defined as the date on which travelers will leave their home state, province or city, or the program start date as indicated on the program description, whichever comes first. Cancellation date will be considered the date that we receive written notification of your intent to cancel according to the local time observed in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Payments due at the time of cancellation remain the responsibility of the participant. No partial refunds are possible for unused hotel rooms, air or land travel, program days, or other sight-seeing arrangements included in the land cost.
If Journeys International cancels or postpones a program before the program starts for reasons completely within its discretion, such as but not limited to insufficient group size, all money for services described in the program description will be refunded in the form of credit towards a future program with Journeys in the same location originally planned, less unrecoverable fees and penalties already paid to airlines, accommodations, or other service providers, or the client may submit a written request for a refund to the original form of payment. If a program’s cancellation is necessary due to acts of insurrection, strikes, weather, road conditions, acts of God or government, or any other force majeure or cause beyond the company’s control, credits and refunds will be issued according to the standard cancellation schedule, less unrecoverable fees and penalties already paid to airlines, accommodations, or other service providers, without regard to whether client or company initiates cancellation or postponement. Once a program begins, there are no refunds for unused goods or services.
Air Fares
We can help you to secure air travel arrangements for Journeys International programs. We work with an airfare consolidator to assist in booking the flights that suit your needs. Journeys International and/or the airfare consolidator may charge a ticketing fee for this service. For group programs, if you prefer to fly on dates other than those listed as program dates, or if you arrive at your destination other than at the group arrival time, then you may incur additional fees to cover the separate transfer, contingency, and coordination costs which frequently arise from arrival and departure on flights different from our regular bookings. We will let you know about these fees ahead of time, if they apply. If you must change your air routing after ticketing, there is a charge of $50 per change, in addition to change or cancellation charges levied by the airline.
If you decide to make your own flight arrangements, you must provide Journeys International with a complete copy of your itinerary showing departure and arrival flights and times. You should plan to arrange your own air travel if you are using mileage credit or originating outside North America, but please be in touch with our office before you finalize ticketing so that we may help you to coordinate the correct arrival and departure dates and times. If you arrange your own flights, we can book ground transfers to meet you on arrival in your destination if you wish, and you agree to pay additional costs, as applicable.
Transfers Between Programs
You may transfer between some programs upon written request. More than 60 days before your program start date, the deposit transfer fee is $100 per person plus any cancellation fees charged by airlines, hotels, or ground service providers. 60 days or fewer before the program start date, full cancellation penalties from the original program apply. In the event that Journeys International cancels a program, you may transfer the full amount of your payments to another program without penalty, subject to availability.
Expenses Covered
Normally, our stated total costs include the costs of all guides, leaders, facilities, permits obtained after arrival, lodging accommodations, costs of described activities, food as specified, and all surface transportation associated with the activities described in the itinerary. We do our best to avoid increasing prices after receipt of your deposit, but factors beyond our control might require us to change our prices without prior notice, even after you have signed up.
Expenses Not Covered
Costs not included in the price may include: meals not indicated as included in program descriptions; meals prior to arrival in starting cities; transfers, if not arriving or departing on the scheduled group flights; soft drinks, bottled water, and alcoholic beverages; medical expenses, costs of hospitalization, or evacuation from remote areas; laundry; airport departure taxes not included on your airline ticket; accommodations en route to starting cities; visas; airfares; gratuities; and insurance.
If a program must be modified due to medical emergency, acts of insurrection, strikes, weather, road conditions, acts of God or government, or any other force majeure or cause beyond the company’s control, then the participant may incur additional costs that are not included in the program price. We strongly recommend that all participants purchase Travel Protection Plans, or travel insurance, to cover these risks.
Travel Insurance
Journeys International strongly recommends that you purchase a Travel Protection Plan, or travel insurance, sufficient to protect your investment in travel, personal assets and health during your program. Doing so will mitigate a significant amount of financial risk and decrease your need to worry about things beyond your control. We do not require you to purchase such travel insurance; however, we know many travelers who have benefited from purchasing travel insurance because the insurance carrier assumed risks that would otherwise have been the risk of the traveler. Travel Protection Plans often cover things like theft, baggage loss, trip interruption or cancellation, emergency evacuation, emergency medical treatment, flight delay or cancellation, airline or service provider bankruptcy, jury duty, personal or family sickness leading to cancellation, U.S. Department of State Travel Warnings about terrorism issued for the destination, and other risks as described in the insurance policy. In particular, consider the availability of higher-cost “Cancel for Any Reason” and/or “Interrupt for Any Reason” policies that may allow policy-holders to recoup a significant portion of trip costs under a much wider range of circumstances than standard policies may allow; we have seen travelers benefit from this selection when public health crises, personal turmoil, and civil unrest arose in their destinations. Please note that while we at Journeys will do our best to help you to have a pleasant and successful experience, Journeys International assumes no liability for many of the types of losses described above. If you choose not to purchase travel insurance and you suffer a loss, then you will be responsible for the associated costs.
For your convenience, we will provide a recommendation for an insurance carrier that offers competitive rates and has proven reliable, fair, and prompt in responding to claims, but we can offer no guarantee that our recommended carrier will meet your needs and you are welcome to contact any insurance carrier that you prefer. It is important to obtain insurance immediately upon signing up for your program in order for problems arising from pre-existing conditions to be covered.
All participants must be covered by a current major medical insurance policy that covers you while in your travel destination for the duration of your trip. For some individuals or for some destinations, it may be advisable to purchase a supplemental policy. Contact your provider for coverage details.
Group-Sized Pricing & Group Minimums
Many programs are guaranteed to depart at prices published on our website with as few as two participants. In some cases, it may become necessary to increase prices depending on the size of the group. We do everything we can to make a program operate as planned even with a single participant. Additional costs for small groups vary from program to program. When pricing for a group program is based on the number of participants, staff and guests of Journeys International (such as topic experts, journalists, photographers, leaders-in-training, or others) are not included in the numbers counted to determine the price. Final decision to cancel a program due to insufficient signups is made at least 60 days prior to departure.
Lodging Accommodations
Lodging accommodations are usually double occupancy in hotel rooms, tents, or other facilities as described in trip itineraries. Please contact our office to discuss pricing and availability of alternative accommodations, if desired. We try to honor specific requests for lodging, but in some cases, we may have to book and confirm equivalent-standard accommodations. In rare cases it may become necessary to make same-day or out-of-class substitutions.
If you are joining alone for a group program but would prefer a roommate, then let us know! We are often able to match solo participants. If a roommate is not available or if you prefer single accommodation, then you must pay the Single Supplement, if one applies. For some programs it is not possible to guarantee single accommodations.
Assumption of Risk
Throughout any program of Journeys International, certain risks and dangers may arise. These include, but are not limited to, travel by train, foot, automobile, aircraft, raft, boat or other means of conveyance; the hazards of traveling in rough or mountainous terrain; high altitude; undeveloped areas; the forces of nature; civil unrest; terrorism; labor interruption; close proximity to fellow program participants; exposure to illness or virus; and accident or illness in remote areas without means of rapid evacuations or availability of medical supplies and facilities. The unique nature of adventure programs entails inherent risks that may be involved in unique program activities and travel away from home and, in fact, the specific nature of these activities is often a reason for participation. Even if a trip or program is rated “easy” these dangers and risks are present. Journeys International and its agents and operators will have no liability regarding emotional distress, equipment, access to, or adequacy of medical care, evacuation plans, or emergency supplies that may be provided. When you sign the Explorer Information Form, you agree to participate in these activities with full knowledge of the dangers and risks involved and agree to assume all risks, including trauma, sickness, injury, and death.
While Journeys International intends that your experience be safe and comfortable, Journeys does not have legal or operational control or ownership of facilities, staff, services, or transportation providers and acts only as agent for the owners of such facilities, staff, services, and transportation. Journeys International is not responsible for any negligent or willful act or failure to act by any such person or entity, nor for any act or inaction of any third party not under its control.
In consideration of the right to participate in Journeys International programs and the service arranged for you by Journeys International and its agents and representatives, you unconditionally and fully assume all risks of bodily injury, death, emotional trauma, property damage, and/or theft, however caused, including those mentioned above, as a result of participation, and release Journeys International, its agents, and its representatives from any and all liability, actions, causes of actions, suits, debts, demands that you may have, including for bodily injury, death, or property damage, loss of income, and other claims.
Fitness to Join
Good physical and mental health are essential for the enjoyment of Journeys International’s programs. It is your responsibility to select/design a trip appropriate to your own abilities and interests. You are responsible for being in sufficiently good health to undertake your trip, and for consulting with your physician for medical advice regarding travel. On some Journeys International programs, participants travel in rugged areas remote from modern medical facilities. Good physical conditioning is recommended as preparation for all programs, especially those involving hiking or trekking. Most programs require some walking. By signing the Explorer Information Form, participants certify that they are fit for rigorous activity and do not have any physical, mental, or other condition that would create a hazard for him/herself or other participants. It is essential that any participant with a medical condition requiring regular treatment or which may be affected by vigorous activity, prolonged travel, high altitude, heat, cold, natural phenomena, or particular foods, notify Journeys International in writing prior to booking. We assume no responsibility for medical care, and we cannot guarantee meeting special dietary requirements or vegetarian needs. Participants may be required to furnish a physician’s statement of good health for some programs.
Journeys International’s or the individual group leader’s or guide’s judgment shall provide the ultimate determination of an individual’s fitness to embark upon, or to continue, a program. Journeys International reserves the right to refuse reservations or deny participation to anyone whom it deems unsuitable for a program or certain activities. Once a reservation has been confirmed, medical circumstances will not be considered as exceptions to our cancellation policy. All participants must be covered by a current major medical insurance policy for the duration of their participation. Proof of such coverage may be required.
Personal Conduct
You are responsible for acting in a manner considerate and respectful of fellow group members and local culture in areas visited.
You are responsible for reading all health-related information provided in advance of the program, adhering to all guidance given by guides and site staff, and conforming to the established standards of personal hygiene to minimize risk of disease. This may include a requirement to wear a face mask when in proximity to other people, whether indoors or outdoors, or other measures intended to limit the spread of disease; failure to do so when requested may result in your dismissal from the program.
Certain activities included in your program may require specific safety precautions. You are responsible for listening to instructions, adhering to guidance, and following the protocols provided for safety throughout the program. If you are unsure about safety precautions, you are responsible for seeking advice. If guides or staff perceive your behavior as risky, uncooperative, or otherwise unsafe, they may remove you from an activity for the safety of yourself and others.
Smoking or vaping are not permitted in buses, cars, below decks on boats, in tented camps, in designated non-smoking areas, or during guided tours and activities. Participants agree not to consume cannabis for the duration of the program and understand that possession or use of cannabis may be illegal and subject to severe punishment in some destinations. Participants agree to follow all local laws in the jurisdiction(s) where the program takes place and acknowledge that Journeys International cannot be responsible for ensuring participants’ compliance nor for any costs or consequences of non-compliance.
Sexual harassment or misconduct of any sort by Journeys program participants is not tolerated. You may not make jokes or sexually suggestive comments or gestures regarding the bodies or bodily activities of fellow participants, program staff, site staff, or any people you encounter during your program. You may not touch fellow participants, program staff, site staff, or any people you encounter during your program unless invited. You may not solicit sexual services during the dates of your participation in a Journeys program.
Environmental Stewardship
Journeys International believes that we have a responsibility to protect the earth for future generations. Tourism may be responsible for up to eight percent of annual worldwide emissions of greenhouse gasses. Journeys International advocates that adventure travelers who make environmentally conscious choices when selecting their destinations and activities should also make the environmentally conscious choice to offset the carbon footprint of their travel to compensate for their personal contributions to global climate change. Every Journeys International invoice includes an optional donation to the Earth Preservation Fund’s carbon offset program to be used to purchase and permanently retire certified carbon credits to offset the carbon footprints of Journeys’ program participants. The Earth Preservation Fund purchases carbon credits that have been certified under a reliable third-party standard. Participants who choose to make this donation may also be eligible to claim a tax deduction. There is no penalty for opting out of this donation.
Recording
Journeys International may take photographic, audiographic, and videographic recordings during your program, and may use your image and voice for promotional and commercial use without compensation.
Planning & Preparation Services
We look forward to working with you! After we receive your deposit, we will send you a planning packet containing things like medical and immunization information, visa and other permit forms, a recommendation for travel insurance, packing checklist, reading list, cross-cultural information, and an initial invoice for the balance due. About 3 weeks before your program begins, we will send you a final notes packet including last-minute reminders and contact information for your program. You are responsible for reading all information provided, and for bringing all clothing and equipment noted on the packing list. If you are leaving home before the scheduled trip departure date, please let us know how we can best reach you in case any details change in the days immediately prior to your program’s start.
Please call our office at any time if you have questions about your trip or for additional information.
Duration 9 Days
The number of days, or duration, in a destination corresponds with the itinerary as published. For the Galapagos, the land cost is actually the per person cabin cost. The cost of the additional nights in Quito or Guayaquil are not included.
Group Size 2 - 12
The stated range indicates minimum required for guaranteed departure and maximum accepted on the scheduled dates. Exceptions can often be made for private departures.
Comfort Level
Delightful
Activity Level
Active
Hiking, kayaking, and snorkeling daily
Extensions
Activity Level
Match the trip’s intensity to your ability and motivation.
Gentle
Easy walking, with opportunities for low-key physical activity.
Active
Energetic exploration with optional day hikes, leisurely cycling, or light canoeing.
Vigorous
Day-long active excursions and options for demanding activity in varied environments.
Challenging
Strenuous hiking or other intense activity that may be at high altitude or over rough terrain.
Demanding
Multi-day trekking and other activities requiring endurance or strength. Steep trails. No technical expertise necessary.
Comfort Level
Choose accommodations and amenities that fit your personal style
Simple
Our most natural accommodations. Bath facilities often shared, sometimes rustic.
Delightful
Comfortable and especially personal. Small to mid-sized lodges, typically with private bath.
Superior
Lodges and hotels with additional amenities, refined artistry, or extra-special settings.
Deluxe
Exclusive or luxury lodges, hotels, or safari camps with fine dining options.
Uncommon
The most indulgent accommodations arranged specially for private trips.
Single Supplement
The single supplement is applicable if a roommate is not available or if single accommodation is specifically requested. While single accommodation is not available on all trips, we will try and honor this request whenever possible.