Island Hopping Adventure in the Galapagos

A well-organised and varied trip. Our guide, Daniela, was wonderful! Very knowledgeable, personable and caring to our needs. She made us feel welcome and made the trip an enjoyable experience. The trip exceeded our expectations in regards to the animals that we saw: giant tortoises, flamingoes, white tipped sharks, Eagle rays, marine iguanas, penguines, blue footed boobies and, my favourite, the sea lions! The food was excellent, and the options for vegetarians were varied. The hotels were comfortable and in good locations, too. Every detail was considered, from transfers to taxis, to snorkeling equipment etc.

Things to consider:

• buy powerful sea sickness tablets! They were only 70cents!
• the islands are VERY humid, so be prepared!
• you will eat ALOT!

Overall, a fantastic experience! Lin and Hara (London)

I don’t know where to start. What a magical experience. Absolutely loved the Galápagos and highly recommend it. I’ve been on 13/14 MBA trips and this one wins hands down. From the minute I got off the plane I was enthralled by the wildlife and didn’t in my wildest dreams expect to see everything that I did. Snorkelling with sea lions, penguins, sharks, turtles and marine iguanas has to be my highlight but the whole trip was excellent. Can’t praise our guides Wilson and Gorge enough who looked after our every need. A great mix of activities and culture topped off with amazing sunsets and cocktails

This is a fantastic trip and should be one everyone's bucket list. Quito was an unexpected delight, full of Spanish influences, and the islands themselves are a wildlife lovers paradise - laid back and relaxed but with something to draw your attention every step of the way. My personal highlight was the snorkelling - giant turtles, sea lions, reef sharks, rays, marine iguanas and even penguins swimming within a few feet of us in crystal clear, warm Pacific waters. A huge shout out to Wilson and Jorge, our two main guides, plus Edwin who filled in when Wilson travelled to the islands a day early to get things set up for us. They couldn't have been more helpful and attentive and Jorge's knowledge is truly encyclopaedic. Yes, it's remote but then that's the whole point and you can almost see the theory of evolution laid out before your eyes. A great group too. I can't praise this trip highly enough.

Just returned from a wonderful holiday with a great bunch of people. Wilson, our guide, ensured that nothing was too much trouble for him & was by our side all the time. Very well organised, packed full of adventure & sights. Great hotels & fab food. Jorge our Galapagos guide was so knowledgeable & passed on his enthusiasm for his home. Also, what a fab singing voice. I cannot recommend this trip highly enough. If the Galapagos islands are on your bucket list, then this is the way to see them.

Wilson and Jorge were exceptional, we loved every minute of it especially the snorkelling and Sierra Negra hike. Excellent group of people, excellent trip - chef’s kiss 🤌

From the moment we landed in Ecuador and were met by Wilson, until the moment we left , we felt extremely safe and wonderfully looked after . Our first day was a trip round Quito with our hugely knowledgeable guide Edwin . Finishing the day with a visit to Middle Earth was great fun ! We chose a land based Galapagos trip which was everything and more than we’d hoped for . As well as having the opportunity to visit the local community , we hiked, cycled, kayaked and snorkelled . The animals , birds and sea life that we saw were simply breathtaking . Sorting out all our photographs will take some time ! All this was enhanced by our fabulous guide Jorge . His knowledge of the wildlife and also the history of the Islands was amazing , and his endless enthusiasm was fantastic . No amount of words can describe how amazing this trip was . We feel hugely privileged to have been able to visit this simply wonderful place !

I had an amazing trip and would highly recommend it! We saw lots of animals, did a variety of activities, and experienced a great deal. Erica, our local guide in the Galapagos, is incredibly knowledgeable and interesting to listen to. Wilson is also a great guide, and always makes sure everyone is taken care of. If you love nature, animals and being active, this is the trip for you!

Animals we saw: sea lions, penguins, two types of reef sharks, flamingos, sea turtles, tortoises, three types of iguanas, lizards, blue footed boobies, stingrays, and lots of other types of birds and fish

Fabulous trip with brilliant guides. Completely met my expectations. The organisation was faultless . I cannot recommend Much Better Adventures too highly. Can’t wait to book my next adventure !

This trip was truly an experience of a lifetime. From the moment I arrived in Ecuador I realised I had booked something very special and any concerns about the volatile situation in the country quickly melted away. The areas visited in the trip were far, far away from the trouble you read about in the media so my recommendation is don't let the state of emergency put you off booking! Our guides on the mainland, Wilson and Edwin, gave our small but mighty group a great flavour of Quito and the surrounding area and nothing was too much trouble for them. Our local guide in the Galapagos, Jorge, was brilliant and had such extensive knowledge of the islands. He made sure we got a full immersion in the Galapagos culture as well as the legendary flora and fauna. The itinerary was jam-packed with a range of enjoyable activities, and though it's hard to pick I'd say my personal highlights were hiking the Sierra Negra volcano on Isabela to see the world's second largest crater, and seeing the clown-like Blue Footed Booby at Tortuga Bay.

There is magic in this place. It is such a gift to lose yourself in the landscapes, in the highlands, in the different microclimates, on the beaches, with the most incredible endemic and native animals unique to this amazing place. Visiting was like playing a role in a David Attenborough documentary but beyond my imagination.

The trip was made so much easier by Much Better Adventures. Getting to and travelling around the Galapagos (& Quito and the Equator) is not easy. Having a translator on tap, having all the accomodation, the buses, planes, water taxis, and activities organised made this holiday so much more enjoyable. It took away the mental load and enabled us to just focus on having a great time.

Wilson (our Much Better Adventures guide) was exceptional. He was not just a guide, but a translator, exceptional organiser, transport manager, financial officer of all our transit and included food costs, additional support for us in the restaurants, hotels and with whatever was needed whenever it was needed, and great travel and activity companion. Wilson did all this with a smile, without any complaints, always on time, with respect for us and the local guides, drivers, waiters, restauranteurs and in service of us all having an exceptional time. The local Galapagos guide, Erica, was excellent and showed the value of a local guide. Together, Wilson and Erica were an impressive team.

As a really sensitive coeliac, I was really worried about whether I would be catered for. Much Better Adventures were clear before I booked that this was possible and Wilson was exceptional at supporting me to safely and deliciously eat with each meal at restaurants, hotels and out and about.

Much Better Adventures are lucky to have Wilson in their team. The small group and the activities made the trip a lot of fun and enabled the environment to be experienced in full. Thanks for a really fabulous trip.

This will be a treasured experience of a lifetime. The Galapagos could possibly be the most magical place on earth.

Excellent tour to the Galapagos. We saw amazing wildlife and our local tour guides were great

We had an amazing adventure in Ecuador and Galapagos. The wildlife was unbelievable and we saw everything we hoped for. Wilson our guide was absolutely brilliant and looked after us even before the trip officially started. Carla our local guide on Galapagos had such knowledge and we learned so much from her. Thank you Much Better we’d definitely book with you again

Fantastic trip from start to finish. Local host and guides superb, friendly people at every turn and the wildlife was absolutely breathtaking. Highly recommended.

Beautiful, fun, and relaxing

This is a great trip full of activities and wildlife. We had Wilson as our in country host and he was amazing. He set up the WhatsApp group well before we arrived which meant that we could get all our questions answered before we arrived and even got a feel for the dynamic of the group, who gelled from day one. Overall an amazing experience.

An experience of a lifetime!

The hosts were great. The islands were beautiful and each with its own vibe.

The flora and fauna is so unique!

Definitely deserves the trek.

Extraordinary memories!

Great adventure. Amazing group spirit (we had very small 4 people on our group). It was great to see iguanas everywhere lying , bird fishing, sea lions chilling. Snorkelling was fantastic. Cycling downhill was just full of fun. Like a different world.

This was a great trip! Wilson and Edwin were great hosts in Quito and Daniela was fab in the Galápagos, all knowledgeable, patient, generally lovely. We had an absolute wildlife-fest, amazing and awesome! Beaches have to be experienced to be believed. It was a great group, full of fun and laughter. The trip was fast paced with lots of moving around. I would describe it as moderate rather than easy. Heat and humidity adds to difficulty. Nevertheless, it's right up there as one of my favourite trips ever 😊

The whole trip was the smoothest operation I’ve experienced to date, and my favourite MBA. Wilson was the ideal man to lead the expedition being the perfect combination of knowledgable, organised and easy-going/fun. The itinerary try closely matched our expectations and the activities themselves truly were breathtaking. 10/10 on all fronts, would recommend to anyone interested in a once in a lifetime adventure.

The Galapagos were another world. Loved being taken to so many sites and meeting so many locals. The Ecuadorians were all so welcoming. As was the wildlife. Brilliant guides. Amazing experience. Go!!

What an incredible trip, the Islands are so beautiful, wildlife beyond my expectations.

Personally, I would like more time on Islands and less in Quito. Quite a lot of travelling time and then some very full activity days. Still brilliant though!

I would highly recommend this trip!

The Galápagos exceeded my expectations. Isabella is pure magic, lovely relaxed environment. Right at top of my favourite beach locations.

This will be remembered for the rest of my life.

Beach bars were also great fun and we had a great group! Local guides are brilliant and ensure we had the best time!

I will be back. Thank you MBA for a memorable trip!

What an incredible trip! This was my first solo adventure, and I can't recommend Much Better Adventures enough. The guides are wonderful - not only is their local knowledge second to none, but they truly are your friends and totally part of the group. Saying farewell was emotional! The highlights for me were the snorkelling trips, but I also enjoyed the volcano climb and much more. If you're on the fence about booking this but you're worried about the cycling.... don't be! I hadn't ridden a bike in decades, but decided to give it a go...and promptly fell off. Into a ditch. Twice. The support bus picked me up and all was well. Seriously, don't even think about it - just book it! The tortoises, iguanas, sea lions, turtles, sharks, penguins and boobies are waiting for you, just the click of a button away, as are your wonderful guides Edwin, Wilson and Daniela 🥰

A well organised trip! We had a magical time and I have memories that I will hold on to forever. The highlights were the 2 days of snorkeling with sea turtles, rays, seals, marine iguanas and schools of fish!!

Our guides were very helpful and made efforts to ensure we were enjoying ourselves and provided us with information so we could appreciate the local culture and customs. The Galapagos islands are beautiful and although they experience a high volume of visitors, Ecuador is doing a great job of maintaining them environmentally.

Amazing! Great 10 days in Galapagos and Quito! Well organised and active adventure in stunning environment! Edwin and Wilson looked after us well in Quito and Daniella was the best guide one could ask for on the Galapagos. Its action packed and you get to see a lot in a small amount of time. The highlight was Isabella island which I could have happily stayed on! Take a few extra $$$ if you plan to watch the sunsets whilst relaxing with a few happy hour cocktails.

Loved the trip. I would put it on my list of trips to do again in the future. Hosts and group members were all awesome and definitely made some good friends. All of the animals - especially the giant tortoises - were the best part for me

Good trip, runs smoothly, Wilson has whole operation down to a last bit. You don't have to wait much in lines, wonder when our transportation is coming and where to refill the water. Nice to outsource all the thinking and planning to a professional. We had a wonderful diverse group. I think destination like Galapagos attracts not your average adventurer. None of the activities is hard in isolation but it's very busy and packed tightly. With hot weather, jet lad, high altitude sickness and some local diet a few of our team members had to take it easy on a couple of occasions, so "moderate" is more accurate IMHO. Otherwise, it's absolutely worth your time and consideration. Great location, amazing nature and phenomenal animal world. Still feels remote and rough on the edges (not in the safety sense but development)

This trip is all about the wildlife! It was fantastic. There were sealions, marine iguanas, turtles, tortoises, rays, sharks, birds everywhere. The activities were good, and not very difficult at all. The cycling was pretty easy and much shorter than advertised on the site. It was good to see some of the inland landscapes as well as the water activities. The hotels were nice, and some of the restaurants are really excellent. The trip went at a good pace with some down time around the activities (and you could easily skip things if you wanted more of a rest). Our guide on the islands, Jorge, was extremely knowledgeable and patient. I didn't feel like we got much 'off the beaten path' but that's inevitable due to the nature of the islands, with tourists limited to certain areas. The day in Quito was interesting, especially the equator museum. Don't get excited about the hotel there - it has limited facilities and had very noisy neighbours when we were there. If you have time to spare I'd recommend a visit to Papallacta thermal springs, which your guide can arrange. We had a very relaxing final morning there.

Don’t hesitate - this is a fabulous fast-paced trip that enables you to do so much in a short time. All the accommodation was of a high standard with kind hosts. All the guides were terrific. I loved our group too. We saw so much wildlife and so many beautiful vistas. Each day was varied and fun. Too many highlights to mention! (And we enjoyed the great value karaoke bar on Christmas Day eve with our guide too - a nice event with the locals and other tourists - a fun something extra I wasn’t expecting on the Galapagos!!)

This trip was fantastic! We had a great group and Wilson as the leader made sure everything and everyone was taken care of. It's a busy trip with little downtime but that's because there is so much to see and pack in. Some days with hiking and cycling we're more strenuous than others but the tour leaders made sure everyone could manage to their level. A well organised trip with so much to see and do!