Diving Galapagos Islands

Dive into a Living Eden — Galápagos Awaits! 🐠

Discover one of the most awe-inspiring dive destinations on Earth — the legendary Galápagos Islands! Join our expert-led Galápagos Diving Tours and swim alongside hammerhead sharks, manta rays, sea lions, and marine iguanas in an underwater paradise like no other.

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Daily Itinerary (subject to change)

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DAY 1: ARRIVE IN ECUADOR

Your journey begins in Quito, a city of stunning colonial architecture and vibrant culture. Upon arrival, enjoy a private transfer to the elegant GOQUITO HOTEL, where you will stay for 2 nights in a Premium Room (breakfast & taxes included).

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DAY 2: QUITO

We start the morning visiting the Equator, Latitude 0 º 0'0 ". Our first stop will be at the Ciudad Mitad del Mundo where the main monument is located. Here, you won’t miss the chance to take a photo with your foot in the northern hemisphere and the other in the south! After a short walk within this small tourist complex, we will visit the INTINAN Museum, located about 300 meters from the monument. This interactive Museum will teach you about the different cultures of Ecuador and some other facts applicable on the Equator line.

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Then, enjoy a tour of Quito that is sure to impress! It starts in the old colonial Quito in the main square, where the presidential palace, the main cathedral and some other important buildings can be appreciated. Then it continues to Plaza San Francisco, with a quick stop in the way so that you can try the typical sweets of Quito. San Francisco is the oldest church in Quito, and it is full of history and legends.

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Our next stop will be a Chocolate Experience, where you will have a chance to discover and taste the finest chocolate in the world! Ecuadorians are very proud of being one of the most important world producers of the finest aroma cocoa seeds and here you will learn the process of turning cacao into creamy chocolate for consumption.

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Our final stop will be Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús, one of the most beautiful churches in South America, or perhaps the world, truly a treasure. (B,L)

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DAY 3: FLY TO GALAPAGOS

Private transfer to the airport in Quito for your flight to the Galapagos. Upon arrival at Baltra Airport (GPS) your personal guide will meet you and take you on an unforgettable adventure. Begin with a picturesque ferry ride from the Itabaca Channel to Santa Cruz Island, followed by a scenic 45-minute drive to Puerto Ayora. Along the way, enjoy a stop in the stunning highlands of Santa Cruz, where you’ll witness the island's unique vegetation zones, from arid coastal landscapes to lush highlands. Discover the vibrant land birds, exotic trees, and the majestic giant tortoises that call this place home. Lunch will be served here! Then transfer to Santa Cruz. Your stay at the IKALA HOTEL promises comfort and relaxation. Enjoy 4 nights. Breakfast and local taxes are included, ensuring a hassle-free experience. (B,L)

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DAY 4: GORDON ROCKS (2 dives)

Ready to take your diving adventure to the next level? Gordon Rocks is one of the most thrilling and legendary dive sites in the Galápagos Islands—world-famous for its schools of hammerhead sharks, majestic pelagics, and heart-pounding currents that challenge even seasoned divers.

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Located just an hour east of Santa Cruz Island, this extinct volcanic crater—marked by three towering rock formations above the surface—drops dramatically to depths of 60 meters. Beneath the waves, a stunning underwater landscape awaits, with four pinnacles and a crater floor that reaches 30 meters. Most dives take place inside the caldera, weaving through rocky terrain and sandy slopes teeming with marine life.

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This site is a magnet for ocean giants. Expect close encounters with:

• Hammerhead sharks (often in schools!)

• Galapagos, black-tip, and white-tip reef sharks.

• Manta rays, mobulas, eagle rays, stingrays, golden rays, and marble rays

• Green sea turtles (the only nesting species in the Galápagos)

• Plus a colorful array of reef fish: parrotfish, grunts, snappers, moray eels, jacks, tunas, and

more!

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Gordon Rocks is recommended for advanced divers only. Due to powerful currents and limited visual references, a minimum of 25 logged dives is required to join a group tour. Don’t meet the requirement? No worries—we can schedule a skill evaluation dive at a calmer site or arrange a private guide so you can still experience this world-class location. (B,L)

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DAY 5: NORTH SEYMOUR - CHANNEL/MOSQUERA NORTH

Just a short ride from Santa Cruz Island, Seymour Channel and Mosquera Islets offer two of the most accessible and wildlife-rich dives in the Galápagos. Ideal for all experience levels, these sites are known for great visibility, rich marine life, and the chance to see everything from reef dwellers to pelagic predators—all in one trip!

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Seymour Channel – A Classic Galápagos Dive

Only 25 minutes by boat from the Itabaca Channel, Seymour Channel is a diver favorite thanks to its high activity, proximity, and vibrant marine encounters.

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Dive Highlights: 

Descend along the island wall to a sandy bottom (20–25 meters)

Encounter hundreds of Garden Eels swaying from the sand

Glide past schools of Eagle Rays, with the occasional Golden Ray or Mobula

Keep your eyes peeled for Hammerhead, Whitetip, and Galápagos Sharks

End your dive on a colorful rocky reef at 12 meters—home to resting reef sharks, stingrays, and reef fish galore. Currents range from moderate to surprisingly strong—keeping things exciting, yet manageable for all certified divers.

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DAY 6: BARTOLOME / COUSINS ROCK

Just off the coast of Santiago Island lies the iconic Bartolomé, best known for its striking Pinnacle Rock — but beneath the waves, another world awaits. Dive into a spectacular underwater landscape just 1.5 hours from the Itabaca Channel, where a broad, sandy-rocky platform at 10 meters depth provides the perfect stage for an unforgettable underwater adventure.

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This calm, protected site is ideal for divers of all levels and teams with marine life. From graceful white-tip and Galapagos sharks to elegant green turtles, stingrays, marbled and golden rays, mobulas, and starfish, you’ll be surrounded by life at every turn.

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At the platform’s edge, cliffs descend into deeper waters starting at 15 meters, offering an excellent chance to encounter pelagic species. After your dive, cruise toward Pinnacle Rock for a unique opportunity to spot the endemic Galapagos penguin — the only penguin that lives on the equator!

(B,L)

Highlights at Bartolomé Dive Site:

• White-tip & Galapagos sharks

• Green sea turtles

• Stingrays, marbled rays, golden rays & mobulas

• Manta rays (in the cold season)

• Sea lions

• Starfish, stone scorpion fish, flounders

• Grunts, snappers, Galapagos groupers, hogfish, jacks, parrotfish, and more.

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DAY 7: MOSQUERA SOUTH / DAPHNE

Nestled between North Seymour and Baltra, Mosquera Islet is a diver’s paradise that rivals its more famous neighbors in every way. Just 25 minutes from the Itabaca Channel, this expansive sandy islet

boasts thrilling dive sites frequented by hammerhead, Galapagos, and whitetip sharks, as well as an incredible variety of rays, reef fish, and marine curiosities like garden eels. The southern site, Mosquera South, offers a dynamic diving experience with moderate to strong currents, yet remains accessible even for beginners. Descend along a sloping reef starting at just 5 meters, then explore a rich rocky landscape down to 18 meters, blanketed in black corals and mollusks. Deep still, a dramatic underwater rift plunges to 30 meters, where hammerhead sharks gather at a natural cleaning station — a rare and unforgettable encounter.

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Daphne Minor : Often overlooked and always uncrowded, Daphne Minor is a true hidden gem, located just 40 minutes northwest of the Itabaca Channel. This stunning dive site offers a vivid underwater world of colorful reef life, unique topography, and a mix of macro and pelagic species — all in one dive! 

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Currents here range from moderate to strong, but the site suits divers of all levels. Begin your adventure in a shallow cave where whitetip sharks rest and sea lions dart in and out to play, then choose your path: one side features gentle platforms with coral-filled crevices, while the other drops into a dramatic wall covered in black coral, a hotspot for seahorses, blennies, and other elusive microfauna. With gorgonians, sponges, and vibrant corals blanketing the reef, this dive is as colorful as it is exciting — and you’re likely to have it all to yourself. (B,L)

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• Galapagos, whitetip & hammerhead sharks

• Stingrays, mobulas, sea lions, green turtles

• Bonito tuna, parrotfish, trumpetfish, barracudas

• Galapagos groupers, snappers, grunts

• Surgeonfish, spiny mackerels, rainbow runners, steel pompanos

• Macro wonders: seahorses, Galapagos blennies, blueband gobies, longnose & coral tufted

basses, frogfish, lizardfish, and more

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DAY 8: TORTUGA BAY AND CHARLES DARWIN STATION

Tortuga Bay has a gigantic, perfectly preserved beach with pristine white sands, turquoise waters, and abundant wildlife. It is forbidden to swimmers and is preserved for wildlife where many marine iguanas, Galapagos crabs and birds are seen dotted along the volcanic rocks. There is a separate cove where you can swim where it is common to view white-tip reef sharks swimming in groups and on occasion tiger sharks.

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When you arrive at the entrance, there is a trail that leads to the beach. The trail is paved and well- maintained, and visitors can enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way. Along the path, visitors can spot various animals like iguanas, birds, and sea turtles, making it an excellent opportunity for nature photography. Kayak opportunity. 

 

Lunch in a local restaurant. After lunch, visit the famous Charles Darwin Station. The Charles Darwin Research Station is a must-visit destination in Puerto Ayora, for those interested in conservation and the remarkable Galapagos Islands. Here you will be introduced to the groundbreaking work being done by scientists and researchers.

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The tour begins with a visit to the museum, where visitors can view displays and exhibits that explain the history of the Galapagos Islands, the work of Charles Darwin, and the ongoing conservation efforts on the islands. The museum also gives visitors a glimpse into the ecosystems, plant life, and animals found on the islands. Next, visitors will tour the breeding centers for giant tortoises and land iguanas. These are remarkable creatures that have been rescued from various areas of the island where they were endangered. The Charles Darwin Research Station aims to increase their populations so that they may be reintroduced into their natural habitats.  (B,L)

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DAY 9: TRANSFER OUT

Private transfer in time for your flight back home. (B)

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COSTS: Starting at $4299

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Prices include:

✔ Selected accommodation (2 nights in Quito and 4 nights in Galápagos)

✔ Meals as described in the itinerary.

✔ Transfers in Quito (Airport – hotel – airport)

✔ Transfers in Galapagos (Airport - hotel - airport)

✔ English speaking Naturalist Guide category III

✔ 5 or 7mm wetsuit, regulator (yoke) with pressure and depth gauge, BCD, mask, fins, boots, hood, cotton gloves, weight belt and 2 air tanks (for the diving tours)

✔ Snorkeling equipment for the day tours in Galapagos

 

Prices does not include:

✘ International air tickets

✘ Air ticket to Galapagos (UIO-GPS-GYE) with LATAM AIRLINES $525.00 per person ✘ INGALA immigration card $20.00 per person (subject to change)

✘ Entrance fee To the National Park $200.00 per adult

✘ Soft drinks

✘ Alcoholic beverages

✘ Nitrox tanks ($15.00 each, must be certified)

✘ Dive computer ($15.00 day)

✘ Gratuities

✘Personal expenses

✘ Medical or travel insurance

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🗓️ Limited spots available — book now for the 2025 & 2026 season!

 

Whether you’re a seasoned diver or dreaming of your first bucket-list dive, the Galápagos delivers unforgettable magic beneath the waves.

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Contact Mariah Travel for details, dates, and to reserve your spot today!