Upon arrival at the Baltra Airport, meet a local naturalist guide. Then, transfer across the narrow Itabaca Channel to Santa Cruz Island, and drive up to Galapagos Safari Camp. Settle into camp while an expert guide captures your children’s imagination with a presentation of the animal species they will discover throughout their stay.

In the afternoon, enjoy a delicious lunch and explore the Galapagos Safari Camps’ 135-acre farm, where tropical fruit and cacao flourish. Before sundown, visit the lava tunnels and greet giant tortoises roaming the National Tortoise Reserve.

After breakfast, visit a neighboring organic coffee plantation to learn about responsible small-scale farming in the Galapagos. The children have the chance to pick coffee beans if the season allows. Later, drive to the vast Cerro Mesa crater for a short walk in the wetlands. Keep an eye out for a wonderful variety of birds and the occasional bathing tortoise.

After lunch at a local restaurant, bike ride downhill to Garrapatero Beach, where the contrast of mangroves, black lava, white sand, and turquoise water, along with its birdlife and flamingo lagoon, is magnificent. Hop in sea kayaks and explore the area. Marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, and countless shorebirds can be found here. In the evening, head back to camp and relax while the children partake in a private art class with a local artist.

Spend the day spotting wildlife and snorkeling on one of the uninhabited islands easily accessed by a day-yacht from Santa Cruz Island. The exact island location depends on travel dates, but options include North Seymour, South Plazas, Santa Fe, and Bartolomé, all of which are rich in wildlife and offer wonderful snorkeling opportunities.

Note: This is a shared boat excursion unless requested otherwise. Destination will depend on your dates.

An excursion with local fishermen is a favorite among children visiting the Galapagos Safari Camp. The fishermen have very safe and modern speedboats, which are chartered privately for the day. With the expert guide acting as translator, the fishermen share anecdotes from a lifetime at sea, and the children learn local fishing tricks. After fishing, land on a deserted beach and snorkel in a secret spot only known to locals. Snorkeling can also be substituted for the fishing excursion if that is requested. The local guides are there to adapt the day to your preferences.

A trip to the Galapagos Islands would not be complete without a visit to the famous Charles Darwin Research Station. While here, learn about its preservation efforts and scientific research. The children will have an up-close experience with the tortoises that are the islands’ namesake. Parents can enjoy free time to wander around Puerto Ayora, while the guide takes the children to a local playground or on a tour of the local fish market on the waterfront. Later, take a speedboat to Tortuga Bay, a white sandy beach with basking marine iguanas, and shallow turquoise waters teeming with white-tip reef sharks and fish. Or frolic with sea lions on a snorkeling boat excursion.