Activities on Galapagos
We doubt you want to visit the Galapagos Islands just to learn Spanish. And why would you when you can spend your afternoons and weekends in one of the world’s most pristine natural paradises, snorkeling, swimming, surfing, hiking, diving, or doing just plain old nothing on the beach? Keep reading for more about our Galapagos Islands activities!
Weekday Activities
Depending on which time of the day you prefer to take your Spanish course with us, you’ll have loads of free time to go exploring! To help you discover the best this majestic archipelago has to offer, we’ve lined up a range of post- Spanish school activities on the Galapagos Islands.
Free Activities
- Charles Darwin Research Station. Once home to Lonesome George – the approximately 100-year old Pinta tortoise, the last of his kind –, the Station hosts an interactive museum and information center focusing on conservation projects. You can also marvel at Giant Galapagos Tortoises in captivity!
- Santa Cruz Island Highlights. Aside from hosting one of our Spanish programs, Santa Cruz Island offers us the chance to experience the absolute essence of the Galapagos Islands: its diversity. We’ll visit the highlands, the beaches, the volcanoes and lava tunnels, see tortoises in the wild and marvel at the wide range of flora and fauna here.
- Tortuga Bay on Santa Cruz. Worthy of its own place in our activities schedule, we’ve kept Tortuga Bay aside! This series of beaches on Santa Cruz Island was named for its importance in breeding, as the local tortoises come here to lay their eggs. Great for snorkeling, swimming and exploring, you’ll also spot birds like pelicans and flamingos, as well as marine iguanas.
- The Daily Tour. The Galapagos Islands are comprised of 20 islands! While you might not get to see them all, at Ailola Galapagos we certainly want to help you try. We offer daily tours to one of the following islands: Isabela, Florena, North Seymour, or Bartolomé. Note: The amount of daily island tours you do with us will depend on the duration of your course.
- The Bay Tour. Santa Cruz Island is the gift that keeps on giving. Here, we’ll visit Playa de los Perros to discover blue-footed boobies, pelicans and more marine iguanas. We’ll then swim at Las Grietas, a volcanic formation filled with clear fresh water. From high above, we’ll look down on La Lobería, home to a colony of sea lions and often Giant Tortoises.
Optional add-ons
As the most reputable Spanish school around town, we’ve got high standards when it comes to the relationships we form with local service providers. That’s why we can confidently set you up with some amazing optional add-ons for your Galapagos Islands stay. These include:
- Spanish & PADI Scuba Diver Certification
- Spanish & PADI Open Water Diver Certification
Weekend Excursions
There’s no better place to be on the weekend than a tropical island paradise! Through our trusted network of tour service providers on the Galapagos Islands, we’ll set you up with unbeatable full-day or entire weekend excursions to compliment your premium Spanish courses with us! These include:
Day Trips
- Las Bachas Beach.Comprised of the sand from decomposed coral, this pearly white beach is truly like no other! A favorite destination for nesting sea turtles, it’s also quite popular with visiting tourists! Nearby you’ll also find a lagoon with a broad range of native birds, like black-necked stilts and whimbrels.
- Bartolomé Island. With its Hollywood-worthy ‘Pinnacle Rock’ (which appeared in the film Master and Commander), Bartolomé Island is a must see member of the Galapagos Islands archipelago. It has 2 visitor centers and incredible views from near its peak. In good old Galapagos Islands fashion, you can also swim, snorkel and spot animals here.
- Plaza Islands. If for just one reason, a visit to the Plaza Islands is your chance to see the Galapagos Islands’ largest population of iguanas and prickly pear cacti. These twin islands form part of the archipelago’s smaller formations, but still also manage to pack in sea lions, unique gull species, frigate birds and the brown pelican and amazing views!
- North Seymour. Low and flat, North Seymour Island is covered in equally low, bushy vegetation, which plays home to a huge population of majestic frigate birds. It also hosts a large colony of blue-footed boobies, which are famous for their amusing courtship dance that happens around nesting season.