Land-based Galápagos travel · Local naturalist expertise
Land-based Galápagos journeys, planned from the islands
Travel independently, ask us to arrange selected services, or let GalapEx build a complete itinerary around your interests—with advice shaped by more than three decades of guiding.
Marine iguanas at Tortuga Bay, Santa Cruz
Galápagos-based planning · Naturalist guiding since 1992 · Selected services or complete itineraries
A different way to experience the islands
A land-based trip lets you stay in the inhabited islands, choose the excursions that genuinely suit you, and experience local life as well as wildlife. It can be relaxed or adventurous, independently arranged or fully guided—and it can still include some of the Galápagos’ finest visitor sites.
Choose your pace
Spend longer where your interests take you, with time for free visitor sites, beaches, highlands and town life.
Choose your experiences
Combine day cruises, wildlife encounters, walking, snorkelling and independent exploration.
Understand what you see
Go beyond a list of attractions with honest guidance, natural history and more than three decades of field experience.
Explore the inhabited islands
Discover what you can do independently, what requires a guide or boat, how long to allow, and which places best match your interests.
Santa Cruz
Highland tortoises, lava landscapes, beaches, visitor centres and the widest choice of day cruises.
Isabela
Volcanoes, wetlands, marine life and a quieter island atmosphere centred on Puerto Villamil.
San Cristóbal
Sea lions, dramatic coastlines, excellent snorkelling and easy access to highland habitats.
Floreana
A small, remote community with remarkable human history and a glimpse of an older Galápagos.
Start with the right questions
There is no single perfect Galápagos itinerary. The best trip depends on your time, budget, interests, mobility, tolerance for boats and the wildlife experiences that matter most to you.
Looking for a different kind of Galápagos journey?
Choose the website that best matches the kind of Galápagos experience or information you are looking for.
Galápagos cruises
For multi-day expedition cruises and help choosing the right vessel and itinerary.
Student and educational tours
For university, college and school groups planning educational programmes in the islands.
Local knowledge. Thoughtful planning.
GalapEx is a Galápagos-based travel company led by Paul McFarling, a biologist and naturalist guide who has lived and worked in the islands since 1992. We use that experience to create well-planned land-based journeys suited to each traveller’s interests, time and budget.
Explore the free planning information, discover the islands, watch Paul’s natural-history videos, or ask GalapEx to create a journey around your interests.