Whether you are looking for a serene place for your vacation, where you can get rid of all your stress, or want to head to an exciting vacation, full of tourist activities, a trip to the Galapagos Islands will serve both your purpose. With the vast beaches, active volcanoes, amazing wildlife and activities like snorkeling, scuba diving and cruising through the remotest islands, Galapagos happens to be one of the most amazing tourist destinations on earth. The elderly people can enjoy resting on the cruise and witnessing the vast, placid blue waters, while the young and enthusiastic ones can make the most of their holiday by getting involved in exciting sports. Since Galapagos Island tours offer so much to be explored by the tourists, it often gets difficult to schedule your program. To help you out on this aspect, here some of the must-do things. Make sure you include these in your itinerary, while travelling to the Galapagos Islands:
Cruise Tours –
The best way to explore the region is to take a cruise. You can choose from a wide range of cruises, like motor vessels, sailing boats, catamarans etc. According to your preference as well as budget. Almost all the cruise ships are lavishly designed and provide accommodation to the tourists, both on board as well as on the Island. Apart from the regular amenities like bar, air-conditioned cabins, lounge etc, some of the luxury cruises offers special observatory corners from where the playful activities of the dolphins and the humpback whales can be witnessed. Most importantly, along with providing accommodation options, these cruise ships take you to the famous islands like Isabela, Santa Cruz, Floreana, Santiago etc.
Multisport tours – 
These tours are especially designed for those sports enthusiasts and adventure seekers who love excitements. The natural environment of the region makes it a more ideal place for such sport activities. Hiking and biking, snorkeling, kayaking, and viewing the amazing wildlife are some of the major activities that are included in these tour plans. Scuba diving is another exciting thing that you can check out if you would like to meet a wide variety of species such as the whales, giant sharks, green turtles, white tip reef shark, mobulas, reef fishes, eagle rays, barracudas, Galapagos eel, seahorses, stingrays closely, and to experience the amazing marine world that thrives in this part of the world. Just imagine how it would feel to swim by the side of a giant Manta Ray or a flock of Galapagos Hammerhead sharks!
Experience the wildlife – 
One of the major aspects of the trip to the Galapagos Islands is viewing the wonderful wildlife of the place. This region is home to some of the most unique species on earth and what’s more interesting is the fact that you will get to witness them in their genuine self since they are not habituated to the presence of human beings. Giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas, the special equatorial penguins, lazy sea lions, green turtles, flightless cormorants are some of the species that demand special attention.
Land tours – 
The land tours mainly refer to the Galapagos Island tours, in which the tourists are taken to the famous islands like Bartolome, Fernandina, Floreana, Baltra, Santa Cruz, Isabela and many more. The Santa Cruz Island is home to the famous Charles Darwin Station where the visitors get to know about the tortoise research and breeding programs. One can also witness the six different types of vegetation here. If you have eagerly waited to witness some active volcanoes, which are one of the major attractions of the Galapagos, Isabela Island is the place to visit. Make sure you also check out the five different species of the giant tortoise, while touring the island.
Bird watching – Galapagos also happens to be an ideal place for birdwatchers. The Galapagos National Park plays host to more than 1600 species of birds and is known to be a birding paradise of South America. Hawk, hummingbirds, mockingbirds are only a few of the popular species that you can witness on a trip to the Galapagos Islands. Those who want to experience the wilderness to the maximum can also trek to the birding sites situated in the Ecuador and book accommodation in the jungle lodges.
So, take your pick from these to make the most of your trip to the Galapagos Islands.
Author Bio: +Samantha is a travel freak from San Diego who is now residing in Quito, Ecuador since past few months. She loves visiting places and exploring everything she can. Deeply influenced by the Evolution of the human race, she now works with Nature Galapagos & Ecuador as a travel informant and loves sharing knowledge about the distinct and extinct species left on earth.