Galapagos Islands Tour for Women
October 21-27, 2026
Trip Overview
Dates: October 21-27, 2026
Duration: 7 Days
Investment: Starting at $5,885
Activity Level: Moderate - Travelers should be comfortable walking regularly without assistance, including walking tours and exploring historic neighborhoods and cobblestone streets throughout Lisbon, Sintra, and Porto.
Availability: Book Now
Experience the Best of The Galapagos Islands
From the sun-dappled streets of Lisbon to dreamy Porto, this week-long women’s journey highlights the best of Portugal.
Discover the enchanting landscapes of Sintra, soak up the seaside charm of Cascais, and experience Portugal through the food, traditions, art, and local craftsmanship that make it so special. Along the way, you’ll taste your way through Lisbon, make your own Portuguese tile, visit a family-run cheese farm, explore Porto’s street art, and cook alongside a local chef.
There’s plenty of time built in to explore on your own, too. Shop the boutiques, linger over a meal, taste some port wine, or simply slow down and enjoy being somewhere new.
This journey is about the good things in life: friendship, fun, and food.
Leave the logistics to us and prepare to be impressed.
Is This Guided Galapagos Islands Tour Right for You?
You’ll enjoy this journey if you:
Want to experience Lisbon, Porto, Sintra, Cascais, and Aveiro in one thoughtfully planned trip.
Love experiencing a destination through its food, art, history, and local traditions.
Are comfortable with regular walking, including guided walking tours and cobblestone streets.
Want hands-on experiences like a Portuguese tile workshop and cooking class alongside sightseeing.
Like having a balance of planned activities and free time to shop, explore, relax, or grab a meal on your own.
Want the transportation, accommodations, guides, and logistics handled for you.
Are traveling solo and want to explore Portugal with a small group of other women.
This is a moderate activity level journey with plenty of walking and exploring, balanced with relaxed meals, cultural experiences, and free time along the way.
Galapagos Island Adventure Highlights
Taste Your Way Through Lisbon
Explore Chiado, Bairro Alto, Rossio, and Alfama on a guided foodie walking tour featuring Portuguese specialties and local flavors.
Get Hands-On With Portuguese Traditions
Paint your own Portuguese tile, visit a family-run cheese farm, and learn to prepare a four-course Portuguese dinner with a local chef.
Discover Storybook Sintra
Visit the National Palace of Sintra, wander the cobblestone streets of the old village, and sample local treats like travesseiros and queijadas.
See a Different Side of Porto
Explore Porto’s contemporary creativity on a street art tour with a local art historian, then enjoy free time to shop, visit museums, taste port wine, or wander on your own.
Experience Portugal’s Coast
Take in the landscapes of Arrábida Natural Park, enjoy seaside Cascais, and travel through the coastal towns and scenery between Lisbon and Porto.
Slow Down & Savor Portugal
Enjoy beautiful hotels, memorable meals, plenty of independent exploration, and the company of other Bold Spirit women along the way.
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Plan to be at the hotel no later than 3:00PM.
Settle into your room before meeting the rest of the Bold Spirit Travel crew and your tour leader in the lobby for our afternoon orientation.
Later, you will get the lay of the land on a guided foodie walking tour through downtown Lisbon. Explore the neighborhoods of Chiado, Bairro Alto, Rossio, and Alfama.Along the way, enjoy a progressive meal through six tasting stops, sampling Portuguese delicacies that tell the story of Lisbon’s rich (and often underrated) culinary heritage. Each bite connects us to local tradition, culture, and craft.
The experience wraps up with a cocktail and conversation on lively Pink Street — the perfect toast to our first day together.
Meals: Orientation drink, Walking foodie tour dinner
Hotel: The Editory Riverside Hotel or similar
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You’re officially out of office and starting to feel those vacay vibes.
After breakfast, we will explore the scenic and soulful Setúbal Peninsula, where wild landscapes meet deep-rooted tradition.
This day is all about slowing down, savoring authentic flavors, and connecting with local craftsmanship.
Our first stop is a family-run cheese farm where you’ll discover the process behind one of Portugal’s most iconic regional cheeses. The visit ends with a delicious tasting of freshly made products — from cheeses to fruit preserves and other local specialties.
Later, travel along one of Portugal’s most stunning coastal roads, with sweeping views of Arrábida Natural Park — where lush green cliffs meet turquoise waters. Along the way, we’ll make scenic stops to fully appreciate and photograph this special area.
Enjoy a seaside lunch in the serene Portinho da Arrábida.
In the afternoon, immerse yourself in Portugal’s centuries-old tile-making tradition during a hands-on workshop at a local atelier. Follow the process from shaping to firing, and then paint your own tile — creating a one-of-a-kind keepsake crafted by you.
Returning to Lisbon, explore the monument-rich district of Belém, steeped in history and grandeur.
Stroll Belém’s gardens and admire the Jerónimos Monastery, the Belém Tower, and the Monument to the Discoveries. Conclude the visit with a walk across the MAAT rooftop, taking in the stunning views from this modern architectural landmark.
Dinner on your own this evening. Grab a Bold Spirit buddy and head out to the many restaurants around our hotel or eat onsite at the hotel’s restaurant.Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel: The Editory Riverside Hotel or similar
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After breakfast, it’s time for a full-day adventure to one of Portugal’s most magical regions — Sintra.
Just 40 km from Lisbon, Sintra is a place straight out of a storybook — with misty forests, whimsical palaces, and lush gardens woven into a landscape that has inspired poets and artists for centuries.
Begin your day with a guided visit to the National Palace of Sintra, a blend of Gothic and Manueline architecture with a rich royal history.
Wander the narrow cobblestone streets of Sintra’s old village with your guide.
Soak in the charm, browse small artisan shops, and stop for a tasting of the village’s famous travesseiros or queijadas, paired with coffee or tea. You will have time to shop and look around on your own.
Pause for a beautifully prepared picnic lunch in a scenic setting with the group.
Later, follow the Atlantic coastline toward Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point of continental Europe.
Arrive in Cascais, a charming seaside town once favored by royalty. Take a short stroll through its sun-drenched squares and take in the harbor before heading to Estoril, a town steeped in 20th-century intrigue, glamour, and wartime tales.
It’s a short ride from Cascais back to Lisbon for the night.
Dinner on your own this evening. Grab a Bold Spirit buddy and head out to the many restaurants around our hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel: The Editory Riverside Hotel or similar
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Alas, it's time to say goodbye to Lisbon and head north.
Relax in your private, air-conditioned vehicle as we make our way toward Porto.
We will stop along the way for a very special seaside lunch.
All aboard the boat as we visit a local oyster nursery nestled in the tranquil lagoon. Learn about the sustainable aquaculture practices of the region, followed by a fresh, sea-inspired lunch in this serene setting. (If you do not eat seafood or oysters, don’t worry, there is an alternative menu.)
End your lunch with a tasting of the region’s most beloved sweet: ovos moles, a silky egg and sugar confection wrapped in delicate rice paper.
Before departing, enjoy a stroll through Aveiro, often called the “Venice of Portugal” for its charming canals and colorful moliceiro boats.
Admire the historic center, known for its elegant Art Nouveau architecture, before heading north to Porto.
Check into your hotel room and enjoy the rest of the evening to relax and get to know Porto on your own or with a Bold Spirit buddy.
Dinner on your own this evening. Your tour leader will have recommendations for you.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel: Palácio Cedofeita or similar -
It’s time to get to know Porto a bit better.
Porto is best known for its port wine and stunning baroque architecture, but there’s so much more to discover. Beyond the postcard views, the city bursts with contemporary creativity.
This morning you’ll set out for a guided street art walking tour with a local art historian.
Get to know artwork by notable local artists such as Costah, Arisca, and BerriBlue. Your guide will share the stories behind each piece, as told by the artists themselves—from bold public murals to subtle paste-ups and tile-based interventions.
We will wrap up this unique tour just in time for lunch.
You have the whole afternoon to explore Porto, go out for lunch, do some shopping, taste port wines, and visit a museum or two if that’s your jam.
Dinner on your own this evening in Porto. Your tour leader will have recommendations for you.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Palácio Cedofeita or similar
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Wake up slowly. Linger over breakfast. There is no rush today.
You have the whole morning to explore Porto’s many sites (we have suggestions), shop, go port wine tasting, get a spa treatmen, and relax.
There is a lot to see in this UNESCO heritage packed city, and this morning you’ll choose your own adventure.
You might pop into the Mercado do Bolhão (marketplace) and the many shops surrounding it and hit up the Time Out Market for lunch.
Later in the afternoon, we’ll gather for a special cooking class with a local chef.
Together, we’ll prepare a four-course Portuguese dinner as your chef shares stories, techniques, and the cultural context of each dish.
Sit down to this farewell dinner and savor the food you have made together.
Raise a glass to a great week in Portugal and dream up plans to meet again in some new destination with Bold Spirit friends.
Meals: Breakfast, Farewell dinner cooking class
Hotel: Palácio Cedofeita or similar
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It’s hard to believe it, but our adventure wraps up today.
Before we part ways, be sure to swap contact info with your new travel friends—you never know where your next reunion might be!
After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, we’ll say our goodbyes before heading off to the airport or train station.
Your tour leaders will be happy to help arrange a taxi at the front desk for you.
And if your schedule allows, consider staying a little longer to soak up more of Porto’s charm—you won’t regret it.
Meals: Breakfast
This itinerary can be modified at the discretion of the Bold Spirit Travel tour leader. If part of the trip has to be changed, we will replace the experience with something equally awesome. We promise!
Your Seven-Day Guided Galapagos Islands Itinerary
What's Included in Your Galapagos Islands Adventure?
What’s Included:
Six nights at beautiful hotels in dreamy locations (based on double occupancy – we will pair you with a roommate, you can stay with a friend, or you can choose a private upgrade for an extra fee)
An English speaking Bold Spirit tour leader accompanying you every step of the way
All meals as indicated in the detailed itinerary
Land transfers in private vans
A small group experience—only 12-15 Bold Spirit women travelers on each trip
Local bilingual guides
All equipment needed for activities
Luggage transfers from hotel to hotel
A packing list to get you ready for this Bold Spirit adventure
A pre-tour Zoom call to meet other travelers
Gratuities for local guides and servers at group meals
A private WhatsApp group for the trip to stay in touch and share photos
What’s NOT Included:
Round-trip airfare
Gratuities for you tour leaders and private drivers
Airport transfers (it’s easy to take a taxi to the hotel from the airport or the train station)
Cost for additional activities
Meals not outlined in the detailed itinerary
Alcoholic beverages unless otherwise specified
Personal expenses such as souvenirs
Optional private room upgrade
Early hotel check in
Telephone charges
Room service/minibar
Laundry
Traveling Solo in The Galapagos Islands
“This was my third BST trip and, once again, Regina and the BST crew did not disappoint! The guides were well experienced and knowledgable. I felt safe and cared for throughout my trip. In addition to the hiking, we experienced several other informative, educational and fun activities! ”
— Paulette W.
Activity Level, Accessibility, and Preparation
Activity Level & Accessibility:
This is a moderate activity level journey. Travelers should be comfortable walking regularly without assistance, including walking tours and exploring historic neighborhoods and cobblestone streets throughout the trip.
What to Bring:
Comfortable walking shoes
Day pack or bag
Reusable water bottle
You will receive a detailed packing list upon registering
Travel Insurance
Insurance is strongly recommended for your Bold Spirit trip. We highly recommend that you obtain adequate coverage for cancellation, curtailment, and loss of luggage and personal effects.
Your deposit and final trip balance can then be recovered via a claim to your insurance provider in the event that you must cancel your adventure due to unforeseen circumstances.
Getting to Portugal
We recommend flying into Lisbon and out of Porto. You can also fly round-trip through Lisbon and take the train from Porto back to Lisbon after the tour. Airport transfers are not included. Pasted text
Private Rooms
We know that some women need their own space. We pay the same amount for the room whether there are 2 people in it or just 1. When you get the private room package, you are paying for the entire room rather than just ½ of it. This is why it costs more. Thanks for understanding.
Roommate Matching
We are happy to pair guests with a roommate which allows you to save money and make a friend (we must have two women requesting this to pair you together). Solo travelers wanting to share with another solo female can book a private room and request a match with a fellow traveler. If a match comes up, we can move you both into a shared room and adjust the package price. Ask us about this.
Minimum Requirement
Bold Spirit Travel requires a minimum number of guests in order to confirm a trip departure. A trip will be officially confirmed once the minimum guest count has been met (6 guests).
Bold Spirit Travel reserves the right to cancel any trip that does not meet the required minimum attendance. In such cases, all payments made to Bold Spirit Travel will be fully refunded.
Guests are advised not to book airfare or other travel arrangements until their trip has been confirmed. Bold Spirit Travel cannot be held responsible for any personal expenses, including airline tickets, incurred as a result of changes to itineraries or trip cancellations.
Deposit & Refund Policy
Payment dates:
Deposit: $700 upon registering
2 subsequent payments
Refund amounts are determined as follows:
120+ days before trip: Full refund minus non-refundable deposit
120–90 days before trip: 50% of balance minus non-refundable deposit
90 days or fewer before trip: No refund
Ready to Explore the Galapagos Islands With Bold Spirit Travel?
Have questions about traveling to the Galapagos Islands with Bold Spirit Travel? Book a free discovery call!