The Best Snorkelling Tours for Solo Travellers

Giant tortoises? Check. Sea lions? Absolutely. Penguins? Yep, them too. If you’re a wildlife lover, the top spot on your travel bucket list may well go to the Galápagos Islands – a volcanic archipelago around 965km (600mi) off the coast of mainland Ecuador, scattered either side of the Equator. On this epic five-day adventure, you’ll have ample opportunities to snorkel and observe the abundant marine biodiversity around Santa Cruz and San Cristóbal. Plus, you’ll sleep in a luxury tented camp in a giant tortoise reserve, venture out to one of the uninhabited islands, and go kayaking in the Itabaca Channel.

Colombia’s sun-soaked Caribbean coast often gets overlooked in favour of more established travel destinations, such as Bogotá and Medellín, but those who venture to the north are rewarded with seemingly endless swathes of golden sand beaches, spectacular jungle hiking trails and fun-loving coastal towns. On Culture Trip’s eight-day adventure, starting in Cartagena and moving east along the coast to Palomino, you’ll take a trip to the Rosario Islands – an idyllic archipelago around 100km (62mi) off the mainland, renowned for its peaceful beaches, abundant marine life and coral reefs. So grab a mask and a pair of fins and spend a day snorkelling, swimming and sunbathing in this tropical paradise.