8-Day Galapagos Island Hopping Tour: Isabela, Giant Tortoises, and Snorkeling

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
BALTRA – SANTA CRUZ ISLAND – ISABELA ISLAND
2 stops
1
Isabela Island
Option 1: Itinerary for flights arriving at Baltra before 12:00 PM At Baltra airport, an English speaking guide will pick you up to go to Puerto Ayora to enjoy your lunch. After lunch you’ll take the speedboat to Isabela Island. This can be a bumpy ride so provide yourself a waterproof jacket and motion sickness medication if necessary. Upon arrival on Isabela Island, a driver will pick you up and drop you off at your hotel.
6 hours • Admission ticket free
2
Option 2: Itinerary for flights arriving at Baltra after 12:00 PM If your flight is scheduled to arrive after 12:00 PM, you’ll stay at Santa Cruz Island on the first day because the last speedboat to Isabela Island leaves around 03:00 PM. You won’t have lunch in this case. The rest of the tour usually looks like this: Day 2: Santa Fe, Day 3 Tortuga Bay & Charles Darwin Station, Day 4 Santa Cruz highlands, Bahia bay tour, Day 5 morning boat to Isabela, Wetlands & Tintoreras, Day 6 Los Tuneles, Day 7 kayak in Puerto Villamil, visit Isabela highlands, Day 8 morning boat to Santa Cruz and transfer out.
6 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 2
KAYAK IN PUERTO VILLAMIL – ISABELA ISLAND HIGHLANDS
1 stop
3
Playa Puerto Villamil
After breakfast your guide will accompany you for a relaxing and beautiful kayak excursion in the bay of Puerto Villamil. Here you will be able to spot various endemic animals such as marine iguanas, sea lions, and penguins. After this, you will return to the hotel for lunch and a short rest. In the afternoon, you will make your way to the Highlands of Isabela and visit La Cueva de Sucre, The Mango viewpoint, and Campo Duro, which is another place of giant tortoises.
6 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 3
TINTORERAS AND WETLANDS
2 stops
4
In the morning, you will have a tour to The Wetlands where you will visit the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center to spot small and giant tortoises in their natural habitat. The next activity is a visit to The Wall of Tears. Additionally, you will visit a small lava tunnel. Above the tunnel you can see the intertidal landscape that offers a tapestry of Galapagos Sesuvium between El Túnel del Estero and Love Beach. * Please have in mind that the total length of the walk in The Wetlands area is approximately 3 to 4 hours.
Admission ticket not included
5
Las Tintoreras Islet
After lunch, you will have a little break and then you will visit Tintoreras Islet, where white-tip sharks known as Tintoreras come daily to rest at the bottom. You will go to the pier of Puerto Villamil, to board a boat to cross to the islet which is located across the bay. It will be necessary for passengers to use walking shoes or sneakers (closed shoes) to cross the volcanic rocks.
Admission ticket free
Day 4
SNORKELING IN LOS TUNELES
1 stop
6
Los Tuneles
Early in the morning, you will go on boat ride from Puerto Villamil. You will explore the brilliant scenery in Los Tuneles which is considered the most beautiful place to snorkel in Isabela Island. Around the Los Tuneles you will find a highly contrasted color for snorkeling with clear, calm water. You will get the chance to spot large quantities of seabirds and species feedings such as tortoises, swimming iguanas, sea lions, manta rays, Galapagos penguins, lobsters, and sea snakes. This exciting activity takes approximately about 6 hours including the boat rides and a snack before a short hike.
6 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 5
CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH STATION – TORTUGA BAY
2 stops
7
Charles Darwin Research Station
At 06:00 AM you will take the speedboat to Santa Cruz Island where you’ll have breakfast. Then you’ll go to the Charles Darwin Research Station where the guides will explain more about the famous giant tortoises.
6 hours • Admission ticket free
8
Tortuga Bay Beach
After lunch at a local restaurant, you will visit Tortuga Bay. Think: white sand, captivating blue water and observing marine iguanas, pelicans and flamingos. It is a 2.5 km (30-45 minutes) walk over a paved path from Puerto Ayora. You can swim here. It’s possible to return from Tortuga Bay to Puerto Ayora by boat. This costs $ 10 p.p. + $ 10 for the boat ride of the guide. The departure time is at 05:30 PM.
Admission ticket free
Day 6
SANTA FE ISLAND
1 stop
9
Santa Fe Island
Brace yourself for an encounter unlike any other. Today you will either visit Santa Fe or Pinzon Islands. This will depend on the Galapagos National Park Regulations and will be decided on the day the tour operates. If you visit Santa Fe, you will discover a pristine bay with crystal-clear waters for a thrilling snorkeling adventure. Following this, a wet landing awaits at Playa Escondida or the Garrapatero Beach on Santa Cruz Island, giving you ample time to explore this mesmerizing beach. Alternatively, the Pinzon Island tour unveils an amazing display of marine iguanas and playful sea lions. La Fe, is a picturesque beach cradled by mangroves and rocky terrain, showcasing an array of captivating marine life from sea turtles to small sharks and colorful fish. During this specific day tour, you will also have the opportunity to experience "Pezca Vivencial" which is translated as "experiential fishing" focused on the enjoyment and personal connection, rather than just the catch.
6 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 7
BAHIA HALF DAY & SANTA CRUZ HIGHLANDS HALF DAY TOUR
1 stop
10
Malecon de Puerto Ayora
With the Bay Tour you visit the highlights around Puerto Ayora by boat. The first destination will be La Loberia where you find sea lions. Next you will go to Punta Camaño Islet. Here you will snorkel with sea lions and a large variety of fish. Your next activity will be a visit to the Channel of Love. This is another formation by fissure that results in a beautiful sleepy water channel with excellent scenic beauty. Finally Playa de Los Perros, a 15-minute walk until you reach the beach. In the afternoon you visit the highlands of Santa Cruz with the giant tortoises. You will do a small hike on a privately owned ranch and you can see the big tortoises in their natural habitat.
6 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 8
TRANSFER OUT – BALTRA
1 stop
11
After breakfast, you will travel to Baltra Airport with a Spanish speaking driver, where you will depart to Quito or Guayaquil. End of services.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
• It is recommended to book flights with an early arrival time to the Galapagos Islands and a late departure time from the Galapagos Islands to make sure you can enjoy all of the activities of the tour. Late arrivals and/or early departures mean you might miss some activities.
• If your flight is delayed or canceled and you cannot make it to Puerto Ayora in time to take the last speedboat to Isabela Island, which departs around 02:00 PM, the team assist you with finding accommodation on Santa Cruz Island but this will be on your own expense. You will miss the planned activities.

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