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Main Island: Santa Cruz- Isabela
Duration: 7 days / 6 nights
MINIMUN 2 PERSONAS
ITINERARY
DAY 1 – ARRIVAL IN SAN CRISTOBAL | EL JUNCO, GALAPAGUERA & PUERTO CHINO
Welcome to the Galápagos Islands!
Upon arrival at San Cristóbal Airport, make your own way to your hotel. Once you are ready, your private guided excursion begins with a visit to El Junco Lagoon, a beautiful freshwater lake located in the highlands of San Cristóbal. A gentle walk around the lagoon takes approximately 30 minutes and offers panoramic views across the island. You may also see frigatebirds using the freshwater lagoon to rinse salt from their feathers.
Continue to the Galapaguera de Cerro Colorado, a tortoise breeding and conservation center where young giant tortoises are protected until they are large enough to be released into the Galápagos National Park. Learn about the conservation programs dedicated to protecting this emblematic species and observe giant tortoises at different stages of their development.
Your final stop is Puerto Chino Beach, a secluded white-sand beach surrounded by beautiful natural landscapes. Blue-footed boobies can often be seen on the rocks, while sea lions rest along the beach. Enjoy free time to relax, swim or snorkel.
Tour duration: Approximately 3–4 hours
Type: Private tour
Included: English-speaking guide and private transportation during the tour.
Excluded: TCT tourist card, Galápagos National Park entrance fee, domestic flight, airport pickup in San Cristóbal, hotel early check-in, snorkeling equipment and wetsuit rental.
Overnight: Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, San Cristóbal.
DAY 2 – SAN CRISTOBAL | KICKER ROCK SNORKELING
Today, enjoy one of the most spectacular marine experiences in the Galápagos: a snorkeling excursion to Kicker Rock, also known as León Dormido.
After approximately 1.5 hours of navigation, arrive at this impressive volcanic formation, which rises dramatically from the Pacific Ocean. Between the two enormous rocks is a deep channel that offers exceptional conditions for snorkeling.
In the water, you may encounter hammerhead sharks, Galápagos sharks, sea turtles, eagle rays, sea lions and schools of tropical fish. Above the water, look for blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, frigatebirds and pelicans.
The excursion also includes a visit to one of the beautiful beaches on the northern coast of San Cristóbal. Depending on the itinerary authorized by the Galápagos National Park, the beach may be Manglecito, Puerto Grande or Cerro Brujo. Enjoy a short guided walk and, when conditions allow, additional time for swimming or snorkeling.
Tour duration: Approximately 6–7 hours
Type: Shared boat excursion
Included: Breakfast, lunch onboard, English-speaking guide, shared yacht transportation, snorkeling equipment and towel.
Excluded: Wetsuit rental and transfer to/from the meeting point when within walking distance.
Overnight: Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, San Cristóbal.
Expert tip: Bring plenty of drinking water and sun protection. If you are sensitive to seasickness, consider taking an appropriate motion-sickness medication before boarding.
DAY 3 – SAN CRISTOBAL TO SANTA CRUZ | GIANT TORTOISES & CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH STATION
After breakfast, take a shared inter-island speedboat to Santa Cruz Island.
Upon arrival, begin a private guided excursion to the Santa Cruz Highlands, one of the best places in the Galápagos to observe giant tortoises roaming freely in their natural environment.
Walk through the lush highlands while your guide explains the fascinating life and conservation of these iconic animals. You will also have the opportunity to explore a natural lava tunnel formed by ancient volcanic activity.
Continue to the Charles Darwin Research Station, where you will learn more about the natural history of the Galápagos, Charles Darwin's scientific discoveries and the important conservation programs protecting the islands' unique tortoise populations.
Tour duration: Approximately 4 hours
Type: Private tour
Included: Box breakfast, inter-island speedboat ticket to Santa Cruz, English-speaking guide, private transportation and entrance fee to the ranch.
Excluded: Transfer from hotel to the dock in San Cristóbal, water taxi and hotel early check-in.
Overnight: Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz.
Inter-island transport: The public speedboat usually takes approximately 2.5 hours and can be a bumpy ride. For greater comfort, a small inter-island flight may be available at an additional cost, subject to schedules, availability and luggage restrictions.
DAY 4 – SANTA CRUZ | FULL-DAY ISLAND EXCURSION
Today, discover one of the spectacular uninhabited islands surrounding Santa Cruz on a full-day shared boat excursion.
The exact destination depends on daily availability, navigation conditions and authorization from the Galápagos National Park. Possible destinations include:
Bartolome Island
Famous for the iconic Pinnacle Rock and its spectacular volcanic landscape. Climb the 364 steps to reach an incredible viewpoint overlooking the surrounding islands. With some luck, you may also encounter Galápagos penguins. After the land visit, enjoy time snorkeling in the crystal-clear waters.
North Seymour Island
An excellent destination for wildlife lovers. The island is home to frigatebirds, swallow-tailed gulls, blue-footed boobies and land iguanas. Its dry landscape and red vegetation create a dramatic contrast with the surrounding blue ocean.
South Plazas Island
A small but spectacular island with an extraordinary concentration of wildlife. Look for sea lions, land iguanas, frigatebirds, lava gulls and red-billed tropicbirds while walking along the dramatic cliffs.
Santa Fe Island
Known for its beautiful white-sand beach, sea lions, giant opuntia cacti and endemic land iguanas. Santa Fe is also considered an excellent snorkeling destination, where you may encounter sharks, rays and other marine species.
The excursion includes a guided walk, snorkeling and lunch onboard.
Tour duration: Approximately 7–8 hours
Type: Shared boat excursion
Included: Breakfast, lunch onboard, English-speaking guide, shared yacht transportation, snorkeling equipment and towels.
Excluded: Wetsuit rental and transfer to/from the meeting point when within walking distance.
Overnight: Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz.
DAY 5 – SANTA CRUZ TO ISABELA | WALL OF TEARS & LAS TINTORERAS
After breakfast, take a shared inter-island speedboat to Isabela Island, the largest island in the Galápagos. Upon arrival, make your own way to your hotel.
Your first activity is a private guided visit to the Wall of Tears, one of Isabela's most fascinating historical and natural attractions.
The trail passes through wetlands, dry forests and along beautiful beaches, with opportunities to observe wildlife and discover lagoons, mangroves and scenic viewpoints. The Wall of Tears itself is a historic structure built by prisoners between 1946 and 1959 from blocks of volcanic lava.
In the afternoon, enjoy a shared boat excursion to Las Tintoreras, a small group of volcanic islets located close to Puerto Villamil.
Walk across a rugged lava landscape surrounded by marine iguanas and visit a narrow channel where white-tip reef sharks often rest. During the snorkeling portion, you may encounter sea lions, marine iguanas, penguins, sea turtles and white-tip reef sharks in the calm waters surrounding the islets.
Wall of Tears: Approximately 2 hours – Private tour
Las Tintoreras: Approximately 3 hours – Shared boat excursion
Included: Box breakfast, inter-island speedboat ticket to Isabela, English-speaking guide, transfer to the Tintoreras meeting point, shared boat transportation, snorkeling equipment and towel.
Excluded: Transfer from hotel to the dock in Santa Cruz, water taxi, Isabela port fee, transfer from the dock to the hotel in Isabela, hotel early check-in and wetsuit rental.
Overnight: Puerto Villamil, Isabela.
DAY 6 – ISABELA | LOS TUNELES OR SIERRA NEGRA & VOLCAN CHICO
Today, choose between two spectacular experiences depending on your interests.
OPTION 1 – LOS TUNELES & CABO ROSA
Take a boat ride of approximately 1.5 hours to Los Tuneles, one of the most fascinating volcanic landscapes in Isabela.
Explore a maze of collapsed lava tunnels and formations where blue-footed boobies often nest. Continue to Cabo Rosa, one of the most impressive snorkeling sites in the Galápagos.
The clear waters offer excellent opportunities to see white-tip reef sharks, green sea turtles, rays, sea lions, eagle rays and, with luck, seahorses.
Duration: Approximately 5 hours
Type: Shared boat excursion
OPTION 2 – SIERRA NEGRA & VOLCAN CHICO
For travelers who prefer hiking and volcanic landscapes, choose an excursion to Sierra Negra Volcano and Volcán Chico.
The guided trek takes approximately 4–5 hours and leads to the summit of Sierra Negra, home to one of the largest volcanic craters in the world. Continue toward Volcán Chico to discover dramatic lava formations, volcanic cones and landscapes created by past eruptions.
The scenery is so unusual that it feels like walking across the surface of another planet.
Duration: Approximately 5 hours
Type: Shared hiking excursion
Included: Breakfast, box lunch, English-speaking guide, shared transportation, and the services specified according to the selected excursion.
Overnight: Puerto Villamil, Isabela.
DAY 7 – ISABELA TO SANTA CRUZ | END OF THE GALAPAGOS ADVENTURE
After an early breakfast, take the morning shared speedboat back to Santa Cruz Island.
The boat ride takes approximately 2.5 hours and arrives at Puerto Ayora. From there, continue your journey according to your onward travel arrangements.
Your Galápagos adventure comes to an end after an unforgettable journey through San Cristóbal, Santa Cruz and Isabela, combining giant tortoises, endemic wildlife, volcanic landscapes, beautiful beaches and some of the best snorkeling experiences in the archipelago.
End of services.