Accommodation

Accommodation in a single, double or triple room

Guide

Local naturalist guide (English & Spanish speaking)

Meals

Meals as described in the itinerary (B= breakfast, L = lunch, S = snack)

Transport

Airport pickup and drop off at Baltra airport at your arrival/departure time. Transportation between Baltra Airport – Itabaca Channel each way Transportation on and between the Islands as described in the itinerary

Others

Airport pickup and drop off at Baltra airport at your arrival/departure time All activities as described in the itinerary Snorkeling equipment: mask, snorkel, fins and life vest 24/7 assistance in English, Dutch and Spanish

Not included:

Flights

Return flights from mainland Ecuador to Galapagos Islands *** All other flights are not included.

Others

Food & drinks that are not mentioned in the itinerary Entrance fee for the Galapagos National Park: $ 100 p.p. cash only Migratory Control Card / Ingala Transit Card: $ 20 p.p. – cash only Isabela dock fee: $ 10 p.p. cash only Water Taxi around $ 1 p.p. (small boat that takes you from the speedboat to the harbor and back) For rent: wetsuit (recommended between May – November): $ 5 p.p. per day – cash only

Optional

Optional tips for the guide

Insurance

Personal travel & health insurance

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: (L): Baltra - Santa Cruz - Isabela - Flamingo Lagoon
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: (L): Baltra - Santa Cruz - Isabela - Flamingo Lagoon

It is recommended to book flights with an early arrival time to Baltra airport to make sure you can enjoy all of the activities of the tour.

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 the port of Puerto Ayora (about 1 hour) where you can enjoy your lunch. Around 03:00 PM, you’ll take the small public speedboat to Isabela Island (about 2,5 hours). This can be a bumpy, wet 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 you’ll visit the Flamingo Lagoon (short visit). After that, your driver will drop you off at your hotel.

Accommodation in Hotel San Vicente or similar.

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. Please note that you won’t have lunch if you arrive after 02:00 PM. If you have time you have an activity, either Tortuga Bay or Charles Darwin Station. The rest of the tour usually looks like this: Day 2: Santa Fe, Day 3 Bahia half day tour & Tortuga Bay / Charles Darwin Station, Day 4 Santa Cruz highlands, afternoon boat to Isabela, Day 5 Wetlands & Tintoreras, Day 6 Los Tuneles, Day 7 morning boat to Santa Cruz and transfer out.

Accommodation in Hotel Fernandina or similar.

Note: Please note that the activity sequence depend on the availabilities of the different tours and transportation and your flight schedule. The sequence of your complete tour might change but you won’t miss any tours if you have an afternoon flight back to Ecuador on the last day.
Day 2 Day 2: (B, L): Tintoreras And Wetlands
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: (B, L): Tintoreras And Wetlands

Early in the morning, after breakfast, you will have a tour to The Wetlands. Here you will visit the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center, where you will spot small and giant tortoises in their natural habitat. The next activity is a visit to The Wall of Tears. From 1946 to 1959, Isabela was designated as a penal colony by the Ecuadorian government and prisoners were obligated to build a wall with enormous blocks of solid lava. Due to the arduous labor and hard conditions prisoners lived in, this site is known as El Muro de Lagrimas (The Wall of Tears). Additionally, you will visit a small lava tunnel. Tunel del Estero, a 75m path with adequate lava plates ending in a staircase inside a 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.

After lunch you will have a little break and then you will visit Tintoreras Islet. It is called like this due to a large crack, in which white-tip sharks known as Tintoreras come daily to rest at the bottom. You will have a transport which will take you to the pier of Puerto Villamil, here you will board a boat for 10 minutes 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. You can also observe penguins, sea lions, marine iguanas and you can go snorkeling with colorful tropical fish while enjoying the beaches of Isabela.

Accommodation in Hotel San Vicente or similar.
Day 3 Day 3: (B, S): Snorkeling In Los Tuneles
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: (B, S): Snorkeling In Los Tuneles

Early in the morning, you will go on a 30 to 40 minute boat ride from Puerto Villamil. The max group size is 10 participants per guide. 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. Additionally, the lava flows that passed through this area had formed unique geological formation and, of course, shaped like tunnels. You will get the chance to spot large quantities of seabirds such as the Albatros, Flamingos, Blue Footed Boobies and the magnificent frigatebird. Besides, you can find 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. The snorkeling area is about 800 meters and the average water temperature is 20 degrees Celsius. The departure time is between 7:00 AM and 11:30 AM and depends on availability and National Park regulations. So, depending on when you will go to Los Tuneles, you can choose to explore Concha Perla by yourself before or after this, since it is very close to the dock. If you would like to do the optional snorkeling there, you can get the snorkel equipment from your hotel and get to chance to spot even more animals.

Accommodation in Hotel San Vicente or similar
Day 4 Day 4: (B, L): Charles Darwin Research Station - Tortuga Bay
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: (B, L): Charles Darwin Research Station - Tortuga Bay

At 06:00 AM you will take the public speedboat to Santa Cruz Island where you’ll have breakfast. Then you’ll go to the Charles Darwin Research Station where more than 100 scientists, educators and volunteers provide scientific knowledge and assistance to ensure the conservation of the environment and biodiversity of Galapagos. The guides will explain more about the famous giant tortoises. 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.

Accommodation in Hotel Fernandina or similar.
Day 5 Day 5: (B, L): Santa Fe Island
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: (B, L): Santa Fe Island

After breakfast you will travel to Santa Fe Island which is also called Barrington Island after Admiral Samuel Barrington, is a small island of 24 km² which lies in the center of the Galapagos archipelago. Geologically, it is one of the oldest islands in the archipelago, since volcanic rocks from about 4 million years old have been found here. The vegetation of the island is characterized by brush, palo santo trees and stands of a large variety of the prickly pear cactus and Opuntia echios. Among animals, Santa Fe is home to endemic species: the Barrington Land Iguana (Conolophus pallidus) and the Santa Fe Rice Rat (Aegialomys galapagoensis bauri). After a 45 minute boat ride, you will arrive to the bay of Santa Fe. There you will have a very nice snorkeling activity, if you are lucky, you can spot some birds on the rocks. After snorkeling, you will go to Playa Escondida or Garrapatero in Santa Cruz island and have a wet landing there, where you will have approximately 1 hour to discover the beach and after you go back on board and you will have your lunch.

Accommodation in Hotel Fernandina or similar.

* This tour is called ´Pesca Vivencial´ which means that you might be able to experience a fishing demonstration according to weather and park regulations.

* Wet landing: It means that the boat gets close to the beach and from there you will disembark in the sea, it is recommended that you bring extra clothing, as you might get wet.
Day 6 Day 6: (B, L): Bahia Half Day & Santa Cruz Highlands Half Day Tour
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: (B, L): Bahia Half Day & Santa Cruz Highlands Half Day Tour

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 navigate for about 15 minutes to arrive at Punta Camaño Islet. Here you will snorkel with sea lions and a large variety of fish. Also, you will go on a channel where you can spot Tintorera sharks and blue footed boobies. 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. This is a 15-minute walk until you reach the beach where you will be able to observe lots of dog crabs colonies, lots of large marine iguanas on the island and unparalleled scenic views. Get an impression of this tour by watching the video:

In the afternoon you visit the highlands of Santa Cruz with the giant tortoises. The drive takes about 40 minutes from Puerto Ayora village. You will do a small hike of about 30 minutes on a privately owned ranch and you can see the big tortoises in their natural habitat.

Accommodation in Hotel Fernandina or similar.
Day 7 Day 7: (B): Transfer Out – Baltra
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: (B): Transfer Out – Baltra

After breakfast, you will travel to Baltra Airport with a Spanish speaking driver, where you will depart to Quito or Guayaquil.

End of tour

7 days tour

7 Day Galapagos Island Hopping

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip 7 Day Galapagos Island Hopping

Day 1: (L): Baltra - Santa Cruz - Isabela - Flamingo Lagoon

Day 2: (B, L): Tintoreras And Wetlands

Day 3: (B, S): Snorkeling In Los Tuneles

Day 4: (B, L): Charles Darwin Research Station - Tortuga Bay

Day 5: (B, L): Santa Fe Island

Day 6: (B, L): Bahia Half Day & Santa Cruz Highlands Half Day Tour

Day 7: (B): Transfer Out – Baltra

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