8-Day Galapagos Island Hopping Tour: Isabela, Giant Tortoises, and Snorkeling
Enjoy 8 days on the Galapagos Islands with all the comfort of your hotels, tours and transfers organized. With this 8 day Galapagos Islands Budget tour, you will visit two islands; Santa Cruz and Isabela. This program includes a great mix of activities including snorkeling, hiking and even some kayaking. You can also take a look at our other Galapagos Island Hopping Budget Tours if you are looking for a shorter trip to the Galapagos Islands. Enjoy your Galapagos holiday with us!
ItineraryDay 1: BALTRA – SANTA CRUZ ISLAND – ISABELA ISLANDStop At: Isabela Island, Galapagos, 010850 Ecuador
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.
Duration: 6 hours
Stop At: Santa Cruz Island, Ecuador
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.
Duration: 6 hours
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Hotel San Vicente or similar.
Day 2: KAYAK IN PUERTO VILLAMIL – ISABELA ISLAND HIGHLANDSStop At: Playa Puerto Villamil, Puerto Villamil Ecuador
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.
Duration: 6 hours
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Hotel San Vicente or similar.
Day 3: TINTORERAS AND WETLANDSPass By: El Tunel del Estero, Antonio Gil, Puerto Villamil 200250 Ecuador
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.
Pass By: Las Tintoreras Islet, Ecuador
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.
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Hotel San Vicente or similar.
Day 4: SNORKELING IN LOS TUNELESStop At: Los Tuneles, Puerto Villamil 200250 Ecuador
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.
Duration: 6 hours
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Hotel San Vicente or similar.
Day 5: CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH STATION – TORTUGA BAYStop At: Charles Darwin Research Station, Ave Charles Darwin, Puerto Ayora 200350 Ecuador
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.
Duration: 6 hours
Pass By: Galapagos Beach at Tortuga Bay, South-West of the town of Puerto Ayora, 200350 Ecuador
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.
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Hotel Fernandina or similar.
Day 6: SANTA FE ISLANDStop At: Santa Fe Island, Ecuador
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.
Duration: 6 hours
Meals included:
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• Lunch: Box lunch included
Accommodation included: Hotel Fernandina or similar.
Day 7: BAHIA HALF DAY & SANTA CRUZ HIGHLANDS HALF DAY TOURStop At: Malecon de Puerto Ayora, Ave Charles Darwin, Puerto Ayora 200350 Ecuador
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.
Duration: 6 hours
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: Hotel Fernandina or similar.
Day 8: TRANSFER OUT – BALTRAStop At: Galápagos Ecologic Airport, Aeropuerto Seymour de Baltra, Isla Baltra Baltra, HP4J+4C3, Seymour, Ecuador
After breakfast, you will travel to Baltra Airport with a Spanish speaking driver, where you will depart to Quito or Guayaquil.
End of services.
Duration: 30 minutes
Meals included:
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No accommodation included on this day.
Informacion Adicional
"No heart problems or other serious medical conditions"
"Not recommended for travelers with back problems"
"Not wheelchair accessible"
"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."
"There are no guides on the transportation by public speedboat between islands."
"Near public transportation"
"Try to only bring small baggage/bags since public transportation on the Galapagos Islands is quite small."
"It is important that you will have current travel insurance including personal medical insurance. Please inform us of any known medical conditions you have."
"Tap water on the Galapagos Islands might contain bacteria and should not be consumed, not even for brushing your teeth. Bottled or purified water is always recommended."
"Inform yourself about food safety when traveling to tropical countries. Take the necessary precaution to avoid food poisoning (always wash your hands before eating, don’t eat ‘street food’, only eat peeled fruits, etc.)."
"It is possible that pictures will be taken during your tour, so it is recommended to bring a USB."
"The operator reserves the right to change the itinerary without previous notice due to weather, National Park regulations or notifications and unforeseeable circumstances."
"In order to process your reservation please help us with all this information: round trip flights from and to Galapagos, room type (twin, matrimonial or triple), Whatsapp phone number (in case you use it)."
"Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level"
"For all guests we need: passport numbers, date of birth, nationality, food restrictions, medical restrictions"
"The exact amount for the fees mentioned in the 'What's excluded' section will be detailed in the voucher. If you want to know this information beforehand, please contact us through the platform."
"Accommodation is based on number of travelers, if you are traveling with a group, you will be sharing rooms (single rooms require an extra fee)."
"This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers"
"Confirmation will be received at time of booking"
Duration: 8 Days
Start location: Traveler pickup is offered
Airports
Cancellations and refunds:
All sales are final and incur 100% cancellation penalties.
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