Galápagos: Wildlife of Santa Cruz & Isabela Islands Tour with 4 Reviews by G Adventures

8 daysDuration

Small Group TourUsually 8-12 participants, maximum 18 travelers

16 peopleMaximum group size

18 - 100 yearsAge range for participants

EnglishGuide language

Moderate

Involves sustained activity requiring a reasonable level of fitness and endurance.

Starts

Quito, Ecuador

Ends

Quito, Ecuador

Highlights

Set off on a snorkelling and coastal walking excursion at Los Túneles to spot wildlife.

Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to see and learn all about the giant land tortoises.

Kayak at Tortuga Bay.

Eat lunch in a private reserve to see lava tunnels and giant tortoises in the wild

Itinerary

Picture sunset cocktails, snorkelling with wildlife, kayaking in turquoise waters off of pristine beaches and spending time tucked away in a boutique hotel overlooking some of the most impressive scenery in all of the Galápagos Islands. The perfect balance of activities, wildlife and free time, this eight-day adventure is packed full of the essential highlights and local flavours of Isabela and Santa Cruz Islands. Stay active in the water and on land with snorkelling excursions and walks along diverse coastal terrain. Savour deliciously fresh cuisine and have lunch at a private reserve featuring giant tortoises in the wild. You’ll learn how important this fascinating, diverse, remote span of islands is to the world, all while hitting the reset button during a tropical island getaway.

day 1 - Quito

Gaze out at the rolling countryside and mountain peaks as you approach Quito, dreaming of the faraway Galápagos Islands that are almost within your reach. Take in a breath of fresh mountain air as you step out of the plane, knowing that soon enough you will be in the equatorial warmth at sea level. We welcome you to Ecuador, and invite you to prepare for one of the most incredible wildlife destinations on the planet—the Galápagos Islands.
Arrive to Quito at any time and transfer to the nearby airport hotel. Meet your fellow group members at the welcome meeting in the evening and get all the important information about the adventure ahead. Afterwards, enjoy a welcome dinner in a private room of the hotel, featuring an array of traditional Ecuadorian plates and ingredients.

Meal:Dinner

Accomodation:Wyndham Quito Airport (or similar)

Transport:Arrival Transfer Duration : 0.75 hr Distance : 42 km

Included Activity:Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group Duration : 1.0 hr

day 2 - Isabela Island

The journey is part of the adventure today as you make your way 1000 km from Ecuador's mainland to the Galápagos Islands. Home to creatures found nowhere else in the world, the surrounding marine reserve is a showcase of evolution and a true testament to the melting pot of species found in the islands, both on shore and in the water.
Start early for a flight to Baltra from Quito. Travel ten minutes by public bus to the ferry port across Canal Itabaca then transfer by private vehicle to Puerto Ayora. Grab some lunch before taking a speed boat to Isabela, keeping an eye out for whales and dolphins along the way. Check into your OMG Stay on the island and spend some free time exploring before an included dinner of delicious local specialties with the group.

Meal:Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accomodation:Iguana Crossing Boutique Hotel (or similar)

Transport:Plane Duration : 2.5 hr, Private Vehicle Duration : 1.0 hr, Speedboat Duration : 2.5 hr

day 3 - Isabela Island

You will see firsthand today how unbelievable the wildlife is in the Galápagos Islands, both beneath the water and on land. Strap on the mask to snorkel and swim though the calm, clear and shallow water at Los Túneles—a unique geological site formed by a series of lava flows that created various arcs and tunnels above and below the water.
Transfer to the dock after breakfast where your boat awaits. Cruise along to Los Túneles for a thrilling snorkelling excursion to spot marine life under the water, then walk the coastal trail to look for blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas and more. Eat lunch onboard the boat on the way back to Puerto Villamil and take the rest of the afternoon and evening at leisure. Explore on your own, relax in the pool of the hotel or try out one of the many bars and restaurants in town.

Meal:Breakfast and Lunch

Accomodation:Iguana Crossing Boutique Hotel (or similar)

Included Activity:Snorkelling Excursion at Los Túneles Duration : 5.0 hr

day 4 - Isabela Island

Today you will be able to explore more of Isabela Island on your terms with the choice of two activities. Stick to the land and hike the Sierra Negra Volcano, one of five active ones located on Isabela Island, and rising to an altitude of 1124m. If you are looking for more snorkelling, take to the water and head to Las Tintoreras, an islet to the south of Puerto Villamil that forms part of the national park of the Galápagos Islands. The area is known for the reef sharks that can be seen swimming with fish and other marine life when the tide is low.
This morning, choose between a volcano hike or snorkelling excursion. Both options include lunch at a local restaurant on the island. The remainder of the day is free for optional activities offered on Isabela Island, or for lounging by the pool at the hotel property.

Meal:Breakfast and Lunch

Accomodation:Iguana Crossing Boutique Hotel (or similar)

Included Activity:Tintoreras Snorkeling Excursion Duration : 4.0 hr

day 5 - Santa Cruz Island

Swap islands today and travel to the second largest—Santa Cruz—located in the centre of the archipelago, where you will visit the Charles Darwin Research Station responsible for many of the studies conducted on the islands about the fascinating and prehistoric land tortoises. Enjoy lunch before walking to Tortuga Bay. Here, spend time at the beach named for its black sea turtles that nest there, and bask in the sun along this inviting stretch of white sand before a kayak excursion through the calm waters. Travel back to town by speed boat and cap the Day off with a signature cocktail-making experience during sunset.
Hop on a morning speedboat to Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. Transfer to the hotel, check in, then visit the Charles Darwin Research Station before lunch. Afterwards, walk to Tortuga Bay for free time to enjoy the beach and kayak in the calm waters. The day ends with a speedboat ride back to town just in time to catch sunset overlooking the ocean.

Meal:Breakfast and Lunch

Accomodation:Angermeyer Waterfront Inn (or similar)

Transport:Speedboat Duration : 2.5 hr

Included Activities:Charles Darwin Research Station Visit Duration : 2.0 hr, Tortuga Bay Walk & Kayaking Duration : 1.5 hr - 2.25 hr Distance : 8 km, Sunset Cocktail-Making Experience Duration : 1.0 hr

day 6 - Santa Cruz Island

Travel to the highlands to a private ranch to see giant tortoises in their natural habitat and visit some lava tunnels. After lunch, go to Garrapatero beach for some tidal pool gazing or wildlife spotting from the beach and around the lagoon. Before heading to town stop by an organic farm where you can learn about the hydroponic crops they are growing and how this technique is helping to protect the environment and reduce water usage within agriculture. This evening, it's time to say good-bye to the mighty Galapagos and there's no better way than with an optional dinner all together as a group.
Spend another day traversing Santa Cruz Island from the highlands to the coast, watching the landscape undulate under waves and hills alike. Look for wildlife like sea lions, flamingos and blue footed boobies from along the beach before visiting an organic farm to try the local coffee of the area. Arrive back to town just in time for an optional group dinner.

Meal:Breakfast and Lunch

Accomodation:Angermeyer Waterfront Inn (or similar)

Included Activities:Highlands Giant Tortoises Visit Duration : 2.0 hr - 3.0 hr, Organic Farm Visit Near Garrapatero Duration : 0.75 hr - 1.0 hr, Garrapatero Beach Time Duration : 3.0 hr

day 7 - Quito

While it’s time to bid the islands farewell, there’s no doubt your days here will be remembered. Incredible up-close encounters with animals and immersion into ecosystems that remain largely unchanged in a pristine slice of paradise will remain etched in your memory forever.
Spend the day travelling back to Quito. Enjoy a private transfer to Canal Itabaca, board the ferry across, then take a short public bus ride to the Baltra Airport. Fly to Quito and check in to the hotel before a farewell dinner with the group in the historical centre of the city.

Meal:Breakfast and Dinner

Accomodation:Hotel Hilton Colon (or similar)

Transport:Private Vehicle, Plane Duration : 3.5 hr

day 8 - Quito

Today your adventure comes to an end, and you can depart at any time.

Meal:Breakfast

Included Activity:Departure Day

The Galápagos: Wildlife of Santa Cruz & Isabela Islands

Get Trip Brochure & Exclusive Discount

Download a detailed PDF brochure and unlock an exclusive discount for this tour

What's Included

Accommodation

Hotel (7 nts).

Meals

7 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 3 dinners
Note: Allow USD165-215 for meals not included.

Transport

Private vehicle, speedboat, ferry, walking.All transport between destinations and to/from included activities

Guide

CEO (Chief Experience Officer)/Naturalist Guide while in the Galápagos Islands (certified by the Galápagos National Park Authority).

Included activities

Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and GroupYour OMG Day: Tintoreras Snorkeling Excursion, Isabela IslandYour Local Living Moment: Organic Farm Visit Near Garrapatero, Santa Cruz IslandComplimentary arrival transferWelcome dinnerSnorkelling Excursion at Los TúnelesTortuga Bay WalkCharles Darwin Research Station VisitTortuga Bay KayakingHighlands Giant Tortoises VisitSunset cocktail-making experienceFree time on Isabela Island and Santa Cruz IslandInternal flightsFarewell dinnerAll tips included for activities and meals, except for CEO and porterage

What's Excluded

Customer Reviews

Read what other travelers have to say about The Galápagos: Wildlife of Santa Cruz & Isabela Islands

5.0

based on 4 reviews

Tour Availability

Select your preferred departure date and secure your spot

Loading availability...

Monthly Price Comparison

Good to Know

Cancellation

Payment

Travel Insurance

Visa

Other Practical Information

Do you need help from our trip consultants?

If you have any question about this tour or need help with planning a trip, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.

Our travel experts are ready to help.

Why Book with Bookmundi

Earn USD 161+ in travel credits.

Best price guaranteed.

No credit card or booking fees.

100% financial protection.Bookmundi is a member of the Danish Travel Fund which guarantees for any payment made via us. Our guarantee covers all travelers, irrespective of nationality.

Carbon neutral tours.Algorithms and machine learning enables Bookmundi to calculate the carbon footprint for each tour. We then subsequently offset carbon emissions for all tour bookings on Bookmundi via investments in carbon reduction projects to help combat climate change.

25,000+ trip reviews, with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5.

What are customers saying about Bookmundi

4.67/5

Excellent based on 807 customer reviews from

SAMER

Good service and easy going , highly recommend 👌

20 hours ago

Europe

Asia

South America

Africa

North America

Oceania

Polar

Food, wine, events and nightlife

Adventure and sport

Wildlife, landscapes and nature

Boat tours, water sports and marine wildlife

Sightseeing, attractions, culture and history

Air tours, road trips and transfers

Beach, romance, getaways and relaxation

Special interests and hobbies

Hi there

Highlights