6 Day Isabela & Santa Cruz Highlights

Isabela and Santa Cruz, Galapagos

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Duration

6 days

Tour Type

Daily Tour

Group Size

16 people

Languages

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Overview

Enjoy our selected land tour programs. The Island Hopping Tours gives you the chance to enjoy differently islands in a short time, this is a great option if you do not have a big budget. On the island hopping tours, you will stay in different hotels, you can choose the hotel category that suits your needs and you will join different day tours or half-day activities every day. This tour is a great combination of adventure, wildlife, culture and local life in the islands. You will be part of different groups of up to 16 people every day.

We will help you to find and create a perfect tour to make your Galapagos Island Hopping trip unforgettable and also have the best travel experience in the enchanted islands. Departure is possible every day of the year! In addition, all Galapagos Island Hopping tours can be booked by a single guest, as for small or bigger groups.

Highlights

Sierra Negra Volcano: Stimulate your sense of adventure by hiking in the crater of the huge Volcano.
Wetlands and Tintoreras: Visit the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center, Wall of Tears and Tintoreras islet.
Kayaking in Pto Villamil: Enjoy an adventure in the bay and watch interesting wildlife.
Charles Darwin Research Station: Known for its turtles, born from 3 inches to 4 feet long.
Upgrade Los Tuneles instead of Sierra Negra: Snorkel in the clear waters and swim with a lot of different animal species.

Bulk discount (by Percent)

Bulk discount adult

#	Discount group	From adult	To adult	Value
1	Group of 6-9 adults	6	9	5%
2	Group 10+ adults	10	15	10%

Itinerary

Expand All

Your program will start from the Baltra airport (GPS) where your guide will pick you up upon arrival, then you will go to Puerto Ayora where you will take the lunch.

After lunch, you will be taken to the dock where you will take a 2.5 hours speed boat to Isabela. Please note that this trip can be a messy journey so you can prepare yourself with sickness pills and a waterproof jacket.

On your arrival in Isabela, your guide will meet you to take you to your hotel and after a short break, you will go to the Flamingos Lagoon, one of the Flamingos breeding sites.

Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch.

Standard Accommodation: Hotel San Vicente or similar.
Superior Accommodation: La Laguna or similar.

After breakfast, you will go the excursion to the Volcano. Sierra Negra is located 13 miles from Puerto Villamil and is the second-largest crater active in the world, 6 miles long and 300 feet deep. To get to this incredible view, you will travel by bus for 45 minutes to the Park entrance, where the trek to will begins, the hike will take approximately 2 hours, this starts from 870 meters of altitude up to the of the crate where you will reach 1040 meters. You will have a box lunch up there and then head to Volcán Chico to feel the hot earth and see the different colors of lava. The total hike lasts around 3 hours, after that, you will get back to the village and the hotel.

After a short rest at the hotel, you will have the opportunity to snorkel or swim in Concha de Perla, where you can observe colorful fish, sea urchins, starfish, sea lions and if you are lucky, sea turtles.

Meals included: Breakfast and Box Lunch.

Standard Accommodation: Hotel San Vicente or similar.
Superior Accommodation: La Laguna or similar.

After breakfast, you will go to the first excursion of the day which is the Wetlands, here you will visit the Giant Turtle Breeding Center, where you will find turtles of all ages in their natural habitat. The next place to visit is the Wall of Tears. Isabela was designated as a penal colony by the Ecuadorian government where prisoners were forced to build a wall with huge solid blocks of lava. Then, you will visit the Estero Tunnel, Orchilla viewpoint, and Playa del Amor. You will return to the hotel for lunch.

After a short break, you will visit the Tintoreras Islet. You will go to the pier to take a boat and sail a bit until you reach the islet that gets its name from the sharks that you can find there called Tintoreras. On this site, you will have a
small hike and then you will snorkel there. If we are lucky you can see rays, sharks and sea lions. After this incredible experience, you will return to the hotel for dinner.

Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch.

Standard Accommodation: Hotel San Vicente or similar.
Superior Accommodation: La Laguna or similar.

After breakfast, you will go to the dock where you will have a safety talk about the kayak activity first. After getting all the equipment (kayak, life jackets, and paddles) you will be headed towards the Tintoreras islet; During the trip and from your kayaks, you will observe the fauna of the place. The tour will take us to El Faro islet. The activity lasts around 2 hours, after this, you will go to the hotel for lunch.

In the afternoon, you will visit the upper part of Isabela, specifically Campo Duro, where you will observe the Galapagos giant tortoises in a semi-natural state. During the return, you will visit the Mango viewpoint and the Sucre Cave. After this, you will get back to the village.

Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch.

Standard Accommodation: Hotel San Vicente or similar.
Superior Accommodation: La Laguna or similar.

Today you will take the 6 am speed boat to Santa Cruz, (Pick up at 05:30 am). Upon arrival in Santa Cruz, you will have breakfast at a local restaurant. After a short break, you will go to the Charles Darwin Research Station where you will find some corrals with some of the most representative species of the Galapagos, such as giant tortoises and land iguanas. Here you will learn more about evolution and all the projects and research that the foundations work hard to preserve the different species in the Archipelago.

After lunch, you will start your highlands excursion. Through walks, you will be able to learn about the natural habitat of endemic species such as the Giant Tortoises, Finches, and the Witch Bird. In addition to unique and abundant vegetation that makes this natural environment such a special visit. After the unforgettable encounter with the Galapagos Turtles, return to Puerto Ayora.

Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch.

Standard Accommodation: Fernandina or similar.
Superior Accommodation: Fernandina Superior or similar.

After breakfast, you transfer will take you to Baltra airport. On the way to the airport, you will make a stop at “Los Gemelos” or “Twin Craters” located opposite each other. This is
a formation created by the collapse of the surface due to the lava flow of many years behind. The tour ends with arrival at the airport.

Meals included: Breakfast.

End of services.

Included/Excluded

Activities according to the itinerary.
Accommodation in standard tourist class hotel.
Meals according to the itinerary: Breakfast x5, Lunch or Box lunch x5.
Naturalist bilingual guide.
Transfer in/out from and to Baltra Airport.
Transportation between islands (speedboat).
Snorkel gear.

International and local flights.
Activities not described on the itinerary.
Meals and drinks not described on the itinerary.
Galapagos National Park Fee: USD $100 per person.
Galapagos Migration Card (Ingala): USD $20 per person.
Isabela Dock Fee: USD $10 per person.
Airport bus to Itabaca Channel roundtrip: USD $10 per person.
Water Taxi: USD $ 2,50 per person
Wetsuits (recommendable between May to November): USD $10 per day.
Travel Insurance (mandatory).
Personal expenses.
Tips.

Tour's Location

Isabela and Santa Cruz, Galapagos

FAQs

With some of the most unique wildlife in the world and the presence of islands so young that they’re still forming, the Galapagos truly is a timeless spectacle to behold. The absence of predators has led to fearless fauna that permits up close and personal observation. The almost minimal presence of humans – 97% of the archipelago is a highly controlled National Park – has led to a pristine cluster of islands. Add to this the fact that it’s the conceptual birthplace for Darwin’s theory of evolution and an equatorial crossroads for many other explorers, and voilà – you have a monumental suitcase of wonders, both historical and physical, waiting for you when you arrive at the enchanted isles.

Island hopping gives visitors the opportunity to see more landscapes and wildlife. Even so, not many visitor sites and far away islands are accessible to the small boats that offer island hopping.

Visitors that are prone to sea-sickness or prefer to soak in more of the island life and culture tend to prefer land-based options. You can also explore some places and towns on your own.

Galapagos is a great destination for almost everyone. Nature lovers will appreciate a transformative experience with wildlife and a first-hand view of how islands form. It is a great place for solo travelers, honeymooners or families to escape from everyday life and find quality time. If you’re looking for a conventional beach destination, top shopping, and traditional entertainment options, this is probably not for you.

Here is a short packing list of the essentials for your Galapagos Trip.

Get the Basics Right:
-Passport (valid for at least 6 months after departure from Ecuador).
-Flights info, Travel Voucher, Itineraries.
-Cash. There are very few ATMs in the Galapagos (local currency is US Dollars).
-Credit cards – Preferably Visa and Mastercard (useful on cruises).
-Personal medication.
-Seasick medication (for both land and cruise tours).

Sun Protection:
- Sunglasses, hat or cap, sunscreen, and body lotion.

Camera Gear:
-Extra memory cards for digital cameras.
-Waterproof bag for your camera or a plastic bag to keep things from getting wet.
-Underwater cameras are just perfect for Galapagos.

Money & Security:
-Original Passport Copy and Credit card(s).
- ATMs are available only in Santa Cruz Island (so, bring Cash!)
-Try to bring small bills (no more than 50.00 USD) for your extra personal expenses and tips.

Other Gear:
-Travel Alarm Clock.
-Binoculars.
-Recipient to bring water.
-Toiletries Shampoo Insect repellant (best if ecofriendly).
-Small day pack (to carry water and personal stuff).

Clothing for the Galapagos Weather:
-Casual clothes that are lightweight, comfortable to wear and walk. (Galapagos limit you to a maximum of 23 kg).
-Comfortable walking shoes (2 pairs).
-Sturdy sandals with straps, no flip-flops.
- A windbreaker or rain jacket.
- Lightweight rain suit or poncho and a light wool sweater for cool evenings.
-T-shirts, lightweight pants and short pants, light cotton socks.
-2 or more swimsuits.
-Light short sleeve shirts.
-One extra towel for the beach.

from $920,00