Santa Cruz and Isabela & Sailing Tours

Fly from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra Airport, where a naturalist guide will meet you and transfer you to Puerto Ayora. You will stop in the highlands during your journey to watch the giant Galapagos tortoises while you take in the views and enjoy a meal break. Your next step leads you to your hotel where you will complete the check-in process.

The afternoon tour at Charles Darwin Research Station allows visitors to see giant tortoises while discovering their origins and the protection efforts for these creatures and their habitat. The Charles Darwin Research Station hosts visitors who can study giant tortoises at different life stages while learning about their natural habitat and the protection initiatives for these creatures and their environment.

Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Note: To follow this itinerary, book an early flight arriving in Baltra no later than 11:00 a.m.

After breakfast your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby to take you to the dock where your island tour will start (note: the tour visits only one island each day based on the schedule). The yacht will provide lunch service and you will head back to the port during the afternoon.

North Seymour Island presents visitors with chances to explore hiking trails and swim and snorkel in its waters. The wildlife sanctuary presents a selection of animals which includes frigatebirds and boobies and gulls and hawks and green sea turtles and Galapagos sharks.

The island of Bartolomé receives worldwide recognition because of its unique natural features which generate thousands of tourist photographs. The visitors get to see two beautiful bays together with remarkable volcanic structures.

The Plazas Islands display blue waters that stand out against the white sand and black lava shores which form an ideal environment to watch manta rays and go snorkeling.

Santa Fé Island exists to the southeast of Santa Cruz where sea lions live together with land iguanas that show more vibrant colors than the iguanas from Plazas. After your walking tour you can head to the beach for relaxation while snorkeling to see turtles and sharks.

Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

After you finish breakfast your guide will take you to Tortuga Bay for exploration. The trail starts with cactus-lined paths which lead to Playa Brava after a 45-minute walk where dangerous ocean currents exist. The site provides visitors with chances to view marine iguanas and pelicans and various other coastal bird species. From Playa Brava, continue for another 15 minutes to Playa Mansa, a tranquil lagoon frequented by blue-footed boobies and pelicans.The beach offers an ideal spot for swimming and relaxation before you head back to where you started.

You will take a public speedboat to Isabela Island after finishing your lunch in town which takes around 2 to 2.5 hours. You will reach your destination where the staff will direct you to your hotel for the check-in procedure. The Flamingo Lagoon stands as your next destination before you head back to your hotel for dinner and overnight accommodation.

Today, you have the option to select one full-day tour on Isabela Island (please let us know your preference):

Option 1 – Sierra Negra & Chico Volcano:
The day starts at 7:30 a.m. when you take a 45-minute drive to the Galapagos National Park control center for visitor registration. The trek to Sierra Negra Volcano and Chico Volcano takes about four to five hours while you get a packed lunch to eat during the journey. After the morning activities you will return to your hotel for a brief rest before visiting Concha Perla to observe marine creatures including colorful fish and sea lions and other ocean inhabitants.

Option 2 – Tintoreras Islet:
Your adventure starts at the Puerto Villamil dock where you will enter a speedboat which will take you to Tintoreras Islet in about 20 minutes. The islet tour begins with a guided walk which leads to snorkeling activities where visitors can observe starfish and vibrant fish and sea urchins and possibly manta rays and sharks and sea lions. Enjoy your lunch at the hotel before spending the rest of the day at your leisure.

Both tours conclude with dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Note: Option 2 is recommended for those who prefer a less strenuous activity. All tours on Isabela Island are shared experiences.

Your transfer to the port will start at 5:30 a.m. where you will board a public speedboat to Santa Cruz Island for a two to two and a half hour journey. A guide will meet you when you get there and lead you to a nearby restaurant for your breakfast. The final destination of your trip will require you to go to Baltra Airport for your return flight to Quito or Guayaquil. The group will make a short stop at Los Gemelos which features two deep craters that look like volcanic formations.

Note: To follow this itinerary smoothly, please book a flight departing no earlier than 12:00 p.m. from Baltra.