Galapagos Island Hopping Tour for Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, Floreana and Isabela

P.M.: San Cristobal Island – Interpretation Center, Cerro Tijeretas & Punta Carola

Your flight from Quito or Guayaquil will take you to San Cristobal Airport at midday local time, where you will find the town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. The Naturalist Guide will meet you at this location. A staff member will handle your luggage by moving it to the hotel directly while you travel by bus to the property, where you will receive a welcome drink before heading to your room.

Your guide will show you the schedule for the afternoon activities after lunch. At 2 p.m., we will start our walking tour to the San Cristobal Interpretation Center, which lies at the border of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the Galapagos Province capital. The center provides a thorough introduction to the islands through exhibits about their natural environment and human past, and displays about Galapagos National Park and marine reserve conservation work.

The group will proceed to Cerro Tijeretas (Frigatebird Hill) for a 30-minute hike. The summit provides visitors with an amazing view of the beach and Kicker Rock, which stands tall in the Pacific Ocean. The area serves as a breeding site for magnificent and great frigatebirds throughout different times of the year.

Our path leads us down to Punta Carola, where we find a beautiful cove that hosts a big group of sea lions resting on the shore, which creates a lasting impression. After experiencing the wildlife, we will return to our hotel for a night of sleep.

A.M.: San Cristobal Highlands – El Junco Lagoon, Cerro Colorado Tortoise Center & Puerto Chino

We began our day by eating breakfast before we started our trek into the green mountainous region of San Cristobal Island. Our first destination leads us to El Junco Lagoon, which stands as a freshwater body that developed inside the volcanic crater of an inactive volcano. The lagoon receives all its water from rain and mist, which has kept it as the island's main water source for hundreds of years. The trail that circles the crater provides visitors with views of the entire island, including San Joaquin Hill, which stands as the highest point on San Cristobal.

Next, we visit the Cerro Colorado Tortoise Breeding Center, where conservationists work tirelessly to protect and restore the populations of the Giant Galapagos Tortoises. The interpretive trail leads visitors to view tortoises, which show various growth patterns starting from juvenile stages up to advanced ages.

Our path leads us to Puerto Chino Beach, which lies 24.5 kilometers away from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. The parking area leads visitors on a 15-minute walk, which ends at a beautiful bay where sea turtles nest and where frigatebirds, blue-footed boobies, pelicans, and various other marine birds reside. The dramatic scenery makes this beach one of San Cristobal’s most picturesque spots. We start our day by exploring the area before we head back to town to eat lunch at our own pace.

P.M.: La Lobería

During the afternoon, we travel to La Lobería, which stands as a remote beach that contains a big population of sea lions. The water offers visitors the chance to experience swimming and snorkeling with sea lions in their authentic environment, which creates an unforgettable adventure. The group finished their day by returning to the hotel for dinner at the restaurant.

A.M.: Floreana Island – Highlands & Lunch

Our day starts with breakfast at dawn before we begin our journey to historic Floreana Island at 6:30 a.m. The voyage requires two and a half hours. The volcanic formation of Floreana spans across 173 km² (67 sq mi) with its peak elevation at Cerro Pajas, which reaches 640 meters (2,100 feet). The island hosts a small community of 120 people who live in Puerto Velasco Ibarra, which maintains its simple lifestyle and peaceful environment and preserves its old-fashioned way of life.

The yacht will take us to the local pier through its marine taxi service, which will then transfer us to Asilo de la Paz (Haven of Peace) through a traditional chiva bus journey into the highlands. The site stands out because it represents one of the first inhabited regions in the Galápagos since the German Wittmer family established their residence there. The tour takes visitors through dense mountain landscapes, which host native plants, while Giant Galápagos Tortoises move around without fences. The tour includes a visit to the caves, which served as the Wittmers' refuge, before we return to the town center for lunch at a local family-operated eatery.

P.M.: Isabela Island – Wetlands & Tortoise Breeding Center

Our group returned to the boat after lunch for a 2.5-hour voyage toward Isabela Island and its nearby town of Puerto Villamil. We board a marine taxi on Floreana that takes us to the shore, where we catch local transportation to reach our beachfront accommodation at Iguana Crossing, which will serve as our base for the following two nights.

We proceed to Los Humedales (Wetlands) after completing our check-in process to investigate this unique environment, which contains white sand beaches, lava fields and mangroves. The interpretive trails enable visitors to see all four mangrove species which inhabit the archipelago and they can also observe pink flamingos and migratory birds as they feed in the lagoons. We proceed along the path until we reach the Tortoise Breeding Center, which protects Giant Tortoise subspecies through various conservation programs that span their entire lifespan. The day ends with free time to relax and enjoy the tranquil beaches of Puerto Villamil.

A.M.: Sierra Negra Volcano or Tintoreras

The weather determines which of the two amazing experiences will happen today, between exploring the Sierra Negra Volcano rim or discovering the Tintoreras islet.

Tintoreras: The magical area stands south of Puerto Villamil and visitors can reach it during both high and low tide periods. The tranquil turquoise bay supports an array of marine creatures, which includes sea lions, green sea turtles, marine iguanas, rays and numerous other sea animals. A narrow, crystal-clear channel, which closes at low tide, provides a resting place for reef sharks and fish. The trail guides visitors through volcanic "aa" terrain, which contains both white and black sand beaches and mangrove areas where marine iguanas create their homes. Sea lions rest on the shore, but the local name for reef sharks, which live in crevices, is Tintoreras. The area keeps its silence because swimming activities have been banned, which makes it perfect for people who want to observe without disturbance.

Sierra Negra Volcano:The Sierra Negra stands at an elevation of 1,124 meters above sea level as a large shield volcano which remained active since its last eruption in June 2018. We traveled thirty minutes from Puerto Villamil before starting our hiking adventure, which lasted between one and one and a half hours to reach the massive caldera rim that ranks as the second largest in the world. The observation point lets us see the enormous crater, the fresh volcanic deposits and the striking volcanic terrain. The daring explorers who want to continue their journey for two more hours will find Volcán Chico, which presents a dreamlike setting with steaming vents and newly formed lava fields that reveal Isabela's volcanic peaks in the distance. The guests who maintain good physical health should choose this option.

P.M.: Free Time

After returning to Puerto Villamil for lunch, the afternoon is free to unwind on the pristine sandy beach, swim in the warm waters, or simply relax at your own pace.

A.M.: Isabela – Puerto Ayora

The hotel breakfast ends at 8:00 a.m. when we take a transfer to the pier for our yacht departure toward Santa Cruz Island, which will take about 2.5 hours. The ferry brought us to Puerto Ayora which serves as the main town of the Galápagos Islands so we exited and headed toward Ikala Galápagos Hotel. The check-in process will lead us to a restaurant where we will eat lunch before taking a short break.

P.M.: Fausto Llerena Interpretation Center & Charles Darwin Station

During the afternoon hour, we walked to the Fausto Llerena Interpretation Center to view the conservation efforts of the Galápagos National Park. The park displays giant tortoises, which come in different species and size ranges, together with land iguanas. The museum displays the preserved body of Lonesome George, who became a famous tortoise so visitors can see him during their visit. Our path leads us to the Charles Darwin Research Station, where scientists protect the distinct island ecosystems through their vital research activities. The tour begins with a visit to the station's small museum before visitors get to explore the area on their own.

A.M.: Tortuga Bay

After breakfast, we set out on a scenic walk toward the Pacific coast to visit one of the most stunning beaches in the Galápagos—Tortuga Bay. The hike takes about 40 minutes to an hour, leading us to a breathtaking stretch of soft coral sand framed by coastal vegetation. While the first section of the beach has strong currents and is not suitable for swimming, continuing west brings us to a tranquil bay of calm waters. Here, visitors can spot marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, shorebirds, mangroves, and coastal cacti forests. There will be time to relax and enjoy the beauty of this natural paradise before returning to town. Lunch and a short rest at the hotel follow.

P.M.: Las Grietas

In the afternoon, we head out on a walk of about 30–40 minutes to reach Las Grietas, a hidden natural swimming spot surrounded by towering volcanic rock walls. Along the trail, we pass through a lava field and cactus forest before descending to the crystal-clear waters. Guests may choose to swim, snorkel, or dive from the rock ledges into the refreshing pool. After this invigorating experience, we walk back to Puerto Ayora, where you will have free time to enjoy the town’s lively atmosphere, do some last-minute shopping, or simply relax.

A.M.: Puerto Ayora – Manzanillo Farm – Baltra Airport

Our group will start the day with breakfast at the hotel before we travel to the Santa Cruz highlands for Manzanillo Farm visitation or a comparable reserve to observe giant Galápagos tortoises in their natural surroundings. Observing these ancient animals in their natural environment creates a lasting memory. People need to know tortoises remain highly delicate animals, so they should avoid touching, feeding or disturbing them.

Our path leads us to the Itabaca Channel, which functions as a natural border between Santa Cruz and Baltra Island. Our journey included a visit to Los Gemelos (The Twins), which consists of two massive sinkhole craters that resulted from volcanic lava chamber collapses. After admiring this geological wonder, we proceed to the channel crossing. The public airport shuttle service will transport us to Baltra Airport, where your guide will help you complete your check-in process for the Guayaquil or Quito flight.