Starting from
Discover the Galapagos with this 6-day program that covers the highlights of the two islands Santa Cruz and Isabela. The program includes must do excursions to the most astonishing destinations as well as instructions for self-guided activities during your free time. It’s designed to discover as much incredible Galapagos wildlife – both on land as under water at spectacular snorkeling sites – as possible, without having to worry about your accommodation and finding your way around.
Day 1 – Arrival and Charles Darwin Station (-)
Upon arrival at Baltra airport you will be met with our driver. At the airport you will first take a shuttle transfer to the Itabaca Channel. A short ferry ride will get you to the other side of the channel in a couple of minutes. From here you will be brought in private transportation to your hotel in Puerto Ayora, the town of Santa Cruz island.
After check in you will have the rest of the afternoon off to spend on your own. We recommend to visit Charles Darwin Station, that is responsible for the breeding and conservation program of the island’s iconic giant tortoises, which can be observed here.
Day 2 – Santa Cruz Bay Tour and Giant Tortoise Reserve (B)
In the morning you will go on a bay tour by boat. During the tour you will visit several places around the bay of Santa Cruz, such as the Canal de Amor, Playa de los Perros, Punta Estrada and Las Grietas. There will be time for birdwatching, snorkeling and swimming. Animals that can be observed during this excursion are Blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds, sea lions, marine iguanas, tropical fish, crabs and even some white tipped sharks around the shark channel.
In the afternoon you will have time off to spend on your own. We recommend to visit the El Chato Reserve in the highlands where you can observe the giant tortoises in the wild. Here will also have the opportunity to see a lava tunnel from inside.
Day 3 – Tortuga Bay and speedboat to Isabela (B)
This morning you will have time off to spend on your own. We highly recommend a visit to Tortuga Bay. This white-sand beach gets its name from the black sea turtles that lay their eggs here. Marine iguanas, crabs and birds can also be spotted here and it is an excellent site to enjoy a relaxing swim. It takes about an hour to walk from the main port on the boulevard in Puerto Ayora to get to Tortuga Bay.
In the afternoon you will take the speedboat to Isabela island, which takes about 2,5 hours. After checking in at your hotel, you might want to visit the Flamingo Lagoon near town, which is the largest coastal lagoon found in the Galapagos and is one of the main reproductive sites for the grand majority of flamingos.
Day 4 – Las Tintoreras and Concha Perla (B)
Today you will go on an excursion to Las Tintoreras. This islet is home to a great variety of wildlife. Its turquoise, crystalline waters are inhabited by white-tip reef sharks, Galapagos penguins, marine turtles and sea lions. One of its beaches surrounded by mangroves is one of the few sites where marine iguanas can reproduce successfully. After a visit on land you will have the opportunity afterwards to go snorkeling nearby the islet to see more of the incredible underwater wildlife from up close.
In the afternoon you will have time off to spend on your own. We highly recommend a visit to Concha Perla, a natural pool with crystal clear and calm sea water (mainly at low tide), that is ideal for swimming and snorkeling with sea lions, marine iguanas, sea turtles, a wide range of fish and occasionally penguins and stingrays. The last part of the route up to this snorkel site – that is about 15 minutes walking from town – consists of a wooden walkway where many sea lions like to take a rest. If you don’t have your own snorkel equipment, you can rent these in any of the many tour agencies in town.
Day 5 – Wetlands, Wall of Tears and speedboat to Santa Cruz (B)
This morning you will have time off to visit the Wall of Tears. It’s recommended to rent a bike as this site is about 8 km away from town. As you travel towards the Wall of Tears you will pass several beautiful beaches where you can stop and observe many marine iguanas. You will also pass the Wetlands where there are short trails you can take to explore the area and see various lava formations. On your ride you will likely see giant tortoises and many Galapagos sea birds. At the end of the road you’ll find the Wall of Tears, an important historical site of Isabela island. From 1945-1959, a penal colony hosted prisoners who were forced to build this wall, stone by stone, in isolation. This now historical site, towering at 25 m high, took the lives of thousands during its construction. Locals claim to hear cries emanating from the heavy energy surrounding the site. Another option is to visit the Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre in Puerto Villamil where you can see baby tortoises and learn about the important Galapagos Islands breeding program.
In the afternoon you will take the speedboat to Santa Cruz island, which takes about 2,5 hours. After checking in at your hotel, you’ll have the rest of the evening off.
Day 6 – Departure (B)
Enjoy your last morning on the Galapagos Islands strolling around the boulevard and check out the little fish market, where fishmongers cut and sell their wares. Chances are that you’ll see pelicans and sea lions here hoping to catch a free fishy snack. You will be picked up from your hotel for your transfer to the Itabaca Channel, where you will take the ferry and shuttle bus to Baltra airport. From here you will fly back to the mainland of Ecuador.
Prices 2026
| Price per person (2 passengers) |
|
| Budget accommodation | $840 |
| Standard accommodation | $1028 |
| Price per person (1 passenger) |
|
| Budget accommodation | $1031 |
| Standard accommodation | $1296 |
Take a look at our Budget, Standard, Superior and Luxury accommodations.
Make sure to buy a flight on the first day that flies into Baltra Island (GPS) and also flies out of Baltra Island (GPS). Your arrival flight can arrive any time, but it’s recommended to book a flight that arrives between 9:00 AM and 12:30 PM at Baltra Island to enjoy the activities on the first day on a nice pace. Your departure flight can leave any time of the day, but it’s recommended to book a flight that leaves a little later in the morning / afternoon, to enjoy your last morning on the Galapagos.
This is a partially Shared Tour / Group Tour and partially Private Tour. This means that there will be other people besides yourself (or your travel party) taking part in most of the excursions of this program. As every traveler is following their own itinerary on the Galapagos the group composition during your excursions can vary from day to day. Your airport transfers on the islands will always be on a private basis for you (or your travel party) only.
Day 1 – Arrival and Charles Darwin Station (-)
Upon arrival at Baltra airport you will be met with our driver. At the airport you will first take a shuttle transfer to the Itabaca Channel. A short ferry ride will get you to the other side of the channel in a couple of minutes. From here you will be brought in private transportation to your hotel in Puerto Ayora, the town of Santa Cruz island.
After check in you will have the rest of the afternoon off to spend on your own. We recommend to visit Charles Darwin Station, that is responsible for the breeding and conservation program of the island’s iconic giant tortoises, which can be observed here.
Day 2 – Santa Cruz Bay Tour and Giant Tortoise Reserve (B)
In the morning you will go on a bay tour by boat. During the tour you will visit several places around the bay of Santa Cruz, such as the Canal de Amor, Playa de los Perros, Punta Estrada and Las Grietas. There will be time for birdwatching, snorkeling and swimming. Animals that can be observed during this excursion are Blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds, sea lions, marine iguanas, tropical fish, crabs and even some white tipped sharks around the shark channel.
In the afternoon you will have time off to spend on your own. We recommend to visit the El Chato Reserve in the highlands where you can observe the giant tortoises in the wild. Here will also have the opportunity to see a lava tunnel from inside.
Day 3 – Tortuga Bay and speedboat to Isabela (B)
This morning you will have time off to spend on your own. We highly recommend a visit to Tortuga Bay. This white-sand beach gets its name from the black sea turtles that lay their eggs here. Marine iguanas, crabs and birds can also be spotted here and it is an excellent site to enjoy a relaxing swim. It takes about an hour to walk from the main port on the boulevard in Puerto Ayora to get to Tortuga Bay.
In the afternoon you will take the speedboat to Isabela island, which takes about 2,5 hours. After checking in at your hotel, you might want to visit the Flamingo Lagoon near town, which is the largest coastal lagoon found in the Galapagos and is one of the main reproductive sites for the grand majority of flamingos.
Day 4 – Las Tintoreras and Concha Perla (B)
Today you will go on an excursion to Las Tintoreras. This islet is home to a great variety of wildlife. Its turquoise, crystalline waters are inhabited by white-tip reef sharks, Galapagos penguins, marine turtles and sea lions. One of its beaches surrounded by mangroves is one of the few sites where marine iguanas can reproduce successfully. After a visit on land you will have the opportunity afterwards to go snorkeling nearby the islet to see more of the incredible underwater wildlife from up close.
In the afternoon you will have time off to spend on your own. We highly recommend a visit to Concha Perla, a natural pool with crystal clear and calm sea water (mainly at low tide), that is ideal for swimming and snorkeling with sea lions, marine iguanas, sea turtles, a wide range of fish and occasionally penguins and stingrays. The last part of the route up to this snorkel site – that is about 15 minutes walking from town – consists of a wooden walkway where many sea lions like to take a rest. If you don’t have your own snorkel equipment, you can rent these in any of the many tour agencies in town.
Day 5 – Wetlands, Wall of Tears and speedboat to Santa Cruz (B)
This morning you will have time off to visit the Wall of Tears. It’s recommended to rent a bike as this site is about 8 km away from town. As you travel towards the Wall of Tears you will pass several beautiful beaches where you can stop and observe many marine iguanas. You will also pass the Wetlands where there are short trails you can take to explore the area and see various lava formations. On your ride you will likely see giant tortoises and many Galapagos sea birds. At the end of the road you’ll find the Wall of Tears, an important historical site of Isabela island. From 1945-1959, a penal colony hosted prisoners who were forced to build this wall, stone by stone, in isolation. This now historical site, towering at 25 m high, took the lives of thousands during its construction. Locals claim to hear cries emanating from the heavy energy surrounding the site. Another option is to visit the Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre in Puerto Villamil where you can see baby tortoises and learn about the important Galapagos Islands breeding program.
In the afternoon you will take the speedboat to Santa Cruz island, which takes about 2,5 hours. After checking in at your hotel, you’ll have the rest of the evening off.
Day 6 – Departure (B)
Enjoy your last morning on the Galapagos Islands strolling around the boulevard and check out the little fish market, where fishmongers cut and sell their wares. Chances are that you’ll see pelicans and sea lions here hoping to catch a free fishy snack. You will be picked up from your hotel for your transfer to the Itabaca Channel, where you will take the ferry and shuttle bus to Baltra airport. From here you will fly back to the mainland of Ecuador.
Prices 2026
| Price per person (2 passengers) |
|
| Budget accommodation | $840 |
| Standard accommodation | $1028 |
| Price per person (1 passenger) |
|
| Budget accommodation | $1031 |
| Standard accommodation | $1296 |
Take a look at our Budget, Standard, Superior and Luxury accommodations.
Make sure to buy a flight on the first day that flies into Baltra Island (GPS) and also flies out of Baltra Island (GPS). Your arrival flight can arrive any time, but it’s recommended to book a flight that arrives between 9:00 AM and 12:30 PM at Baltra Island to enjoy the activities on the first day on a nice pace. Your departure flight can leave any time of the day, but it’s recommended to book a flight that leaves a little later in the morning / afternoon, to enjoy your last morning on the Galapagos.
This is a partially Shared Tour / Group Tour and partially Private Tour. This means that there will be other people besides yourself (or your travel party) taking part in most of the excursions of this program. As every traveler is following their own itinerary on the Galapagos the group composition during your excursions can vary from day to day. Your airport transfers on the islands will always be on a private basis for you (or your travel party) only.
Edificio Smerald – Office 1002
Av. de los Shyris N34-328 y Av. Portugal
Quito – Ecuador
Office hours: Monday – Friday from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (GMT-5).
Tourism Registry Number: 1792773474001.001.9025466
