Into the wild: Galapagos & Isabela Island

Breakfast at the hotel. Throughout the day, a representative will contact you to review your full itinerary, day by day, and answer any questions you may have. Your day starts with a guided tour of Quito’s colonial streets, iconic squares, and traditional markets. This guided tour of the capital, considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers panoramic views of the city and visits to its most emblematic sites.

Next, you’ll visit the Middle of the World City and the Intiñan Museum to learn all about Ecuadorian culture and stand with one foot on each hemisphere of the planet! You’ll see exhibits on native communities, their traditions, and knowledge, including shrunken heads from the Amazon and how ancient civilisations determined the location of the equator. Overnight stay in Quito.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, your Galapagos adventure begins. Transfer to Quito airport for your flight to Baltra Island. Once there, you’ll take a ferry across the Itabaca Channel and continue by vehicle to Santa Cruz Island.

Your first stop will be the Santa Cruz highlands (known in Spanish as la Parte Alta), a lush, green area that’s the natural habitat of the Galapagos giant tortoises. Visit a private ranch, where you can walk among the trees and small lagoons in search of these iconic creatures.

You’ll also visit the lava tunnels, formed when the surface of a lava flow hardens while the molten interior continues to flow beneath it like a river. Afterwards, you’ll head to your hotel to check in. The rest of the day is yours to continue exploring Santa Cruz at your own pace. Overnight stay in Santa Cruz.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today you’ll have a free day to rest or explore the beautiful island at your own pace. If you’d like to make the most of your time and see more of the island, we recommend joining a full-day tour of Santa Cruz.* Overnight stay in Santa Cruz.

*Optional full-day tour in Santa Cruz: Your guide will pick you up at the hotel to visit Tortuga Bay, where you’ll hike along a volcanic rock trail surrounded by cacti, palo santo, and matasarno trees. Bird enthusiasts will enjoy spotting Darwin’s finches among the branches. At the end of the trail, you’ll reach the stunning beaches of the bay. Relax under the sun or in the shade of the tress, explore the reeds and marine life (you might even spot one of the world’s largest marine iguanas!), or spot pelicans, blue-footed boobies, and frigatebirds.

After a well-deserved rest, you’ll take a boat back to Puerto Ayora for a culinary experience: learning how to make Galapagos-style ceviche. Discover the art of combining fresh seafood, citrus juices, and spices to create the refreshing dish. After lunch, you’ll visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, home to the Charles Darwin Foundation, which works on sustainable development projects to ensure the archipelago is well managed by scientists, educators, assistants, and volunteers from around the world. Afterwards, feel free to return to your hotel or continue exploring on your own.

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, you’ll take a boat to your next destination: Isabela Island, the largest and one of the most beautiful islands in the Galapagos, known for its pristine beaches, clear waters, and abundant wildlife. The boat ride takes approximately 2.5 to 3 hours, depending on sea conditions. Upon arrival, a vehicle will transfer you to your hotel on Isabela.

In the afternoon, enjoy a guided excursion to Tintoreras Bay, located south of Puerto Villamil. The tour begins with a ride on a small boat accompanied by a naturalist guide. With a bit of luck, you might spot Galapagos penguins, blue-footed boobies, and sea lions resting on the rocks. The bay gets its name from the white-tip reef sharks (tintoreras), which rest in a shallow, crystal-clear crevice that can sometimes be seen when the tide is low.

After the boat ride, you’ll disembark for a walk along lava trails that wind through white-sand beaches and black volcanic rock formations. This area is also home to marine iguanas—some nesting beneath the mangroves—and sea lion colonies along the shore.

Finally, you’ll enjoy a snorkelling session in the bay, where you’ll have the chance to swim among tropical fish, sea turtles, and, if you’re lucky, reef sharks. Afterwards, you’ll return to Puerto Villamil. Overnight stay on Isabela Island.

Please note: Ferry services in the Galapagos Islands may be affected by adverse weather conditions. If you’re prone to seasickness, we recommend taking preventive measures.

Breakfast at the hotel. You’ll have a free day on the island to rest and recharge or explore at your own pace. We recommend a tour of Los Túneles, where you can observe many marine species.* Overnight stay on Isabela Island.

*Optional Los Tuneles tour: The tour begins with a boat ride from Puerto Villamil to the west side of the island, followed by a guided walk through the formations, where you can admire the unique landscape and, with some luck, spot blue-footed boobies, sea lions, and penguins.

The excursion continues to El Finado, a small channel ideal for snorkelling among lava caves and formations, home to a wide variety of marine life such as seahorses, tropical fish, sea turtles, rays, and sharks. Lunch is included on board before returning to Puerto Villamil in the afternoon.

Please note: You can add the optional 3-adventure tour package (Tuneles Tour in Isabela, Bay Tour in Santa Cruz, and Kicker Rock (Tour in San Cristobal) in the next step of the booking process. To guarantee your spot in these activities, we recommend including the package in your current reservation, as availability is limited.

Breakfast at the hotel. You’ll take a ferry of approximately 2.5 hours (depending on sea conditions) to return to Santa Cruz Island. Once you’ve checked in at your hotel, you’ll have free time to explore at your own pace. If you love wildlife, we recommend a bay tour*, where you can spot island birds, marine iguanas, and snorkel. Overnight stay on Santa Cruz Island.

*Optional Santa Cruz Bay tour: From Puerto Ayora, you’ll board a boat towards La Loberia to observe the cliffs where blue-footed boobies and other birds rest. You’ll continue with a guided walk to a viewpoint overlooking the channel, where reef sharks can sometimes be seen swimming in the calm waters.

Next, you’ll visit Playa de los Perros, with its cacti, reddish rocks, and turquoise sea, where marine iguanas often bask in the sun. You’ll also enjoy a snorkelling session in the crystal-clear waters, discovering the rich marine life of the area (equipment included). Finally, you’ll visit Las Grietas, an impressive rock formation with a narrow turquoise-water canyon, where you can take a relaxing swim before returning.

Please note: Ferry services in the Galapagos Islands may be affected by adverse weather conditions. If you are prone to seasickness, we recommend taking preventive measures.

Breakfast at the hotel. From the pier in Santa Cruz, take a ferry to San Cristobal Island (approximately 2 hours). Once there, transfer to your hotel, and our team will share information about the island with you.

In the afternoon, visit La Loberia Beach, the most famous beach on the island. This peaceful spot with white sand and turquoise waters is named after the sea lions that are often seen relaxing on the shore or swimming near the surface. It’s another excellent opportunity for snorkelling, where you might encounter colourful fish, marine iguanas, sea turtles, and reef sharks.

When your return from La Loberia, you can take an optional kayak tour along the coast*. Overnight stay in San Cristobal town.

*Optional kayak experience: Discover the coast of San Cristobal on an unforgettable kayaking adventure. Paddle and discover volcanic cliffs and hidden coves, and snorkel with fish, rays, and reef sharks.

Please note: Ferry services in the Galapagos Islands may be affected by adverse weather conditions. If you are prone to seasickness, we recommend taking preventive measures.

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a free day to explore San Cristobal Island. Walk through its streets, try new foods, and discover the secrets this magical place has in store for you. If you want to uncover more and keep moving, you can take a tour of Lobos Island*. And for something more adventurous, you can take a boat to Kicker Rock**, where you can observe the marine life there (and if you’re lucky, you might even swim with hammerhead sharks!). Overnight stay in San Cristobal town.

Please note that you can only choose 1 of the 2 optional activities.

*Optional Lobos Island tour with snorkelling: Explore the home of sea lions, frigatebirds, and blue-footed boobies on a guided tour that includes snorkelling and a stop at Playa Ochoa to relax. (Lunch on board included) (Moderate swimming level required).

**Optional Kicker Rock excursion with snorkelling: Discover Kicker Rock (León Dormido), an impressive volcanic formation where you can snorkel among hammerhead sharks, turtles, and rays, and enjoy a white coral beach. (Lunch on board included) (Strong swimming level required).

Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time, transfer to the airport to catch your flight back to Quito. Once there, you can enjoy your last day in Ecuador and check off anything you still want to do in this beautiful city. Overnight stay in Quito. 

Breakfast at the hotel.* Unfortunately, it's time to end this adventure. At the designated time, take a shared transfer to the airport for your flight back to the US.

Please note: Depending on the flight departure time you may arrive back in the US today.

*Depending on the return flight schedule and the hotel breakfast service, you may not be able to enjoy the included breakfast on the last day.

Arrive in the US and end of this extraordinary trip.