5-Day Galapagos Island Hopping
In this 5-day itinerary, you will visit 3 islands: Santa Cruz, Isabela, and 1 uninhabited island.
Island hopping allows visitors to experience much of the best areas of the islands while sleeping in well-appointed lodges and transferring between islands during the day on a smaller boat.
You can start on any day of the year, and you can buy your own Galapagos flights. We offer itineraries for any length of time. Island hopping itineraries are also great choices for visitors who wish to combine diving days with classic wildlife tours.
NOTES:
- Dinner is on your own during your tour. There are a number of restaurants in town, and they are all within walking distance of the hotels.
- For your free time, you can explore town, most hotels have bicycles to rent, there may be kayaks in town to rent, and there are beaches to visit within walking distance.
- You will need an afternoon flight out of the Baltra Airport.
- In general, winter is rougher/rainy, summer is calmer.
- You will have a separate guide on each island. Some tours are private and some are in a small group.
Full Itinerary
Day 1: 5-DAY GALAPAGOS ISLAND HOPPING / Arrive Galapagos, Giant Tortoises in Highlands, Swimming at Garrapatero Beach (Hiking, Beach) (L)
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You will fly from Quito or Guayaquil to the Baltra Airport on Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos. You will be met at the airport by your private certified guide. After you collect your luggage, look for someone with a sign with your name on it.
There is a public bus to the Itabaca Channel (5 minutes), which you then cross by ferry.
You will drive with your guide to a ranch in the Santa Cruz Highlands to see giant tortoises in their natural environment. After lunch, you will continue to Garrapatero Beach where you will have time to swim.
The evening is at your leisure. You can choose among a lot of restaurants in town for dinner. The "Kiosks" are a great option -- every night one street in the center of Puerto Ayora is closed to traffic and restaurants put tables and chairs in the street where you can enjoy a typical meal among locals.
NOTE: Private Tour
Meals included: Lunch
Budget Accommodations: Hotel Deja Vu
Mid-Range Accommodations: Villa Laguna
Luxury Accommodations: Angermeyer Waterfront Inn
Day 2: Day trip to an uninhabited island: Santa Fe, Plazas, Bartolome, or Seymour (Hiking) (BL)
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Today you will participate in a boat tour to an uninhabited island. That will be either Santa Fe, Plazas, Bartolome, or Seymour. The destination will depend on availability, day of the week, and program of the National Park. We will let you know immediately at booking which island is available.
On Santa Fe and Plazas, you can spot endemic land iguanas. Bartolome is known for beautiful lava scenery. On Seymour, you can see frigate birds, land iguanas, and blue footed boobies.
The evening in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island is free time.
NOTE: Shared Tour with maximum 20 people/boat
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Budget Accommodations: Hotel Deja Vu
Mid-Range Accommodations: Villa Laguna
Luxury Accommodations: Angermeyer Waterfront Inn
Day 3: Boat transfer to Isabela Island, afternoon Tintoreras Island (Hiking, Snorkeling) (BL)
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At 6:30am we will pick you up at the hotel and accompany you to the harbor, where you will take the shared speed boat at 7:00am to Isabela (2.5-3.5 hours).
Our staff will welcome you on Isabela and accompanies you to your hotel for check-in. You are free until lunch. We recommend a visit of the Flamingo Lagoon or Galapaguera, a breeding center for the Galapagos Tortoises. Flamingo Lagoon ("Poza de los Flamingo") is a principal breeding ground for the Flamingos. This is a 10-minute walk from town.
After lunch you will take a local boat to nearby Tintoreras Islet for a short hike and snorkeling. You can discover penguins, marine iguanas, sea lions, and sharks ("tintoreras"), which are resting there in the lava channel. Snorkel then in turquoise water and spot different fishes, sea turtles, rays, and penguins.
Your evening is free. For dinner, we recommend Isabela Grill for the meat lovers, Iguana Point which is along the beach, or El Faro restaurant in the center.
NOTE: Shared Tour with maximum 16 people/boat
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Budget Accommodations: Hotel Iguana Isabela
Mid-Range Accommodations: Isabela Beach House
Luxury Accommodations: Iguana Crossing
Day 4: Isabela Island: Sierra Negra Volcano OR Los Tuneles (Hiking or Snorkeling) (BL)
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You have the choice between two shared tours. Please let us know your choice when booking.
TOUR 1 – Sierra Negra Volcano: This is the 2nd largest and most active volcano in the world (last eruption on October 22, 2005). You will also see steam rising from nearby Volcan Chico. You walk through spectacular lava landscapes and have views of the northern volcanoes of Isabela and Fernandina. The hike to the Sierra Negra Volcano and the Chico Volcano is about 16km long (2-3 hour hike up), but worth the effort. You see the second largest volcanic crater in the world and discover different vegetation zones. You get a lunchbox for the hike. It is a 40-minute drive to the base of the volcano hike. You can also rent a horse ($10) if you prefer not to hike.
TOUR 2 – Los Tuneles/Cabo Rosa: After breakfast at your hotel, you will leave at 7:30am with your guide to go by boat to Los Tuneles/Cabo Rosa (45 minutes) where lava has flowed into the ocean and formed beautiful lava tubes. There you may see penguins, blue-footed boobies and sea turtles. However, the highlight is snorkeling. You have the chance to see white-tip sharks which rest daily on the bottom, sea turtles, sea lions, rays, seahorses, and many tropical fish. The tour takes about 5 hours.
The rest of the day is at leisure. You can enjoy the beautiful beach in Isabela or you can snorkel in the Concha de Perla lagoon (snorkel equipment is not included in the free time, but can be hired locally).
NOTE: Shared Tour with maximum 16 people
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Budget Accommodations: Hotel Iguana Isabela
Mid-Range Accommodations: Isabela Beach House
Luxury Accommodations: Iguana Crossing
Day 5: Transfer to Baltra Airport for flight to Quito or Guayaquil (B)
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At 5:30am, we will pick you up at your hotel and accompany you to the pier on Isabela Island where you will take the shared speed boat at 6:00am to Santa Cruz (2.5-3.5 hours). At the harbor, our staff will welcome you and accompany you to breakfast.
You will then reverse your trip to the Baltra Airport with your driver -- drive to the Baltra Dock, boat across the channel, shuttle to the airport. Your driver will accompany you to the check-in at the airport, where your programs ends with the flight back to the mainland.
Make sure your flight does not depart before 12:30pm. There are also flights directly from Isabela to Baltra for an extra charge.
Meals included: Breakfast
Pricing
5-Day Galapagos Island HoppingPrices are Per Person and Valid for Trips through December 31, 2024
| # People in Group: | 2-3 | 4-5 | 6+ |
| Budget Lodging: | $1895 | $1695 | $1595 |
| Mid-Range Lodging: | $2195 | $1995 | $1895 |
| 4-Star Luxury Lodging: | $2895 | $2695 | $2595 |
*** Contact Us for other itinerary and lodging options! ***
NOTE: Prices are per person in U.S. dollars based on double/triple occupancy. All quotations are based on the current rates of park fees, VAT, other government taxes, and current exchange rates. Should any of these be increased or a new tax introduced, these increases will be added on even if your trip has already been paid for.
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