Galápagos Island Exploration: San Cristóbal, Santa Cruz & Isabela - 12 Days

Highlights

• See Nazca, red-footed, and blue-footed boobies at Punta Pitt
• Snorkel amid rays, turtles, iguanas, and even hammerhead sharks at Kicker Rock
• Descend through a steam vent deep into the dormant Trillizos volcano
• Explore an uninhabited island near Isla Santa Cruz

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive on Isla San Cristóbal, Afternoon Island Tour

Welcome to the Galápagos! Located 603 miles (972 km) off the coast of Ecuador, this archipelago is both a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for its biodiversity and abundance of wildlife. More than that, the animals found in this archipelago's three main ecosystems have done much to further our understanding of natural history. Back in the 19th century, it even helped inspire Darwin's theory of natural selection. You'll arrive in Ecuador's capital, Quito, then take a three-hour plane ride to Isla San Cristóbal, the easternmost island in the Galápagos.

Upon arrival, continue to your hotel to get settled, then head out for a tour of the area. Start at the Interpretation Center, a science hub that offers insight into the unique ecosystems and natural history of these volcanic islands. Then, hike up to Tijeretas Hill, a nesting site for the Galápagos' famous frigatebirds that also offers far-reaching views out over the coast to Kicker Rock and Wreck Bay, the main port in town. Fun fact: it was at Wreck Bay in 1835 that a young Charles Darwin first landed in the Galápagos.

Day 2: Explore Isla San Cristóbal by Boat: Snorkeling, Beaches & Marine Life

Wake up early and board a boat for a loop tour around Isla San Cristóbal, stopping first at Rosa Blanca. Located on the island's east side, this small bay is hemmed in by volcanic rocks, and you'll do some snorkeling here to spot marine life like tropical fish, sea turtles, rays, and whitetip reef sharks. Next, you'll cruise to Bahía Sardina, a scenic bay featuring two white-sand beaches. You can do more snorkeling here and perhaps even swim with sea lions. Afterward, continue to Cerro Brujo (Witch's Hill), whose rocky headland and wide-open beach are among the most scenic locales in the Galápagos.

Finally, you'll arrive at Kicker Rock. This 500-foot (152 m) pair of volcanic islands may not look like a legendary dive site, but beneath the surface lies a diverse ecosystem teeming with exotic marine life. Once here, you'll strap on your snorkel, dive in, and swim alongside sea life like eagle rays, tropical fish, sea turtles, marine iguanas, and even hammerhead sharks. After a break for lunch on the boat, you'll spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing at nearby white-sand beaches like Puerto Grande, Cerro Brujo, and Manglecito. 

Day 3: Day Trip to Punta Pitt: Bird-Watching, Hiking & Snorkeling

Grab your swimsuit and hiking shoes, and embark on another boat trip today, cruising back to the north of the island and Punta Pitt. This outing is a real treat for wildlife lovers, as this area at the tip of San Cristóbal is the only spot in the Galápagos where you can see frigatebirds plus all three species of boobies: Nazca, red-footed, and blue-footed.

Once here, you can view the birds' nesting sites as you hike up a short trail to the top of a hill made of volcanic tuff. Along the way, there are plenty of viewpoints where you can take incredible photos overlooking the coast. After the hike, return to the boat for a snorkeling excursion, then return to Isla San Cristóbal.

Day 4: Speedboat to Isla Santa Cruz, Optional Activities

After breakfast, head to the marina and board a speedboat for the 2.5-hour ride west from San Cristóbal to Isla Santa Cruz, the second-largest of the Galápagos islands, located in the center of the archipelago. When you arrive, meet your guide at the dock and hop in a car for the ride up to the island's interior. This highland region is a special place, as it's a natural habitat for the famous Galápagos giant tortoises, which can live up to 150 years.

Your guide will also take you to see lava tunnels and stop at the twin craters of Los Gemelos, formed by the collapse of empty magma chambers. The forested trail leading to the craters is a great place to spot birdlife, so look out for vermilion flycatchers, Galápagos doves, and several finch species. After a healthy meal on a farm in the highlands, your guide will bring you to Puerto Ayora, a town on the island's southern shore, to check into your hotel. 

Day 5: Day Trip to Isla Floreana: Asilo de la Paz & Post Office Bay

You're off on another day trip, boarding a ferry for the two-hour ride south from Santa Cruz to Isla Floreana and Post Office Bay. Whereas most of the Galápagos islands are known for their wildlife, this island is more famous for the myths surrounding it—including the disappearance of a wealthy baroness in the 1930s. Start by heading to the highlands of Floreana to visit Asilo de la Paz, the site of the first human settlement on the island in the 18th century. There are many points of interest here, including a freshwater spring that sustained the settlers and caves used by pirates as hideouts. 

Head back down to the dock to see the famous Post Office Barrel. Claimed to have been set up in 1793 by Captain James Colnett, it remains the oldest functioning "post office" in the Pacific, where whalers and fur sealers would leave letters to be picked up by homeward-bound sailors. In the spirit of tradition, visitors today often take letters and hand-deliver them to their home countries. You can also swim and relax on the beach here, where you may spot Pacific green turtles, golden rays, and Galápagos penguins before cruising back to Isla Santa Cruz.

Day 6: Day Trip to an Uninhabited Island 

Today you'll explore one of the uninhabited islands in the Galápagos archipelago, which comprises 13 large islands and over 40 small islands and islets. Depending on the day and the permits granted by the park authorities, you'll cruise out to either Santa Fé, Plaza Sur, Bartolomé, or Seymour Norte. Discover their wild volcanic landscapes and encounter species found nowhere else.

Look out for iguanas on the crescent-shaped Plaza Sur, wander through a vast cacti forest and spot sea lions on Santa Fé, and find lava lizards on Seymour Norte. If you dock on Bartolomé, hike among red craters shadowed by two volcanic cinder cones, spotting Galápagos penguins at Pinnacle Rock. You'll have a chance to relax on the beach and have a lunch break on the boat, returning to Puerto Ayora at the end of the day.

Day 7: Speedboat to Isla Isabela, Explore Tintoreras Islet

Pack your bags again—it's time to hop on a speedboat for the two-hour ride west to Isla Isabela, the largest island in the Galápagos. You'll arrive in the port village of Puerto Villamil, where you'll check into your hotel. After settling in, meet a local guide and board another boat tour.

It's a quick 10-minute trip to the tiny islet of Tintoreras, comprised mainly of volcanic rock formations and water channels created by lava flows. It's an ideal spot for snorkeling, as the channels are a habitat for exotic marine life. After strapping on your mask and diving in, you'll see Humboldt penguins, sea turtles, marine iguanas, starfish, sea lions, and whitetip reef sharks. Pelicans and blue-footed boobies are also common here. At the end of the tour, you'll return to Puerto Villamil and have the rest of the day free.

Day 8: Hike the Sierra Negra Volcano, Free Afternoon

It's an early start as your driver takes you up to Isla Isabela's highlands before reaching the national park's visitors' control area. From here, it's an easy 1.5-hour hike to get to the rim of the impressive crater of the Sierra Negra volcano, considered the second-largest in the world after the Ngorongoro Crater in Africa. It has the largest caldera of all the Galápagos volcanoes but is also the shallowest of the Isabela volcanoes at only 328 feet (100 m) deep. It also provides some of the most spectacular views in the Galápagos, showcasing the sheer power of nature.

You'll have the afternoon free, but if you're keen to keep exploring, hop on a bike to reach Isabela's Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center to see giant Galápagos tortoises of different species and sizes. Then pedal along a well-maintained trail leading to the Humedales (Wetlands). You'll be amazed by the impressive scenery of lagoons surrounded by four species of exuberant mangroves, as well as the area's typical flora. Observe flamingoes and other migratory birds in the lagoons, such as the charrán and the gaviota de Galápagos (lava gull). Finally, reach the beach, where you'll have time to enjoy some time on the pristine sands in the company of marine iguanas.

Day 9: Rappelling & Cycling Adventures on Isla Isabela

Your guide will pick you up early this morning for the drive a few miles north from Puerto Villamil to the Trillizos volcano. Upon arrival here, you'll embark on a short hike to the crater, where your abseiling (rappelling) adventure starts. After strapping into a harness, you'll descend 493 feet (150 m) through a steam vent deep into this dormant volcano. These internal chambers are a marvel of geology, as here you'll see various rocks, minerals, and incredible quartz formations.

After an exhilarating morning, you'll return to Puerto Villamil for lunch. Then you'll hop on a bicycle for a ride around the island, taking you to scenic viewpoints and incredible landmarks. These include the Mango Viewpoint, which overlooks the south of Isabela; Cuevas del Sucre, a group of lava tunnels and caves you can explore; and Campo Duro, an ecolodge on the slope of Sierra Negra volcano. Here you can stroll amid the farms and orchards as well as spot Galápagos tortoises roaming about. At the end of the day, you'll return to your hotel.

Day 10: Day Trip to Galápagos Hacienda & Coffee Farm

Today sets a more leisurely pace, starting with a 30-minute drive up into the highlands of Isla Isabela, where you'll visit a traditional hacienda in the community of Tomás de Berlanga. Here you'll meet some friendly locals and tour the area's coffee fields and fruit plantations, learning about their eco-friendly and sustainable methods. Naturally, this excursion includes a tasting of some of the fine brew made from Galápagos beans, as well as a snack made with fruit grown right on the farm.

Afterward, you'll return to your hotel and have the rest of the afternoon free to spend however you please. It's your last day on Isla Isabela, so make the most of it—stake out a spot on one of the white-sand beaches for some sunbathing, or rent some snorkeling equipment and head to Concha de Perla, a natural lagoon that's perfect for swimming and spotting sea lions and marine iguanas.

Day 11: Ferry to Isla Santa Cruz, Optional Activities

Wake up early and enjoy the sunrise on the beach, followed by breakfast in town. Set out on one last nature hike or savor some more beach time before hopping on the ferry for the ride back to Isla Santa Cruz. After checking into your hotel, you can spend the rest of your penultimate day in the Galápagos however you like.

For more wildlife, take a walk around the Cerro Mesa Ecological Reserve, a natural habitat for the Galápagos' famed giant tortoises. The reserve's location on a hill at 1,607 feet (490 m) above sea level also offers incredible views of the coast. For something more adventurous, head to Garrapatero Beach and hop in a kayak for a paddle along the coastal mangroves, keeping an eye out for flamingoes and pelicans. 

Day 12: Transfer to Isla Baltra, Depart

Your grand island-hopping adventure around the Galápagos has come to an end. In the morning, your driver will pick you up for the transfer north to the airport on Isla Baltra, where you'll catch your connecting flight home. Safe travels!

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