If you're short on time but don't want to cut back on experiences, this 5-day island hopping trip to the Galápagos is for you. Fly out of Quito, heading for San Cristobal—home of the famous sea lion colony and Kicker Rock. Then, take a speedboat to Santa Cruz, where you'll see giant tortoises and visit an uninhabited island. 

Highlights

  • Explore the unique flora and fauna of Galápagos
  • Snorkel at the famous Kicker Rock
  • Visit an uninhabited island
  • Relax at pristine beaches

Brief Itinerary

Day Highlights Overnight
Day 1 Arrival to San Cristóbal Island San Cristóbal Island
Day 2 Snorkeling at Kicker Rock San Cristóbal Island
Day 3 Speedboat to Santa Cruz & Afternoon Boat Tour Puerto Ayora
Day 4 Day Trip to an Uninhabited Island Puerto Ayora
Day 5 Transfer to Airport on Baltra Island  

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival to San Cristóbal Island

San Cristobal Island
San Cristóbal Island

Welcome to the beautiful Galápagos Islands! Meet your driver at San Cristóbal Airport, then transfer to your hotel in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno to check in. Your afternoon is free to relax and enjoy the scenery.

Stroll through town, admire the sea lions and other wildlife, and enjoy an amazing sunset at Playa Mann.

Day 2: Snorkeling at Kicker Rock

Excellent snorkeling spot: Kicker Rock
Excellent snorkeling spot: Kicker Rock

Today you'll visit the famous Kicker Rock (also known as Leon Dormido—the sleeping lion), a volcanic formation that protrudes from the ocean waves. Here, you can snorkel with sea lion, colorful fish, rays, and turtles. If you're lucky, you may also see hammerhead sharks. 

Currents at Kicker Rock are strong and usually cold, but the marine wonders are worth it.  After lunch on the boat, head to a beautiful, pristine beach, where you can relax and defrost in the sunshine. In the afternoon, return to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.

Plan your trip to Galapagos Islands
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.

Day 3: Speedboat to Santa Cruz & Afternoon Boat Tour

School of tropical fish
School of tropical fish

Get an early start this morning to take the public speedboat to Santa Cruz Island, roughly 2-2.5 hours away. Meet your guide at the dock, then head to the highlands to see giant tortoises in the wild. Enjoy lunch at a local farm, then continue to Puerto Ayora to check in to your hotel. 

In the afternoon, head onto the water on a tour of the bay. Aboard a small boat, you'll visit the coves and beaches of Santa Cruz Island. Swim with playful sea lion cubs, go snorkeling to see the extraordinary diversity of sea life, or sunbathe on the beach. 

In the late afternoon, return to Puerto Ayora, where you will spend the night.

Day 4: Day Trip to an Uninhabited Island

Marine iguanas sunbathing on the shore
Marine iguanas sunbathing on the shore

Your adventure today includes a yacht tour to an uninhabited island. Depending on the weather, scheduling, and permissions by the National Park, you'll visit one of the following islands: Santa Fé, South Plazas, Bartolomé or North Seymour.

Each island is unique and offers spectacular scenery and an opportunity to see rare wildlife up close. Santa Fé and South Plazas are home to endemic land iguanas; while Bartolomé is known for beautiful lava sceneries. On North Seymour, look for frigate birds, land iguanas, and blue-footed boobies.

Today's adventure is a group tour, with a maximum group size of 20. In the evening, return to Puerto Ayora to enjoy some free time. 

Day 5: Transfer to Airport on Baltra Island

Beautiful sunset in the Galapagos
Beautiful sunset in the Galápagos

If there is enough free time before your transfer to the airport, do some last-minute souvenir shopping or take a last stroll through Puerto Ayora.

At the designated time, your driver will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the Itabaca Channel, which you will cross on a ferry. For the last part of your trip to the airport, take the public shuttle bus to the terminal, where your program ends with your return flight to the mainland.

Map

Map of Galápagos Island Hopping: San Cristobal & Santa Cruz - 5 Days
Map of Galápagos Island Hopping: San Cristobal & Santa Cruz - 5 Days
Linda
Written by Linda Schulz Old, updated Mar 2, 2023