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Highlights
Hop between the Galapagos Islands to experience their wildlife and nature
Snorkel in the clear waters off Isabela Island, where the range of species you could see is huge.
Take an excursion to the Sierra Negra Volcano, where amazing views of the crater and beyond await.
Take a self-guided stroll around Los Humedales, exploring a giant tortoise breeding center.
Spend a day in Santa Cruz as you please, choosing perhaps a tour to Tortuga Bay or the Darwin Center.
There are few places more naturally splendid than the Galapagos Islands, and the Galapagos Island Hopping Adventure is a great way to experience the wildlife and natural beauty of Baltra, Isabela, and Santa Cruz islands.
This tour combines guided and self-guided adventures, with snorkelling off Isabela Island, shark viewing in Tintoreas, an experience at a giant tortoise breeding center, hiking at the Sierra Negra Volcano, and exploration of the wetlands of Isabela on offer. You can use the flexibility of your free time to visit the Charles Darwin Center or explore Santa Cruz, or maybe you just want to watch the sea lions play from the comfort of the beach! However you spend your time outside of planned activities, the natural beauty and incomprehensible range of wildlife is sure to leave an impression on you! If you only have a week to spare in the Galapagos, the Galapagos Island Hopping Adventure is an ideal way to spend it.
There are few places more naturally splendid than the Galapagos Islands, and the Galapagos Island Hopping Adventure is a great way to experience the wildlife and natural beauty of Baltra, Isabela, and Santa Cruz islands.
This tour combines guided and self-guided adventures, with snorkelling off Isabela Island, shark viewing in Tintoreas, an experience at a giant tortoise breeding center, hiking at the Sierra Negra Volcano, and exploration of the wetlands of Isabela on offer. You can use the flexibility of your free time to visit the Charles Darwin Center or explore Santa Cruz, or maybe you just want to watch the sea lions play from the comfort of the beach! However you spend your time outside of planned activities, the natural beauty and incomprehensible range of wildlife is sure to leave an impression on you! If you only have a week to spare in the Galapagos, the Galapagos Island Hopping Adventure is an ideal way to spend it.
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Galapagos Island Hopping Adventure Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Galapagos and Highlands Tour
The tour starts when you arrive on Baltra Island, so we recommend an early arrival. At arrival, have a meeting with the guide who will be waiting for you at the arrival lounge.
The first visit is to the highlands of Santa Cruz, where you will experience the strange and impressive phenomenon of the “Twins” (Spanish: Gemellos), two very deep depressions in the forested highlands. Later you’ll visit a farm neighbouring the national park. The farm, “Rancho Primicias”, attracts the wild giant tortoises with its green grass, and therefore this site is the best place to spot one of these amazing creatures that have given Galapagos its name. Enjoy lunch at the farm. Afterwards, transfer to your hotel in Puerto Ayora.
Overnight Location: Hotel on Santa Cruz
Distance: None
Meals: Lunch
Day 2 Isabela Island and Tintoreas
Today you will catch the early boat from Puerto Ayora to Puerto Villamil on Isabela Island. In the afternoon, take a tour to Tintoreas where you will get to do some excellent snorkelling. Next, embark on a boat trip to “Los Tintoreras”, named after an abundant shark on Galapagos. The island is small and you have the chance to spot many marine iguanas and also the Tintoreras shark.
The snorkeling is excellent around this island, and you’ll have lots of time to snorkel and swim today.
Overnight Location: Hotel on Isabela Island
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 Hike to the Sierra Negra Volcano
Today there is a day excursion to the Sierra Negra Volcano. From the foot of the crater, you’ll take a 30-minute easy hike to the crater, with an amazing view of the 1450m volcano. It is the second largest crater in the world, with a diameter of 9.6km. The volcano is active and had a major eruption in 2005, and you can clearly see the remains of the lava rivers from this eruption.
Later you will visit the Chico volcano, an area not often visited, where you can appreciate clear signs of volcanic activity like fumaroles and mineral associations.
Overnight Location: Hotel on Isabela Island
Distance: 30 minutes hiking
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 4 Self-Guided Tour to Los Humedales
This morning is free for a self-guided tour to the Lava Tunnel “El Estero”, the historical site of The Wall of Tear, the Flamingo Laguna, and the giant tortoise breeding center. From the breeding center, walk back to the town along a very nice path.
In the afternoon you’ll take a boat transfer back to Santa Cruz. The evening is at your leisure.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Santa Cruz
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 Santa Cruz
Today you can choose how you spend the day. We recommend a tour to the Darwin Center or an optional tour to Seymore or Plaza South. We can help you arrange whichever activities you’d like to do! Another option is a tour to Tortuga Bay, just 20 minutes by foot from the town. It’s the perfect place to snorkel, kayak, or just to enjoy the beach.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Santa Cruz
Distance: Flexible
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 Departure
After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to the ferry for Baltra Island and given a ride to the airport. Safe travels!
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Galapagos Island Hopping Adventure Price and Dates
This partially guided tour of the Galapagos Islands is run as a private tour for your group only and the price per person depends on the size of your group. Prices below are per person:- Guided group of 4: from USD1695 per person
Accommodation on the Galapagos Island Hopping Adventure Tour
This tour is based in 3-star hotels. The hotels are highly rated and enjoy locations near the beach.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
Rooms are double occupancy. You can pay a supplement to have a private room in a hotel where possible. Solo travellers may be required to pay a supplement.
What’s Included in the Galapagos Island Hopping Adventure Tour?
Meals
5 breakfasts and 2 lunches are included.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 5 nights are included.
Transportation during the Tour
All personal and luggage transfers required by the itinerary are included. This includes pickup from the airport and departure transfers. Flights to and from the Ecuador Mainland are not included.
Also Included
- Guide in described activities
- Entrance fees on tours
- Ferries
Not included
- Visas if required
- Personal gear
- Flights
- Travel insurance
- Airport transfers
- Meals not previously mentioned
- Guide services where mentioned as excluded
- Galapagos Park entrance fee, Ingala, and Isabela local taxes
- Optional tours
- Anything not mentioned as included
Optional Extras
- Additional nights before or after the tour
- Single occupancy upgrades where available
- Optional activities:
- Excursion to North Seymour Island and Bachas
- Excursion to the Bartolomé Island
- Excursion to South Plaza Island
- Excursion to Española Island
- How hard is the Galapagos Island Hopping Adventure?
- Do I need a visa to travel to Ecuador?
- When is the best time to travel to Ecuador for this tour?
- Are meals included on the Galapagos Island Hopping Adventure?
- Do I need insurance?
- How do I get to Baltra Island to start this tour?
- Is the Galapagos Island Hopping Adventure in English?
- Where does the Galapagos Island Hopping Adventure end?
- Do I need special vaccines to travel to Ecuador?
- Are there any travel restrictions for Ecuador?
We rate this tour as a 2/5. This tour includes snorkelling and a short, easy hike. Participants should be good swimmers and comfortable in the ocean to get the most out of this tour.
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.
The best time to visit Ecuador for this tour is the dry season between December and May. This period brings warm weather, less rain, and good ocean clarity.
5 breakfasts and 2 lunches are included.
Yes, it is mandatory to have health and medical insurance to join this trip. Get your Travel Insurance.
You can connect to Baltra Airport from Quito or other main centers in Ecuador. You will be picked up to begin the tour once you arrive on Baltra. We recommend an early arrival or an arrival the night before (we can help book an extra night in the hotel if you arrive the day before the tour).
Yes, the guides are English-speaking.
The tour ends with a ferry transfer back to Baltra, where you will be taken to the airport.
Check with your family doctor.
Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.
Customer Ratings
Andes World Travel is a boutique adventure tour operator, founded by mountaineers, grown out of a love for adventure and first-hand knowledge of the Andes region. They offer a wide range of tours throughout South America, including both adventure tours and cultural tours.
Andes World Travel offers climbing, trekking, and hiking tours with an emphasis on safety and professionalism. They also offer “light trekking” trips for less experienced adventurers.
The company runs tours in Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina, Bolivia, Venezuela, and Peru. They focus on sustainable practices and are more than willing to customize their tours to client’s wishes.
