5-day Galapagos Island Hopping Tour: Los Tuneles and Isabela

Snorkel Los Tuneles, visit giant tortoises at the Darwin Station, explore Santa Fe Island

A 5-day guided tour of the Galapagos Islands based from Isabela, with stops at Los Tuneles for snorkeling, the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz, and Santa Fe Island. An English-speaking guide leads the group through inter-island transport, meals, and four nights of accommodation. Snorkeling gear is provided. The itinerary adjusts based on flight arrival time and National Park regulations.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Isabela Island

• Arrive at Baltra airport
• Meet English-speaking guide
• Travel to Puerto Ayora for lunch
• Take speedboat to Isabela Island
• Arrive and transfer to hotel

Day 2: Flamingo Lagoon and snorkeling

• Visit Flamingo Lagoon
• Boat to Los Tuneles snorkeling spot
• Snorkel and explore marine wildlife
• Enjoy snack and short hike

Day 3: Charles Darwin Station and bay tour

• Travel to Santa Cruz Island
• Have breakfast
• Visit Charles Darwin Research Station
• Have lunch
• Bay Tour: La Loberia sea lions
• Snorkel at Punta Camaño Islet
• Visit Channel of Love
• Walk to Playa de Los Perros beach

Day 4: Santa Fe or Pinzon Island tour

• Visit Santa Fe or Pinzon Island
• Snorkel in pristine bay
• Wet landing at Playa Escondida or Garrapatero Beach
• Experience Pezca Vivencial fishing (if Pinzon)

Day 5: Transfer to Baltra and departure

• Have breakfast
• Travel to Baltra Airport
• Depart to Quito or Guayaquil

The experience

The tour picks you up at Baltra airport and moves you between islands by speedboat. A ride that can be rough, so motion sickness medication helps. If your flight arrives before noon, you'll head straight to Isabela Island the same day after lunch in Puerto Ayora. Late arrivals stay overnight on Santa Cruz and join the group the next morning. Either way, you spend four nights in standard tourist-class hotels with private rooms and bathrooms.

Los Tuneles, on Isabela's north coast, is the centerpiece: a 6-hour snorkeling adventure in clear, calm water where you encounter sea lions, marine iguanas, manta rays, and Galapagos penguins. The boat includes a snack and a short hike. On another day, you visit Flamingo Lagoon (the largest coastal lagoon in the archipelago) before heading back out to the water. A separate day takes you to the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz, where guides explain the work with giant tortoises, followed by a bay tour that stops at La Loberia (sea lions), Punta Camaño Islet (snorkeling with sea lions and fish), the Channel of Love, and Playa de Los Perros, a 15-minute walk to a beach where dog crabs, marine iguanas, and rocky views meet.

Santa Fe or Pinzon Island rounds out the itinerary: the National Park decides which one based on regulations on the day you tour. Santa Fe offers a pristine bay for snorkeling and a wet landing at a hidden beach. Pinzon showcases marine iguanas and sea lions, plus an optional "experiential fishing" experience. Snorkeling equipment (mask, snorkel, fins, life vest), all transport between islands, airport pickup and drop-off, meals, and accommodation are included. A guide stays with you except during inter-island boat rides. The tour ends with a transfer to Baltra airport after breakfast on day five.

What’s included

• Snorkeling equipment including mask, snorkel, fins and life vest.
• accommodation in a private, double or triple room for four nights in standard tourist-class hotels.
• all meals during the tour.
• transportation between islands by speedboat and between Baltra airport and the Itabaca Channel.
• airport pickup and drop-off at Baltra.
• an English-speaking guide throughout the program (except during inter-island boat rides).
• 24/7 assistance in English, Dutch and Spanish.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00, 10:00 and 11:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Child (2 to 11 years)

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 6 days before the start.Between 2 and 6 days before the start, 50% refund.After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Rebecca Adventure Travel

Is this one for you?Book the early-arrival option if your flight reaches Baltra before noon. You'll make Isabela the same day and gain a full extra day of activities. If you arrive after noon, you'll spend day one on Santa Cruz and join the group the next morning, which works well if you want to ease into the trip or prefer not to rush from the airport.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 11 years).

What happens if my flight arrives after noon on the first day?

You'll stay overnight on Santa Cruz Island because the last speedboat to Isabela departs around 3 p.m. You rejoin the group the next morning and follow the adjusted itinerary, which includes Santa Fe on day two, the Charles Darwin Station and bay tour on day three, a morning boat to Isabela and Los Tuneles on day four, and a morning return to Santa Cruz on day five before your transfer out.

What wildlife will I see while snorkeling at Los Tuneles?

Los Tuneles is home to sea lions, marine iguanas, manta rays, Galapagos penguins, and a variety of fish. The snorkeling happens in clear, calm waters, and the 6-hour outing includes a boat ride, a snack, and a short hike.

Is snorkeling equipment provided, or do I need to bring my own?

Snorkeling equipment is included: mask, snorkel, fins, and life vest are provided for the tour. A wetsuit can be rented for $5 per person per day (cash only) if you're visiting between May and November.

What is the Charles Darwin Research Station, and what will I do there?

The Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz Island is a research facility focused on the Galapagos' giant tortoises. Guides explain the work and the tortoises themselves. After the station visit, you take a bay tour that includes snorkeling at Punta Camaño Islet, a visit to La Loberia to see sea lions, the Channel of Love, and a walk to Playa de Los Perros beach.

What is included in the tour price, and what costs extra?

Included are accommodation for four nights in standard hotels with private rooms, all meals, inter-island transport, airport pickup and drop-off, snorkeling equipment, and an English-speaking guide. Not included are round-trip flights to the Galapagos, the Galapagos National Park entrance fee, personal travel and health insurance, the Migratory Control Card ($20 cash), the Isabela dock fee ($10 cash), water taxi rides ($1 per person), and optional guide tips.

How physically demanding is this tour?

The tour requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness. It involves boat rides (some can be bumpy), snorkeling, and short hikes. It is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health or spinal injuries. Bringing motion sickness medication and a waterproof jacket is advised.