5-day Galapagos tour: Santa Cruz, Isabela & one island

Five days hits three islands and lets you swim with sea lions and sharks in the same trip.

A 5-day shared tour of the Galapagos Islands based in Santa Cruz, visiting Isabela Island and one navigable site (Bartolomé, Seymour, Santa Fe or Plazas), with snorkeling, giant tortoise reserves, beach hikes and bilingual naturalist guides. The itinerary includes four nights in Puerto Ayora, all land and sea transport within the islands, breakfast and lunch daily, and hotel pickup. The Galapagos entrance fee ($200 USD per adult) is paid separately in cash on arrival.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and Giant Tortoises Reserve

• Transfer from Baltra airport to Santa Cruz
• Visit Private Giant Tortoises reserve
• Explore Tuneles de Lava

Day 2: Santa Cruz Bay Tour and Hiking

• Boat tour to Punta Estrada and Playa de los Perros
• Visit Las Grietas
• Lunch break
• Hike at Tortuga Bay Beach

Day 3: Isabela Island and Snorkeling

• Speedboat transfer to Isabela Island
• Visit Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center
• Snorkel at Tintoreras
• Return to Puerto Ayora

Day 4: Navigable Tour to Santa Fe Island

• Snorkel at two points in Santa Fe Island
• Swim with sea lions and observe marine life
• Return to Puerto Ayora pier

Day 5: Departure Transfer

• Transfer from hotel to Baltra airport

The experience

The five days split between Santa Cruz as your base and day trips outward. Day one takes you from Baltra airport to the highlands of Santa Cruz, where you visit a private giant tortoise reserve and lava tunnels to see the animals in their habitat. Day two runs a morning bay tour by boat (stopping at Punta Estrada, Playa de los Perros and Las Grietas for snorkeling), then a 45-minute hike across Tortuga Bay's white sand beach. Day three is a speedboat crossing to Isabela Island to tour the Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center and snorkel at Tintoreras before returning to Puerto Ayora.

Day four is the navigable excursion: you choose between Santa Fe, Bartolomé, Seymour or Plazas, each offering two snorkeling points where you swim with sea lions, spot starfish, goldfish and manta rays in calm, turquoise water. The final day is your transfer back to Baltra airport. You stay four nights in a double or triple room at Ocean Dreams or a similar budget hotel in Puerto Ayora, with breakfast and lunch included each day according to the itinerary. The tour runs as a shared service, so you travel with other families, couples and solo travelers. Your guide speaks both English and Spanish.

Pack one suitcase (23kg max) and one carry-on (8kg max). Water taxis from the dock to the speedboat run $1 USD per person depending on the tide. The Galapagos entrance fee ($200 USD adults, $100 USD children) and the Isabela Island entrance fee ($10 USD per person) are paid separately. Public transport from Baltra airport costs $5 USD per way if you arrange it independently.

What’s included

• Bilingual naturalist guide in English and Spanish.
• round-trip shared transfer from Baltra airport.
• four nights accommodation in a double or triple room at Ocean Dreams or similar budget hotel in Puerto Ayora.
• breakfast and lunch daily.
• all land and sea transportation within the Galapagos during the program.
• hotel and port pickup and drop-off.
• excursions and visits to the private giant tortoise reserve, lava tunnels, bay tour sites, Isabela's Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center, Tintoreras snorkeling site and your choice of navigable island.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (7 to 75 years) · Child (under 1)

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

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

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 72 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 10

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Camiadventures

Is this one for you?Five days is short enough to fit between other plans but long enough to reach three islands and snorkel twice. If you have a week or more in the Galapagos, a longer itinerary reaches more sites.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 1).

What exactly happens on the snorkeling days in the Galapagos?

The bay tour on day two visits three spots (Punta Estrada, Playa de los Perros and Las Grietas), where you snorkel from the boat. Day four's navigable excursion to Santa Fe, Bartolomé, Seymour or Plazas includes two dedicated snorkeling points in calm water where sea lions, starfish, goldfish and manta rays are common. Both days include lunch.

Do I need to arrange my own transport from Baltra airport?

No. A shared transfer from Baltra airport to Puerto Ayora is included on day one, and a transfer back to the airport is included on day five. Public transportation (the Lobito) costs $5 USD per person each way if you choose to use it instead, but it is not part of the tour.

Can I choose which island to visit on day four?

Yes. Day four is a navigable tour to one of four islands: Santa Fe, Bartolomé, Seymour or Plazas. Each offers snorkeling and wildlife viewing. The operator selects which one based on conditions and availability when you book.

What meals are included over the five days?

Breakfast and lunch are included each day according to the itinerary. Dinner is not included, so you arrange your own meals in the evenings in Puerto Ayora.

How physically demanding is this tour?

The tour requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness. Day two includes a 45-minute hike across Tortuga Bay beach, and snorkeling days involve getting in and out of boats. If you have mobility concerns, contact the operator before booking.

What is the giant tortoise reserve like on day one?

The private reserve in Santa Cruz's highlands lets you see giant tortoises in their natural habitat, along with finches and other Galapagos wildlife. The lava tunnels (Túneles de Lava) are also part of the visit, giving you a sense of the islands' volcanic geology.