8-day Galapagos snorkeling: Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, Isabela

Snorkel Kicker Rock and Las Tintoreras, walk Tortuga Bay's white sand, watch blue-footed boobies from the shore.

An 8-day tour of Santa Cruz, San Cristobal and Isabela islands in the Galapagos, with daily snorkeling, guided hikes and birdwatching across six active days and two travel days. You stay five nights in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz and two nights in San Cristobal, with a full-day ferry excursion to Isabela included. Each day combines water activities (snorkeling at Kicker Rock, Las Tintoreras and Tortuga Bay) with walks through volcanic terrain and visits to the Charles Darwin Research Station and tortoise breeding centers.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and Santa Cruz Island Tour

• Personalized airport transfer
• Visit Santa Cruz Highlands
• Tour Charles Darwin Scientific Station
• Transfer to hotel in Puerto Ayora

Day 2: Isabela Island and Tintoreras Tour

• Ferry from Puerto Ayora to Isabela Island
• Boat trip to Tintoreras islets
• Snorkeling near Tintoreras
• Visit flamingo lagoon
• Tour Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center
• Return ferry to Puerto Ayora

Day 3: Floreana Island Full-Day Tour

• Hotel pick up in Puerto Ayora
• Ferry to Puerto Velasco Ibarra, Floreana
• Visit Asilo de la Paz and pirate cave
• See natural fresh water source and carved face
• Tour Corral de las Tortugas Terrestres
• Lunch at traditional restaurant
• Snorkel at Playa Negra and Playa de la Loberia
• Return to Puerto Ayora dock

Day 4: Pinzon Island Snorkeling and Hiking

• Hotel pick up in Puerto Ayora
• Boat to Playa la Fe
• Hike trails to watch marine iguanas
• Snorkeling at Playa la Fe bay
• Boat to Pinzon Island
• Snorkeling at Pinzon Island
• Lunch on board
• Return to port and end service

Day 5: Half Bay and Turtle Bay Self Visit

• Hotel pick up at 08:45 AM
• Snorkel at La Lobería with sea lions
• Birdwatching at Punta Estrada
• Excursion to Playa de los perros for iguanas
• Visit Channel of Love and Shark Channel
• Walk 2.5 km to Tortuga Bay beach
• Explore Tortuga Bay and wildlife

Day 6: Ferry to San Cristobal and Highlands

• Pick up at 06:20 AM for ferry to San Cristobal
• Visit El Junco freshwater lagoon
• Walk at La Galapaguera tortoise center
• Visit Puerto Chino beach

Day 7: San Cristobal Island Full-Day Tour

• Visit Rosa Blanca bay and beaches
• Snorkel and explore Sardina Bay
• Snorkel around Kicker Rock (León Dormido)

Day 8: Departure Transfer

• Breakfast at hotel
• Hotel lobby pick up for airport transfer
• End of services

The experience

The itinerary splits between two home bases. Your first five days anchor in Santa Cruz, where you explore the island's highlands, snorkel in the bay and take a full-day ferry to Isabela to dive at Las Tintoreras, a cluster of islets known for white-tip sharks, penguins and rays. Days six and seven move you to San Cristobal by ferry, where the highlands around El Junco lagoon and the 360-degree tour take in Kicker Rock (a 153-meter rock formation rising from the ocean), Rosa Blanca bay and Sardina Bay: all with snorkeling stops. The Charles Darwin Research Station on day one and the Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center on Isabela round out the wildlife education.

Snorkeling happens most days, usually from the boat or from beaches like Tortuga Bay, where you wade into a mangrove lagoon (swimming is restricted to that area). You'll see sea turtles, rays, tropical fish and occasionally hammerhead sharks around Kicker Rock. Hikes are short and mixed: a 2,500-meter path to Tortuga Bay, walks through the jungle at the tortoise center, and trails around Playa la Fe on Pinzón Island. Breakfast is included daily. Lunch is on the boat during longer excursions or in restaurants on Floreana and Isabela. Hotel pickup and airport transfers follow your flight times, and a professional guide leads activities in English or Spanish.

The tour suits all fitness levels, though days involve early starts (some pickups at 6:20 a.m.) and boat rides of up to two hours. Wet suits are not included. You rent one if you want. Galapagos National Park entry, sea taxi fees and any meals outside the itinerary are paid separately in cash on the islands. Rooms include air conditioning, private bathrooms and amenities. The choice between Tourist and Superior class affects accommodation quality, not the activities themselves.

What’s included

• Daily breakfast at your hotel.
• professional guide in English or Spanish for all activities.
• five nights of accommodation in Santa Cruz and two nights in San Cristobal (with air conditioning, private bathroom and amenities in each room).
• hotel taxes.
• all transfers between hotel and airport according to your flight information.
• ferry to Isabela and back to Santa Cruz.
• snorkeling and hiking activities as detailed in the itinerary.
• visits to the Charles Darwin Research Station and tortoise breeding centers.

Options for this experience

2 options

Tourist ClassGuide in English or Spanish · No fixed timeLasts 8 days, daily breakfast, includes pickup

Superior ClassGuide in English or Spanish · No fixed timeLasts 8 days, daily breakfast, includes pickup

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Perfect Destiny

Is this one for you?Choose the Tourist Class for budget-conscious travelers who want the full eight-day itinerary and all activities. Choose Superior Class if you prefer higher-end accommodation on both islands. Either way, the early starts and boat time mean you're active most days. This suits people comfortable with six a.m. pickups and two-hour ferry rides, not those seeking a slower pace.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What animals will I see while snorkeling at Kicker Rock?

Kicker Rock hosts sea turtles, marine iguanas, rays, Galapagos sharks and tropical fish. Hammerhead sharks appear occasionally. Blue-footed boobies, masked boobies and frigatebirds nest on the cliffs, and sea lions rest along the shore.

How long is the ferry ride from Santa Cruz to Isabela?

The ferry from Puerto Ayora to Isabela takes approximately two hours. You depart at 6:10 a.m. and begin activities at 9:00 a.m., then return to Santa Cruz by 2:00 p.m., another two-hour crossing.

Is Tortuga Bay included in the itinerary, and can I swim there?

Tortuga Bay is visited on day five as part of the half-day and full-day bay tour. Swimming is only allowed in the mangrove lagoon that borders the beach, not on the open beach itself. The lagoon has soft white sand and is separated from the main shore.

What's included in the daily breakfast and lunch?

Daily breakfast at your hotel is included. Lunch on full-day excursions is provided on the boat or at restaurants (Floreana and Isabela). Other meals and snacks are your own expense.

Do I need to bring a wet suit, or is one provided?

Wet suits are not included. You can rent one on the islands if you decide you need one. The cost is separate and paid locally.

What time do the daily pickups happen, and how does the airport transfer work?

Pickups vary by day: some start at 6:20 a.m. for ferries, others at 8:45 a.m. for bay tours. Your hotel pickup and airport transfer are scheduled according to your flight times. The driver will be in your hotel lobby at the arranged time.