Galapagos 4-Day Tour: Santa Cruz & Isabela Snorkeling

Snorkel Los Tuneles, the most beautiful site on Isabela Island, then explore the Charles Darwin Research Station and bay wildlife.

A 4-day Galapagos tour on Santa Cruz and Isabela islands combining group day tours with other travelers and private day tours with your own guide, including snorkeling at Los Tuneles, visits to the Charles Darwin Research Station, and a bay tour spotting sea lions, sharks and blue-footed boobies. Flights to Baltra are not included, but airport pickup and inter-island transport are. Accommodation runs three nights in a hotel room matched to your group size. The itinerary shifts based on your arrival time: early flights let you reach Isabela the same day, while later arrivals mean a night on Santa Cruz first.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Isabela Island

• Arrive at Baltra airport
• Meet English speaking guide
• Transfer to Puerto Ayora port
• Enjoy lunch in Puerto Ayora
• Take speedboat to Isabela Island
• Driver picks up at Isabela Island
• Visit Flamingo Lagoon
• Transfer to hotel

Day 2: Snorkeling at Los Tuneles

• Boat ride to Los Tuneles
• Snorkel in Los Tuneles
• Explore Concha Perla (optional)

Day 3: Charles Darwin Station and Bay Tour

• Take speedboat to Santa Cruz Island
• Have breakfast on Santa Cruz
• Visit Charles Darwin Research Station
• Enjoy lunch
• Boat tour to La Loberia
• Navigate to Punta Camaño Islet
• Spot Tintorera sharks and blue footed boobies
• Visit Channel of Love
• Visit Playa de Los Perros

Day 4: Transfer to Baltra Airport

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

The experience

The tour splits your four days between group tours where you join different travelers and guides each day, and private tours where one guide stays with your party alone. This mix keeps costs down while giving you flexibility: on group days you meet other visitors exploring the islands, and on private days the pace and focus are yours. A certified naturalist guide leads the program in English or Spanish, except during the boat rides between islands where you're on public speedboats with other passengers.

Day one depends on when you land at Baltra. If your flight arrives before 11 a.m., you'll have lunch in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz, then take a 30-to-40-minute public speedboat to Isabela Island and visit Flamingo Lagoon before checking into your hotel. Later arrivals mean you stay on Santa Cruz that night and catch the speedboat the next morning. Day two takes you snorkeling at Los Tuneles, a site about 800 meters across with water around 20 degrees Celsius. The boat ride from Puerto Villamil runs 30 to 40 minutes, and you can explore the nearby Concha Perla lagoon before or after depending on the departure time. Day three brings you back to Santa Cruz by speedboat for breakfast, then the Charles Darwin Research Station, and an afternoon bay tour where you spot sea lions at La Loberia, sharks and blue-footed boobies in the channels, and visit the Channel of Love and Playa de Los Perros. Day four is your transfer back to Baltra Airport with a Spanish-speaking driver.

Snorkeling gear, all inter-island transport, airport pickup and drop-off, and three nights of accommodation are included. The public speedboats between islands can be bumpy and wet, and small bags pack easier than large luggage on the local transport. Tap water isn't safe to drink. Bring or buy bottled water. The operator can shift the itinerary for weather or National Park rules, and if your flight is delayed past the last 2 p.m. speedboat to Isabela, you'll need to cover the cost of an extra night on Santa Cruz yourself.

What’s included

• Snorkeling mask, snorkel, fins and life vest.
• all transport between Santa Cruz and Isabela islands on public speedboats and by car.
• airport pickup and drop-off at Baltra.
• three nights in a hotel room (single, double or triple based on your group).
• a certified naturalist guide in English or Spanish for the full program except inter-island boat rides.

Options for this experience

2 options

4D Galapagos BudgetGuide in English or Spanish · 09:00, 11:00 and 13:00Includes pickup

4-day Galapagos budget tour with 1 extra nightGuide in English or Spanish · 09:00, 10:00 and 11:00Includes pickup, plus 1 extra night of accommodation

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00, 10:00, 11:00 and 13:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Child (under 12)

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.

Paid on siteUS$ 30

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Rebecca Adventure Travel

Is this one for you?Book the 4-day option for the core islands with daily group and private tours mixed together. Add the extra night if your flights arrive late or you want a full day on one island without rushing to the next.

Traveler reviews

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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 (under 12).

What is Los Tuneles and why is it the best snorkeling spot on Isabela Island?

Los Tuneles is a snorkeling site on Isabela Island known as the most beautiful place to snorkel there. The area spans about 800 meters with water temperatures around 20 degrees Celsius, and you reach it by a 30-to-40-minute boat ride from Puerto Villamil. The site's rock formations and marine life make it the standout snorkeling moment of the tour.

Do I go on group tours or private tours, or both?

You do both. On group day tours you join different travelers with a different guide each day, keeping costs lower. On private day tours, one guide stays with just your travel party. The mix of shared and solo exploration is built into the four days.

What happens if my flight lands late in the afternoon?

If you arrive after 11 a.m., you'll spend your first night on Santa Cruz Island instead of reaching Isabela the same day, since the last public speedboat to Isabela departs around 2 p.m. You'll join the rest of the tour starting the next morning. If your flight is delayed and you miss that speedboat entirely, the team helps you find accommodation on Santa Cruz, but you cover the cost and miss the planned activities for that day.

What's included in the price and what costs extra?

Included are snorkeling equipment, all transport between and on the islands, airport pickup and drop-off at Baltra, and three nights in a hotel room. Not included are your flights to the Galapagos, the National Park entrance fee, the water taxi between islands, wet-suit rentals (recommended May through November), and the Migratory Control Card fee. Tips for the guide are optional.

What kind of guide leads the tour?

A certified, multilingual, local naturalist guide leads the program in English or Spanish. The guide is with you throughout the tour except during the public speedboat rides between islands, where you travel with other passengers.

Can I join as a single traveler?

Yes, single travelers can join the group tours and stay in a private room, though a single supplement surcharge applies. Accommodation is otherwise based on your group size, so traveling with others means sharing a room.