Isabela Island Snorkeling Tour: Penguins & Tintoreras

Snorkel the Tintoreras and swim with penguins and sharks off Isabela

A full-day snorkeling trip from Puerto Ayora to Isabela Island in the Galápagos, with ferry transport, a professional guide and all equipment included. You board a speed boat at dawn, cross to Isabela in two hours, then snorkel the Tintoreras islets where white-tip sharks, penguins and sea turtles gather. The day also includes the flamingo lagoon and the Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center before the return ferry to Santa Cruz.

Step-by-step itinerary

Isabela Island and Tintoreras tour

• Board ferry at Puerto Ayora port
• Travel 2 hours to Isabela Island
• Boat trip to Tintoreras islets
• Observe penguins and white tip sharks
• Snorkel near Tintoreras islets
• Lunch at Isabela Island port
• Visit flamingo lagoon for photos
• Tour Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center
• Return 2 hours by ferry to Puerto Ayora

Stops and time spent at each 2 stops

1. Isabela Island 3h
2. Las Tintoreras 3h

What’s included

• Ferry transport from Santa Cruz to Isabela and back.
• snorkeling mask and fins.
• professional guide in English or Spanish.
• lunch.
• visits to the Tintoreras islets, flamingo lagoon and Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center.
• hotel pickup within Puerto Ayora's urban area.

Times

• Every day 06:30

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Before you book

Group Up to 15

Live guide English and Spanish

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point. You can choose from 20 pickup points.

Book up to 4h before

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

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund. It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Perfect Destiny

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

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The experience

The day starts at 06:45 at Puerto Ayora's port, where you board the ferry for a two-hour crossing to Isabela Island. At 09:00, a boat takes you from Isabela's bay out to the Tintoreras. A cluster of small islets known for penguins and white-tip sharks. You enter the water with mask and fins to snorkel in a channel where rays, bay sharks, colorful fish and sea turtles move around you. The snorkeling window is built into the morning, so you get the clearest water and the most active marine life before the day warms up.

After Tintoreras, you head to the port for lunch, then visit the flamingo lagoon for photographs. The Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center rounds out the afternoon: a chance to see land turtles in the conservation area before you board the return ferry at 14:00. The crossing back to Santa Cruz takes two hours, so you're back in Puerto Ayora by evening. A professional guide narrates the wildlife and the ecology throughout, and the boat captain handles all navigation and timing.

The ferry and snorkeling gear are included, as is lunch. You'll need to arrange your own wet suit if you want one: rentals are available locally. The Galápagos National Park entrance fee and any sea taxi costs are paid separately on arrival. Motion sickness medication is worth considering if you're sensitive to boat movement. The crossings are the longest part of the day.

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 happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What animals will I actually see while snorkeling at the Tintoreras?

The Tintoreras islets are home to white-tip sharks, Galápagos penguins, sea turtles, rays and bay sharks, along with colorful tropical fish. The snorkeling happens in a channel where these species move through regularly, so sightings are common rather than guaranteed.

How much time do I spend in the water snorkeling?

Snorkeling time is built into the Tintoreras stop in the morning. The exact duration isn't fixed, but it's the core activity before you move on to lunch and the other sites.

Do I need my own snorkeling equipment or is it provided?

Mask and fins are included. A wet suit is not. You can rent one locally in Isabela if you decide you need one.

What is the Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center?

It's a conservation facility on Isabela where you can see land turtles in a breeding and rearing program. It's the final stop before the return ferry to Santa Cruz.

How long is the boat ride from Puerto Ayora to Isabela?

The ferry crossing takes approximately two hours each way. The return journey is the same length, so plan for four hours of ferry time across the full day.