Puerto Ayora: Santa Cruz Highlands & Bay Tour with Turtles

Sail Puerto Ayora’s sparkling waters and spot boobies, pelicans, and rare birds up close

A full-day tour from Puerto Ayora combines the Santa Cruz highlands with an afternoon sailing the bay. You walk among thousands of giant tortoises at El Chato Tortoise Reserve, hike through wet forest to volcanic craters, swim and snorkel at Las Grietas, then explore Lover's Canal and Punta Estrada Bay by boat. A naturalist guide leads the day. Private transport, brunch and lunch are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. El Chato Tortoise Reserve2h · entry included
2. The Cracks45m · entry included
3. Lover's Canal45m · entry included

Explore Santa Cruz Island highlights

• Visit El Chato Tortoise Reserve
• Hike volcanic craters and birdwatch
• Walk to Las Grietas and snorkel
• See wildlife at Lover's Canal
• Relax at Playa de Los Perros
• Snorkel in Punta Estrada Bay

The experience

The day starts in the highlands where El Chato Tortoise Reserve lets you walk among giant turtles roaming freely in their natural habitat. Thousands of them live here in the cool, humid forest, feeding and resting in the open. From there you move to the volcanic craters: two large formations surrounded by wet forest where Escalesia plants (found only in the Galápagos) grow alongside endemic birds like Darwin's finches. The hiking and bird-watching here anchor the morning before you head back down toward the coast.

The afternoon shifts to the water. A five-minute walk from Franklin Pier brings you to Las Grietas, where a natural pool sits at the base of a volcanic rock formation. You swim in the pool and snorkel among colorful fish in the same spot. The boat then takes you to Lover's Canal, where boobies and frigates fly overhead and the turquoise water sits calm. A final snorkeling stop at Punta Estrada Bay puts you in the water with tropical fish, sea turtles, and reef sharks passing through. Playa de Los Perros (with its unique Opuntia cactus and warm sand) rounds out the bay exploration before the return to Puerto Ayora.

Private transportation picks you up at your hotel in Puerto Ayora (not available from highland accommodations) and handles all movement between sites. Your naturalist guide speaks English or Spanish and leads the entire day. Brunch comes in the morning and lunch in the afternoon, so you eat twice without arranging meals separately.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your Puerto Ayora hotel.
• a naturalist guide fluent in English or Spanish.
• brunch and lunch.
• snorkeling at Las Grietas, Lover's Canal and Punta Estrada Bay.
• entry to El Chato Tortoise Reserve and the volcanic craters.
• all transport between sites.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (3 to 77 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 16

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

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

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Enchanted Islands

Is this one for you?Book this private tour if you want a naturalist guide leading the entire day and your own vehicle: no shared groups, no fixed departure times with strangers. The eight-hour span lets you move through the highlands in the morning and spend the afternoon on the water without rushing either half.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What are the giant turtles like at El Chato Tortoise Reserve?

El Chato Tortoise Reserve is home to thousands of giant tortoises that roam freely in the Santa Cruz highlands. They live in the cool, humid forest where you can walk among them as they feed and rest in their natural habitat: a sight found nowhere else on Earth.

Can I snorkel at Las Grietas and Lover's Canal on the same day?

Yes. Las Grietas is a natural pool at the base of volcanic rock where you swim and snorkel with colorful fish, then the afternoon boat tour takes you to Lover's Canal and Punta Estrada Bay for additional snorkeling stops, so you experience multiple underwater sites in one day.

What animals might I see during the bay snorkeling?

Punta Estrada Bay holds tropical fish, sea turtles gliding through the water, and reef sharks. Lover's Canal is where boobies and frigates fly overhead, and you may spot other marine life depending on the day and season.

Is this tour private or shared with other travelers?

This is a private tour with your own naturalist guide and dedicated transportation, so your group travels separately from other bookings and can move at your own pace through each site.

Does the tour include meals?

Yes. Brunch is provided in the morning and lunch in the afternoon, so meals are covered and you don't need to arrange food separately during the day.

How long is the full day, and what time does it start?

The tour runs for eight hours total. Your hotel pickup in Puerto Ayora determines the exact start time. The operator will confirm the schedule when you book.