Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
Galapagos Island Hopping: Santa Cruz, Isabela and San Cristobal
9 days from Quito: the Old Town and Otavalo, then three Galapagos islands by hotel and speedboat, with Tortuga Bay, a day boat to an uninhabited island and the Sierra Negra volcano.
9 days · Round trip from Quito · up to 12 guests
Sea lions on a San Cristobal beach as the sun goes down Photo: Mariace Briones, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:See_lions_in_San_Cristobal_Island,_Galapagos.jpg)
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 9 days, 8 nights
- Start and end
- Round trip from Quito
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Activity level
Moderate
Mostly easy walks of 2 to 5 km on paths and sand, daily snorkelling in calm bays, and speedboat crossings of about 2 hours that can be bumpy. The one long day is Sierra Negra, about 16 km on rocky volcanic ground, with a shorter rim walk for anyone who prefers it. Quito sits at about 2,850 m.
- Meals included
- 8 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 1 dinner
- Room of your own
- + CAD 1,100 (estimated price)
- Season
- All year; December to May for warmer water, June to November for more marine life
Highlights
Why this trip
- Walk the 2.5 km trail to Tortuga Bay at opening, while the white sand and its marine iguanas are usually still quiet
- A full day by boat to an uninhabited island such as North Seymour, South Plaza, Santa Fe or Bartolome
- Giant tortoises in the wild in the Santa Cruz highlands on the way from the airport
- Whitetip reef sharks resting in the lava channels of Las Tintoreras, off Isabela
- Hike the rim of the Sierra Negra caldera and into the lava fields of Volcan Chico
- Sea lions on the waterfront and frigatebirds over Cerro Tijeretas in San Cristobal
- Quito's Old Town in the late light and a day in the Otavalo valley before you fly out to the islands
What makes this trip different
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Solo without the penalty
A room of your own is + CAD 1,100 (estimated price).
Day by day
Itinerary
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Arrive in Quito, the Old Town at golden hour
Mariscal Sucre International Airport to Quito's Old Town
- Welcome dinner
- Stay in Quito
- Drive about 1 h
Fly into Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) at Tababela, about an hour from the city, where a driver meets you in arrivals.
Evening
Plan to land by about 1 pm to join the afternoon walk; if your flight lands later, we can book a night before the trip. Quito sits at about 2,850 m in an Andean valley under the Pichincha volcano, so today is gentle on purpose. In the late afternoon your See Sight Tours guide meets the group for a short briefing on the islands, then walks you into the Old Town, one of the first places listed by UNESCO, in 1978. We cross the Plaza Grande, step inside La Compania de Jesus, whose interior is covered in gold leaf, and walk down to the plaza and church of San Francisco as the light warms the facades. The evening ends with a welcome dinner of Ecuadorian dishes in the Old Town.
Included
- Pick-up at Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO)
- Welcome briefing with your guide
- Quito Old Town walk: Plaza Grande, La Compania de Jesus and San Francisco
- Welcome dinner
Free time: Free until the afternoon briefing
Activity: Quito is at about 2,850 m. Walk slowly, drink water and go easy on alcohol tonight.
The equator and the Otavalo valley
Quito to Cayambe and Otavalo, then back to Quito
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Quito
- Drive about 4 h
Morning
We leave after breakfast and drive north on the Pan-American Highway through dry valleys and flower farms, about two hours to Otavalo with a stop on the way. Near Cayambe we pause at the Quitsato sundial, a monument built on the equator line itself, where your guide explains how the Andean peoples tracked the sun long before the French survey that named the country. In Otavalo we walk the Plaza de los Ponchos, the craft market that runs every day and spreads through the surrounding streets on Saturdays: woven textiles, wool, tagua-nut carvings and Andean music. A short drive out of town brings us to the Peguche waterfall, a sacred site for the Kichwa communities of the valley, reached by a shaded walk through eucalyptus.
Evening
Lunch is a sit-down meal in the valley, then we drive back to Quito in the late afternoon for a free evening.
Included
- Quitsato equator sundial near Cayambe
- Plaza de los Ponchos craft market in Otavalo
- Peguche waterfall walk
- Sit-down lunch in the Otavalo valley
Easier option: Stay in Quito instead: a free day to rest at altitude before the flight, with your guide's suggestions for museums near the hotel.
Free time: Evening free in Quito
Activity: About four hours of driving in total, broken by the equator stop and lunch. Otavalo is about 2,500 m.
Fly to the Galapagos, tortoises in the highlands
Quito to Baltra by air, across the Itabaca Channel and through the Santa Cruz highlands to Puerto Ayora
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Puerto Ayora
- Drive about 2 h
An early transfer to the airport, where we pay the Transit Control Card and check bags through the biosecurity scan, then the flight to Baltra, about two and a half hours, sometimes with a stop in Guayaquil. On landing you pay the national park fee and meet your park naturalist guide, who joins your See Sight Tours guide on every island visit. A short bus ride and a ferry across the Itabaca Channel bring us onto Santa Cruz. We break the drive south in the highlands, where giant tortoises roam free in the grassland and mud pools of a private reserve, and you can walk through a lava tunnel.
Afternoon
Lunch is a sit-down meal in the highlands. We reach Puerto Ayora in the afternoon and check in for three nights.
Evening
Before dinner, walk down to the fish market on the waterfront, where pelicans and a sea lion or two wait beside the fishermen's tables.
Included
- Flight from Quito to Baltra (GPS)
- Baltra bus and Itabaca Channel crossing
- Giant tortoises in the wild at a highland reserve, with a lava tunnel
- Sit-down lunch in the Santa Cruz highlands
Free time: Evening free in Puerto Ayora
Activity: Flight times are set by the airline; the start may be before 7 am. Bring US cash for the transit card and the park fee paid at Baltra.
Tortuga Bay at opening, the Darwin Station
Puerto Ayora to Tortuga Bay on foot, then the Charles Darwin Research Station
- Breakfast
- Stay in Puerto Ayora
We are at the start of the Tortuga Bay trail when it opens, around 6 am, and walk the 2.5 km stone path through a forest of giant prickly-pear cactus while it is still cool. The trail ends at Playa Brava, a long white beach where the surf is too strong to swim but marine iguanas cross the sand in the early light. Walk to its far end and the calm lagoon of Playa Mansa opens up, sheltered by mangroves, where you can swim or snorkel with small reef sharks, rays and turtles in the shallows.
Morning
Breakfast is packed for the beach so we do not lose the quiet hours.
Afternoon
We walk back before midday, and the afternoon is free. In the late afternoon we visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and the Fausto Llerena tortoise centre, where young tortoises are reared for release, and see the preserved body of Lonesome George.
Included
- Tortuga Bay walk at opening, with time to swim and snorkel at Playa Mansa
- Charles Darwin Research Station and the Fausto Llerena tortoise centre
- Snorkel gear and a wetsuit for the island days
Easier option: Take a water taxi back from Playa Mansa instead of walking, when it runs.
Free time: Afternoon free; lunch and dinner are your choice in Puerto Ayora
Activity: About 5 km of walking in total, on a stone path and soft sand. Swim only at Playa Mansa; Playa Brava has strong currents.
A day boat to an uninhabited island
Puerto Ayora to the Itabaca Channel, then by boat to North Seymour, South Plaza, Santa Fe or Bartolome
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Puerto Ayora
- Drive about 1.5 h
Today is a full day at sea with a park naturalist guide, aboard a licensed day-tour boat. The national park sets which island each boat may visit on each date, so we confirm yours when your departure is booked: North Seymour, with its nesting frigatebirds and blue-footed boobies; South Plaza, with land iguanas under the cactus and a sea lion colony on the cliffs; Santa Fe, with its tall opuntia forest and clear water; or Bartolome, with the climb to the view over Pinnacle Rock. Each visit is a guided walk on the island trail, with a snorkel from the boat where the site allows.
Afternoon
The crossing is about an hour or two each way, often with dolphins or seabirds alongside, and lunch is served on board.
Evening
We are back in Puerto Ayora in the late afternoon, with the evening free in town.
Included
- Full-day boat to one uninhabited island (North Seymour, South Plaza, Santa Fe or Bartolome, set by the park for your date) with a park naturalist guide
- Guided island walk, and a snorkel from the boat where the site allows
- Lunch on board
Easier option: Stay on the boat during the snorkel; the island walk is on a marked trail of 1 to 3 km.
Free time: Evening free in Puerto Ayora
Activity: The day boat may carry other travellers as well as our group. Crossings can be bumpy; take seasickness tablets before you board if you need them.
Speedboat to Isabela, Las Tintoreras
Puerto Ayora to Puerto Villamil by speedboat, then Las Tintoreras and the flamingo lagoon
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Puerto Villamil
- By ferry
Morning
The morning speedboat to Isabela takes about two to two and a half hours, past the southern coast of Santa Cruz and out across open water to Puerto Villamil, a sand-street village behind a long beach.
Afternoon
We check in for two nights, pay the small municipal fee at the dock and sit down to lunch. In the early afternoon a short boat ride takes us to Las Tintoreras, a cluster of lava islets across the bay. A trail over black lava leads past marine iguana nests to a narrow channel where whitetip reef sharks rest on the sandy bottom; Galapagos penguins and blue-footed boobies often sit on the rocks nearby. Then we snorkel in the sheltered water with turtles and sea lions.
Evening
Late in the afternoon we walk the boardwalk past the flamingo lagoon to the Arnaldo Tupiza tortoise breeding centre, and finish on the beach for sunset.
Included
- Speedboat from Santa Cruz to Isabela
- Sit-down lunch in Puerto Villamil
- Las Tintoreras boat trip, lava walk and snorkel
- Flamingo lagoon and the Arnaldo Tupiza tortoise breeding centre
Easier option: Skip the snorkel at Las Tintoreras and watch from the boat.
Free time: Evening free in Puerto Villamil
Activity: The boardwalk to the breeding centre is about 1.5 km each way on flat ground.
Sierra Negra and the Volcan Chico lava fields
Puerto Villamil to the Sierra Negra trailhead and back
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Puerto Villamil
- Drive about 1.5 h
Afternoon
We leave early for the drive of about 40 minutes each way, up through farmland and misty highland forest to the Sierra Negra trailhead, so we walk before the midday heat. The trail climbs gently, often in cloud at first, to the rim of the caldera, one of the largest in the archipelago at about 10 km across, its floor black with lava from recent eruptions. From the rim the trail continues around the edge and down onto the lava fields of Volcan Chico, a landscape of red and black cinder cones, spatter vents and lava spires, with views on a clear day across to Fernandina and the other volcanoes of Isabela. Your naturalist guide explains how this young island is still building. We are back in the village for a sit-down lunch in the early afternoon, and the rest of the day is yours: rest, swim or walk to Concha de Perla for a snorkel.
Included
- Sierra Negra caldera rim and the Volcan Chico lava fields with your guides
- Sit-down lunch in Puerto Villamil
Easier option: Walk only to the caldera rim viewpoint and back, a much shorter walk, then wait at the trailhead shelter or return with the vehicle; or choose the Los Tuneles boat and snorkel trip instead of the hike, chosen when you book.
More active option: The full hike to Volcan Chico, about 16 km round trip on rocky volcanic ground, 5 to 6 hours.
Free time: Afternoon free in Puerto Villamil
Activity: About 1.5 hours and 40 km of driving in total, there and back. Bring walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen and at least 2 litres of water. The trail is exposed once out of the cloud.
Two boats to San Cristobal, Las Grietas between
Puerto Villamil to Puerto Ayora by speedboat, then on to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno
- By ferry
There is no regular direct boat between Isabela and San Cristobal, so today we cross by way of Santa Cruz, and it starts early.
Morning
The Isabela speedboat usually leaves around 6 am, so breakfast is packed, and it reaches Puerto Ayora in about two hours. We then have the middle of the day free in Puerto Ayora: take the water taxi across Academy Bay with your guide and a short walk over lava and cactus to Las Grietas, a deep, clear fissure of fresh and salt water between rock walls, for a swim, or rest at a cafe on the waterfront.
Afternoon
Lunch is a sit-down meal in Puerto Ayora, then the afternoon speedboat, usually around 3 pm, takes about two hours more to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the capital of the islands. We arrive in time to walk the Malecon, where sea lions sleep on benches and on the beach, and catch the last light from Playa Mann.
Evening
The last evening is a farewell dinner with the group on the waterfront. Departure times are set by the boat operators and confirmed with your final itinerary.
Included
- Speedboats from Isabela to Santa Cruz and from Santa Cruz to San Cristobal
- Las Grietas swim, with the water taxi
- Sit-down lunch in Puerto Ayora
- Sea lions on the Malecon and sunset at Playa Mann
- Farewell dinner
Easier option: Skip Las Grietas and spend the middle of the day at a cafe on the Puerto Ayora waterfront.
Free time: Late morning free in Puerto Ayora between the two boats
Activity: An early start and about four hours on boats in two crossings. Boat times are set by the operators and can change.
Frigatebird Hill and the flight home
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno to Cerro Tijeretas, then San Cristobal airport to Quito or Guayaquil
- Breakfast
- By plane
A last early walk while the air is cool: along the bay past the statue of Darwin to the San Cristobal Interpretation Center, which tells the story of the islands from volcanic birth to whalers, settlers and the conservation work of today, then up the trail to Cerro Tijeretas, Frigatebird Hill. From the lookout you see the bay where Darwin first landed in 1835, and frigatebirds hang in the wind overhead. Below the hill is a small cove where you can snorkel one more time with sea lions and turtles if the flight allows. We walk back to town for your bags; the airport is a few minutes' drive from the centre.
Afternoon
Our flight to Quito or Guayaquil, included in the price, usually leaves around midday or early afternoon, and your guide sees you through check-in.
Evening
Book your flight home for the evening or the next day.
Included
- San Cristobal Interpretation Center
- Cerro Tijeretas lookout and cove
- Flight from San Cristobal (SCY) to Quito (UIO) or Guayaquil (GYE)
Easier option: Skip the climb to the lookout and wait at the Interpretation Center garden.
Activity: Book a homeward flight from Quito or Guayaquil leaving after about 8 pm, or stay a night on the mainland.
- Quito2 nights
- Puerto Ayora3 nights
- Puerto Villamil2 nights
- Puerto Baquerizo Moreno1 night
- Quitoend
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: From December to May the water is warmer and seas are calmer, with short tropical showers; from June to November the cool Humboldt current brings mist, choppier crossings, colder water (wetsuits are included) and more active marine life.
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Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- Travellers who want the Galapagos without a ship cabin or seasick nights at sea
- Wildlife on land and in the water, with a snorkel most days
- A real look at Quito and the Andes before the islands
- Solo travellers and couples who like a small group and free afternoons
Not for you if you want
- Anyone who wants the far islands only a cruise reaches, such as Espanola, Genovesa or Fernandina
- Travellers who cannot manage bumpy speedboat crossings or stepping on and off boats
- Step-free access: lava trails, sand and boat landings throughout
- A beach resort holiday
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
8 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- Quito2 nights
- Puerto Ayora3 nights
- Puerto Villamil2 nights
- Puerto Baquerizo Moreno1 night
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 8 nights: 2 in Quito, 3 in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz, 2 in Puerto Villamil on Isabela and 1 in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristobal
- Central hotels of a 3-star-plus standard with air-conditioning and private bathrooms; we name each hotel when we confirm your dates
- Rooms shared, or your own for a supplement
Transport
- Pick-up at Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) on day 1
- A vehicle and driver for the group in Quito and to Otavalo
- Flights from Quito to Baltra and from San Cristobal to Quito or Guayaquil
- The Baltra bus, the Itabaca Channel crossing and transfers on the islands
- Public speedboats from Santa Cruz to Isabela, Isabela to Santa Cruz and Santa Cruz to San Cristobal
- The day boat to an uninhabited island, the Las Tintoreras boat and the Las Grietas water taxi
Your guide
- A See Sight Tours guide with the group from day 1 to day 9, including on the flights and boats
- Galapagos National Park naturalist guides on every island visit, as park rules require
Activities
- Quito: Old Town walk with La Compania de Jesus and San Francisco
- Otavalo valley: the Quitsato equator sundial, Plaza de los Ponchos market and Peguche waterfall
- Santa Cruz: giant tortoises in the highlands, Tortuga Bay, the Charles Darwin Research Station and Las Grietas
- A full-day boat to North Seymour, South Plaza, Santa Fe or Bartolome, set by the park for your date
- Isabela: Las Tintoreras with snorkelling, the flamingo lagoon, the tortoise breeding centre and the Sierra Negra hike (or Los Tuneles)
- San Cristobal: the Interpretation Center and Cerro Tijeretas
- Snorkel gear and a wetsuit for the island days
Meals
- 8 breakfasts
- 6 lunches, including lunch on the day boat
- 2 dinners: a welcome dinner in Quito and a farewell dinner in San Cristobal
Not included
- International flights to Quito and home from Quito or Guayaquil
- Galapagos National Park entrance fee (USD 200 for foreign adults at the time of writing), paid on arrival at Baltra
- Transit Control Card (USD 20), paid at Quito airport
- Isabela municipal arrival fee
- Travel insurance
- Meals not listed above
- Drinks
- Tips for guides, drivers and boat crews
- Activities you choose in your free time
- Personal expenses
Local fees
- Galapagos National Park entrance fee (USD 200 for foreign adults at the time of writing), Transit Control Card (USD 20) and the Isabela arrival fee, paid by you on the way.
Extras
- Room of your own
- CAD 1,100 (estimated price)
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.
Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.
Business addresses
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
Prices in these answers apply from Jan 1, 2027. Black Friday offer: 15% off the small-group price for requests received by Dec 1, 2026. From CAD 5,520 per person. Dec 2 to Dec 31: from CAD 5,975. From Jan 1, 2027: from CAD 6,495.
What does the Galapagos island hopping price include?
Eight nights in central hotels, 8 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 2 dinners, both domestic flights, every inter-island speedboat, the full-day boat to an uninhabited island, snorkel gear and a wetsuit, your See Sight Tours guide and park naturalist guides, and every visit in the day plan, including the Otavalo day and Las Tintoreras. The park fee and transit card are not included.
How much are the Galapagos park fee and transit card?
At the time of writing the Galapagos National Park entrance fee is USD 200 for foreign adults, paid on landing at Baltra, and the Transit Control Card is USD 20, paid at Quito airport before the flight. Isabela also charges a small fee at the dock. Bring US cash for all three; we confirm the amounts when you book.
How big is the group?
The small-group trip runs with 7 to 12 guests, so everyone fits in one small boat on the day trips and hears the naturalist on the trails. The public speedboats between islands and the day boat may also carry other travellers.
Who leads the trip?
A See Sight Tours guide travels with the group from Quito to the last morning on San Cristobal, including on the flights and boats. Park rules require a licensed Galapagos National Park naturalist guide for visits inside the park, so one joins us on every island visit.
Is this a cruise?
No. You sleep in hotels on Santa Cruz, Isabela and San Cristobal and travel between them by speedboat in daylight, with a day boat to an uninhabited island. You get towns, restaurants and free evenings ashore, but not the far islands that only overnight cruises reach.
How fit do I need to be, and do I have to snorkel?
Moderate. Most walks are 2 to 5 km on paths and sand. The Sierra Negra hike is about 16 km on rocky ground, with a short rim walk or a snorkel boat trip instead. Snorkelling is always optional; you can stay on the beach or the boat.
Are the speedboat crossings rough?
They can be. The public speedboats take about two hours per crossing and the open water between islands is often choppy, more so from June to November. Sit at the back, look at the horizon and take seasickness tablets before boarding if you are prone to it.
I am travelling solo. What is the single supplement?
A room of your own is from CAD 1,100 more, shown before you book with no surprises later. If you would rather share, ask us when you book and we will try to match you with another solo traveller; we confirm before you pay whether a supplement applies if no match is found.
When is the best time to visit the Galapagos?
Any month works. December to May brings warmer water, calmer seas, sunshine and short showers. June to November is cooler and misty, with colder water and choppier crossings, but more active marine life and seabird courtship. Wetsuits are included either way.
Do I need a visa for Ecuador?
Canadian, US, UK and EU passport holders do not need a visa for a tourist stay of this length. Your passport should be valid for six months from arrival. Other nationalities should check with us when booking.
How does booking work, and can we choose our own dates?
Pick a departure and request to book; we confirm your place within 24 hours and nothing is charged until then. For your own dates, choose the private trip for your party only, or ask us from the dates section for an independent quote using the same hotels, boats and guides.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
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