Santa Cruz & San Cristobal Islands for Active travelers!

Transfer to Quito Airport for Galapagos Flight

Private transfer

The big day is here! Today you will be taken to the airport to catch your flight to the Galapagos Islands!

Your private transportation will be waiting for you at your hotel to take you to the Airport, so you arrive 3 hours before your flight, so you have time to purchase the TCT, get your luggage ready, and get everything neat for your flight!

Welcome to Galapagos: Santa Cruz Highlands & Charles Darwin Research Station

Private group

Welcome to the beautiful Santa Cruz Island! After arriving at Baltra Airport, your guide will be waiting for you to take you to Santa Cruz Island.

You will be amazed to see giant tortoises in the wild (in their natural habitat) with our first stop at a local farm in the highlands where there are dozens of giant tortoises, and you can wander around at will and enjoy a delicious lunch, to then continue to the port in Puerto Ayora to check into the hotel.

In the afternoon, you will visit the Charles Darwin Station, where scientists from all over the world meet and work together on environmental projects such as water analysis, animal protection, effects of tourism on nature, etc., and the most famous place to see Giant Tortoises in the Galapagos where the animals are raised before being released into nature. The actual name of the tortoise area here is the “Fausto Llerena” Breeding Center, named after the Galapagos National Park ranger who cared for Lonesome George. This is the best place in the Galapagos to view numerous different species and see how their tortoiseshell shapes have evolved differently to match the terrain and vegetation of the islands they are native to.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Overnight: Puerto Ayora- Santa Cruz Island.

Kayaking Adventure in Tortuga Bay & Afternoon Bay Tour of Santa Cruz Island

Small group

We have reserved kayaks for you, and our adventure stars! You will begin with a 45-minute hike from Puerto Ayora to the heavenly Tortuga Bay, famed for its soft coral sand and spectacular scenery, this stretch of coast is considered one of the archipelago's most picturesque spots.

Take a kayak out onto the water to see marine life up close and admire the coastline from a different perspective—observing colonies of marine iguanas and marine birds, as well as mangroves, cacti forests, and fascinating coastal flora. You may spot interesting array of bird residing here; pelicans and finches are locals here, and near the salt lagoon that backs onto the mangroves, you even may spot flamingos wandering.

After kayaking at the nearby cove, sunbathe on the beach before returning to Puerto Ayora.

In the afternoon you will be taken on a bay tour on a small boat to visit exotic places along the bay of Santa Cruz, and visit one, or if time allows it, or more of these fantastic sites:

You will arrive at the small islet called La Lobería named for the great colony of sea lions where you can snorkel around sea lions and tropical fish displaying a dazzling show beneath the surface against interesting underwater formations.

Afterward, at the Shark Channel, you may spot harmless white-tip sharks and blue-footed boobies, you’ll come upon the Canal del Amor where you may find sea turtles and many tropical fish varieties.

Taking a 10-minute walk you’ll see marine iguanas in their natural habitat and have plenty of opportunities to take pictures.

Meals included: Breakfast

Overnight: Puerto Ayora- Santa Cruz Island.

Adventure: Cycling at Cerro Mesa Reserva & Snorkeling at Garrapatero Beach

Private group

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked up to enjoy a day at beautiful Garrapatero Beach on this eco-day trip from Puerto Ayora.

Bike across a lovely stretch of Santa Cruz Island to the protected Cerro Mesa Ecological Reserve, where you can enjoy a guided nature walk and fantastic island views from a lookout, afterward enjoy a delicious lunch (included).

At Garrapatero Beach, relax with a waterfront picnic on the pristine white sand, venture into the crystalline waters on an optional kayak ride or snorkel and soak up the serene, unspoiled landscape populated by birds like flamingos and mallards. It is a perfect site with a white sand beach, you can see the flora and fauna native and endemic to the area, has a spectacular landscape and is surrounded by mangroves.

You will return to your hotel for a well-earned rest for the night!

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Overnight:  Puerto Ayora - Santa Cruz Island

Speedboat from Santa Cruz Island to San Cristobal

You will catch a speedboat from Santa Cruz Island to San Cristobal Island.

Welcome to San Cristobal Island! Visit to the Interpretation Center, Tijeretas Hill or La Lobería

Private group

Welcome to the beautiful Galapagos Islands! After checking in to your hotel in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, you will head to the northern limit of town, towards the local Interpretation Center, which was built in 1998 by the Galapagos National Park Management and the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation. Here you will have the chance to learn about wildlife through exhibition and conference rooms, a natural history room that explains the origin of the islands, a human history room that describes the presence of man since the discovery of the Galapagos and of course about the conservation and how to protect and preserve the fragile environment.

Afterwards, we will visit Las Tijeretas Hill, located within walking distance of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. It takes its name from the large number of frigates or "tijeretas" that inhabit and nest in this area. You will be able to have viewpoints along the route from where you can observe the passage of whales, mainly between the months of June and October.

If time allows, you will also visit La Loberia, which is a great site to view colonies of wolves and marine iguanas. Here you can see the coastal vegetation and dry where is common mangrove, salt marsh, muyuyo and palo verde.

In the evening, return to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno for your next day of adventure.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Overnight: Puerto Baquerizo Moreno- San Cristobal Island

Small group

An exciting day awaits you, after an early breakfast, on the agenda is a day trip to Kicker Rock, which is one of the most emblematic places in the Galapagos.

A comfortable speed boat navigates along the coast of San Cristobal until we arrive to Kicker Rock, it is composed of compacted volcanic ash, not rock, towers up almost 500ft / 150m from the ocean floor, splitting into two above surface structures, but they’re connected below the surface, with a channel running between them.

It is home to many birds, you will be able spot Nazca boobies, blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds, and tropicbirds, and is the underwater world will make this day extra memorable as it is a real "hot spot" for underwater wildlife!

Since Kicker Rock is a snorkeling site, get ready for a wet landing! You’ll be getting directly into the water to experience everything that Kicker Rock has to offer.

After lunch on the boat, head to a beautiful, pristine beach, where you can relax and defrost in the sunshine before heading back to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno in the afternoon.

Meals included: Breakfast, Box Lunch

Overnight:  Puerto Baquerizo Moreno- San Cristóbal Island

Wildlife Encounter in San Cristobal: Española Island

Small group

After an early breakfast, you will be picked up from the hotel for a beautiful visit to Española Island.

Española Island is a perfect place to catch a sight of the Española Albatross, one of Galapago's most

unique birds (breeding season March – January). You will hike and spot Blue-Footed Boobies, Nazca

Boobies and Española Iguanas and pup sea lions.

You will head towards Puerto Baquerizo Moreno dock for a 2-hour navigation (approx.). Your first stop will be Punta Suarez, the disembarkation spot and the starting point of a 2-hour hike.

Along the way you will catch sight of some of Galapagos most Iconic wildlife:

Galapagos Albatross (only during mating season March to January)

Blue-Footed Boobies

Nazca Boobies (which nest there)

Colorful Española Iguanas.

After this hike and back at the boat, you will move towards Gardner Islet and get your snorkel equipment ready (mask and fins) to explore the waters of Gardner Bay. You will swim alongside pup sea lions, Galapagos Sharks, colorful fishes, and marine iguanas.

A box lunch will be served on the boat, as these parts of the islands are inhabited. You will return to San Cristobal afterwards, return time to Puerto Baquerizo is scheduled around 16:30 – 17:00. W

Difficulty Level: Moderate – A two-hour hiking in uneven terrain and open water snorkeling.

Activities: hiking, snorkeling, swimming, short beach hike.

Meals included: Breakfast, Box Lunch

Overnight:  Puerto Baquerizo Moreno- San Cristóbal Island

Transfer to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno Airport (SCY), Departure

Private transfer

In the morning after breakfast, you will be taken to the airport of San Cristobal where you will take your return flight to mainland Ecuador.