8-Day Galapagos Island Hopping Multi-Sport Experience

Embark on an unforgettable journey with our 8-day island hopping tour in Galapagos. Encounter unique wildlife, stunning natural beauty, and vibrant culture while enjoying more time for adventure. Our expert guides will lead you to explore the best of the islands, including Santa Cruz, Isabela, and more. Snorkel with sea turtles, hike volcanoes, visit giant tortoise breeding centers, and swim with playful sea lions.

With our fun and exciting itinerary, plus some free time to explore on your own, this tour is perfect for those who want to experience the Galapagos in depth. Comfortable accommodations and delicious local cuisine are included in all budget-type options. Book your Galapagos Island Hopping tour today and discover the magical wonders of these enchanted islands.

Day 1 – Welcome to the Enchanted Islands

Your driver will be waiting for you in the arrival hall at Baltra airport, and once you meet him your Galapagos adventure will start. You’ll take the shuttle from the airport to Itabaca Channel that separates the islands Baltra and Santa Cruz. Keep your eyes open on the way as you might already spot some Darwin finches. Next you will board a ferry that will take you from Baltra Island to Santa Cruz Island. During the crossing, which only takes a few minutes, you might already have the opportunity to observe sea lions, marine iguanas and different sea bird species. You will then be driven from the northern coast to the southern coast of Santa Cruz Island, where the largest Galapagos town, Puerto Ayora, is located. The drive takes approximately 45 minutes. Your driver drops you at your hotel, which is conveniently located in the heart of Puerto Ayora, close to the main avenue, many restaurants and the pier.

After lunch, you will head to the Charles Darwin Station that is located a little outside of Puerto Ayora. Here, you will visit the interpretation center and the breeding center for giant tortoises with your guide. At the interpretation center, you’ll learn about the continuous work of the Galapagos National Park and its allies to protect the archipelago’s unique and fragile ecosystems and species. At the breeding center for giant tortoises, you can watch hatchlings and adult tortoises, and your guide will show you how to distinguish different tortoise species. After this visit you will be dropped off back at your hotel in Puerto Ayora.

Meals included: Lunch

Day 2 – Galapagos Wildlife: Unique and Abundant

Today’s activity takes you on a boat tour to an uninhabited island. The following description is for the boat tour to North Seymour Island, which we usually recommend, but it is possible to change it for Bartholomew Island (famous for its “Pinnacle Rock”, great for snorkeling, and penguin sightings) or South Plaza Island (marine and land iguanas, hybrid iguanas and coastal birds).

After an early breakfast, you’ll head out to meet the tour group at the Puerto Ayora passenger pier, which is a short walk away from your hotel. You will be driven to the northern coast of Santa Cruz Island where you will board the tour yacht. The yacht will navigate north until you arrive at North Seymour Island after about 45 minutes. There you’ll disembark and hike from the rocky cliffs to the arid inland, and then to a sandy area. On the way, you’ll be able to observe different sea birds like the iconic blue-footed booby and the endemic swallow-tailed gull. With some luck, you can even spot frigate birds with their red pouches inflated, and land iguanas. At the end of the trail, you’ll meet curious sea lions before getting back on board the yacht.

While you enjoy lunch on board, the yacht will navigate to Bachas Beach at the northern shore of Santa Cruz Island. In the afternoon you’ll disembark at the beach and your guide will explain the odd origin of this visitor site’s name. During a walk along the sandy beach, you’ll observe different shore birds, Sally Lightfoot crabs and maybe some marine iguanas. Instead of a stroll along the beach, you can also choose to swim and snorkel. While you snorkel, you’ll have the opportunity to observe different fishes and maybe some rays and turtles living their best lives underwater.

After exploring the beach and wildlife, you’ll return to the yacht and navigate to the Itabaca Channel, and from there you will be driven back to Puerto Ayora, returning to your hotel at approximately 4:30 PM.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 3 – Giant Tortoises and Lava Tunnels

After breakfast, your guide will pick you up from your hotel and drive you from the arid coastal region to the ever-green highlands of Santa Cruz Island. There you’ll hike through a ranch where you can observe giant tortoises in their natural habitat. If you are lucky, you might see some of these gentle giants taking a relaxing mud bath. Besides the giant tortoises, you will also be able to observe wading birds, Darwin’s finches and ducks. Another highlight in the highlands are the lava tunnels, through which you can walk. Your guide will explain how these formed.

After lunch in situ, you will continue to a beautiful beach called El Garrapatero on the eastern shore of Santa Cruz Island. On the way, you’ll stop by a traditional farm where you can see how locals produce coffee. At Garrapatero Beach you can go kayaking and take a stroll along the beach to a small pond where occasionally flamingos can be seen. At the end of this beach visit your guide will take you back to your accommodation in Puerto Ayora.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 4 – Marine Iguanas, Marine Iguanas Everywhere

A driver will pick you up from your hotel in the early morning and take you to the passenger pier of Puerto Ayora. From there, you will take the public speedboat to Puerto Villamil, a small town in the south of Isabela Island where your new accommodation awaits. The ride takes approximately 2 to 2,5 hours depending on the sea conditions. Upon arrival to Puerto Villami, you’ll go to your hotel to drop off your luggage and then have some free time to relax, enjoy the beach and stroll around town.

After lunch, you will join a group boat tour to visit Tintoreras Islet, a small island off the southern shore of Puerto Villamil. After a short boat ride, you’ll disembark with your group and guide on Tintoreras Islet. During a hike, you will encounter lots of marine iguanas and lava lizards sunbathing on the lava rocks. There is also a small colony of sea lions and if you are lucky, you can see some marine birds like blue-footed boobies fishing in the bay. At one point of the hike, you’ll pass some channels where white-tip reef sharks like to rest. These sharks are called “tintoreras” in Spanish and give this visitor site its name.
After the hike, you will be able to go snorkeling and hopefully get a closer encounter with these friendly reef sharks and other fish. You might also see marine iguanas feeding underwater and sealions playing. After today’s activities you will return to your accommodations in Puerto Villamil.

Meals included: Box breakfast, lunch

Day 5 – Vastness of Sierra Negra Volcano

After an early breakfast, you’ll join a group tour to the Sierra Negra Volcano. First you’ll be driven from the port town to the evergreen highlands. After about 45 minutes, you will arrive at the starting point of today’s hike. The goal is to hike to the viewpoint of Chico Volcano, which is approx. an 8 km roundtrip. On the way, you will often be accompanied by Darwin’s finches and other land birds like vermillion flycatchers. There are different viewpoints on the way, to appreciate the majestic caldera of Sierra Negra Volcano, which has a diameter of about 10 km. It is one of the most active volcanoes in Ecuador and situated in the South of Isabela Island, one of the youngest of the Galapagos archipelago.

After enjoying your picnic-style lunch, you’ll return to your hotel in Puerto Villamil and can spend the rest of the day at your leisure.

Meals included: Breakfast, box lunch

Day 6 – A Glimpse into the Past

After breakfast, your guide will pick you up from your hotel and take you to explore another area of southern Isabela Island by bicycle. You’ll drive west along the seafront and leave Puerto Villamil. Soon the landscape changes as you cross the wetlands. Here you’ll stop to observe different species of birds, especially wading birds. You will continue driving west until you arrive at the Wall of Tears. This historic site is a reminder of the time when a penal colony was located on Isabela Island. As punishment, prisoners were ordered to build a wall out of lava rocks. Your guide will explain some more about the human history of the Galapagos Islands and you will hike to a viewpoint to enjoy some stunning views.

Later you’ll head back to Puerto Villamil on your bicycles. On the outskirts of the town, you can visit the local breeding center for giant tortoises, where you can see hatchlings and adults of this iconic Galapagos species.

After lunch, you take the public speedboat back to Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, where you will spend another two nights.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 7 – Stunning Landscapes – Free day

Today, you will have the opportunity to explore some more sites on Santa Cruz Island at your leisure or simply relax at your hotel. In the morning, we recommend a visit to the paradisiac beach of Tortuga Bay. It lies a nice 45-minute hike from Puerto Ayora. There you can swim at a calm bay surrounded by mangroves, where the water is shallow and crystal-clear. For some extra fun you can rent kayaks at local stalls near the beach. Look out for marine iguanas, coastal birds, sea lions and even white-tip reef sharks that inhabit the area.

On the way back to Puerto Ayora, we recommend a stop at “Laguna de las Ninfas”. This brackish pond is surrounded by three species of mangroves and home to ducks and other birds. In the afternoon, we recommend a visit to “Las Grietas”, a natural pool between two rock walls, where you can go swimming and snorkeling.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 8 – Return to the mainland

If you still have some time before your flight back to the mainland, we recommend a stroll along the port’s promenade. You can often observe amusing scenes like sea lions sleeping on benches. At the convenient time (3 hours before flight departure), your driver picks you up from your hotel and takes you to Baltra airport.