Best of the Galápagos: Isla San Cristóbal & Isla Santa Cruz - 8 Days

Highlights

• Snorkel around the iconic Kicker Rock among sea lions, eagle rays, and turtles
• Go on standup paddleboarding and kayaking excursions in the wildlife-rich waters
• Take a trip to one of the uninhabited islands to marvel at an untouched ecosystem
• Meet giant tortoises in their natural habitat in the Santa Cruz highlands

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Isla San Cristóbal, Interpretation Center Tour & Tijeretas Hill

Welcome to one of the world's great bucket-list destinations: the Galápagos Islands, a volcanic archipelago around 621 miles (1,000 km) off Ecuador's coast. Meet your driver at the airport on Isla San Cristóbal, your base for the next couple of nights, and transfer to your hotel. After freshening up, head off on a private tour at the Interpretation Center to learn about how these islands came to be. A natural history room explains the origin of the islands, and a human history room describes humankind's presence here since the discovery of the Galápagos.

Day 2: Boat Trip & Snorkel at Kicker Rock

A 50-minute boat ride will whisk you across blue waters to one of the most iconic places in the Galápagos: Kicker Rock or León Dormido (Sleeping Lion). While snorkeling around this dramatic volcanic rock formation, you may encounter sea lions, eagle rays, and turtles, among schools of colorful fish. If you're lucky, you might even spot hammerheads or Galápagos sharks. 

Day 3: Day Trip to Isla Española

Today, you'll head off on a day trip to Isla Española on a private tour. Early in the morning, depart on a two-hour boat ride to the most southerly island in the Galápagos archipelago. Because Española is one of the most isolated islands, it has a large number of endemic species, including the Española mockingbird, the Española lava lizard, and the waved albatross.

You'll follow a trail leading to the island's interior, passing an albatross colony and spotting other iconic birdlife, such as blue-footed and Nazca boobies. After enjoying lunch aboard the boat, swim and snorkel in a nearby bay with a sandy beach that's home to a colony of sea lions. After a day full of adventure and wildlife, return to Isla San Cristóbal.

Day 4: Standup Paddleboarding Tour, El Junco Lagoon & Puerto Chino Beach

Your next adventure takes you on a standup paddleboarding tour along the coast. Watch out for sea lions, rays, and sea turtles as you paddle along the fascinating shores of Isla San Cristóbal. Stop at El Junco Lagoon, a crater lake at around 2,297 feet (700 m) above sea level, and the only freshwater lake in the Galápagos. The lagoon got its name from the endemic junco plant that you'll see around the shore.

You'll also spend some time relaxing on the beautiful Puerto Chino beach, a white-sand bay on the southeastern part of Isla San Cristóbal. Quiet and strewn with driftwood, it's got an "end of the Earth" feeling to it—although you may well find yourself sharing the beach with sea lions, marine iguanas, and flamingoes. When the waves are rolling, it's also a great place to watch the locals surf (or, if you fancy, give it a try yourself).

Day 5: Transfer to Isla Santa Cruz, Tour the Highlands

Wake up early to take the public speedboat to Isla Santa Cruz, roughly 2.5 hours away. This is the second largest of the Galápagos Islands and is located in the center of the archipelago. When you arrive, you'll be met by your driver, who will bring you to a farm in the highlands of the Santa Rosa area. Here, you'll have a chance to see the Galápagos' most iconic creations, giant tortoises, in their natural habitat.

Your guide will also take you to see lava tunnels and make a stop at the "twin craters" or Los Gemelos caused by the collapse of empty magma chambers. The forested trail leading to the craters is a great place to spot birdlife, so look out for vermilion flycatchers, Galápagos doves, and several finch species. After a healthy meal on a farm in the highlands, your guide will bring you to Puerto Ayora, a town on the island's southern shore, to check into your hotel. 

Day 6: Excursion to an Uninhabited Island

Of the many islands in the Galápagos archipelago, only four have permanent settlements. The others are wild and the habitat of many endemic species. Visits to these islands are highly regulated by park authorities and are limited to small groups. Today, you'll have the once-in-a-lifetime experience of visiting one of these untamed islands. Aboard a modern yacht and, with only 15 others, take the 1.5 to 2.5-hour ride to one of the following islands: Bartolomé, Seymour Norte, Plazas Sur or Norte, or Santa Fé. The island visited will depend on park permits and the boat's schedule.

Every island has a different landscape and unique flora and fauna. For example, Santa Fé is the only place to see the Santa Fé iguana, whereas Seymour Norte has the archipelago's most extensive colony of blue-footed boobies and frigate birds. On board the yacht, a warm lunch will be served, and in the afternoon, you'll get the chance to snorkel at a nearby bay or beach.

Day 7: Kayak at Garrapatero Beach, Bay Tour

Down the coastline from Puerto Ayora is one of the most serene stretches of sand on Santa Cruz: Garrapatero Beach. A short walk through a forest will bring you to this pristine bay, where a guide will meet you for a private kayaking tour of the lagoon and surrounding coves. The water here is shallow and clear, so it's a great place to watch the varied marine life, from iguanas to Sally Lightfoot crabs, as you paddle.

In the afternoon, there's an option of joining a small group for a half-day bay tour. Hop on board a boat for a nautical jaunt around Santa Cruz. You'll make several stops, including the wildlife-rich La Lobería beach and Las Grietas, where you can get off the boat to walk along lava rocks and swim. The boat will then drop you back off in town for a final evening at your leisure.

Day 8: Visit Charles Darwin Research Station, Transfer to Isla Baltra & Depart

Before you depart, there's time for one more treat—a private tour of the Charles Darwin Research Station. Here, scientists from all over the world meet to work together on environmental projects, covering subjects such as water analysis, animal protection, and the effects of tourism on nature.

Pop into the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center next door, named after the Galápagos National Park ranger who cared for Lonesome George, the last known Pinta Island tortoise. This is the best place in the islands to compare various species of tortoise—see how the shapes of their shells have evolved differently to match the terrain and vegetation of their native islands. Finally, it's time to wave farewell to the mesmerizing Galápagos. For your flight back to mainland Ecuador, your driver will pick you up at your hotel and bring you to the Itabaca Channel, which you'll cross by ferry to reach the airport on Isla Baltra. Safe travels!

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