Galápagos Island Hopping: Isla San Cristóbal & Isla Santa Cruz- 11 Days

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

Welcome to the beautiful Galápagos Islands! Fly three hours west from Quito to Isla San Cristóbal to begin your Galápagos adventure. Your guide will be waiting for you at the airport to take you to your hotel, where you can get settled and relax after your flight. Then it's time to kick things off with a visit to an interpretation center to learn about the island's wildlife and conservation efforts. In the natural history room, see a presentation of the island's origins and human history since the Galápagos' discovery.

Next, you'll see some of the archipelago's wildlife in its natural habitat at Las Tijeretas Hill, named for tijeretas, frigatebirds, that inhabit and nest in this area. You may also see whales if you visit the island from June to October. Finish the day at La Lobería, an idyllic beach where sea lions and marine iguanas can be found basking on the white sands.

Day 2: Snorkel at Kicker Rock

Enjoy a day trip to Kicker Rock today, a nearly 500-foot (152 m) pair of volcanic islands connected by an underground channel. Ride a speedboat along the San Cristóbal coast to reach the island and explore as you see tropicbirds, frigatebirds, and two types of boobies. After exploring on land, put on your snorkeling gear to see what's underwater. Spot tropical fish, sea turtles, marine iguanas, and four ray species. Break for lunch on the boat and then spend your afternoon unwinding on a nearby beach at Puerto Grande, Cerro Brujo, or Manglecito. 

Day 4: Day Trip to Isla Española

Today's destinations are Isla Española and Gardner Islet to see some of Galápagos' most iconic wildlife, including albatrosses, blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, and Española iguanas. Take a two-hour boat ride, followed by a two-hour hike, to begin your exploration of the first stop, Isla Española. There will be time to hike on the island and hop back on the boat to get your snorkeling gear ready for Gardner Bay. Swim around Gardner Islet along with playful sea lion pups, fish, and marine iguanas. Take a break for lunch on the boat, and then head back to San Cristóbal in the late afternoon.

Day 5: Excursion to Isla Lobos

Isla Lobos is aptly named after the many sea lions that reside here, resting and playing along the rocky shores. It's just a one-hour boat ride to explore the home to many different birds like pelicans, frigatebirds and their nests, yellow warblers, and more. Within the small channel, the waters are very clear, making it easy to find sea turtles, sea lions, stingrays, and perhaps even whitetip sharks. When you return to San Cristóbal, you can take a pleasant stroll along the stunning beach. Relax or read by the ocean, and in the early evening, enjoy the sunset over cocktails.

Visit Punta Pitt by boat, located in the extreme east of Isla San Cristóbal. Nearby is a 295-foot (90 m) trail leading to an olivine (green sand) beach, and another trail that ascends to the top of a hill made of volcanic tuff, passing through various natural viewpoints and lookouts along the way. The strong winds present in this place have caused natural erosion. This is the only spot in the Galápagos Islands where you can observe all three species of boobies and the two species of frigates making their nests in the same area.

Because of its location, you can find all three species of boobies in Punta Pitt. There is enough food here to be shared, meaning there is no competition between the species. Blue-footed boobies make their nests in the interior, red-footed boobies make theirs in the bushes, and Nazca boobies nest in the cliffs. An additional attraction here is the presence of many sea lions. After the hike, return to the boat for a snorkeling excursion, where you'll see a variety of fish, blacktip reef sharks, marine turtles, and manta rays.

Day 8: Transfer to Isla Santa Cruz, Highlands & Charles Darwin Station

Catch a three-hour speedboat from Isla San Cristóbal to Isla Santa Cruz. A driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel in Puerto Ayora—the largest town in the Galápagos archipelago and your base for the next few days. On the way, journey to the highlands, where you'll stop at a local farm to observe giant Galápagos tortoises in the wild. After lunch, continue to Puerto Ayora to check in to your hotel.

In the afternoon, visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. Witness firsthand the work of international scientists who come to the Galápagos to conduct environmental projects. Then head to the nearby Fausto Llerena Breeding Center, where giant Galápagos tortoises breed and are cared for. This is the best place on the islands to see different tortoise species and learn about each one.

Day 10: Kayak Tortuga Bay & Afternoon Boat Tour of Santa Cruz Bay

Begin your kayaking adventure with a 45-minute hike from Puerto Ayora to Tortuga Bay, famed for its soft coral sand and spectacular scenery. Take a kayak out onto the water to see marine life up close, and admire the coastline from a different perspective. Observe colonies of marine iguanas, birds, mangroves, cacti forests, and fascinating flora. Pelicans and finches are local to the area, and near the salt lagoon that backs onto the mangroves, you may spot flamingoes wandering. After kayaking, sunbathe on the beach before returning to Puerto Ayora.

In the afternoon, take a tour on a small boat to visit some highlights around the bay of Santa Cruz. Visit one or more sites, depending on how much time you have. First, stop at the tiny islet of La Lobería, where you can snorkel alongside sea lions and tropical fish. Afterward, head to the Channel of the Sharks, where you may spot harmless whitetip sharks and blue-footed boobies. You'll come upon the Canal del Amor, where you'll find sea turtles and many tropical fish. A 10-minute walk will allow you to see marine iguanas in their natural habitat, and you'll have plenty of time to take pictures!

Day 11: Transfer to Isla Baltra, Depart

If there is enough free time before your transfer to the airport, do some last-minute souvenir shopping or take a last stroll through Puerto Ayora. At the designated time, your driver will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the Itabaca Channel, which you'll cross on a ferry to reach Isla Baltra. For the last part of your trip to the airport, take the public shuttle bus to the terminal, where your program ends with your return flight to the mainland and onward connection. Safe travels!

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to the Galápagos? Check out these other Galápagos itineraries, explore other ways to spend 11 days in the Galápagos, and discover the best time to visit the Galápagos.