If you're heading to Galápagos Island, peruse our carefully crafted selection of fun 5-day itineraries tailored to different travel preferences. For those looking to explore on a budget while visiting the essential sights, consider an itinerary like this Isla Santa Cruz trip, where you'll see the Charles Darwin Research Station and have opportunities to snorkel. If you're drawn to the water and fascinated by wildlife, opt for something similar to this Galápagos Nature Cruise, where you'll visit the lesser-known isles and enjoy daily excursions to remote beaches and snorkeling in pristine waters. Adventure-seekers and diving enthusiasts might prefer a trip like this underwater adventure that will have you diving in the Galápagos Marine Reserve, swimming alongside hammerhead sharks, sea turtles, and the elusive ocean sunfish.
See our itineraries below or read our guide to the best 5-day trips in Galapagos Islands.
If you're short on time but don't want to cut back on experiences, this 5-day island hopping trip to the Galápagos is for you. Fly out of Quito, heading for San Cristobal—home of the famous sea lion colony and Kicker Rock. Then, take a speedboat to Santa Cruz, where you'll see giant tortoises and visit an uninhabited island.
Travelers wanting to keep their costs low will enjoy this short but active five-day tour. Staying on Santa Cruz Island, you'll take tours to some of the highlights, such as the unmissable Charles Darwin Research Station, and a boat tour where you can snorkel with sea turtles if you wish. There's also plenty of downtime scheduled, so choose your own activities that suit your interests: chill out on a beach, visit enormous Galapagos tortoises, and more.
The incredibly diverse wildlife of the Galapagos Islands awaits you on this 5-day cruise around the archipelago. You'll visit several islands to hike through frigate bird habitats, spotting blue-footed boobies and herons, then go underwater to snorkel with sea turtles and penguins. Learn about conservation efforts on the islands at the Charles Darwin Center, see flamingoes in the wild at Cormorant Point, and ride a glass-bottomed boat to see colorful marine life beneath the surface of the water.
Get off the beaten path on this 5-day cruise around the Galapagos archipelago. This short but fascinating journey offers world-class wildlife viewing at lesser-known points of interest throughout the islands. You'll sail from one rocky beach to another, disembarking for short guided hikes to see blue-footed boobies, cormorants, penguins, and flamingoes in their natural habitats. In the evenings, relax on the boat with a cold drink as the sun goes down.
This adventurous 5-day itinerary is a diver's delight! The Galapagos Marine Reserve is teeming with colorful wildlife, and you'll delve right into it during this island-hopping tour focused on underwater adventures. Go diving at various sites around the archipelago, keeping your eyes open for hammerhead sharks, sea turtles, rays, tropical fish, and rare species like the ocean sunfish. Spend your days under the sea and your evenings relaxing and dining out in the town of Puerto Ayora — a great mix of active adventure and downtime.
This brisk five-day sailing trip around the Galápagos is perfect for those who want to experience the wildlife highlights of these famous islands in under a week. Hit the ground running as you board a small but well-equipped catamaran for a nautical journey to uninhibited islets, secluded bays, and remote white-sand beaches. The archipelago's remarkable creatures will be out in force at each locale as you snorkel with tropical fish, walk alongside giant tortoises, meet sea lions on the beach, and more.
