7 Days Galápagos Island Discovery
Overview:
Explore the best of the Galápagos in 7 days, visiting Santa Cruz, Isabela, and San Cristóbal Islands. Encounter giant tortoises, hike active volcanoes, and snorkel with sea lions, turtles, and sharks. This adventure blends wildlife, marine life, and dramatic landscapes for an unforgettable island experience.
Highlights:
Sierra Negra Volcano: Hike one of the world’s largest volcanic craters.
Kicker Rock (León Dormido): Snorkel with hammerhead sharks, sea turtles & rays.
Tintoreras & Lava Tunnels: Spot penguins, white-tip sharks & marine iguanas.
Santa Cruz & Isabela: Visit the Charles Darwin Research Center & stunning beaches.
Uninhabited Island Day Tour: Bartolomé, North Seymour, Santa Fe, or South Plaza (based on availability).
Itinerary:
Day 1: Baltra - Santa Cruz
Arrive at Baltra and meet your guide, then transfer by bus and ferry to Santa Cruz Island. Visit the Lava Tunnels and El Chato Reserve to see giant tortoises in the wild. Continue to the Twin Craters for birdwatching, followed by lunch at a local ranch. End the day at the Charles Darwin Research Center. Overnight in Santa Cruz.
Accommodation | Hotel
Meal | Lunch
Day 2: Tour to an Uninhabited Island (Bartolomé, North Seymour, South Plaza, or Santa Fe)
Today, explore one of the nearby uninhabited islands—Bartolomé, North Seymour, South Plaza, or Santa Fe—depending on availability. Highlights may include penguins, blue-footed boobies, sea lions, land iguanas, and snorkeling in crystal-clear waters. Enjoy lunch on board before returning to Santa Cruz for overnight.
Accommodation | Hotel
Meal | Breakfast, Box lunch
Day 3: Isabela Island – Tintoreras – Tunnels
After breakfast, take a speedboat to Isabela Island. Visit Tintoreras to spot white-tip sharks, sea lions, iguanas, penguins, and more. Enjoy snorkeling in clear waters teeming with marine life. In the afternoon, explore the stunning Lava Tunnels or Cabo Rosa. Overnight on Isabela Island.
Accommodation | Hotel
Meal | Breakfast, Box lunch
Day 4: Sierra Negra Volcano – Santa Cruz
Hike to Sierra Negra, home to one of the world’s largest volcanic craters. Continue to Volcán Chico for epic views and feel the heat of this active volcano. After lunch, return by speedboat to Santa Cruz. Overnight in Santa Cruz.
Accommodation | Hotel
Meal | Breakfast, Box lunch
Day 5: Santa Cruz – San Cristóbal
Spend a free morning exploring Puerto Ayora—visit the Fishermen’s Pier or stroll along Tortuga Bay’s white-sand beach. In the afternoon, transfer by speedboat to San Cristóbal, the oldest island in the Galápagos. Overnight in San Cristóbal.
Accommodation | Hotel
Meal | Breakfast
Day 6: León Dormido (Kicker Rock) Tour
Today’s highlight is a boat trip to León Dormido (Kicker Rock), a stunning rock formation ideal for snorkeling. Swim alongside hammerhead sharks, sea turtles, rays, and colorful fish. Lunch is served onboard before heading back to San Cristóbal for a relaxing evening.
Accommodation | Hotel
Meal | Breakfast, Box Lunch
Day 7: San Cristóbal Airport
After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight back to the mainland, taking unforgettable Galápagos memories with you.
Meal | Breakfast
✓ What's included
Airport–hotel transfers
Galápagos naturalist guide in English/Spanish
Snorkeling equipment
Inter-island public speedboat (Santa Cruz – Isabela)
24/7 Phone assistance in Spanish/English
✕ Not included
International flights
Dinners
Tips and personal expenses
Flight to the Galápagos Islands
Entrance fee to Galápagos National Park
USD $200 per person
Water taxi
Small boats between harbor and speedboat
Wetsuit rental
Isabela Island tax
Santa Cruz dock tax
Transit Control Card
Personal medical and travel insurance
ⓘ Need-to-know
ⓘ Entry & Park Formalities
• Galápagos National Park Fee: A $200 USD per person fee must be paid in cash upon arrival at the Galápagos airport.
• Transit Control Card (TCT): This card is required for all visitors. We handle the pre-registration for you, but you must provide your return flight details.
• Local Taxes: Be prepared to pay small dock taxes in cash when traveling to and from Isabela and Santa Cruz islands.
• Passport Validity: Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel dates.
ⓘ Accommodation
• This tour includes 6 nights in comfortable, selected hotels on Santa Cruz, Isabela, and San Cristóbal islands on a twin-share basis.
ⓘ Packing & Biosecurity
• Essential Packing: Pack for both land and sea. Include sturdy walking/hiking shoes (for the volcano), sandals, swimwear, sun protection (reef-safe sunscreen, sunglasses, hat), and a light rain jacket.
• Protect the Islands: It is strictly prohibited to bring any agricultural or unprocessed food products (fruits, seeds, etc.) to the Galápagos.
ⓘ Health & Insurance
• Travel Insurance: Comprehensive medical and travel insurance is strongly recommended for all travelers.
• Fitness: A good level of general fitness is required to fully enjoy all activities, especially the Sierra Negra volcano hike.
ⓘ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What makes this 7-day tour different from shorter trips?
A: This tour's main advantage is the inclusion of Isabela Island, the largest and one of the most volcanically active islands in the archipelago. This allows for unique experiences like hiking the incredible Sierra Negra volcano and spotting Galápagos penguins in the wild at Tintoreras, experiences not available on shorter itineraries.
Q: How difficult is the Sierra Negra volcano hike?
A: The hike to the Sierra Negra crater is the most physically demanding part of the tour, involving several hours of walking on uneven volcanic terrain. We rate it as a moderate hike suitable for anyone with a good general level of fitness who enjoys walking. The panoramic views from the crater's rim are truly a once-in-a-lifetime reward.
Q: What are the extra island taxes?
A: When traveling between islands, local municipalities charge small dock taxes. The Isabela Island tax (approx. $10 USD) and the Santa Cruz dock tax (approx. $1-2 USD) are mandatory fees that must be paid in cash. These are not included in the main Galápagos National Park fee.
Q: Is this tour land-based or a cruise?
A: This is a land-based island-hopping tour. You will sleep in comfortable hotels on the three different islands, giving you the freedom to explore the local towns and restaurants in the evenings, which provides a different and more flexible experience than a liveaboard cruise.
Q: What wildlife is unique to Isabela Island on this tour?
A: Isabela Island offers fantastic opportunities to see wildlife not as easily found on other islands. It is one of the best places to spot the endangered Galápagos Penguin and see large colonies of marine iguanas. The hike at Sierra Negra also offers a chance to see unique highland bird species.