Galapagos Islands 5-Day Tour

• Economic way to enjoy wonders of the Galapagos Islands in set departure. 

• 5-day itineraries departing from Guayaquil or Quito, staying in hotel on Santa Cruz Island. 

• Excursions to surrounding islands & beaches, with English-speaking, naturalist guides.

• Can be combined with Ecuador Highlights and/or Southern Ecuador itineraries.

• Longer stays & Galapagos cruises also available. Ask us for options. 

Galapagos 5-Day Itinerary Outline: 

Day 1: Arrival in Guayaquil or Quito. Overnight.
Day 2: Fly from Guayaquil or Quito to Galapagos.  
Day 2 – 4: Discover the Galapagos Islands staying at a local hotel, with daily excursions.
Day 5: Return from Galapagos to Guayaquil or Quito – flight home or connect with other destinations.

Below prices are per person, based on double occupancy.
NB Flights & Galapagos entrance fees not included.

Galapagos Islands 5D: Set Departures: 2024:

• Tue, Apr 9 - Sat, Apr 13

• Tue, May 21 - Sat, May 25

• Tue, Jul 30 - Sat, Aug 3

• Tue, Aug 27 - Sat, Aug 31

• Tue, Oct 1 - Sat, Oct 5

• Tue, Nov 5 - Sat, Nov 9

• Tue, Dec 3 - Sat, Dec 7

Also available in a private service, outside of the above dates; and can be customised to exact timeframe and budget. 

Detailed Galapagos 5-Day Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival in Guayaquil or Quito (-)

Upon arrival in Guayaquil or Quito, you will be picked up at the airport, and taken to your selected hotel. Our representative will give you a documentation kit with detailed programme outline.

**Depending on your arrival time, you can add an optional excursion to take full advantage of your stay in Ecuador.

Overnight at Selected Hotel in Guayaquil or Quito. 

Day 2: Flight to Galapagos Islands: Santa Cruz (B)

At the scheduled time, after breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to Guayaquil or Quito airport by private vehicle, to board a morning flight to the Galapagos Islands. Suggested flight: Please book the earliest flight to the Galapagos Islands.

Upon arrival at Baltra airport, you will be transferred (on a shared basis) by bus and ferry to Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. 

The rest of the afternoon will be free to explore the town on your own or just relax and enjoy the hotel facilities. One option is a visit to The Tortoise Breeding Center (formerly The Charles Darwin Research Station). 

Overnight at Selected Hotel on Santa Cruz Island. 

Day 3: Full-Day Navigation Tour (B & L)

Today we pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to Puerto Ayora dock, from where we take you on a full-day boat tour, in a shared service, to one of the following Islands:

• Isabela

• San Cristobal

• Bartolome

• Plazas

• Seymour

• Santa Fe. (Sharing basis excursion)

NB. The choice of island and itinerary is subject to availability and approval by Galapagos National Park. You will be advised 15 days prior to your arrival. 

Isabela Island: 

Isabela Island is two-hour boat ride from Puerto Ayora. Upon arrival, our personnel will meet you to guide you around this fascinating island.

We go to Flamingos Lagoon to watch these beautiful birds in their natural habitat, and then continue to the Breeding Centre to learn about the Galapagos Islands' natural history.

Finally, we visit Concha Perla Beach, located a few meters from El Embarcadero pier.

It is reached along a wooden walkway that runs through a mangrove forest and a small colony of sea lions, before reaching a calm bay enclosed by natural rocks and fed by the sea, with shallow and clear waters.

It is the ideal place for observing an incredible array of marine life. We can swim and snorkel alongside tropical fish, sea lions, penguins and turtles.

Return to Puerto Ayora / Santa Cruz Island.

Bartolome Island: 

This island is famous for Pinnacle Rock, a towering spear-headed obelisk that rises from the ocean’s edge and is the best known landmark in the Galapagos. Galapagos penguins are commonly seen along the volcanic ledges of its base.

There is a 600 m (2,000 ft) pathway of stairs and boardwalks leading to the summit.

The route is very easy and the reward at the top is a marvellous view of the surrounding islands, complemented by a moonscape of volcanic formations. 

Santa Fe Island: 

This volcanic island is located to the southeast of Santa Cruz. It is one of the oldest islands in the archipelago.

Santa Fe has sea lion colonies on the beach, and Galapagos hawks can often be seen amongst the bushes. There is a cliff trail which affords magnificent views of the ocean.

The flora includes Giant Cactus, the favourite food of land iguanas, and a forest of Palo Santo trees.

Plazas Islands: 

This small island with steep cliffs was formed by rising lava and is now covered by cactus and Sesuvium plants ... which change from green in the rainy season to red during the dry season.

This island is home to sea lion colonies and land iguanas. 

San Cristobal: 

You will be picked up at the hotel and transferred to Puerto Ayora dock to board a small boat and sail to San Cristobal (two hours in a shared service).  

Upon arrival in San Cristobal we sail to a nearby site for a guided tour: either Lobos Island and Ochoa beach; or Kicker Rock.

• Kicker Rock:

This is the remains of an ancient volcanic lava cone, which has been eroded by the ocean, creating two vertical rocks walls which rise 150 m (500 ft) above the sea, between which is a navigable channel.

The cliffs are home to many boobies, frigates and tropic birds.

This place is also known as Leon Dormido (Sleeping Lion) because, from a distance, it has the appearance of a giant sleeping lion.

• Ochoa Beach:

An amazing coral beach located 30 minutes from Puerto Baquerizo village, with colonies of sea lions, phantom crabs, blue footed boobies, and frigate birds, among many other species.

Its calm waters are great for snorkelling, to see rays, turtles and tropical fish.

Isla Lobos is a small island separated from the coast by a channel. Here we find marine iguanas, lava lizards, seagulls, and several species of shore birds.

Return to Puerto Ayora in the late afternoon. 

Meals included: breakfast at the hotel and local lunch on board or at a local restaurant, depending on the destination.

Overnight at Selected Hotel on Santa Cruz Island.

Day 4: Santa Cruz Island (B)

After breakfast, we go on a half-day excursion to Tortuga Bay Beach.  

A 45-minute walk along a trail, through a transition zone, takes us to Tortuga Bay Beach, a beautiful white sandy beach, so-named because it is one of the preferred nesting sites for the Black turtle.

The beach has two zones:

• Playa Brava: separated by sand dunes and rock, this beach is reserved for the local wildlife, such as marine iguanas, crabs and many bird species of birds. Not open to swimmers.

• Playa Mansa: a great place for swimming and snorkeling.

Afternoon at leisure to enjoy your last day in the Enchanted Islands of Galápagos. 

Overnight at Selected Hotel on Santa Cruz Island. 

Day 5: Galapagos Islands - Ecuador Mainland (B)

After breakfast, we transfer you in a shared vehicle to the airport on Baltra Island, in order to catch your flight back to Guayaquil or Quito.
NB. We recommend the latest flight departing from Baltra airport, so you can enjoy the Galapagos Islands for as long as possible. 

** END OF OUR SERVICES ** 

Price includes:

• 4 nights’ accommodation in Guayaquil & Galapagos

• Transfers

• 1 Full-Day Excursion in Galapagos Islands

• 1 Half-Day Excursion in Galapagos Islands

• Breakfast in hotels

Not included:

• Meals & services not described in the itinerary

• Personal expenses

• Tips

• International & domestic flights

• Insurance