Catherine - Savvy Family TravelIn this guide you’ll find a one week Galapagos Islands itinerary with as much animal and geological diversity possible in seven days.
At the bottom of this post, I’ll also include the top things we would have added if we could have spent an additional 1-3 days on the islands.
The beauty of the Galapagos extends way beyond the surface, so our 7 day itinerary includes a lot of sightseeing underwater as well. Here are the most notable 19 animals we saw on this Galapagos Islands Itinerary.
Galapagos Islands Itinerary
Day 1: Arriving in the Galapagos
Flight from Mainland Ecuador
Fly from Quito (or Guayaquil) in mainland Ecuador to Baltra Airport. Baltra is the island just north of Santa Cruz island. There are a handful of airlines that serve the airports on Baltra and San Cristobal Islands.
One way flights between Quito/Guayaquil and the islands cost between $100 to 200 typically. Catch the morning flight out if you can so you still have a full day when you reach the islands.
Here’s everything you need to know about flying into the Galapagos Islands. Be sure to check out this guide so you have all the necessary documentation and fees prepared.
Reaching your accommodations in the major city of the island, Puerto Ayora from the airport takes a few modes of transportation and about 1 hour and 15 minutes in total. All the details are outlined in the article linked above.
Lunch in Puerto Ayora
You’ll arrive in Puerto Ayora around lunch time. Stop into The Rock for a delicious lunch and use their Wi-Fi to let your loved ones know you made it to one of the world’s most incredible places.
Walk the Shoreline of Puerto Ayora
The entire city of Puerto Ayora can be explored by foot. Start your time on the islands by getting your bearings downtown and walking the shoreline to spot wildlife.
Right away you’ll likely be treated to sea lion, marine iguana, sally light-footed crab, and pelican sightings.
As you head in the direction of the Research Center, stop in and admire the free Garden of Mosaic Tile.
Charles Darwin Research Center
The Charles Darwin Research Center is open until 5pm and is free to explore.
If you want to tour its Tortoise Breeding Center though, you’ll need to pay $10 to hire a required guide which can be arranged on site. The last guided tour starts at 4:30pm.
Make sure to learn about Lonesome George, the last Pinta Tortoise. He died in 2012 and was carefully preserved to be displayed at the Charles Darwin Research Center.
In addition to exploring the museum buildings, be sure to check out the beaches that are on the property. They’re a great spot to soak in the sunshine and also to spot birds, crabs, and sea lions. If you have snorkel gear, bring it along!
Book Tours (if needed)
Most tour operators are open until 7pm each evening. You might snag some great last minute deals on tours if you haven’t booked out all your time on the islands yet.
We booked 2 of our 5 touring days in advance just to be certain we had a spot on the tours we had our hearts set on, but know that we would’ve saved about 20-30% of the cost if we’d have waited to book when we arrived in the islands.
I’ll share more details on each below, but here’s an overview of the tours in this Galapagos Islands Itinerary and which we booked early vs. upon reaching the islands.
- Day 2 – Isabela Day Trip (Booked last minute in Puerto Ayora for $110 per person.)
- Day 3 – Bartolome Tour (Booked online in advance for $275 per person.)
- Day 4 – Santa Cruz Highlands (Hired a taxi driver in Puerto Ayora for $40, no pre-booking required.)
- Day 5 – Ferry to San Cristobal (48 hours advance Reservation Required online – $35)
It is possible to board a ferry without advanced reservation IF they have space and they’ll likely ask for $50 cash. - Day 6 – San Cristobal 360 Tour (Booked online in advance for $180 per person.)
- Day 7 – San Cristobal Highlands (Hired a taxi driver in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno for $50, no pre-booking required. It’s $60 if you want to include the beach.)
Stock up on Grocery
Grab some snacks in case you get hungry on your tours, or pick up bottled water if it is not provided on your tours or where you are lodging. (The tap water is not safe to drink and some advise against even brushing your teeth with it.)
We picked up some local beers to sample too.
Dinner and Settle into Accomodations
If you want a bit of luxury to celebrate your arrival on the islands, consider a dinner on the water at Bahia Mar or Almar.
Or, for a more affordable and still delicious option, try Midori.
Tours start bright and early, so we found ourselves winding down pretty quickly in the evening.
Day 2: Day Trip to Isabela – Penguins, Flamingos & Tortoises
Isabela Island is one of the few places you can see Penguins and Flamingos in the islands.
Plus it’s a treat to see their unique subspecies of tortoise even if you’ll do a Tortoise tour on another island as well.
The Tour: We booked this Isabela tour the day before, from a vendor in Santa Cruz. We paid $110 per person as a last minute deal. You can also find the same tour on Viator if you’d like to secure it in advance.
Ferry to Isabela
At 6am take a motion sickness pill like Dramamine.
At 6:10am arrive at the docs to catch a Ferry. The Ferry was not what I pictured in terms of boat size. There are in fact several ferries that run each morning, each filled with about 30 people.
When you arrive to the docs be sure to check in with your tour company where you’ll be given a lanyard that indicates which boat you’re heading to. Then get in line. You’ll want to be in line early to try to secure a coveted spot at the back of your boat (where you’ll feel the least movement from the waves.)
If you’re traveling with others, take turns holding your spot in line and using the restroom or grabbing a coffee. Only eat a light breakfast before a trip on the ferry. Seasickness is common.
There’s a playground to entertain the kids while you wait!
The ferry boats do not moor at the dock, so you’ll first need to load onto a water taxi which will drop you and any luggage off at your ferry. Have exact change to pay $1 per person for this taxi service.
The ferry between Santa Cruz and Isabela takes a little over 2 hours each way. If you’re lucky, you’ll be on a premium ferry that has WIFI to help pass the time. Download some music, a movie, or audiobook just in case.
Tip: If prone to motion sickness, ask your physician for a prescription to Scopolamine. It can be prescribed as a patch that lasts 3 days. Alternatively, we religiously took the Less Drowsy Dramamine, which last 24 hours, exactly 1 hour before our ferry ride and we felt good round trip. Ginger candy may be good to have on hand as well in case you start feeling queasy en route.
Arrival in Isabela & Tour Begins
When you arrive at Isabela, you’ll need to pay a municipal port tax of $10 per person.
A tour guide will be waiting to greet you at the end of the dock’s path. As you wait for the rest of your tour group to assemble, you’ll have a chance to use the restrooms, grab a snack from one of the vendors, or simply watch the sea lions at the beach.
Jump on the open air Chiva Bus with your guide and you’ll be off to the Tortoise Breeding Center. We loved our tour with Roger who interestingly grew up working at the Breeding Center (Centro de Crianza Tortugas Gigantes Arnaldo Tupiza Chamaidan) through his school program.
Tortoise Breeding Center
This breeding center’s primary focus is caring for tortoises from birth to 6 years old. At the age of 6 or so, the tortoises are relocated to their natural environment by helicopter to the Sierra Negra volcano. Our guide said it costs an average of $15,000 per tortoise that they raise and relocate.
They do have several rescued giant tortoises on site as well. While it was fascinating to learn about the repopulation efforts of the facility, we enjoyed walking amongst the giants on Santa Cruz and San Cristobal more. (Details on this are coming further down in this article.)
Flamingos
It is believed that flamingos were carried to the Galapagos islands from the Caribbean islands thanks to hurricane winds long long ago.
There are only a couple hundred flamingos in the Galapagos, so do not expect to find them in a large flock. Their population has been devastated lately, largely due to domestic animals. Our guide explained that the Galapagos are implementing a new law to ban domestic pets (cats/dogs) that will take effect in 15 years so no new pets are being introduced to the islands.
There are a few main Flamingo spots (natural habitats) that are visited by tourists on Isabel. When we reached the first feeding site, a lagoon called Posada De Flamengos, we only spotted two.
We had more luck at Poza de los Flamingos where we saw a total of ten scattered across the quiet lake.
Beach Time
Puerto Villamil is an absolutely stunning stretch of coastline. The 2 mile pristine beach is one of the finest in all of the Galapagos. There’s an observation tower you can climb for beautiful panoramic shots and a playground for the kids.
Lunch
Ohana Restaurant hosted our group for a delicious lunch (we could choose from fish, chicken, or pasta) and fresh juice.
We grabbed a quick dessert from the bakery next store, Panadería Aroma and hopped back into our Chiva bus.
Las Tintoteras: Penguins and Sharks
Next we headed back to the docks to board our excursion boat to take us to spot penguins, snorkel, and spot White Tipped Reef Sharks in Las Tintoreras.
First we scoured the coastline for the world’s northernmost penguins. The Galapagos Penquins are dwindling in numbers but can still be spotted on the western islands of the Galapagos.
We were lucky to have found two perched on a rock as the previous day’s tours hadn’t seen any.
After this we hopped in the water to snorkel and right away saw a giant green sea turtle, stingray, and colorful reef fish. Our guide led us to a narrow channel of lava rock where we had the chance to swim over dozens and dozens of nesting white tipped reef sharks. It was surreal!
We hopped back on our boat to one of the small islands that makes up Las Tintoreras. A short hike led us to a viewing platform to overlook a channel of sharks. Easily 100+ were resting here.
The rest of the island, with its lava rock terrain, felt like we were on another planet.
Return Ferry to Santa Cruz
And that’s it for our Isabela adventure! Now it was back to the docks to transfer onto our ferry for the return trip to Santa Cruz at 3pm.
Dinner in Puerto Ayora
An affordable dinner option with a wide variety of menu items and a fun atmosphere is called Nazca Esencia Restaurant.
If you’re tired, consider grabbing dinner from Nazca on the way back to your Santa Cruz accommodations. They accept to go orders via Whatsapp.
Day 3: Day Trip to Bartolomé Island
The Tour: We booked this Bartolomé tour in advance hopeful to see penguins, enjoy snorkeling its coast, and to hike to its famous view point.
Here’s what to expect on a Bartolomé island tour from Santa Cruz Island.
Transport to Baltra Channel
A bus or van will pick you up from your lodging or from a central meeting point in Puerto Ayora and drive the 45 minutes to Baltra channel (Itabaca Canal) where your boat will be waiting.
The crew was wonderful and the boat was immaculate. There was plenty of space for everyone to spread out, snack, nap, read animal guides, or however we wanted to pass the time.
Boat Ride to Bartolomé
The boat ride from the Baltra docks to Bartolomé Island takes about 2.5 hours. On the way, you’ll pass by an island called Daphne Mayor. It is famous for being where scientists studied finches and evolution by natural selection over many decades. Your guide will explain the significant findings and why this volcanic tuff crater served as the perfect research station.
On the way we were treated to a mesmerizing display of dolphins surrounding our boat. There were at least two dozen in the pod, leaping all around us.
Bartolomé Island
When we reached the mooring area of Bartolomé , we hopped in the dinghy to take us ashore. We hiked to the top of the famous viewpoint, while the guide explained the species of flora that have adaptations allowing them to survive on Bartolomé.
This view is probably the most famous of all the islands.
Snorkeling at Santiago Island
After our hike, we boarded the boat again and suited up into our snorkeling attire. Our captain took us over to Santiago island for snorkeling. On the way, we found FIVE Galapagos Penguins hanging out on a rock. After taking at least 100 pictures of the adorable birds, we rounded the corner where our snorkeling would start.
The colorful reef fish were plentiful in this area. My favorites were the bright puffer fish and the various colors of parrot fish. Before long, we were surprised to find a penguin swimming alongside us! Upon reaching the rock where we’d originally seen them, four more joined our group and simply hung out for a good half hour with us. It was an absolutely incredible stroke of luck and a highlight of our Galapagos Islands Itinerary.
Lunch On Board
The snorkeling portion of the tour is about 1 hour which can leave one famished! Back on board, the chef had been busy preparing a plated lunch for all of us. It hit the spot!
Then we set out on the long and rough ride back to Santa Cruz island, followed by the 45 minute bus ride, and finally, around 5pm we were back in Puerto Ayora.
Santa Cruz Brewery
Grab a locally brewed beer or sampler flight and sit on the patio at Santa Cruz Brewery. For dinner we recommend La Regata or Nikkei Galapagos Restaurante.
Day 4: Beach and The Highlands
After two days of long boat rides and snorkeling, we were ready to spend a day on dry land.
Breakfast
One of the top rated spots in Puerto Ayora for coffee and dining is 1835 Restaurant & Coffee. Grab one of their seasonal lattes and choose from hearty breakfast bowls or lighter fare.
Morning Beach Time
Today, we’ll check out one of the top beaches near Puerto Ayora. Here are two options to start your day.
Option 1: Tortuga Bay and Playa Mansa
It requires about a 25-30 minute hilly walk to reach Tortuga Bay from the administration building at the start of a 2km trail. There is no cost to visit Tortuga Bay or Playa Mansa. They are part of the National Park for which you paid your entry fee upon arriving to the islands.
Once you reach Tortuga Bay Beach, you’ll want to walk about 10 minutes to the right to find the trail leading you to the calm alcove called Playa Mansa. It is far more calm and safer for swimming. Here you can snorkel, lounge near a sea lion, bird watch or rent a kayak.
There is no vending service at either of these beaches, so be sure to pack all the water and snacks you’ll need for your group.
Be sure to hang your gear from one of the racks provided, NOT from the trees.
The walk gets very tiring in the heat of the afternoon, so be sure to save plenty of water for the return trek and a sunhat.
Option 2: Playa El Garrapatero
The preferred beach among locals, this beach is accessible by a 30 minute taxi ride through the highlands from Puerto Ayora followed by a 15 minute walk.
Lunch and Ice Cream
For lunch, we recommend trying the food vendor street called “Calle de los Kiosks” or “Kiosk Street” and grabbing ice cream at Helados Tato. Delicious soft serve is just $1.
Both of these are near the trail entrance to Tortuga Bay or are an easy drop off point for your taxi back from Garrapatero.
Tour the Highlands
Hire a Taxi
The standard rate for a taxi to take you to Tortoise Ranch, Lava Tunnels, and Los Gemelos Pit Craters is $50 from Puerto Ayora. You can negotiate this amount if you want to make changes to your tour.
Perhaps you could combine this with time at Playa El Garrapatero if you want to check it out, but are reluctant to hire a taxi just for the single stop.
You can think of the taxi drivers as guides themselves, especially if you speak some Spanish you can gather a ton of insight from them.
Our taxi driver taught us a lot about the flora of the highlands as well as the finches. He wowed us with his bird calls to summon dozens of finches to the fence next to us.
Santa Cruz Giant Tortoises
There are two main Tortoise Ranches to choose from, which are quite similar in many ways. They are El Chato and Rancho Primicias. At both, you’ll see and wander amidst the giant tortoises. Our driver said you’ll always see at least 40, but sometimes upwards of 100. They both have lava tunnels on their property. El Chato has a few lava tunnels whereas Primicias has one – albeit the longest one.
The cost to enter El Chato is $10 per person. The cost for Primicias is $8.50 per person. At both, this price includes the lava tunnels, boots if it’s muddy, and a knowledgeable guide for your walk with the tortoises. You should plan to tip your guide as well because they’re bound to impress you.
We opted for Primicias because we wanted to experience the longer lava tunnel.
The guide was a naturalist and incredibly knowledgeable about the subspecies of tortoises across the islands as well as diving, and geology of the Galapagos.
After lots of great photo ops and a tour of the ranch, we crawled into empty tortoise shells to get a feel for their weight.
If you’ve worked up an appetite, drop into the cafeteria for an empanada and beverage before returning to your taxi.
Lava Tunnels
When a volcanic eruption occurs, molten lava flows downhill. The surface of this lava stream cools and hardens as it’s exposed to the air, creating a crust. Beneath this solid layer, the still-molten lava continues to flow like a fiery underground river. Eventually, when the eruption ends and the lava flow stops, the remaining liquid drains out, leaving behind hollow tubes—the tunnels we see today.
Your taxi driver will drop you off at the entrance to the Lava Tunnel and explain what to expect once you’re inside. They’ll explain how it starts wide, getting narrower, more rocky, and then requires crouching/crawling just before the exit.
The Tunnels are lit with electric lighting so you will not be traversing in the dark.
We found ourselves to be the only ones in the entire tunnel which was a unique experience! It takes about ten minutes to walk through the tunnel.
Los Gemelos
Los Gemelos, or the Twin Craters, on Santa Cruz Island are not actually craters but massive sinkholes formed by collapsed volcanic chambers.
Surrounded by the lush, misty highlands, these natural wonders are a striking contrast to the island’s drier lowlands.
Dinner in Puerto Ayora
For dinner tonight, we highly recommend a relaxing meal at Frafre. Their Brujo (Scorpian Fish) was the best dish we had of our entire trip. What they called a “medium” was $35 and fed the two of us.
Day 5: San Cristobal’s Beaches
Today we are relocating ourselves to a new island to serve as our home base of exploration.
Ferry to San Cristobal
Pack up and check out of your Puerto Ayora lodging and head to the docks by 6:10am to catch your ferry to San Cristobal.
It is important to book your ferry in advance! We screwed up and nearly didn’t have a way off the island!
At the very last minute they said they could fit us onto a ferry but cost us an extra $15 per person than it would have with a pre-booking – not to mention we sat toward the front of the boat and felt every waved we crashed over for over 2 hours!
Don’t make our mistake!
Drop off Luggage
If you’re on the morning ferry out of Santa Cruz, you’ll reach San Cristobal’s Puerto Baquerizo Moreno between 9-10am. Be sure to reach out to your accommodations in advance and be sure they can take your luggage early while you start exploring.
Breakfast
Grab a late breakfast at Restaurante los Guayacos. We highly recommend trying the Bolon de Verde, a very typical breakfast on the islands. It’s a fried ball made from mashed green plantains with choice of fillings.
Cerro Tijeretas
Grab some water, snacks, snorkel gear (optional) and sturdy hiking shoes and take a taxi to Cerro Tijeretas. Here, you’ll find an Interpretation Center and trails to various scenic points and beaches.
Snorkel Spot – Even if you’re not snorkeling, this is a great area to bird watch. We saw several blue footed boobies and lots of frigate birds.
Walkable Beach Hopping
Playa Punta Carola – This was our favorite beach for hanging out with sea lions. We visited in October so we saw lots of young sea lion pups.
Playa Mann – Again, this beach has a lot of sea lions, plus some food and drink stalls so you can dine amongst them.
Playa de Ora – This is the closest beach to downtown Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.
One More Beach, By Taxi
La Lobería is a beautiful coastline of rocky shores and beaches. The beach is a great snorkel spot and, as the name suggests, sea lion watching. There are loads of marine iguanas here as well.
When we went it was windy and overcast, so we didn’t get the full glory of this area, but if you have a couple hours to spare it is still worth checking out even if you aren’t able to snorkel.
It’s a $4 taxi ride each way from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno and then a ten minute walk to the beach on a clearly marked trail. The trail continues several km beyond the beach too offering good bird watching.
Day 6: San Cristobal 360° Tour
Hands down the #1 tour to do while you’re in San Cristobal is the 360° Tour. A boat takes you in a circle around the entirety of the island, stopping and the most scenic viewpoints and most rewarding snorkel locales.
Here is a typical itinerary for the 360° Tour.
There are many tour companies that offer this itinerary. We chose Eco Fishing Galapagos because we were also interested in their sustainable fishing demonstration and fresh sashimi made from the catch of the day. Low and behold, they didn’t catch anything, but we still had a fantastic day with them.
Don’t Forget! One hour before your boat tour starts, be sure to take some Dramamine or Dramamine Less Drowsy (our recommendation).
Morning Coffee / Light Breakfast
On the way to meet up with your tour, grab a quick coffee and snack at Midori San Cristobal.
Kicker Rock Snorkeling
Divers and snorkelers flock to this area for rewarding underwater sightings. Within a few minutes we’d already seen scalloped hammerhead sharks, spotted eagle rays, a black tip reef shark, and sea turtles.
Enjoy a snack on board while you head to the next spot.
Cerro Bruju (Witch Hill)
An arch rock formation created by an eroding volcanic tuff cone. If you catch it at the right angle, you get a good view through the arch of Kicker Rock.
Bahia Sardina
Time to relax on a secluded beach in paradise. Cool off with a snorkel off the shore where you’ll likely be joined by sea lions and sea turtles.
Bring some shoes so you can explore the trails from the beach. If you go to the left you’ll see the beautiful “red carpet” plants.
When you leave you’ll have lunch on board your boat.
Punta Pitt
Your boat may or may not moor here, but there is a beach and also a nesting spot for red footed boobies.
Bahia Rosa Blanca
Water shoes would be handy for this spot as you hike from the Beach to a lagoon and need to traverse sharp lava rock to enter the lagoon.
The lagoon is a popular spot for white tipped reef sharks to nest.
We found the visibility here to be poor so we stayed along the shoreline to help keep our bearings and still saw at least 100 sharks.
On the walk between the lagoon and beach, we were able to get up close to Blue Footed Boobies and Pelicans for some great photos.
At the beach, we had a lot of fun watching a sea lion try to play with a sea turtle in the water.
Return to Port and Dinner in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno
This was the longest stretch of cruising. Since it’s difficult to have a conversation over the engine noise, waves, and wind, we recommend bringing some headphones and listening to a podcast, audio book, or music to help pass the time.
After you drop off your supplies, head out to dinner. For a dinner on the water, check out Umami. Or, for more affordable options, check out Restaurante Lucky or Degusta Restaurante.
Prepare for Your Flight to Mainland Ecuador
Tip: If you’re heading to Quito next, consider taking an altitude sickness medication 24 hours before your flight lands. You can ask your physician for a prescription to acetazolamide which will help mitigate headaches and nausea caused by such a drastic altitude change. Quito sits at 9,350 feet (2,850 meters) while the highest point on San Cristobal is only 2,400 feet (730 meters).
Day 7: San Cristobal Highlands & Flight to Mainland
By now, you’ll be used to early wake ups to catch boat rides. So, get an early start to your day before catching a midday flight back to mainland Ecuador. (Our flight was at 1pm.)
Grab coffee from Ranti Kamak Galapagos Coffee. They have excellent quality, local, coffee and many seasonal drinks to choose from.
Highlands Tour
Typically the highlands tour offers 3 stops and taxis charge between 60-80 for the excursion. Tortoises, El Junco Crater Lagoon, and Puerto Chino Beach.
We were beached out. So we offered our driver $50 to take us for just the Tortoises and El Junco Crater.
Gualaquera de Cerro Colorado Tortoise Reserve
There’s no fee to visit Gualaquera de Cerro Colorado. You’ll want to bring some cash though to tip your guide. We spent almost an hour with ours on a private tour and it was fantastic.
First, you’ll explore the grounds, walking amongst the giant tortoises that were relocated here from various ranches on the island when the National Park System declared tortoises would no longer live on farmlands on San Cristobal.
Then you’ll tour the breeding center spaces where tortoises are raised until about the age of 5 or 6 before being released into their natural habitat.
If you don’t have to fly out on the day you’re visiting the Tortoise reserve, try to catch the 10am feeding.
El Junco Lagoon
Cloud cover in the morning typically hinders visibility of the crater, so we waited until as late as possible to make this hike, however we still had next to zero visibility. A guide mentioned that October is a tough season to see the crater.
In the photo below you can compare what we saw vs. what we wanted to see. I hope you have better success!
Make sure to have solid hiking shoes and plan to get muddy. The steps can get slippery in wet weather. It takes 15-20 minutes to hike each way.
Timing it Right
You’ll want to be at the airport about 1 hour 15 minutes before your flight. Drive time from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno out to the highlands is 30-35 minutes each way. You’ll want 1 hour at the Tortoise Reserve, 45-60 minutes at the Lagoon, and at least 45 minutes if you opt to do the beach.
Head to the Airport
Stop back at your hotel/lodging to pick up your luggage, freshen up, and then grab a $2.50 taxi ride to the airport. (5 minute drive)
Note: It is important to have your remaining half of your TCT card to depart. You’ll need to produce that card just before the security screening at the airport.
Packing for Snorkeling Day Trips
- Full Suit Wet Suit (If a tour company provides one, it is typically a shorty). The water is COLD! You’ll be happy to have it.
- Water Bottle
- Sunscreen
- Sunhat with strap
- Motion Sickness Remedy (Take motion sickness pill 1 hour before ride or wear a patch)
- Snacks unless provided.
- Underwater Camera
- Sweatshirt or light jacket – It can be chilly on the boat in the wind.
- Sunglasses
Itinerary Add-Ons
If we had additional days to spend on the islands, we would have liked to visit these spots for a chance to see a few more unique Galapagos species.
- Day Trip to Española to see the Waved Albatross from San Cristobal.
The large birds are spotted at Española’s Punta Suarez Peninsula from April to December. From January to March they are breeding and can be found on other southern Galapagos islands. - Day Trip to North Seymour from Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz.
December is the best time to see the male frigatebirds with their inflated bright red throat pouch. If we’d have visited the islands in December we may have prioritized this tour. There’s also the chance to see the Galapagos shark near North Seymour. Some tours pair this with a flamingo habitat that is on the north side of Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz Accommodations
Ocean Front Options
- Hotel Villa Escalesia – Amazing rooftop pool!
- Blu Galapagos Sustainable Lodge – Resort type feel with waterfront luxury.
More Affordable Options
A few blocks from all the action, these stays will save you money on your Galapagos Islands itinerary.
- Lonesome George Ecolodge – fun and quirky rustic stay.
- Hotel Mainao – free breakfast, laundry available, beautiful property
- Airbnb with Balcony – quiet, good wifi, immaculately clean
San Cristobal Accommodations
Don’t over think the location of your accommodation in San Cristobal. The whole harbor area is easily walkable or otherwise you can hire a taxi for just $2 to take you anywhere in town. Here is a copy of taxi’s standing price list for getting around the island.
Great places to stay in San Cristobal:
- Casa Verde Vacation Garden Home – Ocean views. Sleeps up to four.
- Galápagos Casa Playa Mann – Ocean view terrace. Sleeps up to three.
- Suites en el paraíso San Cristóbal Galápagos – Balcony suite available.
- Hotel Indigo – Modern hotel option, an IHG property.
Pin this Galapagos Islands Itinerary for Later
Catherine – Savvy Family Travel
My favorite pastime is finding fun, interesting experiences to share with family and friends.
I’m a mom of two energetic and curious boys who have endless patience with my tendency to over plan activities on our family vacations. My tireless husband, Troy, provides comic relief, is our favorite photographer, and expert navigator.
I’m a firm believer that travel with kids doesn’t have to be intimidating or expensive. It can be affordable, epic, and, dare I say, even relaxing!
Are you a travel loving parent too? I’d love to meet you, please reach out via Messenger and say “hi!”
Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links on which (at no additional cost to you) I may earn a small commission. I promise to use any kickback to explore more of our incredible world. Read full privacy policy here.
Catherine – Savvy Family Travel
My favorite pastime is finding fun, interesting experiences to share with family and friends.
I’m a mom of two energetic and curious boys who have endless patience with my tendency to over plan activities on our family vacations. My tireless husband, Troy, provides comic relief, is our favorite photographer, and expert navigator.
I’m a firm believer that travel with kids doesn’t have to be intimidating or expensive. It can be affordable, epic, and, dare I say, even relaxing!
Are you a travel loving parent too? I’d love to meet you, please reach out via Messenger and say “hi!”
Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links on which (at no additional cost to you) I may earn a small commission. I promise to use any kickback to explore more of our incredible world. Read full privacy policy here.