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North Seymour island
ItineraryChange it Updated Nov 6, 2026

Galápagos in 5 days

For a short trip, a stopover from mainland Ecuador, or days added to a cruise. Day by day, with the tour to book for each day and what it all costs.

  • 5days
  • 1island base
  • 3boat & land tours
  • $2,004per person, mid-range
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0

Short answer: Santa Cruz: 4 nights Santa Cruz. About $1,665 per person on a budget or $2,004 mid-range, from mainland Ecuador, for two people sharing.

With five days, moving islands would cost you a whole day on boats. Stay in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz and let the boats come to you: three different islands by day trip, plus the giant tortoises in the highlands.

Day by day

  1. Arrive at Baltra, transfer to Puerto Ayora Santa Cruz

    Bus, channel ferry and bus or taxi to town (about an hour). Afternoon: giant tortoises at the Charles Darwin Research Station, a short walk from town.

    Sleep: Hotels in Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz)

  2. North Seymour boat trip Santa Cruz

    Blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds and land iguanas along the trail, then a snorkel stop.

    Book: North Seymour: Day Tour with Wildlife Walk & Snorkeling · 4.4 ★ (14) · from about $484 on GetYourGuide

  3. Bartolomé and Pinnacle Rock Santa Cruz

    The classic view from the summit and a snorkel with a chance of penguins.

    Book: Bartolome Day Tour for Penguin Snorkeling · 4.6 ★ (18) · from about $496 on GetYourGuide

  4. Santa Fe island Santa Cruz

    Sea lions and the Santa Fe land iguana, snorkel in the bay.

    Book: Santa Fe Island Snorkeling Day Tour · 4.6 ★ (89) · from about $220 on GetYourGuide

  5. Fly home from Baltra Santa Cruz

    Allow about an hour from Puerto Ayora to Baltra, plus the check-in time.

What it costs

Per person (2 sharing)BudgetMid-range
Total from mainland Ecuador$1,665$2,004
Per day$333$401

Includes park fee, transit card, return flight from Quito, a hotel night near the airport, hotels, ferries, the 3 tours and food. Open this budget in the calculator to change anything.

Book the tours in this plan

Boat day trips sell out in high season, so book them before you fly. Partner links: disclosure.

Rather have it all organised?

The same islands as a guided package of about 5 days, with hotels, boats and guides booked for you:

Compare 400+ Galápagos tours on TourRadar →

Prices and ratings as listed in November 2026; the price at checkout is what counts. Many multi-day packages start in Quito, so check what is included. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Disclosure

EQUATOR · 0° Volcán Wolf≈ 1,670 mVolcán Wolf: highest point about 1,670 m in the GMRT elevation gridCerro Azul≈ 1,650 mCerro Azul: highest point about 1,650 m in the GMRT elevation gridSierra Negra≈ 1,110 mSierra Negra: highest point about 1,110 m in the GMRT elevation gridAlcedo≈ 1,130 mAlcedo: highest point about 1,130 m in the GMRT elevation gridVolcán Darwin≈ 1,370 mVolcán Darwin: highest point about 1,370 m in the GMRT elevation gridLa Cumbre≈ 1,440 mLa Cumbre (Fernandina): highest point about 1,440 m in the GMRT elevation gridSanta Cruz highlands≈ 820 mSanta Cruz highlands: highest point about 820 m in the GMRT elevation gridSan Cristóbal highlands≈ 680 mSan Cristóbal highlands: highest point about 680 m in the GMRT elevation gridSantiago≈ 890 mSantiago: highest point about 890 m in the GMRT elevation gridPinta≈ 610 mPinta: highest point about 610 m in the GMRT elevation grid ISABELAFERNANDINASANTIAGOSANTA CRUZSAN CRISTÓBALFLOREANAESPAÑOLAPINTAMARCHENAGENOVESASANTA FEPINZÓNBALTRA North SeymourBartoloméSanta FeSouth PlazaPinzónKicker RockLos TúnelesTintorerasTortuga BaySierra NegraPunta SuárezEl Chato Puerto AyoraPuerto Baquerizo MorenoPuerto VillamilPuerto Velasco Ibarra ✈GPSBaltra (GPS)✈SCYSan Cristóbal (SCY)✈IBBIsabela (IBB) 🐢Giant tortoises🐧Penguins🐧Penguins🦶Blue-footed boobies🦩Flamingos🦩Flamingos🦭Sea lions in town🦎Marine iguanas🦦Flightless cormorants🕊Waved albatross (Apr–Dec)🔴Red-footed boobies🐠Turtles & sharks (snorkel)🦈White-tip sharks ↖ Darwin & Wolf: dive boats only 050 km N
sea depth 3,000 m → shore land 0 → 1,400 m+ FerryAirportTown Relief and depth: GMRT (Ryan et al. 2009, CC BY 4.0). Not for navigation.

Make it yours

Sources (13)· checked 2026-11-06

Updated 2026-11-06. Fees, boat times and prices change, so confirm with the operator before you travel.