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Galápagos sea lion in the lava channels at Los Túneles, Isabela
Free toolReady-made plans Updated Nov 6, 2026

Galápagos itinerary planner

Tell it how long you have and what you love. It works out the island order around the ferries and fills every day.

  • 3–14days
  • 3islands to combine
  • 2ferries a day each way
  • 30tours to fill your days
Photo: (c) Juan Carlos Caicedo Hernández, some rights reserved (CC BY), CC BY 4.0

Short answer: with a week, stay 4 nights on Santa Cruz and 2 on Isabela: two boat day trips from Puerto Ayora (North Seymour, Bartolomé), then Los Túneles on Isabela. With 10 days add San Cristóbal. Fewer than 5 days? Stay on one island and use day trips: every island change costs half a day on a boat.

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What do you love most?

Santa Cruz → Isabela · 7 days · 3 booked tours

  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. Ferry to Isabela Isabela

    Morning speedboat (06:00, 14:00), about 2 hours. Afternoon in Puerto Villamil.

    Sleep: Hotels in Puerto Villamil (Isabela)

  5. Los Túneles Isabela

    Lava arches, blue-footed boobies nesting, and a snorkel with turtles and sharks.

    Book: Los Túneles: Snorkel with Sharks, Seahorses & Sea Turtles · 4.9 ★ (15) · from about $221 on GetYourGuide

  6. Ferry to Santa Cruz Santa Cruz

    Morning speedboat (05:00, 14:00), about 2 hours. Afternoon in Puerto Ayora.

    Sleep: Hotels in Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz)

  7. Fly home from Baltra Santa Cruz

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

Price this plan

How the planner decides

  • Santa Cruz is the hub. Every ferry runs to and from Puerto Ayora, and most boat day trips leave from there, so it gets the most nights.
  • At least two nights per island. A ferry day leaves only the afternoon, so one night is not worth the crossing.
  • You end where your flight leaves. No early-morning ferry on the day you fly.
  • Ferry times are the departures the ticket sellers offered for December 2026: ferry board.
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.

Ready-made itineraries

5 days

One base, the best day trips. For a short trip or a cruise add-on.

 7 days

Santa Cruz and Isabela: boobies, Pinnacle Rock, Los Túneles.

 10 days

Three islands, fly in and out of different airports.
Sources (6)· checked 2026-11-06

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