Galapagos Isabela Island Tour: 5-Day Snorkeling, Volcano & Wildlife Adventure

General Information

Discover Giant Tortoises, Lava Tunnels & Marine Life on This 5-Day Galapagos Isabela Island Tour

Galapagos Isabela Island Tour 5 Day adventure invites you to discover the wild beauty of the Galapagos Islands on a land-based journey through Isabela and Santa Cruz, two of the most diverse and iconic islands in the archipelago.

Start your journey on Isabela Island, the largest in Galapagos and shaped like a seahorse, where you’ll hike the rim of the massive Sierra Negra Volcano and snorkel in Concha de Perla, a tranquil bay teeming with tropical marine life.

Encounter giant tortoises at the Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center and watch pink flamingos in natural lagoons. Experience world-class snorkeling at Las Tintoreras, home to whitetip reef sharks and penguins, and dive into Los Tuneles (Cabo Rosa) underwater lava arches, considered one of the top snorkeling sites on Earth.

End your trip with a visit to the El Chato Reserve on Santa Cruz Island, where giant tortoises roam free among lush vegetation and lava tunnels. This tour is perfect for nature lovers, snorkelers, and wildlife photographers looking to connect deeply with the Galapagos ecosystem.

✅ Accommodation in the listed hotels, subject to availability

✅ Breakfasts

✅ Land and sea transportation in the Galapagos

✅ Bilingual naturalist guide for each visited island or activity

✅ Scheduled excursions

✅ Snorkeling equipment (mask, fins, snorkel)

❌ Flights from Quito to the Galapagos Islands / Galapagos to Quito

❌ Dinner not included.

❌ Entrance fee to the Galapagos National Park USD 200.00 per person.

❌ Migration Control Card USD 20.00 per person.

❌ Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages.

❌ Tips.

Highlights

Snorkel in the crystal-clear waters of Los Tuneles, a labyrinth of lava arches and rich marine biodiversity
Hike to the rim of Sierra Negra Volcano, one of the largest active calderas in the world
Spot giant tortoises in their natural habitat
Visit Flamingo Lagoon, home to vibrant pink flamingos
Enjoy white-sand beaches and stunning sunsets

Itinerary

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN BALTRA- FERRY TO ISABELA ISLAND

Upon arrival at Baltra Airport, you'll cross the Itabaca Channel to Santa Cruz. From there, you'll take a speedboat to Puerto Villamil on Isabela, a seahorse-shaped island formed by the fusion of six volcanoes.

Isabela is also the largest island in the archipelago and the only one that crosses the equator.

Activities:

Transfer Baltra – Santa Cruz – Puerto Villamil
Arrival at your hotel in Isabela
Free afternoon to walk on the beach or relax.

DAY 2: SIERRA NEGRA VOLCANO

In the morning, you'll ascend to the active crater of the Sierra Negra Volcano, one of the largest in the world.

Did you know that Sierra Negra erupted in 2018?
You can still see active fumaroles and petrified lava flows. The hike will take you through fresh lava fields to the impressive Chico Volcano, with views of the entire island.

Activities:

Volcano hike
Bay swim
Birdwatching
Photography

DAY 3: BREEDING CENTER AND TINTORERAS

Start the day by visiting the Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center, where giant tortoises are protected from birth until they are ready to return to the forest.

Then, stroll around Flamingo Lagoon, one of the few places where these elegant birds can be seen in the wild.

In the afternoon, a boat will take you to Las Tintoreras, a volcanic islet ideal for spotting whitetip sharks, rays, and marine iguanas. Las Tintoreras is one of the few places where you can see tropical penguins so close to the equator.

Activities:

Visit the Turtle Breeding Center
Flamingo and shorebird watching
Hiking and snorkeling in Las Tintoreras

DAY 4: LOS TUNELES - FERRY TO SANTA CRUZ ISLAND

Today you will embark for Los Tuneles (Cabo Rosa), an area where lava formed natural arches and tunnels that are now home to amazing marine life.

It is one of the best snorkeling sites on the planet, according to National Geographic. Here you will snorkel in crystal-clear waters where it is common to find seahorses, rays, sharks, turtles, and even penguins.

In the afternoon, you will board the ferry back to Santa Cruz, where you will have the afternoon free to walk along the boardwalk or enjoy the local cuisine.

Activities:

Sailing and snorkeling in Los Tuneles
Seabird watching at Roca Union
Ferry transfer to Santa Cruz

DAY 5: EL CHATO RESERVE - RETURN TO BALTRA AIRPORT

Before bidding farewell to the archipelago, you will visit the El Chato Reserve, home to giant tortoises that live completely free, without cages or barriers.

You will walk among ponds and native vegetation. The tortoises in this reserve can weigh up to 300 kg and travel several kilometers a day.

Afterwards, you will begin the transfer to Baltra Airport, with a last look at the unforgettable landscapes of the archipelago.

Activities: