2 Weeks in the Galápagos: 12 Days at an Island Pace

• DAY 1: Day 1: San Cristóbal arrival and a free afternoon

  

  Get ready, because 2 weeks in the Galápagos begins on San Cristóbal, where you’ll be met at the airport and transferred by private vehicle to your hotel in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. An English-speaking local contact will accompany you and introduce you to the town before a member of our team reviews the itinerary and answers any questions.

  Spend the afternoon at your own pace, exploring Puerto Baquerizo Moreno or walking to the Interpretation Center, Playa Mann, or Tijeretas. With no scheduled activities, you can ease into the Galápagos and enjoy your first taste of island life.

  • Activity:Walking.
  • Transport:Car.
  • Accommodation:Hotel Casa Opuntia or similar

• DAY 2: Kicker Rock snorkeling

  

  This morning, set out by boat for Kicker Rock, one of San Cristóbal’s most iconic landmarks, where you’ll snorkel through the channel between its towering volcanic formations. Keep an eye out for sharks, turtles, rays, and other marine life; hammerheads are occasionally spotted here as well. During seasons when jellyfish are present, a wetsuit will be provided for protection from stings.

  After snorkeling, continue to Manglecito or a similar white-sand beach for time to swim, relax, and explore the shoreline before returning to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.

  If you have a PADI certification, you can also opt to dive at Kicker Rock with two immersions for an additional $80, including equipment.

  • Activity:Relaxing. Snorkeling. Wildlife Watching.
  • Transport:Boat. Car.
  • Meal:Breakfast. Box Lunch.
  • Accommodation: Hotel Casa Opuntia or similar.

• DAY 3: San Cristóbal highlands, El Junco and La Galapaguera

  

  Today, head into the highlands of San Cristóbal for a half-day excursion, beginning at El Junco Crater Lake, the only permanent freshwater lake in the Galápagos. From here, continue to Puerto Chino, a beautiful white-sand beach where a short trail leads past lounging sea lions to rocky areas frequented by blue-footed boobies.

  The final stop is La Galapaguera, a tortoise breeding center with wooden walkways that make it easy to explore the reserve. Giant tortoises roam freely throughout the area, so don’t be surprised if one crosses your path.

  • Activity:Sightseeing. Wildlife Watching.
  • Transport:Car.
  • Meal:Breakfast. Lunch.
  • Accommodation:Hotel Casa Opuntia or similar.

• DAY 4: Free day on San Cristóbal

  

  Today is yours to experience San Cristóbal at your own pace. Return to a favorite beach, explore more of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, visit a site you missed earlier in the trip, or simply slow down and enjoy a day without a set schedule.

  • Meal:Breakfast.
  • Accommodation:Hotel Casa Opuntia or similar.

• DAY 5: Speedboat to Santa Cruz, bay tour and La Lobería

  

  In the morning, transfer to the harbor for the public speedboat to Santa Cruz Island. After arriving in Puerto Ayora, you’ll be transferred to your hotel and welcomed by a member of our team, who will review the details of your stay.

  In the afternoon, set out on a Santa Cruz Bay tour to explore Academy Bay by boat. At La Lobería, you can snorkel alongside sea lions and colorful fish before walking to nearby Playa de los Perros, where sea iguanas often gather on the rocks to bask in the sun.

  • Activity:Sightseeing. Snorkeling. Wildlife Watching.
  • Transport:Boat. Car.
  • Meal:Breakfast. Lunch.
  • Accommodation:Hotel Fiesta or similar.

• DAY 6: Santa Fe snorkeling or Pinzón fishing day

  

  Today’s excursion will take you to either Santa Fe or Pinzón Island, depending on Galápagos National Park regulations and the conditions on the day of the tour.

  If you visit Santa Fe, snorkel in the island’s pristine, crystal-clear bay before making a wet landing at Playa Escondida or Garrapatero Beach on Santa Cruz. You’ll have time to explore and relax on the beach before returning to Puerto Ayora.

  Alternatively, the Pinzón excursion offers opportunities to encounter marine iguanas and sea lions while exploring the mangrove-lined waters around La Fe. Keep watch for sea turtles, small sharks, and colorful fish as you snorkel. The day also includes “Pezca Vivencial,” or experiential fishing, which emphasizes enjoying the experience and connecting with the local environment rather than simply catching fish.

  • Activity:Relaxing. Snorkeling. Wildlife Watching.
  • Transport:Boat. Car.
  • Meal:Breakfast. Box Lunch.
  • Accommodation:Hotel Fiesta or similar.

• DAY 7: Speedboat to Isabela and Puerto Villamil

  

  Enjoy a relaxed morning in Puerto Ayora, with time to visit Tortuga Bay or explore more of the town before your afternoon departure.

  Later, take the public speedboat to Isabela, arriving in Puerto Villamil at around 4:30 PM. Once you’ve settled in, you can explore the nearby area or, depending on timing and conditions, visit the Wall of Tears.

  • Activity:Relaxing. Sightseeing.
  • Transport:Boat. Car.
  • Meal:Breakfast.
  • Accommodation:Hotel Albemarle - Ocean View or similar.

• DAY 8: Tintoreras islet and the wetlands

  

  Start the day with a visit to Isabela’s Flamingo Lagoon before heading to Puerto Villamil’s pier for the short boat ride to Tintoreras Islet. The islet gets its name from the channel where white-tip reef sharks, locally known as tintoreras, gather to rest.

  Follow the volcanic-rock trails with your guide, keeping an eye out for penguins, sea lions, and marine iguanas along the way. Closed walking shoes or sneakers are required for the rocky terrain. You can also snorkel in the surrounding waters, where colorful tropical fish can be seen.

  Return to Puerto Villamil around midday, leaving the rest of the day free to relax or explore Isabela’s beaches at your own pace.

  • Activity:Exploring. Snorkeling. Wildlife Watching.
  • Transport:Boat. Car.
  • Meal:Breakfast.
  • Accommodation:Hotel Albemarle - Ocean View or similar.

• DAY 9: Los Túneles snorkeling

  

  Head to Los Túneles for a guided excursion through one of Isabela’s most distinctive volcanic landscapes. Walk among the lava formations with your bilingual guide while looking for blue-footed boobies, sea lions, penguins, and other wildlife.

  Continue by boat to El Finado, an islet about 10 minutes from Los Túneles that has long been used by local fishermen as a resting point. Its shallow, clear, and calm waters make it an excellent place to snorkel, with opportunities to spot seahorses, parrotfish, hogfish, and wrasses.

  Return to Puerto Villamil in the early afternoon, leaving the rest of the day free.

  • Activity:Exploring. Snorkeling. Wildlife Watching.
  • Transport:Boat. Car.
  • Meal:Breakfast. Snack.
  • Accommodation: Hotel Albemarle - Ocean View or similar.

• DAY 10: Free day on Isabela

  

  Today is yours to explore Isabela at your own pace. A bicycle will be available for up to seven hours, giving you the freedom to explore the island independently and revisit some of the places you’ve discovered during the tour.

  • Activity:Biking. Exploring.
  • Transport:Bike.
  • Meal:Breakfast.
  • Accommodation:Hotel Albemarle - Ocean View or similar.

• DAY 11: Return to Santa Cruz and the highlands

  

  Rise early for the 6:00 AM speedboat back to Santa Cruz, where you’ll be transferred to your hotel.

  In the afternoon, a Spanish-speaking driver will take you into the Santa Cruz highlands for a visit to the private El Chato finca. Here, you can walk through the reserve and observe giant Galápagos tortoises in their natural habitat.

  • Activity:Exploring. Wildlife Watching.
  • Transport:Boat. Car.
  • Meal:Breakfast. Lunch.
  • Accommodation: Hotel Fiesta or similar.

• DAY 12: Baltra transfer and departure

  

  Your 2 weeks in the Galápagos adventure comes to an end today. Depending on your flight schedule, we’ll arrange your transfer to Baltra Airport with a Spanish-speaking driver for your journey home.

  • Transport:Boat. Bus. Car.
  • Meal:Breakfast.

2 Weeks in the Galápagos: FAQs

• Is 2 weeks in the Galápagos too long?

  No, if the itinerary includes free days. Twelve days across three islands with three unscheduled days works well. Twelve days of back-to-back excursions without a break would not be ideal.

• Does a longer Galápagos trip cost more per day?

  Less. The flight and the USD 200 park fee are fixed regardless of length, so they allow you to enjoy more days in the islands. Only accommodation and excursions scale with duration.

• What can you do on a free day during 2 weeks in the Galápagos?

  Walk to Tortuga Bay or La Lobería, rent snorkel gear, book a second dive, cycle the Isabela wetlands, or take a local bus to the highlands. None require a guide.

• How many islands can you visit during 2 weeks in the Galápagos?

  Three inhabited islands comfortably, plus two or three uninhabited visitor sites on day trips. A fourth inhabited island exists but has almost no tourism infrastructure.

• Do I need a visa to spend 2 weeks in the Galápagos?

  Most nationalities enter Ecuador visa-free for 90 days. Your passport must be valid six months beyond departure, and the INGALA transit card is issued at the mainland airport.