Our unforgettable Isabela Island Galapagos adventure begins with your flight from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra Airport in the Galapagos Islands Ecuador (optional included). Upon arrival at Baltra Airport, our local representative will welcome you and assist with your transfer across Santa Cruz Island. During the journey, travelers enjoy beautiful coastal scenery and the first encounters with the incredible wildlife.
You could take a short break for a light meal, and at 3 p.m. we'll take a boat to Isabela, a journey of approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes. Upon arrival to Puerto Villamil Isabela Island, our local staff will transfer you to your selected hotel.
In the morning: Today is the most physically rewarding day of the trip. We leave Puerto Villamil early and drive up into Isabela's agricultural highlands, where the trailhead sits among guava trees and farmland at around 900 meters.
The climb is steady rather than steep, and the landscape changes as you gain altitude humid forest gives way to low scrub, the mist thins, and then, without much warning, the ground simply drops away to your right. Sierra Negra's caldera is roughly ten kilometers across, wide enough that the opposite rim disappears into cloud on most mornings. Its floor is a black basin of hardened lava, some of it from the 2018 eruption and still visibly fresh.
We walk the rim for several kilometers, and weather permitting continue to Volcán Chico on the northern flank. Here the terrain turns red, ochre and sulfur yellow, oxidized by escaping gas, with fumaroles still venting steam from cracks underfoot. On clear days the view opens north across Elizabeth Bay toward Fernandina. We stop for a box lunch surrounded by it before turning back.
The full route covers approximately 16 kilometers and takes around six hours of walking.
In the afternoon : In the afternoon: free time to rest or explore Puerto Villamil at your own pace. A short mangrove boardwalk just past the port leads to Concha Perla, a sheltered natural pool of glass-clear water where sea lions doze on the planks and you can snorkel among sea turtles, eagle rays and colorful reef fish no boat required, and reachable on foot from town.
In the morning: we say goodbye to Isabela. Our team accompanies you to the dock and helps with your luggage before you board the speedboat to Santa Cruz around two hours across open ocean, where rays, sea turtles and dolphins often appear alongside the boat. On arrival in Puerto Ayora, the largest town in the archipelago, our assistant meets you at the pier and transfers you to your hotel.
In the afternoon: we visit the Charles Darwin Research Station .This is the scientific institution behind six decades of conservation work in the islands. You'll see giant tortoises at every stage of life from hatchlings in the rearing pens, marked by year, to enormous adults and learn how the breeding program brought several populations back from the edge of extinction. The exhibits also cover the native flora, the Darwin's finches and the ongoing work against introduced species.
The evening is yours. The waterfront is a short walk away, where pelicans and sea lions crowd the fish market at cleaning time.
The last day is not a travel day. After breakfast and check-out, we leave Puerto Ayora with your luggage and head north into the Santa Cruz highlands which happen to lie directly on the road to the airport.
The arid coast gives way to a green, misty world of Scalesia forest. At a giant tortoise ranch we walk among tortoises roaming freely across open pasture and ponds wild animals, not enclosed, some weighing over 250 kilos and well past a century old. Rubber boots are provided, and your guide explains how these giants came back from the edge of extinction to become the symbol of the archipelago.
At the same site we descend into the lava tunnels, underground tubes formed when the crust of a lava flow cooled and hardened while molten rock kept draining beneath it. Some run for hundreds of meters and are tall enough to walk through upright a last reminder that the ground here is younger than most cities on Earth.
We then continue to the Itabaca Channel, cross by ferry and reach Baltra Airport in time for your flight back to the mainland. Assistance is provided at check-in.
You leave with something these islands give every visitor: the memory of animals that never learned to fear you.
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Us – Colorado
“My partner and I took an incredible trip through Ecuador that combined culture, nature, and adventure both on the mainland and in the Galápagos Islands. Everything was perfectly organized and exceeded our expectations every step of the way. Once in Galápagos, we joined a 5-day tour through Santa Cruz, Isabela, and Santa Fe, and it was simply magical”
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Us – New York City
“We just completed this 5 day tour through Santa Cruz, Isabela, and Santa Fe, and we couldn’t be happier with the experience. Traveling as a couple, we found the perfect mix of breathtaking nature, exciting adventures, and meaningful time together.Each day brought something new and memorable. What we appreciated most was the ease everything was perfectly organized, from hotel pickups to inter island transfers and excursions. We felt supported and well cared for the entire time.”
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Us
“Pedro was a fantastic tour guide. I’d highly recommend booking this tour, it’s a combo of shared tours with a guide and a private tour. What’s even better is he acts as your have your own personal photographer and if you have dietary requirements this is perfect, since we don’t know the language Pedro handled everything.”
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Us
“We just returned from a 5 day tour through Santa Cruz, Isabela, and Santa Fe, and it truly became an unforgettable experience for our family. I traveled with my wife and our two children, and from the beginning we wanted something safe, well organized, and enjoyable for all of us. Katty was incredibly helpful from the first message ,She guided us through the different options, explained every detail clearly, and helped us choose the perfect tour for what we wanted to experience in the Galápagos.”
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Canada
“My wife and I just finished the 10 Day Galapagos Island Hopping Full Explorer tour, and we couldn’t have chosen a better way to spend our honeymoon. From the moment we contacted the agency, Tatiana was absolutely outstanding. She guided us through every detail with patience, clarity, and a level of knowledge that instantly made us feel confident about choosing this trip. Her support set the tone for what became one of the most unforgettable experiences of our lives.Throughout the journey, we were accompanied by an incredible team of local experts who made each island feel unique and meaningful.”
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Uk
“I traveled in December, and it was my first time visiting the Galapagos Islands. I am a young, active traveler and a nature lover, and this tour exceeded all my expectations.
From the very beginning, everything was extremely well organized. In Santa Cruz, our guide William was excellent very professional, friendly, and incredibly knowledgeable about the wildlife and natural environment. On Isabela Island, our guide Ruth was amazing, always attentive, enthusiastic, and passionate, which made every activity even more special.”
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Germany
“My two daughters and I just returned from the Explore Santa Cruz, Isabela and Santa Fe 5 Day Galapagos Tour, and it was absolutely unforgettable! From start to finish, this trip exceeded all our expectations and we are already dreaming about returning! We were met at Baltra Airport and immediately felt welcomed and cared for. On Santa Cruz Island, our guides William and Fredy were incredible. Their knowledge of the wildlife, conservation efforts, and local ecosystems brought every stop to life.”
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Brazil
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USA
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France
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Swiss
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Uk
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Us
Itinerary subject to change due to weather conditions, operational logistics, National Park regulations, or sea conditions.
Optional tours available upon request.
Ask about full-board meal plans or breakfast-only options.
This itinerary is perfect for travelers searching for:
Affordable Isabela Island Galapagos hotels
Adventure-focused Galapagos experiences
Wildlife encounters
Volcano hiking tours
Snorkeling and marine activities
Authentic Galapagos island hopping programs
Combining volcanic landscapes, marine wildlife, snorkeling adventures, and comfortable accommodation, this experience offers one of the best ways to explore Isabela Island Galapagos Ecuador without the cost of a cruise.
