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You are here: Home1 / NATURE & CULTURE2 / NATURE & CULTURE of ECUADOR3 / Galapagos: San Cristobal & Santa Cruz

San Cristobal & Santa Cruz

ECU-48b / 6-day trip with San Cristobal & Santa Cruz

Galapagos: San Cristobal & Santa Cruz
OVERVIEW

GALAPAGOS: SAN CRISTOBAL & SANTA CRUZ

Galápagos Island Hop: Sea Lions, Giant Tortoises & Sharks
The Best of the Galápagos in One Unforgettable Trip

Experience the best of the Galápagos with this carefully crafted Galápagos Island Hop adventure. Begin your journey on San Cristóbal Island and explore iconic sites like La Lobería, home to playful sea lions, and Kicker Rock, where you’ll snorkel alongside reef sharks, rays, and sea turtles.

Travel between islands to witness the incredible biodiversity that inspired Darwin’s theory of evolution—from giant tortoises roaming the lush highlands of Santa Cruz, to Galápagos penguins and marine iguanas on volcanic shores.

This island-hopping itinerary combines wildlife encounters, snorkeling adventures, and guided visits to conservation centers, offering a well-rounded and immersive Galápagos experience. Perfect for nature lovers seeking comfort, variety, and discovery.

Suited for both FIT travelers and small groups, “San Cristobal and Santa Cruz trip” offers accommodations in well-located tourist-class hotels, with the option to upgrade to charming 4-star properties for added comfort.


Day 1Travel to San Cristóbal. Sea Lions and evolution
Day 2San Cristóbal: Snorkeling with sharks at Kicker Rock
Day 3Travel to Santa Cruz: Giant Tortoises and Lava formations
Day 4Full-day yacht excursion to nearby islands
Day 5Exploring Santa Cruz: Charles Darwin Research Station and Tortuga Bay
Day 6Departure from Galapagos
ITINERARY
Day 1

Travel to Galapagos: Sea Lions & Evolution
The tour starts with morning flight to Galapagos (San Cristobal Island).
At arrival, meeting with the guide who will be waiting for you at the arrival lounge.
Your guide will take you to the hotel, where you can leave your luggage, freshen up, and continue with your first exploration of the islands!

EXPLORING LOBERIA:
This guided expedition to La Lobería offers a serene and immersive way to experience the natural beauty of San Cristóbal Island. Perfect for nature lovers, this visit allows you to explore the island’s diverse ecosystems at a relaxed pace, accompanied by a certified naturalist guide.

A short drive from town takes you to the trailhead leading to La Lobería beach. The path is relatively flat and easy to walk, surrounded by native vegetation and offering chances to observe the unique wildlife of the Galápagos. Look for Galapagos finches, frigatebirds, lava lizards, and marine iguanas along the way.

Once at the beach, enjoy the stunning contrast of white sand and turquoise waters. The area is named after the large colony of sea lions (“lobos marinos”) that rest and play along the shoreline. You’ll have time to relax, swim, or snorkel in the calm waters, where you might encounter sea turtles and colorful reef fish.

INTERPRETATION CENTER:
Located just outside of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, the Interpretation Center offers a rich introduction to the unique natural and human history of the Galápagos Islands. This guided visit is perfect for anyone wanting to deepen their understanding of the archipelago’s evolution, conservation efforts, and the delicate balance between human presence and nature.

Accompanied by a naturalist guide, you’ll explore a series of indoor and outdoor exhibits highlighting the islands’ geological formation, the arrival of various species, and the history of human settlement. Interactive displays and detailed narratives make this an engaging experience for all ages.
Included meals: Breakfast

Day 2

San Cristóbal: Snorkeling with sharks at Kicker Rock
After breakfast, you will meet your local guide and crew, who will take you on one of the nicest snorkel expeditions in Galapagos.

KICKER ROCK:
Located off the coast of San Cristobal Island in the Galápagos, it offers a thrilling mix of marine wildlife, stunning landscapes, and unique encounters.
This tour offers a unique opportunity to explore one of the most iconic marine environments in the Galápagos. The combination of breathtaking scenery, diverse wildlife, and the thrill of snorkeling or diving in deep, clear waters makes it an unforgettable experience.
The nutrient-rich waters around Kicker Rock attract an impressive array of wildlife. You’re likely to see white-tip reef sharks, spotted eagle rays, and even the occasional hammerhead shark. Sea lions are also frequent visitors, often playing around snorkelers. Above the water, you can spot various bird species, including blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, and frigatebirds. Kicker Rock is famous for its vertical, towering rock formations that emerge dramatically from the ocean, creating a deep channel teeming with marine life.

Whether you choose to snorkel or dive, you’ll have the chance to swim alongside Galápagos sharks, hammerheads, rays, sea turtles, and a variety of colorful fish. The channel between the two rocks is about 60 feet deep, making it ideal for both snorkelers and intermediate to advanced divers.

Note: Diving activity has an additional cost; please contact us for further details on this.
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch

Day 3

Highlands of Santa Cruz: Giant Tortoises and Lava formations
Early departure towards Santa Cruz Island, you board a speed boat for around 2.5 hours. Once on Santa Cruz Island, you meet your guide and driver who will take you for an expedition to the highlands of the Island.

The highlands of Santa Cruz offer a stark contrast to the arid coastal regions, with lush greenery, rolling hills, and dense forests. This area provides a chance to experience the island’s diverse ecosystems, ranging from dry zones to moist forests. They are home to several private reserves where you can observe giant tortoises in their natural habitat. These majestic creatures roam freely, feeding on the lush vegetation, and the reserves offer an up-close view of their behavior and movements.

Also, you will be able to visit these underground tunnels, which were formed by flowing lava and are a fascinating geological feature of the island.
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch

Day 4

Full-day yacht excursion to nearby islands
Today, you will enjoy a wonderful day cruise expedition to the nearby islands.

Depending on the day, you will be able to visit the following islands:

North Seymour & Bachas Beach:
Birdwatching experience (blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, pelicans, flamingos, etc)

Bartolome Island & Sullivan Bay:
Galapagos Penguin and volcanic experience (wonderful views from the top of the mountain, great snorkel with penguins)

Santa Fe Island:
Iguana experience (endemic land iguanas, marine iguanas)

Plazas Island & Carrion Point:
Birds and marine life (blue-footed boobies, rays, marine turtles, sea lions)

Chinese Hat:
Volcanic experience (beautiful views of the wonderful volcanic island, marine life, coastal birds)

These expeditions offer you the opportunity to visit the home of these wonderful endemic and native creatures as well as to spot marine life whilst snorkeling.
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch

Day 5

Exploring the island: Charles Darwin Research Station and Tortuga Bay
Located in Puerto Ayora, the Charles Darwin Research Station is a hub for scientific research and conservation efforts in the Galápagos. The station is dedicated to the preservation of the island’s unique species, particularly the giant tortoises. Your guide will take you to the different parts of this center, where you will learn about the projects and observe the breeding process of the giant tortoises.
After this visit, you will take a 50-minute walk towards one of the nicest beaches of Santa Cruz Island, Tortuga Bay. Here, you can walk through the white sanded beach and spot different coastal birds, marine iguanas, and other marine wildlife that usually come for a visit. You can relax in the tranquility of this amazing place.

Return to Puerto Ayora.
The rest of the afternoon will be free to enjoy on your own.
Included meals: Breakfast, snacks

Day 6

Departure
End of Galapagos tour. Morning transfer to Baltra airport. Flight to Guayaquil and international connection in the afternoon. 
Included meals: Breakfast


PRICING
ECU-48 – To request prices, please click on the BOOK TRIP bottom on the right sidebar and fill the information.


INCLUDED

  • All transfers in Galapagos
  • English Speaking guide during activities/tours
  • All activities/tours in private services except following tours (shared services):
    • Tour to uninhabited Island from Santa Cruz (max 16 pax per guide)
    • Tour to Kicker Rock (max 16 pax per guide)
  • Entrance fees
  • Meals as described in the itinerary
  • Ferry from San Cristobal – Santa Cruz
  • Transit Control Card (USD 20 pp, subject to change)
  • Acomodation in shared double room according to hotel list (the availability will be confirmed at the moment of the booking)

NOT INCLUDED

  • International & domestic flights
  • Transfer to Quito airport at day 1
  • Meals not mentioned in the program
  • Tips
  • Personal expenses
  • Galapagos National Park entrance fee (USD 200 pp, subject to change)
  • Travel Insurance
HOTEL LIST

TOURIST CLASS HOTELS (Groups and FIT):

SAN CRISTOBAL: Hotel Arena Blanca Room type: Standard double or twin

SANTA CRUZ: Hotel Dejavu  (FIT)  Room type: Standard double or twin

SANTA CRUZ: Hotel Fiesta  (GROUP)  Room type: Standard double or twin


FIRST CLASS HOTELS (Only FIT): 

SAN CRISTOBAL: Casa Opuntia Room type: Ocean Front

SANTA CRUZ: Hotel Angemeyer Waterfront Inn Room type: Standard Ocean View

MAPS

Overview:


Galapagos Islands:

GALLERY
La Loberia beach in San Cristobal (photo: Sine Madsen)
Giant tortoise at La Galapaguera reserve in San Cristobal (photo: Juan Carlos Gonzalez)
Sally light foot crap (photo: Juan Carlos Gonzalez)
Darwin Center in Puerto Ayora (photo: Juan Carlos Gonzalez)
Bartolone islet and Santiago island in the background (photo: Juan Carlos Gonzalez)
Californian sea lion on Bartolome islet (photo: Juan Carlos Gonzalez)
Marine iguana emerging from the sea on Bartolome islet (photo: Juan Carlos Gonzalez)
Male frigate bird on North Seymour (photo: Juan Carlos Gonzalez)
North Seymour's land iguanas
Old remains of 2nd World War US army barchs at Barches beach (photo: Juan Carlos Gonzalez)
Giant tortoises at Primicias ranch on Santa Cruz island (photo: Juan Carlos Gonzalez)
Tags: Island Hopping, Ecuador, galapagos island tours, Giant tortoises, Landbased Galapagos, San Cristobal, Santa Cruz Island, Snorkeling and Marine life, Kicker Rock snorkeling, Sea Lion Encounter, Lava Tunnels, Best of Galapagos

BOOK TRIP

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