The Alya Luxury Cruise will...
Expedition Overview
If you want to have the opportunity to explore all the highlights of some of the wonderful Galapagos Islands. This 5-day Galapagos island hopping budget tour is your best option to enjoy a vacation with friends, family or partner and have unforgettable experiences. This is one of the few places on earth that allows such close and intimate contact with wildlife. The Galapagos form a natural sanctuary that preserves species, this allowed them to evolve their unique features for countless millennia. This vacation also provides flexible time to spend on your own and explore the sand beaches, trails in the Galapagos Forest, and wildlife. Be part of our Galapagos island hopping budget, an educational and inspirational journey of a lifetime in one of the most fiercely protected marine wilderness in the world!
Itinerary
DAY 1: BALTRA - SANTA CRUZ ISLAND - FLAMINGO LAGOON
On the first day of your Galapagos tour. At the Baltra Airport (GPS), you meet up with our English-speaking guide who will take you to the highlands of Santa Cruz. If you arrive before 02:00 PM you have lunch in the highlands and transfer to Isabela Island to visit Flamingo Lagoon.
If you arrive later, you will only visit the highlands. In the highlands you visit a privately-owned farm where you will find the giant tortoises. The Galapagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra) is the largest living tortoise species, weighing up to 250 kg (550 lb). After this visit you will be dropped off at your hotel where you can rest.
Meals included: Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel San Vicente or similar.
Food & Accommodation
Hotel – Twin or Double
Lunch.
DAY 2: SNORKELING IN LOS TUNELES
After a delicious breakfast, you will go on a boat ride from Puerto Villamil. This day you will enjoy the wonderful scenery in Los Tunnels, considered one of the most beautiful places to snorkel on Isabela Island. And where a large number of marine fauna species take refuge, such as turtles, marine iguanas, sea lions, manta rays, Galapagos penguins, lobsters and sea snakes. This activity will last approximately 6 hours, including boat rides and a snack before a short walk.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel San Vicente or similar.
Food & Accommodation
Hotel – Twin or DoubleBreakfast. Lunch.
DAY 3: CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH STATION - BAY TOUR
This day your activities will start very early in the morning, so you should be 100% energized. At 06:00 AM you will go to Santa Cruz Island and have breakfast. Then you will visit the famous biological station, Charles Darwin Research Station where the guides will explain more about giant tortoises.
Then you will enjoy a half-day tour of Academy Bay. Be sure to pack everything you need for this trip. Optional snorkel equipment will be provided free of charge to anyone who wishes to use it. During the tour, you will take a boat to Academy Bay where you can swim and snorkel with all kinds of exotic fish and marine life, as well as the famous sea lions; they are very curious animals and like to swim next to you underwater. Here you can also see the sought-after blue-footed boobies.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel Deja Vu or similar.
Food & Accommodation
Hotel – Twin or DoubleBreakfast. Lunch.
DAY 4: SANTA FE ISLAND
Your first morning activity will be a 45-minute boat ride to Santa Fe Island. This is a small island located in the center of the archipelago of enchanted islands. It is known for being the refuge of endemic species such as the Barrington’s land iguana (Conolophus pallidus). Once in the place, you will do the exciting activity of snorkeling.
Finally, you will head to Playa Escondida or Garrapatero in Santa Cruz, where you will make a wet landing.
*Note: A wet landing means that when you get to the beach, you will have to enter the surf, where there is the possibility of getting wetter.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel Deja Vu or similar.
Food & Accommodation
Hotel – Twin or DoubleBreakfast. Lunch.
DAY 5: TRANSFER OUT BALTRA ISLAND
After our final breakfast on the Galapagos Island and the last photos taken of sea lions, we have a transfer to Baltra Airport, where you will depart to Quito or Guayaquil.
Meals included: Breakfast.
Food & Accommodation
Hotel – Twin or DoubleBreakfast.
Departure Day
What to Expect
Accommodation: Hotel
Location: ecuador - galapagos
Season: year-round
Meeting Point: Baltra airport
Trip Type: Island Hopping - Galapagos
Activity: Hiking, Climbing, Wildlife
What´s Included
✅ WHAT'S INCLUDED
Transportation
Sea transportation Santa Cruz –Isabela islands, comfortable land transportation.
Accommodations
Accommodation in a single, double or triple room.
Meals
All described in the itinerary
Gear
Snorkeling mask and fins, life vest
Guides
Certified expert English-speaking adventure leader and naturalist local guides in Galapagos National Park
Equipment
Snorkeling equipment
🚫 WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
Accommodation
Single Supplement
Flights
Airfare Quito - Galapagos - Quito round trip
Airport transfers
National & international flights
Insurance
Travel & health insurance (mandatory)
Meals
Not described in the itinerary
Additional fees
INGALA transit card: USD 20 per person, cash only (subject to change), Park fee USD 100 per person, cash only (subject to change), Isabela fee port: 10 USD per person
Gear
Wetsuit for rent: USD 10
Tips
For guides and drivers
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Expedition Overview
If you want to have the opportunity to explore all the highlights of some of the wonderful Galapagos Islands. This 5-day Galapagos island hopping budget tour is your best option to enjoy a vacation with friends, family or partner and have unforgettable experiences. This is one of the few places on earth that allows such close and intimate contact with wildlife. The Galapagos form a natural sanctuary that preserves species, this allowed them to evolve their unique features for countless millennia. This vacation also provides flexible time to spend on your own and explore the sand beaches, trails in the Galapagos Forest, and wildlife. Be part of our Galapagos island hopping budget, an educational and inspirational journey of a lifetime in one of the most fiercely protected marine wilderness in the world!
Itinerary
DAY 1: BALTRA - SANTA CRUZ ISLAND - FLAMINGO LAGOON
On the first day of your Galapagos tour. At the Baltra Airport (GPS), you meet up with our English-speaking guide who will take you to the highlands of Santa Cruz. If you arrive before 02:00 PM you have lunch in the highlands and transfer to Isabela Island to visit Flamingo Lagoon.
If you arrive later, you will only visit the highlands. In the highlands you visit a privately-owned farm where you will find the giant tortoises. The Galapagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra) is the largest living tortoise species, weighing up to 250 kg (550 lb). After this visit you will be dropped off at your hotel where you can rest.
Meals included: Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel San Vicente or similar.
Food & Accommodation
Hotel – Twin or DoubleLunch.
DAY 2: SNORKELING IN LOS TUNELES
After a delicious breakfast, you will go on a boat ride from Puerto Villamil. This day you will enjoy the wonderful scenery in Los Tunnels, considered one of the most beautiful places to snorkel on Isabela Island. And where a large number of marine fauna species take refuge, such as turtles, marine iguanas, sea lions, manta rays, Galapagos penguins, lobsters and sea snakes. This activity will last approximately 6 hours, including boat rides and a snack before a short walk.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel San Vicente or similar.
Food & Accommodation
Hotel – Twin or DoubleBreakfast. Lunch.
DAY 3: CHARLES DARWIN RESEARCH STATION - BAY TOUR
This day your activities will start very early in the morning, so you should be 100% energized. At 06:00 AM you will go to Santa Cruz Island and have breakfast. Then you will visit the famous biological station, Charles Darwin Research Station where the guides will explain more about giant tortoises.
Then you will enjoy a half-day tour of Academy Bay. Be sure to pack everything you need for this trip. Optional snorkel equipment will be provided free of charge to anyone who wishes to use it. During the tour, you will take a boat to Academy Bay where you can swim and snorkel with all kinds of exotic fish and marine life, as well as the famous sea lions; they are very curious animals and like to swim next to you underwater. Here you can also see the sought-after blue-footed boobies.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel Deja Vu or similar.
Food & Accommodation
Hotel – Twin or DoubleBreakfast. Lunch.
DAY 4: SANTA FE ISLAND
Your first morning activity will be a 45-minute boat ride to Santa Fe Island. This is a small island located in the center of the archipelago of enchanted islands. It is known for being the refuge of endemic species such as the Barrington’s land iguana (Conolophus pallidus). Once in the place, you will do the exciting activity of snorkeling.
Finally, you will head to Playa Escondida or Garrapatero in Santa Cruz, where you will make a wet landing.
*Note: A wet landing means that when you get to the beach, you will have to enter the surf, where there is the possibility of getting wetter.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel Deja Vu or similar.
Food & Accommodation
Hotel – Twin or DoubleBreakfast. Lunch.
DAY 5: TRANSFER OUT BALTRA ISLAND
After our final breakfast on the Galapagos Island and the last photos taken of sea lions, we have a transfer to Baltra Airport, where you will depart to Quito or Guayaquil.
Meals included: Breakfast.
Food & Accommodation
Hotel – Twin or DoubleBreakfast.
Departure Day
What to Expect
Accommodation: Hotel
Location: ecuador - galapagos
Season: year-round
Meeting Point: Baltra airport
Trip Type: Island Hopping - Galapagos
Activity: Hiking, Climbing, Wildlife
Ships & Deck Plans
What´s Included
✅ WHAT'S INCLUDED
Transportation
Sea transportation Santa Cruz –Isabela islands, comfortable land transportation.
Accommodations
Accommodation in a single, double or triple room.
Meals
All described in the itinerary
Gear
Snorkeling mask and fins, life vest
Guides
Certified expert English-speaking adventure leader and naturalist local guides in Galapagos National Park
Equipment
Snorkeling equipment
🚫 WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
Accommodation
Single Supplement
Flights
Airfare Quito - Galapagos - Quito round trip
Airport transfers
National & international flights
Insurance
Travel & health insurance (mandatory)
Meals
Not described in the itinerary
Additional fees
INGALA transit card: USD 20 per person, cash only (subject to change), Park fee USD 100 per person, cash only (subject to change), Isabela fee port: 10 USD per person
Gear
Wetsuit for rent: USD 10
Tips
For guides and drivers
What to bring?
FAQS
What is the minimum age for this trip?
8 years old as a minimum age.
What is the currency?
US American Dollars
What Travel Insurance do you recommend?
World Nomads Insurance with a coverage of USD 200 000
What vaccinations do I need?
For Ecuador Highlands, Covid vaccination is required.
What’s the weather like?
Seasons in Ecuador have nothing to do with temperature – instead there is a dry season and a wet season. In Ecuador, the winter season is hot and wet, and the summer is dry and cold. Ecuador’s dry, summer season falls between May and December. January to April is Ecuador’s wet wintertime. There is not much of a transition between the seasons.
Most of Ecuador has mild temperatures year-round. In the highlands of the Andes, the temperatures are usually cooler and depend of the altitude mainly, the higher the colder, The average temperature in Quito is in the mid-60s Fahrenheit (17 – 18 degrees Celsius). But the average temperature by the snow-cover volcanos can be mid-50s Fahrenheit (10 – 13 degrees Celsius).
What Do I Do about drinking water?
The tap water in Ecuador is not always friendly on the stomach for those who haven’t been in Latin America for a while. There is purified water in each of the accommodation which you can use to fill up each morning, so be sure to pack a reusable water bottle or two. There will also be water in the transportation.
How much should I tip?
Tips are not included in the trip cost. These are entirely at your discretion but there is an expectation to tip for good service. Your guide will help with advice; however, we suggest the below as a guideline per person:
Guides: USD 10- USD 15 per day
Of course, you are free to tip more or less, and the amount should be reflective of your perception of service and quality - a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service
