If you're short on time but don't want to cut back on experiences, this 5-day island hopping trip to the Galapagos is for you. Fly out of Quito, heading for San Cristobal—home of the famous sea lion colony and Kicker Rock. Then, take a speedboat to Santa Cruz, where you'll see giant tortoises and visit an uninhabited island.  

Welcome to the beautiful Galapagos Islands! After checking in to your hotel in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, you will first visit the Interpretation Center with your guide where you will learn everything about the history and future of the Galapagos. Afterward, you will take a short walk to Tijeretas Hill where frigate birds are nesting, and from there you have a spectacular view over the island. To top off this day, you will have the chance to visit La Lobería, a beach that is home to a colony of sea lions. For the evening and overnight stay, you return to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.

Meals included: Lunch

Group type: Private group

An exciting day awaits you, after an early breakfast, on the agenda is a day trip to Kicker Rock, which is one of the most emblematic places in the Galapagos.

A comfortable speed boat navigates along the coast of San Cristobal until we arrive to Kicker Rock, it is composed of compacted volcanic ash, not rock, towers up almost 500ft / 150m from the ocean floor, splitting into two above surface structures, but they’re connected below the surface, with a channel running between them.

It is home to many birds, you will be able spot Nazca boobies, blue-footed boobies, frigate-birds and tropicbirds, and is the underwater world will make this day extra memorable as it is a real "hot spot" for underwater wildlife!

Since Kicker Rock is a snorkeling site, get ready for a wet landing! You’ll be getting directly into the water to experience everything that Kicker Rock has to offer.

After lunch on the boat, head to a beautiful, pristine beach, where you can relax and defrost in the sunshine before heading back to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno in the afternoon.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Group type: Small group

Get an early start this morning to take the public speedboat to Santa Cruz Island, roughly 2.5 hours away. 

You will be amazed to see giant tortoises in the wild (in their natural habitat) at a farm in these highlands, then continue to the port in Puerto Ayora to check into the hotel.

In the afternoon, visit the Charles Darwin Station, where scientists from all over the world meet and work together on environmental projects such as water analysis, animal protection, effects of tourism on nature, etc., and the most famous place to see Giant Tortoises in the Galapagos where the animals are raised before being released into nature. The actual name of the tortoise area here is the “Fausto Llerena” Breeding Center, named after the Galapagos National Park ranger who cared for Lonesome George. This is the best place in the Galapagos to view numerous different species and see how their tortoiseshell shapes have evolved differently to match the terrain and vegetation of the islands they are native to.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Group type: Private group

After a very early breakfast, today you will enjoy an amazing day trip to an uninhabited island.

Depending on the weather, scheduling, and permissions granted by the National Park, you'll visit one of the following islands: Santa Fé, South Plazas, Bartolomé, or North Seymour where you will follow trails to discover their richness, while in the afternoon you will have the opportunity to explore the waters around.

Santa Fé and South Plazas are home to endemic land iguanas, while Bartolomé is known for its beautiful lava flows. On North Seymour, look for frigate birds and blue-footed boobies. Each island is unique, offering spectacular scenery and opportunities to see rare wildlife.

Lunch is included onboard, as well as walking and a snorkeling activity to maximize your experience.

In the evening, return to Puerto Ayora to enjoy some free time.  

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Group type: Small group

If there is enough free time before your transfer to the airport, do some last-minute souvenir shopping or take a last stroll through Puerto Ayora.

At the designated time, your driver will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the Itabaca Channel, which you will cross on a ferry. For the last part of your trip to the airport, take the public shuttle bus to the terminal, where your program ends with your return flight to the mainland.

Meals included: Breakfast

Group type: Private