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Overview

Lux Galapagos Experience: Isabela san Cristobal espanola & santa cruz
Galapagos
Duration: 8 days
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JVexpress
$5,625
Deposit: $600

About your trip

This eight-day Galapagos adventure takes you through the archipelago’s most iconic islands, blending nature, discovery, and breathtaking scenery. Starting in Santa Cruz, you’ll explore lush highlands, lava tunnels, and the world-famous Tortuga Bay, followed by a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn about conservation efforts. On Isabela Island, navigate through stunning lava formations at Cabo Rosa Tunnels and witness diverse marine life. Then, fly to San Cristóbal, where you’ll embark on excursions to uninhabited islands like Española, home to albatrosses, boobies, and marine iguanas. The 360° Tour showcases San Cristóbal’s top sites, including Kicker Rock, Cerro Brujo, and pristine beaches teeming with sea life. Your journey concludes with visits to El Junco Lagoon, the Galapaguera tortoise center, and Puerto Chino Beach, before returning to Guayaquil with unforgettable memories of the enchanted Galapagos Islands — a true paradise of evolution, beauty, and wonder.

What's included

Domestic flight

Transportation

Water Transportation

Accomedations/hotel

Land Visits

 HIGHLANDS / Lava Tunnels, Twin Craters / Ecological Ranch  Tortuga Bay Beach  Charles Darwin Scientific Station

Land Visits

Navigations

IN ISABELA ISLAND:

Navigation

IN SAN CRISTÓBAL ISLAND:

Naturalist tour guide

Entrance and Lunch

at Rancho Ecológico

Lobito Bus

Itabacá Channel Crossing

Entrance Isabela Island

Water cabs for baggage

What's not included

All meals

travel insurance

Medical insurance

Entrance to

Galapagos national park $30 per person

Transit control card

$ 20.00 per person

Day 1

Day 1 image

Flight Guayaquil / Santa Cruz & Visit to the Highlands

Your flight will depart from Guayaquil at 11:51 a.m., arriving at 12:48 p.m. Before landing at Seymour Airport in Baltra, the world’s first ecological airport, you’ll be captivated by the countless shades of blue and turquoise surrounding the enchanted islands.

Upon arrival, begin your first adventure — a visit to the Highlands.
A bus will take you to the Itabacá Channel, which you’ll cross by ferry to reach Santa Cruz Island. From there, a vehicle will transport you to Puerto Ayora.

Day 2

Day 2 image

Tortuga Bay Beach & Charles Darwin Research Station

Morning: Tortuga Bay Beach

Cross a scenic trail surrounded by cactus forests and natural silence to reach Playa Brava and Playa Mansa, two breathtaking beaches adorned with exotic plants, red mangroves, and prickly pear cacti.

Sea turtles, iguanas, and sea lions nest undisturbed on these beaches of brilliant white sand, soft as talcum powder. The landscape is enhanced by dark volcanic rocks and turquoise waters, ideal for surfing, kayaking, diving, and snorkeling.

At Playa Brava, only surfing is allowed due to strong currents. To the west, a small lagoon near the mangroves is perfect for snorkeling and observing multicolored fish. You may also spot seagulls, pelicans, finches, marine iguanas, and vibrant crabs.

A short walk through a cactus forest brings you to Playa Mansa, a tranquil inlet ideal for swimming, kayaking, and snorkeling. From the shore, you can often see marine iguanas, sharks, turtles, and rays.

Tortuga Bay is also a nesting site for black turtles — please avoid stepping on dunes or disturbing nests. The mangroves here sustain a rich food chain, attracting pelicans, frigate birds, and countless marine species, making it a premier ecotourism site.

The Tortuga Bay Trail is 2.5 km long and takes approximately 50 minutes to walk.

Afternoon: Charles Darwin Research Station

Founded in 1964 and operated by the Charles Darwin Foundation, this biological research center hosts over a hundred scientists, educators, volunteers, and students from around the world. They work continuously on research and conservation projects for the Galapagos marine and terrestrial ecosystems.

The station includes a Natural History Interpretation Center and offers educational programs that support the Galapagos National Park (GNP) — the main governmental body responsible for conserving the islands’ natural resources.

Day 3

Day 3 image

Isabela Island & Tunnel Navigation

On this day, you’ll visit one of the most spectacular natural destinations in the Galapagos.

Depart the hotel at 6:00 a.m. to the Tourist Pier and take the ferry to Isabela Island. The journey takes about 2 to 2.5 hours, depending on sea conditions. Upon arrival, check in at your hotel, then depart at 11:00 a.m. for the Túneles Navigation Tour.

Union Rock

A small islet in the open sea, home to pelicans, Nazca and blue-footed boobies, and sea lions. The layered rock formations and soaring birds create a striking natural masterpiece.

Cabo Rosa Tunnels

This area features calm, crystalline waters that reveal a stunning underwater world of sea lions, seahorses, penguins, colorful fish, turtles, eagle rays, manta rays, and occasionally killer whales and blue sharks.

After the visit, return to your hotel for the evening.

Day 4

Day 4 image

Flight Isabela / San Cristóbal

Morning transfer and flight from Isabela Island to San Cristóbal.
Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

Day 5

Day 5 image

Full Day Española (Spanish) Island

discover one of the uninhabited islands of the Galapagos!

A 2-hour navigation takes you first to Gardner Islet for an unforgettable snorkeling session. Observe starfish, sea lions, turtles, rays, Galapagos sharks, and a dazzling array of tropical fish.

Afterward, enjoy a cup of organic coffee from our farm as the crew prepares a delicious lunch.

Your next stop is Punta Suárez, where you’ll disembark for a birdwatching walk. Observe waved albatrosses (nesting from April to December), Nazca boobies, Galapagos pigeons, Galapagos hawks, and marine iguana colonies.

Return to port just in time for sunset.

Day 6

Day 6 image

360° Tour of San Cristóbal Island

Kicker Rock (León Dormido)

This iconic volcanic rock formation is famous for its dramatic underwater scenery and abundant marine life. Snorkelers and divers can encounter hammerhead sharks, white-tip reef sharks, turtles, rays, sea lions, and colorful fish.

The vertical crevice between the rocks reaches depths of 30 meters, offering excellent visibility and coral-covered walls. The currents here attract large marine species, making it suitable for intermediate to advanced divers.

Cerro Brujo

Named after a local legend of a witch who once inhabited the area, Cerro Brujo is a serene beach perfect for nature lovers. Its dramatic volcanic landscape and rich biodiversity make it a must-visit location on the 360° tour.

Bahía Sardina

A beautiful beach with golden sand and crystal-clear waters, ideal for relaxation or snorkeling among tropical fish and giant sea turtles.

White Rose Bay (Bahía Rosa Blanca)

A white-sand paradise surrounded by unique biodiversity. The lagoon is home to sharks, rays, and sea turtles, while blue-footed, red-footed, and masked boobies nest along the cliffs and bushes.

Punta Pitt

The only place in the Galapagos where you can see all three booby species (blue-footed, red-footed, and Nazca) nesting alongside two species of frigate birds. This rare coexistence is due to the area’s abundant food supply, minimizing competition among them.

Day 7

Day 7 image

The Junco Lagoon, Galapaguera & Puerto Chino Beach

El Junco Lagoon

Fed only by rainwater, this lagoon fluctuates with the seasons — rising after heavy rains and receding during dry periods. It lies within the crater of an extinct volcano, offering a striking landscape and birdwatching opportunities.

Galapaguera

This breeding center was created to protect and restore the land tortoise population of San Cristóbal in a habitat that mimics their natural environment. Learn about the evolution, differences, and origins of the Galapagos giant tortoises.

Puerto Chino Beach

Located near Cerro Colorado, this soft white-sand beach is reached via an easy walking path. It’s a perfect spot for relaxation, swimming, and observing seabirds in their natural behavior.

Day 8

Day 8 image

Flight San Cristóbal / Guayaquil

On the final day of your adventure, take your flight from San Cristóbal Airport to Guayaquil.
Upon arrival, you’ll be transferred to Santa Marianita.

May this incredible journey leave you with unforgettable memories filled with wonder and inspiratio

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