6-Day Galapagos Islands Itinerary for Wildlife Spotting and Swimming with Sea Turtles

I arrived to Santa Cruz island from Guayaquil Airport. It is pretty easy to get from Baltra Airport to Puerto Ayora, the main port in Santa Cruz which hosts most of the accommodation and shops. A lot of companies advertise taxis and private transfer but there is also a public bus that runs for those travelling alone or who want to save a little bit of money. I stayed in a really nice hostel called Hostal Vista al Mar. Ideal location with clean rooms and good cooking facilities. There are many day trips or multi day live a boards that you can do from this island. For me, I chose to visit Floreana Island which only has about 150 inhabitants. It’s really peaceful and contains both white and black sand beaches. You can snorkel with sea lions, tropical fish and sea turtles as well as visiting some giant land tortoises and a volcanic formed ‘maze’ at the top of the island with fantastic views. I recommend doing this trip as part of a tour, which includes transport, but it is also possible to do it independently. For your next day on Sant Cruz, you can wake up early to see all the wildlife down at the port and fish market and then continue on to Tortuga Bay. Bring some snacks, your snorkel and a good book. After the 2.5km-3km walk to the bay, you can relax for a few hours. Head off the beaten track to some quieter areas for a chance to see some blue footed boobies or other amazing wildlife!

The next day, get the morning ferry to Isabela island! This island is really special, although it’s the biggest of the islands it is very densely populated so it has a much more ‘remote island’ feel to it. On the day you arrive, check in to your accommodation ( I stayed at Rincon de George hostel, really recommended it) and grab some breakfast at the many the cafes near the main square. You can either rent a bike or walk along a 12km out and back trail to see the Wall of Tears. There are many other destinations along the way, included some volcanic caves and tunnels, some small beaches (so definitely pack your swimwear) and you’ll see plenty of wildlife along the trail. The next morning, head off on the Los Tuneles tour! This one is really not to be missed. Not only do you get to swim with loads of sea turtles, black tip sharks, golden rays, white tip sharks and sea lions, but you also get to see some of the really unique volcanic geology of the Galápagos Islands! In the evening, find one of the many Happy Hour spots on the beach and enjoy the sunset!