Galapagos Itinerary: Day by Day Plans for 4, 5, 7 or 14 Days
Galapagos itinerary from local guides in Quito: day by day plans for 4, 5, 7 and 14 days on Santa Cruz and Isabela, with boat times and full costs.
the Quito Trips team, local guides in QuitoUpdated · 5 min read
This Galapagos itinerary guide has the plans we run from Quito for 4, 5, 7 and 14 days, each one day by day, with where you sleep and what it costs. If it is your first trip and you have a week, take the 7 day plan. It gives you two islands and a day on a yacht, and you still sleep in a hotel every night.
How many days you need in the Galápagos
Four days is the shortest trip we would plan. It covers Santa Cruz and nothing else, which is fine when the islands are one part of a longer Ecuador trip. Isabela is two hours away by speedboat, so it needs more days: our routes give it two or three nights. Past a week, you are adding San Cristóbal or the mainland. The Galapagos Islands map shows how far apart the islands are.
| Itinerary | Islands | Nights | Best for | Tour from (USD per person) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 days | Santa Cruz | 3 in Puerto Ayora | Adding the islands to a mainland trip | 569, four sharing a room |
| 5 days | Isabela | 3 in Puerto Villamil, 1 in Puerto Ayora | Snorkeling and a quiet beach town | 879, four sharing a room |
| 7 days | Santa Cruz, Isabela, yacht day | 4 in Puerto Ayora, 2 in Puerto Villamil | A first trip | 1,279 |
| 14 days | The Andes, Santa Cruz, Isabela, yacht day | 7 on the mainland, 6 on the islands | A full Ecuador trip | 3,390, two travelers |
Two travelers pay more per person than four on the 4 and 5 day tours, and we quote that price for your dates.
4 day Galapagos itinerary: Santa Cruz only
| Day | What you do | Night |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Land at Baltra, giant tortoises in the highlands, Charles Darwin Research Station | Puerto Ayora |
| 2 | Tortuga Bay | Puerto Ayora |
| 3 | Bay tour by boat: snorkeling, sea lions, Las Grietas | Puerto Ayora |
| 4 | Free morning in town, transfer to Baltra | None |
You keep one hotel and never cross to another island, so this plan suits families and anyone short on time. Tortuga Bay on day 2 is a 2.5 km paved walk from the top of town, about 40 minutes on foot. The beach has no shops or shade. Carry water.
What you give up is Isabela. You will not see penguins or flamingos around Puerto Ayora, so if those are on your list, pick a longer route.
One hotel in Puerto Ayora, no crossings between islands
4 Day Galapagos Tour on Santa Cruz
Tortoises, Tortuga Bay and the Bay Tour
- 4 days
- Medium effort
From $569 per person
5 day Galapagos itinerary: three nights on Isabela
| Day | What you do | Night |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Land at Baltra, afternoon speedboat to Isabela | Puerto Villamil |
| 2 | Sierra Negra volcano hike or Los Túneles snorkel | Puerto Villamil |
| 3 | Arnaldo Tupiza breeding center, Las Tintoreras | Puerto Villamil |
| 4 | Wall of Tears by bike or Concha Perla snorkel, afternoon boat to Santa Cruz | Puerto Ayora |
| 5 | Transfer to Baltra | None |
Day 1 depends on the boat. Flights land at Baltra in the late morning. After a short ferry and about 45 minutes by road you reach Puerto Ayora in time for the speedboat that leaves around 2 p.m. and takes about two hours.
Why come back to Santa Cruz for the last night? Your flight. On day 5 you drive to Baltra instead of crossing the water at dawn.
Three nights in Puerto Villamil, the last one in Puerto Ayora
5 Day Galapagos Tour on Isabela Island
Sierra Negra, Los Túneles and Tintoreras
- 5 days
From $879 per person
7 day Galapagos itinerary: two islands and a yacht day
| Day | What you do | Night |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Land at Baltra, giant tortoises in the highlands, lava tunnels | Puerto Ayora |
| 2 | Charles Darwin Research Station | Puerto Ayora |
| 3 | Morning boat to Isabela, flamingo lagoon, breeding center, Wall of Tears, Las Tintoreras | Puerto Villamil |
| 4 | Snorkeling at Los Túneles, Cabo Rosa | Puerto Villamil |
| 5 | Sierra Negra hike, afternoon boat to Santa Cruz | Puerto Ayora |
| 6 | Yacht to an uninhabited island: Bartolomé, Santa Fe, North Seymour or South Plaza | Puerto Ayora |
| 7 | Transfer to Baltra | None |
The first two days stay on Santa Cruz so you never race from the airport to the dock. On day 3 you take the 7 a.m. boat and have a full afternoon on Isabela.
The yacht leaves early on day 6: Bartolomé is two to two and a half hours away, North Seymour about 45 minutes. Book three to six months ahead if you want a yacht day.
The tour covers 6 hotel nights, breakfasts, box lunches on days 4 and 5, the speedboats and a bilingual naturalist guide on every excursion. You pay separately for flights, the park fee and the Transit Control Card.
Santa Cruz, Isabela and a day on a yacht
7 Day Galapagos Tour from Quito
Santa Cruz, Isabela and a Yacht Day
- 7 days
- Medium effort
From $1,279 per person
14 day Galapagos itinerary: the Andes first, then the islands
With two weeks we would keep six nights for the islands and spend the first week on the mainland. Our 14 day tour runs that way:
| Days | Where you are |
|---|---|
| 1 to 7 | Quito, Cotopaxi, Quilotoa, Chimborazo, Ingapirca and Cuenca, then the road to Guayaquil |
| 8 and 9 | Santa Cruz |
| 10 and 11 | Isabela |
| 12 | Sierra Negra, then back to Santa Cruz |
| 13 | Yacht day to an uninhabited island |
| 14 | Fly home from Baltra |
Would you rather see the Amazon than Cuenca? Our 14 day Ecuador itinerary has that second route, day by day, built on the 12 day tour.
For 14 days only on the islands, start from the 7 day plan and add San Cristóbal for Kicker Rock. Our set tours stay on Santa Cruz and Isabela, so ask us and we will price that route for your dates.
One guide from Quito to Cuenca, then six nights on the islands
14 Day Ecuador and Galapagos Tour
Volcanoes, Cuenca and the Islands
- 14 days
- Medium effort
From $3,390 per person
Land-based or cruise itinerary
Every plan on this page is land-based: a hotel bed at night, boats and walks by day. On a cruise you sleep at sea and wake up at islands that day boats cannot reach, such as Genovesa or Fernandina. That costs about $3,000 to $12,000 for 8 days. A week on our land tour, with flights, fees and meals added, comes to about $1,950 to $2,350. Our Galápagos trip cost guide adds it up line by line.
What each Galápagos itinerary costs
| Itinerary | Tour from (USD per person) | With flights and fees |
|---|---|---|
| 4 days | 569, four sharing a room | About 1,140 to 1,390 |
| 5 days | 879, four sharing a room | About 1,450 to 1,700 |
| 7 days | 1,279 | About 1,850 to 2,100 |
| 14 days | 3,390, two travelers | About 3,960 to 4,160 |
Meals the tour leaves out, tips and insurance are extra. We confirm the exact price when we quote, because it depends on how many people share a room, the hotel category and your dates.
Before you book your flights
- Going to Isabela on arrival day? Land at Baltra in the late morning, or you can miss the 2 p.m. boat.
- Leave Puerto Ayora about three hours before your flight home. The road to Baltra includes a short ferry.
- Buy the $20 Transit Control Card at the airport in Quito or Guayaquil before check-in.
- Carry $200 in clean bills per adult for the park fee. You pay it in cash when you land.
Our guide on how to get to the Galápagos has the airlines and the airport steps, and the list of things to do in the Galápagos will help if you want to swap a stop. Still comparing companies? Read our guide to the best Galapagos tour companies. When you have your dates, tell us what you want to see and we will send a route with prices.
Galápagos itinerary: questions we get
How many days is enough in the Galápagos?
Seven is what we would plan for a first trip: Santa Cruz, Isabela and a day on a yacht. Four days is enough for Santa Cruz alone, which works if the islands are one part of a longer Ecuador trip.
What is the best Galápagos itinerary?
For a first trip, our 7 day land-based route. You see two very different islands and sleep in a hotel every night. If Genovesa or Fernandina is the reason you are going, you need a cruise, because day boats do not reach them.
Can you visit the Galápagos without a cruise?
Yes. Every plan on this page is land-based. You stay in hotels in Puerto Ayora and Puerto Villamil, cross between them by speedboat and go out on guided day trips.
Which island should I stay on?
Santa Cruz if you have 4 days. It has the Charles Darwin Research Station, Tortuga Bay and giant tortoises in the highlands. Choose Isabela if penguins, flamingos or the Sierra Negra volcano are on your list. With a week you can do both.
How much does a 7 day Galápagos itinerary cost?
Our tour starts at $1,279 per person. With flights and park fees it comes to about $1,850 to $2,100. Meals the tour leaves out, tips and insurance are extra.
What is the best month to go?
Any month works. December to May has warmer water and calmer seas, and June to November is cooler with more marine life. The best time to visit the Galápagos goes month by month.
Can you change these itineraries?
Yes. We can upgrade hotels, change the order of the islands or add day tours. Send us your dates and group size and we will build it with you.
Keep reading
- Best Galapagos Tour Companies: How to Choose the Right OneBest Galapagos tour companies by type: cruise owners, group brands, agencies and local operators, plus 8 questions to ask before you pay.
- Galapagos Islands Map: Every Island and How to Reach ItGalapagos Islands map with every island: tap one to see what is there, how to reach it and which tour goes. Routes for 4, 5 and 7 day trips included.
All Inclusive Galapagos: What Is Really Included and What Costs ExtraAll inclusive Galapagos trips compared: what a cruise, a hotel program and a land tour include, what they leave out and what each one costs.