Galapagos Intensive 5 days, land base (3Islands) Excludes galapagos flight

Recommended by 91% of travelers

Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

5 days (approx.)
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

What's Included

Use of Snorkeling equipment

Use of Snorkelling equipment
Accommodation
Breakfast (4)

Breakfast
Lunch (4)

Lunch

Airlights
Public transportation

$10.00 per person
Entrance fee - Isabela dock fee

$10.00 per person
Entrance fee - Galapagos National Park

$200.00 per person
Airport/Departure Tax

$20.00 per person
Dinners / Tips

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup point

Baltra Airport
Ecuador

Pickup details

Our guide or driver is going to pick you up when you arrive in Baltra Airport, we work with Galapagos flights and schedules

Operating hours
.12:00 am

Itinerary

Day 1

Day 1: Santa Cruz Island, Visit Highlands.

1 Stop

Reserva El Chato

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Accommodation: Accommodation in Tourist class hotel in Puerto Ayora, It can be Pacific Coast, Spain, Peregrina or similar

Meals: Lunch

Day 2

Isabela Island visit Tunnels

1 Stop

Los Tuneles

4 hours • Admission Ticket Not Included

Accommodation: Accommodation in Isabela island, on a tourist class Hotel, It can be hotel Iguana, Gardenia, Tintorerars or similar

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3

Isabela Island Puerto Villamil, Wetlands, Tortoise Bredding Center and Tintoreras.

1 Stop

Las Tintoreras

5 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Accommodation: Accommodation in Tourist class hotel in Puerto Ayora, It can be Pacific Coast, Spain, Peregrina or similar

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4

Bartolome Island or North Seymour or Floreana, JUST ONE OF THEM

1 Stop

Bartolomé Island

5 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Accommodation: Accommodation in Tourist class hotel in Puerto Ayora, It can be Pacific Coast, Spain, Peregrina or similar

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5

Santa Cruz Is. Twins Craters & Transfer to Baltra airport, only driver not guide

1 Stop

Los Gemelos

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Accommodation: Not included

Meals: Breakfast

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Infants must sit on laps

No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

maria_b

Amazing experience. Our tour planner Betty did a fantastic job making our itinerary. She was responsive and communicates every step of our journey. Upon arrival she gave us an overview of what we would be doing everyday. The multiple day trips were fun, informative, and lead by local guides that were educated on the islands and its' wildlife. We loved every single minute of it. Helpful tip, if you get motion sickness, bring some medication. The ferry ride between islands is an adventure all on it's own. Also bring lots of $1 bills for water taxi services and island entry taxes.

Reviews

4.7

based on 55 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Poor communication

Felicia_M, Jan 2026

I should have known there would be problems with communication when the first message I received after booking the trip was addressed to someone else. The communication was horrible throughout the trip, and the competence of the local travel agent was sub par. I had to rely on tour guides not associated with this agency, hotel owners, and other travelers to get all the information I needed, such as what to wear and what to bring each day. The first day we arrived, they had one activity planned for us in the morning and then expected us to sit in the hotel and do nothing the whole afternoon. We asked for suggestions of things we could do on our own and were told nothing helpful. Then the second day, they told us we were doing one activity when we got picked up for a different activity. Not only were we not prepared for what we were doing that day, but they had expected for us to do nothing for half the day again. Even after we were picked up and doing something, they kept replying to my messages saying we were doing something else. It appears the local agent changed our itinerary, but didn’t bother to tell us or anyone else, including the other people at Galapagos Natural Life. It was a textbook definition of the right hand having no idea what the left hand was doing. After I sent an email about how upset I was, someone did respond promptly and provided us with another activity to fill up the afternoon. For this reason, I’m giving three stars instead of one. A manager did reply quickly and did something to fix the situation, and I was grateful for that. For the amount of money that they charged, I expected that we would have planned activities all day, every day. Had I not advocated for my family, this wouldn’t have happened. The communication and lack of information up front continued to be an issue, but the local guides (who are separate from all the tour agencies) were amazing and helped make sure we had a positive experience.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Dear Felicia Thank you for sharing your feedback. We sincerely value the time you took to detail your experience, as it allows us to continuously improve our services. Regarding the events of January 1st, I would like to clarify the situation. Due to unforeseen technical issues with the vessel assigned for the Cabo Rosa Tuneles tour, our operations team had to make an immediate strategic decision to protect your travel experience. With your arrival in Isabela only two hours away, our priority was to ensure you had a seamless day of exploration. Rather than canceling activities, we proactively rearranged your itinerary, moving Day 3 activities to Day 2. This adjustment ensured that 100% of your planned program was fulfilled, simply in a different order. This was not a lack of communication, but a swift operational response to a mechanical failure beyond our control. To further demonstrate our commitment to your satisfaction, we were pleased to organize an exclusive additional excursion for your group once we became aware of your concerns. Regarding the daily schedule, our programs are meticulously designed in strict accordance with Galápagos National Park regulations. As a protected sanctuary, the Park sets specific timeframes for all visitor sites to ensure conservation. While we would love to extend these activities, we must respect these official schedules. Furthermore, we design our itineraries to allow travelers the opportunity to enjoy Isabela’s stunning beaches and sunsets at their own pace after the guided tours. At Galapagos Natural Life, we pride ourselves on being reachable 24/7 via WhatsApp and email. Additionally, our physical office is conveniently located in Puerto Ayora, just steps from the passenger pier, and is always open to our guests. We appreciate your patronage and remain dedicated to providing high-quality service to all our visitors. Best regards, Rodrigo CEO, Galapagos Natural Life

Great way to see the Galapagos!

Cristina_H, Mar 2025

Great way to see the Galapagos with limited time. Everything was essentially taken care of for us and it was smooth to get to all of our activities and very nice to not have to plan everything out and we benefited from local knowledge.

If time is of the essence during your vacation, I’d definitely recommend booking this tour

Erick_B, Jan 2025

I booked this trip last minute while traveling solo in January 2025. Pros: I didn’t have to worry about anything. Every day was packed with activities, especially snorkeling. The activities weren’t always in the exact order suggested by the itinerary, but I ended up doing everything and more. On the first day, one of the tour operators took me on a hike to a farm with her family, which was a really kind gesture. For me, that’s the main advantage of this tour. The moment you land in Galápagos, you’re off on an adventure. Of course, you could probably do these daily tours more cheaply on your own, but you’d need much more time to organize and negotiate everything. There’s a different guide every day since many of them work on a freelance basis. Maybe I was lucky, but all the guides I encountered during this tour were excellent—really knowledgeable and approachable. The hotels were simple but clean and conveniently located near all the meeting points. The staff at the hotels were always willing to help. Cons: I’m not sure everything would’ve gone so smoothly if I only spoke English. Luckily, Spanish is my first language. One time, my name wasn’t on the list of people taking the ferry to one of the islands. I contacted the tour operator via WhatsApp, and they resolved the issue quickly. Some mornings, breakfast was really basic - just a piece of bread, an apple, and a small juice, which you had to request one night in advance at the hotel. All in all, if you’re a control freak, this is not the tour for you. But if you’re easy-going and the breathtaking views and wildlife of the Galápagos Islands are what matter to you at the end of the day, hit the "book now" button.

Can probably find a cheaper way to do the same activities

Jackie_R, Aug 2024

Definitely worth going to Galápagos Islands but there are probably cheaper ways than this tour. You don’t even get a constant guide. You are picked up in a bus and transported to your first tour. Then you are handed between drivers to get around each day, with different tour guides. It’s quite confusing and chaotic. However, we did see the tortoises and turtles. It was a beautiful trip overall. The hotels were quite average quality. The included meals are very basic. There was a lot of mixed information for example being told different pick-up times or being told there would be towels on the boat and there wasn’t. You go snorkelling everyday, so be ready for it. It was nice staying on Isabella island overnight, so I do recommend that. It was also useful to not have to research and plan each detail ourselves.

Response from Host, Aug 2024

Dear Customer, thanks for your feedback, It helps us to improve our service. About your feedback It’s quite confusing: We are in contact with all passengers 24 hours / 7 days a week by WhatsApp, each passenger is free to contact us at any time for any questions and our office in Galapagos is on the way to the Hotel, It is only 3 minutes walking and we are happy to meet with our customer in the office also. You are picked up in a bus: Yes, the Galapagos are Islands and the tourist transportation is by bus or Taxi ( Taxi is a pickup trucks double cab) It is more comfortable transportation by a Tourist Bus if you have a group of 16 passengers. With different tour guides: yes we have many tours in our program and they are on different islands also, for Santa Cruz, we use guides from Santa Cruz island and for Isabela, we use guides from Isabela island. Each island also has its own tourist transport. are probably cheaper ways than this tour: For a 5-day itinerary with 3 of the best islands (Santa Cruz, Isabela, and Bartolome) and tourist attractions (Highland, Tuneles in Isabela, Tintoreras), we have the best rate on the list of options All the details of the program are detailed in the description, hotel names, activities, includes, and excludes. Thank you for your comment, this helps improve our service Glad to know that your trip to the Galapagos Islands was worth it.

It is a great tour.

Lan_L, Mar 2024

It is a good tour. We like the islands visited, watch the sea lion closely, especoilially 3 days snorkling was great!

Terrific

CheeKin_C, Aug 2023

Amazing experience in snorkeling and being up close with flamingos, iguanas, seals, sharks, penguins, pelicans and blue footed boobies. Better to stay on Santa Cruz (which has the best hotels, restaurants and amenities) and make day trips to the other islands

Friendly, flexible, and helpful!

Jordan_S, Jul 2023

Wow. I was so impressed. My flight was delayed, but using WhatsApp, we were able to coordinate my pickup. I was busy with an activity every day. I learned to snorkel, and when one tour would have me learning to scuba, I requested and received a last minute tour change. Such a wonderful experience and everyone was so friendly. Small detail, get a Claro Sim card if you went decent service on the islands.

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Thanks for your excellent feedback, we appreciate your comment about our service, and we are happy to know about your great time in Galapagos Islands.

Adventure, good people, natural environment

Jacqueline_S, May 2023

Grandma and adult granddaughter took the tour enjoying snorkeling and wildlife especially. The hike to Sierra Negra is very long and strenuous but we did it and had wonderful guides. Betty at the agency was very helpful and willing to make adjustments and offer options. Highly recommend this company. Galapagos is a welcome retreat into a world of friendly gentle people and a safe clean environment.

Magical Adventure

maria_b, May 2023

An excellent trip

Duncan_M, Mar 2023

Galápagos Natural Life were excellent. They organised everything for me so that a car would pick me up every morning and take me to wherever I needed to go, and I had no problems. They also chose a really enjoyable and interesting itinerary for me. Highly recommended!

Um sonho brilhantemente realizado

JoaoBosco_D, Sep 2023

Desde a chegada, já encontrando uma grande iguana terrestre próximo ao aeroporto de Baltra, até o dia da partida, só tive emoções e momentos indescritíveis. Fico-me perguntando porque demorei tanto a ir conhecer Galápagos!!! O importante é que fui, vi e quero voltar!