The 13 Best Galápagos Tours & Day Trips

1.Day Tour to Santa Fe Island and Hidden Beach with snorkeling and fishing

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 78 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $229Our pick

From Puerto Ayora, cruise about 45 to 55 minutes to Santa Fe for snorkeling with sea lions, turtles, sharks, rays, and tropical fish. After lunch, visit Hidden Beach for swimming or a guided walk, then try a short fishing session on the return. Small groups, wetsuits, towels, drinks, and gear are included.

“Probably the best service we had out of 3 day trips that we have had. Our guide took really good videos underwater with his GoPro and shared them with us. He was very considerate and polite all the way. Unfortunately we were not able to visit the Hidden Beach due to rough waters but we got very lucky with sea lions - we swam a pod with more than 20 puppies.”

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2.Giant Turtle Watching and Lava Tunnels Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 60 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $39Best value

Walk through Galápagos Frontier near Santa Cruz with a naturalist guide such as César or Javier. You’ll see giant tortoises in their natural habitat, search for endemic birds, pass fruit trees, and enter lava tunnels with stalactites and stalagmites. Expect a three-hour outing, uneven ground, and a fresh fruit juice.

“This was such a great experience. Cesar did such a great job. We learned so much about the turtles and we got to see and learn a lot in the cave. I would recommend wearing tennis shoes and higher socks because ants bit me a couple of times. Bring water cause you will need it. He does make fresh passion fruit juice that is delicious.”

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3.Full Day Tour Gualaceo, Chordeleg, and San Bartolomé from Cuenca

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 55 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $54

Spend about eight hours outside Cuenca with a private vehicle and guide, visiting San Bartolomé’s guitar makers, Chordeleg’s filigree jewelers, and Gualaceo’s makana textile workshop. Lunch and hotel pickup are included in the main option. Guides such as Eddie, Edison, and Flavio have led this experience.

“This was our first time taking a tour like this, so we weren't exactly sure what to expect. It was a fun day! I enjoyed the beautiful scenery and learning about everything. It's a good idea to bring some small bills/coins with you for a tip/tea & snack/entrance fee to the different places, some that we didn't know about. There are many opportunities to buy great quality, handmade items. Plenty of photo opportunities as well. The tour was organized and went very smoothly. We both left happy.”

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

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 55 reviews · 5 days (approx.) · from $1,353

You’ll explore three Galapagos islands in five busy days, from giant tortoises at El Chato to penguins and sea turtles at Los Tuneles and Bartolome. Betty and the local Galapagos Natural Life team arrange hotels, boats, transfers, meals, and daily guides. Expect simple lodging, several early starts, and frequent snorkeling.

“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!”

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5.Snorkeling in Cabo Rosa Tunnels Isabela Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 54 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $185

From Puerto Villamil, sail about 45 minutes to Cabo Rosa, also called Los Tuneles, for guided snorkeling among lava tunnels. Expect sea turtles, rays, reef sharks, seahorses, fish, and possibly penguins, followed by a walk near blue-footed boobies. Wetsuits, equipment, food, and transport are included.

“We loved seeing all the wildlife like the blue-footed boobies and snorkeled with rays, turtles, all kinds of fish. Saw a seahorse and shark cave. Amazing experience!”

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6.12-Day The Best Of Ecuador & Galapagos

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 48 reviews · from $3,896

Travel from Quito through the Galapagos, Andes, cloud forest, and Amazon on an active 12-day tour. You will snorkel at lava tunnels, hike Sierra Negra, see tortoises at El Chato, bike near Baños, raft the Jatunyacu River, and stay in hotels, a spa resort, and an Amazon homestay. English-speaking guides lead groups of up to 15.

“Where to begin….this 14-day Ecuador/Amazon/Galapagos trip was AMAZING and exceeded our expectations. An extremely professional company from the minute we inquired about this Active tour, adding a 2 day extension to our GalaRead more”

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7.Adventure with Giant Turtles, Lava Tunnels and Craters

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 47 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $69

From Puerto Ayora, visit Galápagos Frontier’s giant tortoise reserve, walk through endemic forest, and enter volcanic lava tunnels with a guide such as César or Arsen. Then see Los Gemelos twin craters. Expect about five hours, moderate walking, possible Spanish translation, wet boots, and a small group of up to 16 people.

“This tour was a very long walk to the lava tunnels which were interesting. I was disappointed that there was no English speaking guide at the last minute but got by thanks to other people on the tour. They made us wear plastic boots which protected our feet from the ants but made it difficult to walk on the rocks.”

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8.Full Day Tour Pinzon Island + La Fe/Las Palmas – Snorkeling & Fishing

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 47 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $175

Spend about seven hours from Puerto Ayora snorkeling at Pinzon Island and a second stop at La Fe or Las Palmas. Expect cold water, provided wetsuits, lunch on board, fishing with an approved lure, and a small group of up to 10. Guides such as Ricardo, Edgar, Jimmy, and Luis have led some departures.

“We had a wonderful time with Ricardo and the rest of the crew. Ricardo was very attentive to all guests ensuring that we all got to see the Sea Turtles, Seals, Tropical Fish, Iguanas and Sharks. We saw so many turtles eating the algae off the rocks and the Seal was so playful and stayed with us for almost the entire time.”

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9.LA PINTA DARWIN’S LEGACY (Fri-Thurs)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 44 reviews · 7 days (approx.) · from $7,946

Spend seven days aboard Yacht La Pinta exploring western and central Galápagos sites with naturalist guides, pangas, kayaks, snorkeling, and a glass-bottom boat. You will visit Fernandina, Isabela, Santa Cruz, and Floreana, with guides such as Kathy, Indi, David, and Dries leading wildlife walks and coastal trips. Expect active days, fine dining, and a small ship capped at about 48 passengers.

“We just returned from an amazing week on La Pinta with Metropolitan Touring. The entire experience was phenomenal-- -from booking wtih a very patient and informative agent Diego to the day tour in Quito and day tour in Otavalo through to the week's cruise on La Pinta across the western and central Galapagos Islands. Everyone was so helpful and friendly. The naturalists were so informative, and the itinerary enabled us to see a LOT of animals, birds, fish, whales, and flora. We were BUSY on the ship, with 3-4 excursions a day for hiking, boat tours, and snorkeling. The number of guests on the ship is capped at 48, which…”

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10.BiciTour Giant Turtles and Lava Tunnel in Galapagos

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 44 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $90

Ride from Puerto Ayora into Santa Cruz’s highlands with guides such as Julio and César. See giant tortoises in a private reserve, walk through lava tunnels with flashlights, then cycle back toward Laguna las Ninfas. Expect about 4.5 hours, a moderate walk, uneven ground, and roughly 16 kilometers of biking.

“If you are looking for a little bit of learning, little bit of activity and lots of fun this is for you. To see all the Galapagos turtles in a natural habitat as compared to a breeding center or a zoo is amazing. You get to walk around and randomly see hundreds of these amazing creatures. The trip to the lava tunnels is also fascinating. And the best part of the bike ride from the highlands back to Puerto Ayore and the company of your guides Matteo and Julio Cesar. Its. aperfect 1/2 day activity which still leaves you plenty of time to explore more parts of the Santa Cruz…”

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11.The Galapagos Giant Tortoise Experience + Los Gemelos | Shared

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 42 reviews · 3 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $150

Travel from Puerto Ayora with a certified naturalist guide to Los Gemelos, Santa Cruz’s Scalesia cloud forest, Reserva El Chato, and a lava tunnel. Expect air-conditioned transport, a maximum of 16 people, English or Spanish guiding, and about three to four hours. Guides such as Astrid, Andres, Andrea, and Sandra have earned especially warm praise.

“Astrid was great guiding our tour. She was very professional and informative. The tour group was just 5 tourists. We got to see the giant tortoises in their element. We also viewed the lava tunnels and magma craters. My only suggestion is to have clearer meeting point instructions. The meeting point of 845 Avenue Charles Darwin address given is of a Japanese restaurant that appeared to be closed and covered up. The meeting point info that was given was 1835 Coffee Lab. So there was a discrepancy between the address provided for the Meeting Point and Meeting Point Info. We came about 20 minutes early, as we usually do for…”

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12.Day Tour to Floreana Island with Snorkeling and Fishing

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 40 reviews · 7 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $259

Travel by spacious yacht from Puerto Ayora to remote Floreana, where you’ll snorkel near Enderby Islet, fish for yellow-fin tuna, visit a green-sand beach, and walk to a flamingo lagoon. Naturalist guides such as Rodrigo, Lening, Edgar, and Yazmany have earned praise for wildlife spotting and in-water help.

“We saw lots of sharks and some Sea Lions..and Blue Footed Boobies! Met nice people on the boat -- Riccardo, guide was wonderful. very knowledgeable. he was super great about grabbing my underwater camera an diving deep to get up close and personal with the sharks!”

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13.Transfer Airport-hotel in Galapagos Santa Cruz with visit to Giant Tortoises

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 36 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $214

Meet your bilingual Galápagos National Park guide at Baltra Airport, then cross the Itabaca Channel and continue by private vehicle to Puerto Ayora. Along the way, visit Rancho Primicias to see giant tortoises roaming freely and walk through lava tunnels. Guides such as Jefferson, Andres, Ricardo, and Andy are known for helpful service and clear island explanations.

“This trip was easy and allowed us to explore the island before checking into our hotel. Our guide Jefferson was knowledgeable and took time at the end of the trip to drive through town and point out place to eat and shop. Great experience!”

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