Original
Wildlife
Galapagos Island Hopping
8 days • 5
5
Excellent
271 reviews
8 days
Start
Isla San Cristobal, Ecuador
Finish
Isla Santa Cruz, Ecuador
Trip Code
GGTG
Min Age
15
Trip Size
1 - 16
Physical Rating
Meals
7 breakfasts, 4 lunches
Transport
Speed Boat, Private Vehicle
Accommodation
Hotel (7 nights)
From £1,969(8 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
Learn about the unique habits of the marine iguana with your expert naturalist guide. This dinosaur-like creature has an iridescent sheen and is only found on the Galapagos Islands.
Snorkel the incredible waters of Leon Dormido (Kicker Rock) – an eroded volcanic cone where sea turtles, rays and colourful fish call home.
See the giant tortoises that freely roam the islands. Many visitors come to Isla Santa Cruz just to see these enormous creatures in their natural habitat!
Watch the aerobatic routines of blue-footed boobies and the death-defying stunts of the frigate birds as they whizz through the air. Calling all avid birdwatchers!
Start and end your trip in the Galapagos (as opposed to mainland Ecuador) – this means it’s easy to stay longer if you fall in love with the archipelago.
Is this trip right for you?
If you would like your return travel from Quito included, please search the website for our trip Best of Galapagos (GGTF).
This trip includes a 17 km hike (approximately 6 to 7 hours) on rocky terrain. We recommend bringing sturdy, comfortable hiking or trail shoes with good support. Please see Day 5 of the Itinerary for more information.
This trip involves a lot of travel by speedboat between the various Galapagos Islands. The rides can be quite bumpy at times, but the good news is that seasickness can often be managed with medication. Please consult a health professional to assess your suitability for such medication.
From June to August the water in the Galapagos can be rougher than usual. Consequently, travel times will be longer than usual. If you suffer from seasickness you may want to reconsider travelling during this period.
Proximity to the equator means the sun in the Galapagos is incredibly strong. Ensure you are prepared with sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses. We also recommend a rash guard.
This trip includes snorkelling on multiple days. Confident swimming skills are required to take part. Alternative activities will not be available.
Many travellers express interest in diving in the Galapagos. We are now able to assist with booking this activity, but only through a provider that meets our internal safety policy. Speak to your agent at the time of booking for more information.
The Galapagos is a great place to switch off and take a break from your phone, as internet access can be patchy and wi-fi is not always available or reliable.
Hot water can be sporadic in some parts of the Galapagos, so there may be a few cold showers on the trip.
Itinerary
Discover the abundant and varied wildlife of the Galapagos Islands
Amazing wildlife, both on land and under the water, is the main drawcard of the remote Galapagos Islands. On this eight-day trip, you’ll explore this otherworldly archipelago on foot and by boat with an expert naturalist guide to lead the way. Swim with sea turtles, see giant tortoises up close, watch sea lions lounge around town and discover fascinating, varied landscapes. Learn about the conservation efforts on Isla Santa Cruz, take a cooking class to make a famed Ecuadorian soup and enjoy multiple snorkelling opportunities, as well as a full-day hike to the second-largest volcanic crater in the world! This trip will have you cruising and exploring by day and relaxing on land by night, with all the logistics taken care of for you.
Inclusions
Meals
7 breakfasts, 4 lunches
Transport
Speed Boat, Private Vehicle
Accommodation
Hotel (7 nights)
Included activities
Isla San Cristobal- Snorkeling in La Loberia (1.5 Hours)
San Cristobal - Excursion to Leon Dormido or Lobos Islands
Isla San Cristobal - Interpretation Center (45 minutes)
Isla San Cristobal - Cerro Tijeretas View Point (1 Hour)
Floreana - Snorkeling
Isla Isabela -Tintoreras or Shark Alley (2.5 Hours)
Isla Isabela - Flamingo lagoon visit (30 Minutes)
Isla Isabela - Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre (1 Hour)
Isla Isabela - Kayaking
Isla Isabela - Sierra Negra Volcano Hike (5-6 Hours)
Santa Cruz Highlands Visit (3 Hours)
Santa Cruz – Organic Farm Tour
Santa Cruz – Encebollado Cooking Class
Isla Santa Cruz - Tortuga Bay walk
Isla Santa Cruz - The Galapagos Conservancy visit
Isla Santa Cruz - Charles Darwin Research Centre
Optional activities
Wetsuit (shortsleeve) hire for 5 days - USD60
Dates and availability
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Important notes
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. Full passport details are required at the time of booking. The passport you travel with must match the booking details provided to us. This information is necessary to purchase entry permits to certain sites. Delays in providing this information could result in additional booking fees or changes to your itinerary.
3. All visitors to the Galapagos must have a Transit Control Card. Please see the 'Passport, Visas and Entry Requirements' section of the Essential Trip Information for more details.
4. The Galapagos National Park fee (US$200) and Isabela Port fee (US$10) are payable upon arrival to the islands (cash only). These amounts are in addition to your trip payment.
5. Please refer to the Special Information section on Day 1 of the Itinerary for instructions on how to join your group.
6. Strict rules apply in the Galapagos Islands to protect and preserve its unique biodiversity. Tuuur supports these rules, which range from times of the day that a destination can be visited to the distance kept between people and wildlife. In particular, not removing anything from the environment (shells and corals, for example). All rules will be explained in more detail by your leader when you join the trip. Not adhering to these rules can lead to hefty fines for travellers and Tuuur losing the license to operate in the Galapagos Islands. Failure to adhere to the rules can result in your removal from the trip without a refund.
For more information:
Reviews (262)
5 stars
251
4 stars
10
2 stars
1
Julie
Mar 06, 2025
The Intrepid island hoping tour is a Wonderful way to see so much of the Galapagos in a very well organized small group setting. Our local leader Katty took great care to make sure we saw all the highlights with little wait time or crowds.
Sarah
Mar 05, 2025
What a unique ecosystem and place to visit! Thank you for making our visit possible and respectful! Snorkelling was so incredible and being around animals all the time was so special!
Mary
Mar 04, 2025
Do you want to swim with the sea lions?!? Then I recommend an Island Hopping adventure tour. Our local Galapagos guide Cesar presented an unforgettable introduction to the Islands, made famous by Darwin's expeditions, which continue to fuel intense research on natural selection.
Sean
Mar 04, 2025
My wife and I recently returned from a 9-day trip to the Galápagos with Intrepid Travel, and we can’t say enough great things about the experience! From start to finish, the itinerary was perfectly balanced—packed with exciting activities during the day and just the right amount of downtime in the evenings to relax and soak in the surroundings.
Katherine
Feb 28, 2025
This was a really great trip. We felt that we saw just as much, if not more, than other people who had been on cruises and it was a more affordable alternative. The wildlife and scenery was incredible and we visited some beautiful snorkelling spots. The food (breakfasts and some lunches) and accommodation weren't 5* but it seemed fair for the price. We felt like we had a varied trip with lots of different activities - it would have been nice to do a trip to the Los Tuneles on Isabella - this was the only thing we felt we missed out on. The trip leader was great - he was very organised and dealt well with a couple of emergencies with other members of our group on the trip. Nico - the local guide for San Cristobel - was brilliant. He even accompanied us as a personal guide on the Kicker Rock snorkelling trip (we were split from the group due to numbers). We booked our flights separately and therefore booked the Intrepid trip that started and ended in the Galapagos which meant we were able to spend extra time on the islands before and after the main trip which was a bonus for us.
Thea
Feb 25, 2025
This trip was spectacular!!! I cannot believe the wildlife we saw-I think I was lucky in that I saw everything I possibly could! The Galápagos Islands are so very beautiful!!!
Nilgun
Feb 23, 2025
Sharon
Feb 10, 2025
We had an amazing trip to the Galapagos. We were really impressed with Intrepid Tours, it fit our style perfectly. We enjoyed the very active days with hiking, snorkeling, kayaking, swimming, etc. Our tour guide Joel was terrific. We hope to do another Intrepid Tour.
Rose
Feb 03, 2025
Excellent way to see the Galapagos! I chose land only and added extra nights before and after to give myself two weeks there! So much to see and do. The snorkeling was fabulous. The animal life incredible. The islands are very safe and everyone knows everyone. Easy to walk everywhere. Excellent restaurants, that I did not find to be expensive. Friendly and helpful locals. And, friendly animals!
Lisa
Jan 22, 2025
The Galapagos islands are an absolute must visit. My trip with Intrepid was well run and very organized. Our guide Cesar was extremely knowledgeable, helpful and always willing to answer everyone's questions. I cannot say enough good things about my entire experience. I would rebook with Intrepid and go back to the Galapagos in s heartbeat!
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