Ecuador · Wildlife

4-Day Galapagos Wildlife Tour from Baltra with Tortuga Bay and Biking

4 Days Round trip from Baltra Island Moderate pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Encounter giant tortoises in their natural habitat at a local farm in the Santa Cruz highlands
02 Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center
03 Hike to Tortuga Bay, one of the archipelago's most picturesque beaches
04 Snorkel around sea lions and tropical fish on a bay tour of Santa Cruz
05 Explore Santa Cruz Island at your own pace with a bike reserved for the day

Embark on a captivating 4-day tour of the Galapagos Islands based on Santa Cruz Island. Encounter giant tortoises in their natural habitat at a local farm, visit the renowned Charles Darwin Research Station, and hike to the heavenly Tortuga Bay for spectacular coastal scenery and wildlife viewing. A bay tour reveals sea lions, white-tip sharks, sea turtles, marine iguanas, and tropical fish, while a free day with a reserved bike lets you explore Santa Cruz at your own pace. The journey concludes with your transfer back to Baltra Airport.

You will be amazed to see giant tortoises in the wild, in their natural habitat, during your first stop at a local farm in the highlands with dozens of giant tortoises.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 4 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access No

Cities Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island

Languages English, Spanish

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Arrival on Santa Cruz and Giant Tortoises

Welcome to the beautiful Santa Cruz Island! After arriving at Baltra Airport, your guide will be waiting to take you to Santa Cruz Island.
You will be amazed to see giant tortoises in the wild, in their natural habitat, during your first stop at a local farm in the highlands with dozens of giant tortoises. You can wander around at will and enjoy a delicious lunch before continuing to the port in Puerto Ayora to check in to your hotel.
In the afternoon, you will visit the Charles Darwin Station, where scientists from all over the world meet and work together on environmental projects such as water analysis, animal protection, and the effects of tourism on nature. It is also the most famous place to see giant tortoises in the Galapagos, where the animals are raised before being released into nature.

Meals included: Lunch

Day 02

Tortuga Bay Hike and Santa Cruz Bay Tour

You will begin with a 45-minute hike from Puerto Ayora to the heavenly Tortuga Bay. Famed for its soft coral sand and spectacular scenery, this stretch of coast is considered one of the archipelago's most picturesque spots.
- Experience marine life up close and admire the coastline from a different perspective, observing colonies of marine iguanas and marine birds, as well as mangroves, cacti forests, and fascinating coastal flora.
- You may spot an interesting array of birds residing here. Pelicans and finches are locals here, and near the salt lagoon that backs onto the mangroves, you may even spot flamingos wandering.
In the afternoon, you will be taken on a bay tour by small boat to visit exotic places along the bay of Santa Cruz and visit one, or if time allows, more of these fantastic sites:
- You will arrive at the small islet called La Lobería, named for the great colony of sea lions, where you can snorkel around sea lions and tropical fish displaying a dazzling show beneath the surface against interesting underwater formations.
- Afterward, at the Shark Channel, you may spot harmless white-tip sharks and blue-footed boobies. You will then come upon the Canal del Amor, where you may find sea turtles and many varieties of tropical fish.
- Taking a 10-minute walk, you will see marine iguanas in their natural habitat and have plenty of opportunities to take pictures.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 03

Free Day to Explore Santa Cruz by Bike

With no planned activities today, you will be free to enjoy the island's beauty at your own pace on a bike.
- You will have a bike reserved and waiting for you at your hotel so you can explore the island on two wheels. Once you're done, just leave the bike at your hotel at the end of the day after enjoying it to the max.
- Today is for enjoying the beauty of the Galapagos, taking lots of photos, and slowing down the pace to truly appreciate the most diverse Galapagos island as you explore on your own. It boasts six distinct vegetation zones.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 04

Departure Transfer to Baltra Airport

Depending on the time of your flight, you might have some free time this morning to do some last-minute souvenir shopping in Puerto Ayora.
- Your driver will transfer you to the ferry across the Itabaca Channel.
- For the last part of your trip to the airport, you will take the public shuttle bus to the terminal and check in for your flight.
- Farewell, Galapagos!

Meals included: Breakfast

Where this trip takes you

Tortuga Bay, La Lobería islet, Charles Darwin Research Station

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Baltra Island 2 cities · 4 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Tourist-class hotel accommodation (3 nights)
English- and Spanish-speaking national guide
Meals as mentioned in the itinerary
All transfers according to the program

What's Not Included

Galapagos flights are not included.
International flights are not included in the price.
Galapagos National Park entrance fee (US$100 per person)
Galapagos Migration Card TCT (US$20 per person)
Travel insurance
Optional excursions
Personal expenses such as tips
Alcoholic drinks
Any other meals, drinks, and/or services not mentioned in the program

What to bring

Travel documents (passport, etc.)
Day pack (or fanny pack)
Duffle bag, suitcase, or backpack
Comfortable walking shoes or boots with good traction
Teva-style sandals
Swimming suit
Light to medium fleece jacket
Gore-Tex (or similar) rain jacket
Shorts
T-shirts
Long-sleeve shirt or blouse
Lightweight full-length pants or trousers of either synthetic or cotton
Hat or cap
Sunglasses
Socks
Regular underwear
Toiletries
First aid and medication

Know before you go

Do not feed wildlife.
Respect wildlife and their natural habitat. Keep no less than two meters' distance from the animals so as not to affect their behavior.
Avoid consuming disposable goods. Do not throw organic waste or any kind of waste until you find a proper place to dispose of it, as it can significantly affect the development of the ecosystem in which it is located. Try to recycle or reuse all solid waste.
Respect the recommendations given by the park rangers and the entrance hours of each area.
Stay inside the trails and respect the signs. Do not destroy infrastructure.
Carry out campfires, camping, and other activities only in the permitted zones of each area.
Special care is required during the breeding, molting, or rearing season. Do not place yourself between two animals, especially between a mother and her young. Some species are highly protective and may attack if they suspect their young are threatened or leave the young more vulnerable to predators.
Hunting of animals, entry with weapons, and alcoholic beverages are strictly forbidden. It is also forbidden to damage the flora or take plants, animals, or geological remains. Check the list of permitted objects for entry to the corresponding Protected Area.
Avoid taking flash photography so as not to alter the normal behavior of wildlife. Filming, professional photographs for commercial purposes, and the use of drones require authorization from the corresponding Protected Area's management.
Do not support illegal trade in flora and fauna species.
Use environmentally friendly insect repellent and completely avoid aerosols. We recommend using cream-based repellents or other alternatives.
The actual name of the tortoise area here is the "Fausto Llerena" Breeding Center, named after the Galapagos National Park ranger who cared for Lonesome George. This is the best place in the Galapagos to view numerous different species and see how their tortoiseshell shapes have evolved differently to match the terrain and vegetation of the islands they are native to.
This amazing island is a dormant volcano that last erupted over 1 and 1/2 million years ago. There is still plenty of evidence of this explosive volcanic past, as black and rusty-colored volcanic rocks are visible across the island, a testimony to ancient lava flows.