Turismo Paradise
Experiences·Santa Cruz

Galapagos Classic

From599.00US$

The shortest way to take in the essentials of Santa Cruz and Isabela without changing hotels. Based in Puerto Ayora, you explore the highlands —Twin Craters and Primicias Ranch—, take a day trip to Isabela for Las Tintoreras, flamingos and the breeding center, and finish with Tortuga Bay and the Charles Darwin Research Station. Bilingual Level III naturalist guide and transfers included.

Itinerary

Baltra – Twin Craters – Primicias Ranch 1
Baltra – Twin Craters – Primicias Ranch 2
Baltra – Twin Craters – Primicias Ranch 3
Baltra – Twin Craters – Primicias Ranch 4

Your Galápagos adventure begins with your arrival at Baltra Airport, where our team will welcome you and transfer you to Santa Cruz. Along the way, you will visit the Twin Craters, two impressive collapse craters surrounded by Scalesia vegetation where you can spot Darwin's finches and short-eared owls, before continuing to Primicias Ranch, an authentic working farm in the island's highlands where majestic giant tortoises roam freely in their natural habitat, offering you an intimate and unforgettable experience before settling into your hotel.

Isabela 1
Isabela 2
Isabela 3
Isabela 4
Isabela 5

Today you will embark on an exciting speedboat ride to Isabela, the largest island in the archipelago, where untamed nature will surprise you at every turn. You will explore the giant tortoise breeding center, walk among fields of solidified lava, and have the opportunity to swim alongside Galápagos penguins, sea lions, and marine iguanas in its crystal-clear waters, while naturalist guides reveal the geological and biological secrets of this unique volcanic island.

Tortuga Bay – Charles Darwin Research Station 1
Tortuga Bay – Charles Darwin Research Station 2
Tortuga Bay – Charles Darwin Research Station 3
Tortuga Bay – Charles Darwin Research Station 4
Tortuga Bay – Charles Darwin Research Station 5

You will begin the morning with a 2.5 km walk along a lava path to Tortuga Bay, one of the most beautiful and pristine beaches on the planet, with white sand and turquoise waters where you can swim, snorkel, and observe marine iguanas sunbathing just a few meters away. In the afternoon, you will visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, a world-renowned research center where you will learn about the giant tortoise conservation program and the ongoing efforts to preserve the unique biodiversity of the islands.

After breakfast, you will have free time for last-minute souvenirs or shopping before your transfer to Baltra Airport, where this unique and unrepeatable experience on the most biodiverse islands on the planet will come to a close, leaving you with memories and photographs that will last a lifetime.

Includes

  • Transit Control Card (Galápagos Government Council)
  • Accommodation at the hotel of your choice in Santa Cruz
  • Continental breakfast
  • Set-menu lunches
  • Island visits per the itinerary
  • Welcome and departure assistance at Galápagos airport
  • Sea and land transportation
  • Naturalist Guides III (Spanish – English)
  • Snorkeling gear for the boat-based visits (mask and snorkel)
  • Lobito bus: Airport – Itabaca Channel – Airport
  • Isabela dock fee

No Includes

  • Airfare
  • Galápagos National Park entrance fee
  • Dinners
  • Services not specified in the program

Cancellation policies

Administrative cancellation fees, tiered by how many days before the trip you cancel. Partial refunds up to 30 days before; no refund for no-shows.

If the passenger and/or agency decides to cancel the trip, the following penalties apply:

  • On every cancellation, the client forfeits $100 per passenger in administrative charges.
  • From 30 to 21 days before the services are provided, the 30% confirmation deposit is retained.
  • 20 days before the services are provided, 50% of the total invoice is charged.
  • From 19 to 1 days before the services are provided, 100% of the invoice is charged.
  • In the event of a no-show or voluntary withdrawal, no refund will be considered.

Frequently asked questions

Yes — the flight to Galápagos travels on its own ticket, outside the package. You can book it directly with the airline of your choice, or if you would rather skip the paperwork, drop us a line and our team will handle it for you: current fares, seats together, baggage, and all the back-and-forth. One small ask: please pick the earliest morning departure out of Quito or Guayaquil. You arrive with daylight to spare, catch your first lunch of the itinerary, and let the archipelago start surprising you as soon as possible.

The main difference is hotel category: Standard stays in 3★ hotels and Premium in 4★ hotels. The itinerary and visits are the same in both categories.

Yes. Each reservation requires at least 2 paying passengers (adults or children). Infants ride free and do not count toward the minimum.

Children aged 1–11 get a 30% discount on the package price. Infants under 12 months are free.

Yes. All our packages include certified naturalist guides (Naturalist Guide III) who speak Spanish and English. We work with small groups for a more personal experience. If you need a guide in another language, get in touch and we will do our best to arrange it.

We recommend bringing: reef-safe (biodegradable) sunscreen, light and comfortable clothing, swimwear, a cap or hat, sunglasses, comfortable walking shoes, a reusable water bottle, a light jacket for the garúa season (June–November), a camera, and any personal medication. Snorkeling gear is included on the visits that call for it.

Yes. The Transit Control Card (TCT) is included in your package at no additional cost. It is a mandatory migration-control document for every visitor to Galápagos, issued by the Galápagos Government Council (CGREG), with a fee of USD 20 per person; we take care of the process for you.

No. The Galápagos National Park entrance fee is a mandatory per-person tax paid in cash on arrival at the Galápagos airport and is not included in the package. Under the current rates (Resolution 002-CGREG, 2024): international tourists USD 200 (adults) and USD 100 (children under 12); citizens of CAN and Mercosur countries USD 100 and USD 50; Ecuadorians and residents of Ecuador USD 30 (adults) and USD 15 (children under 12, seniors over 65, and holders of a CONADIS disability card). Children under 2 are exempt. More info: gobiernogalapagos.gob.ec/galapagos-fee.

The initial deposit is 30% upon booking confirmation. The full balance is due 20 days before the trip start date.

Cancellations follow a graduated schedule: a $100 admin fee per passenger always applies; 30–21 days before retains 30%; 20 days before charges 50%; 19–1 days before charges 100%; no-show is non-refundable. See the Penalties section for details.