Description:
For those who find their balance in the silence of the seabed, Galapagos is the ultimate destination; a spectacular but often demanding underwater territory. This land-based tour is designed for diving without the rigidity of a traditional cruise. It offers a flexible alternative that suits both newly certified and experienced divers who want to add milestones to their logbook at a more relaxed pace.
Additionally, the itinerary includes parallel activities for non-divers, allowing travel companions with different interests to share the experience with complete autonomy: while some explore the depths, others discover unique landscapes on land and snorkel, meeting each evening to freely enjoy the local life and gastronomy of the islands.
Add stories to your logbook and memories on the surface. This proposal is the perfect alternative to explore Galapagos in depth, ensuring that every traveler experiences the destination without compromising their own way of experiencing the sea. Discover the itinerary day by day.
Itinerary:
DAY 1 · San Cristóbal - The calm waters of Tijeretas and the underwater world at night
The adventure begins in Tijeretas Bay, an ideal spot for your first dip in Galapagos. The sea here is calm, visibility is good, allowing you to adjust your gear at leisure while swimming alongside sea lions.
Non-divers enjoy a relaxed afternoon exploring the Interpretation Center to understand the archipelago's origin, then walk towards Darwin Bay, a great place to observe seabirds and get a glimpse of the island's biodiversity with snorkeling gear ready in case you fancy a swim.
Later, divers head to the Karagua, a sunken ship that now functions as a reef teeming with life. But the main event comes at sunset with night diving, an exclusive experience in this area. With flashlights, the ocean completely transforms, and you can see sleeping turtles, active lobsters, and fauna that only hunt in the dark.
As night falls, you decide the plan. Without the rigidity of a cruise schedule, you have the freedom to stroll along the San Cristóbal boardwalk and choose where to dine, exploring the local offerings according to your desires and budget.
Activities: diving, hiking, wildlife observation
Highlights: San Cristóbal, Tijeretas Bay, Darwin Bay, Karagua, Interpretation Center
DAY 2 · San Cristóbal – Encountering León Dormido
In the morning, we sail towards León Dormido, that enormous volcanic rock that stands out in the middle of the ocean and where the journey intensifies. Divers immerse themselves among deep walls, the perfect setting to see large fauna such as eagle rays, reef sharks, and, if the day allows, the first groups of hammerhead sharks crossing the channel.
On the surface, non-divers share the same imposing scenery while snorkeling; the clear water allows them to see turtles, colorful fish, and the silhouettes of sharks swimming below.
After both activities, the boat stops at a nearby beach to relax on the sand. The rest of the day is free to enjoy the hotel's amenities or take a leisurely walk through the town.
Activities: diving, snorkeling, navigation, wildlife observation
Highlights: San Cristóbal, León Dormido
DAY 3 · Santa Cruz – From the highlands to the shores of Tortuga Bay
Today we change islands and depart early by speedboat to Santa Cruz, a journey of about two hours. Upon arrival, we leave the sea for a moment and head up to the highlands, where the landscape becomes green and humid. The tour takes us through a local ranch to see giant tortoises in their natural state; observing their slow pace helps connect with a different rhythm of time.
After lunch, the walking path crosses a forest of endemic cacti and ends at Tortuga Bay, a beautiful white sand beach where marine iguanas, finches, herons, and small sharks swim along the shore of a transparent natural pool. The return to the pier is by speedboat, just as the day's temperature drops.
At night, Puerto Ayora is full of life. A great plan is to stroll along the pier where you can see juvenile sharks and sea lions, before choosing the restaurant that most catches your eye.
Activities: navigation, fauna and wildlife observation, hiking, beach
Highlights: Tortuga Bay, Santa Cruz, Puerto Ayora, Tortoise Ranch
DAYS 4 to 7 · Tailored Dives and Exploration of Uninhabited Islands
These four days are the key to the trip because they don't have a fixed route. For divers, we will coordinate dive sites according to your experience level and sea conditions, as some sites are more technical than others. Speedboat excursions allow you to explore places like Seymour, Floreana, Bartolomé, or the famous Gordon Rocks current (although the latter is reserved for experts, it will not go beyond 20 or 25 meters in depth).
Underwater, the scenery changes daily, allowing you to observe everything from eagle rays and pan rays to white-tip sharks, hammerhead sharks, sea lions, and Pacific green turtles. Activities end around 3 PM with the transfer back to the pier. Additionally, the itinerary guarantees at least 18 hours between the last dive and the return flight, offering the option to change the last day's dive for a land tour if you prefer not to enter the water before flying.
For non-divers, the days are just as dynamic through daily tours to islands like Seymour, Bartolomé, Plazas, or Santa Fe. It's an opportunity to walk through volcanic landscapes, observe bird colonies, and discover a different terrestrial ecosystem on each navigation, also returning to the pier in the mid-afternoon. This way, you have the rest of the day free to enjoy the hotel's amenities, stroll through Puerto Ayora, and choose where to dine each night.
Activities: diving, fauna and wildlife observation, hiking, beach
Highlights: Puerto Ayora, Seymour, Floreana, Bartolomé, Gordon Rocks, Bartolomé, Plazas, Santa Fe.
DAY 8 · Return to the Mainland
The trip ends, but the logistics are designed to maintain the calm gained on the islands. The driver picks you up at the hotel and accompanies you on the journey to Baltra airport.
The accompaniment continues until airline check-in, ensuring a smooth conclusion before boarding your return flight. On the way back, you'll have the satisfaction of having experienced Galapagos to the fullest, both underwater and on the surface, sharing an unforgettable experience.
Image gallery:
Included
- Meals according to itinerary (details of inclusions will be confirmed by the agency.)
- Accommodation in a double or triple room (additional supplement for single occupancy).
- Water taxis, Lobito bus ticket in Baltra, ferry to cross to Baltra.
- Full diving equipment: 5-7mm wetsuit, regulator, BCD, mask, fins, boots, hood, gloves, weights, and compressed air 12-liter diving tanks.
- Transportation on the islands and between islands (except during free time).
- Attentive and friendly local guides.
- Ongoing support from our multilingual staff.
Excluded
- Galapagos National Park Entrance Fee $200 per adult
- Transit Control Card (TCT) ($20)
- Meals and drinks not specified in the program.
- Round-trip flight from Mainland Ecuador to Galapagos
- Additional costs derived from flight delays or cancellations.
- Mandatory travel insurance (must cover repatriation and loss of luggage).
- Tips, luggage handling, and other personal expenses.
Additional information:
- To participate in tank diving excursions, it is mandatory to have a valid international certification (PADI, SSI, CMAS, etc.) and present the physical or digital credential before the activity.
- Please note that while we have pre-designed packages, all of them can be customized.
- We can add or combine services according to your requirements.
- The program may change due to National Park regulations or weather conditions without prior notice.
- This tour starts at San Cristóbal airport (SCY) and ends at Baltra airport (GPS).
- The time zone in Galapagos is one hour behind Mainland Ecuador.
- The official currency of Ecuador is the US dollar.
