How Galápagos tours work
Most Galápagos tours are day trips by boat. Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal and Isabela each have their own set of islands within reach, so the island where you sleep decides which trips you can book. Prices run from $50 for a volcano hike on Isabela to about $400 for a long yacht day from Santa Cruz.
The prices below are examples as of 2026, per person, and they do not show free seats on your day. Weather and sea state can limit landings, so keep a spare day in your plan.
Our picks: day tours
Our take: Kicker Rock is the classic snorkelling day from San Cristóbal; Santa Fe is the day trip from Puerto Ayora; the Sierra Negra hike is the land day on Isabela.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Kicker Rock and beach full day
- Naturalist guide
- Snorkel gear and towel
- Lunch and drinks
Seven hours with a naturalist guide, snorkel gear, lunch and a beach stop off San Cristóbal.
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Santa Fe Island snorkelling day
- Speedboat both ways
- Snorkel gear and long wetsuit
- Lunch
A speedboat day to Santa Fe with snorkel gear, a long wetsuit and lunch.
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Sierra Negra volcano and sulphur mines
- Naturalist guide
- Accommodation transfers
- Packed lunch and lunch after
Six hours on Isabela with a naturalist guide, transfers from your accommodation and a packed lunch.
Check availability →Galápagos day tours
Day trips from Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal and Isabela, plus snorkeling and diving, with live prices and availability.
Day tour examples compared
Prices in US dollars, 2026, by the island you leave from.
| Leaves from | Trip | Example price | Length and note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | North Seymour | $230 to $370 | About 8 h 30 min |
| Santa Cruz | Bartolomé | $358 to $400 | 6 h 20 min to 9 hours, depending on the boat |
| Santa Cruz | Plaza islands | $230 to $370; South Plaza $250 to $320 | Confirm that a landing is included |
| Santa Cruz | Santa Fe | $140 to $180 | Check whether snorkeling or a landing is included |
| Santa Cruz | Pinzón | $150 to $288 | Up to 8 h 30 min |
| San Cristóbal | Kicker Rock (León Dormido), snorkeling | $169 | 6 to 7 hours |
| San Cristóbal | Kicker Rock, dive | $234 | 6 to 7 hours |
| San Cristóbal | Isla Lobos, hike and snorkel | $138 | 4 to 5 hours |
| San Cristóbal | Española, hike and snorkel | $259 | 8 to 9 hours |
| Isabela | Los Túneles | $140 | 5 hours, departures 07:00 and 11:00 |
| Isabela | Tintoreras | $60 | 3 hours, morning or afternoon |
| Isabela | Sierra Negra volcano hike | $50 | 5 hours, 15 km, start at 07:00 |
For most first visits, base yourself on Santa Cruz and book one island day, North Seymour or Bartolomé, then fill the other days with the highlands and Tortuga Bay on land. If you prefer the lowest prices, the Tintoreras and Sierra Negra trips on Isabela are the lowest priced in this table. If snorkeling with sea lions is your priority, San Cristóbal and Kicker Rock are the focus. See the pages on snorkeling and diving for the water side.
Naturalist guide and permits
Why almost every tour comes with a guide.
An accredited guide is required
You visit national park sites with an accredited naturalist guide and an authorized operation. A few sites are exempt, such as Tortuga Bay for individual travelers. Selling a tour online does not show that an operator holds a permit, so book through a licensed operator.
Park rules →Reservations go through the agency
For sites such as Las Grietas, the Fausto Llerena tortoise center, Volcán Chico and Minas de Azufre, the agency or guide makes the booking. You show a QR confirmation if you are checked, and only booked visitors join the assigned guide.
Distances apply to everyone
Keep at least 2 m from animals while walking, snorkeling or diving, with the camera included. From a kayak, paddleboard or small boat keep at least 4 m. Do not touch or feed animals, do not use flash, and do not fly a drone without a permit.
What to check before you book
The wording differs more than the prices do.
The landing
Some trips include a snorkeling stop only, others a landing on the island. For the Plaza islands and Santa Fe, confirm which one you are buying.
The season
Española is the main nesting site of the waved albatross, which is on land mostly from April to December. A sighting on a single day is never promised.
What is included
Meals, snorkel gear, wetsuits and transfers differ by operator and cannot be carried over from one trip to another. Read the list of inclusions for each trip.
Departure time and meeting point
Isabela trips start early, for example 07:00 for the volcano hike. Arrive at the meeting point on time and have your booking confirmation ready.
Park fee and transit card
Tours do not include the national park fee of $200 or the $20 transit card. You pay those on arrival. See the park fee page.
Galápagos tours: frequently asked questions
Which Galápagos day tour should I choose?
That depends on where you sleep and what you want to see. From Santa Cruz, North Seymour offers birds and land iguanas, and Bartolomé offers the landscape. From San Cristóbal, Kicker Rock is the main snorkeling trip. From Isabela, Tintoreras and Los Túneles are the water trips.
How much do Galápagos day tours cost?
The examples above range from $50 for the Sierra Negra hike to about $400 for a Bartolomé yacht day, as of 2026. Extras can change the final amount.
Can I book tours on arrival?
Agencies sell trips in the port towns, but an offer does not show free seats on your date. If a particular island matters to you, book ahead and keep a spare day in case the sea is rough.
Can I visit Española on a day trip?
Yes. A day trip from San Cristóbal costs about $259 as of 2026 and takes 8 to 9 hours, with a hike and snorkeling. Whether you see albatrosses depends on the season.
Do I need to be a strong swimmer?
Not every tour asks the same of you. Check each trip for snorkeling content and, before you book, tell the operator how comfortable you are in the water. A tour is not a promise of calm water or weak currents.
Is galapagos-islands.org a tour operator or an official site?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It is not the website of the Galápagos National Park Directorate, the Government of Ecuador or any cruise line, and it is not connected to any tour operator or hotel.