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Isabela Island Day Trip: Explore Tintoreras and Galápagos Wildlife
4.1
18 Ratings
Puerto Ayora
Embark on an exciting day trip to Isabela Island and discover the stunning wildlife of the Galápagos. Explore Tintoreras, encounter land turtles, flamingos, and zarapitos, and enjoy swimming and snorkeling with tropical fish, penguins, and turtles at Concha Perla Beach.
Embark on an exciting day trip to Isabela Island and discover the stunning wildlife of the Galápagos. Explore Tintoreras, encounter land turtles, flamingos, and zarapitos, and enjoy swimming and snorkeling with tropical fish, penguins, and turtles at Concha Perla Beach.
Duration:
8 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Malecon de Puerto Ayora - We begin the tour at 06H45 AM at the port of Puerto Ayora to board the ferry that will take us to Isabela. (Transfer in boat has a duration of 2 hours approximately until arrive to Isabela)
- Isabela Island - We start the activity at 09:00 from Isabela Island, from the bay we go by means of a boat to a group of islets…
- Malecon de Puerto Ayora - We begin the tour at 06H45 AM at the port of Puerto Ayora to board the ferry that will take us to Isabela. (Transfer in boat has a duration of 2 hours approximately until arrive to Isabela)
-
Isabela Island - We start the activity at 09:00 from Isabela Island, from the bay we go by means of a boat to a group of islets called Tintoreras. Well known for being the habitat of penguins and white tip sharks!
Other animals that we can observe while we surround the islets are: rays, sea turtles, bay sharks, colorful fish, etc. -
Las Tintoreras - Tintorera sharks. Along a channel with fences on one of its edges, we can find a large number of individuals of the species. Likewise, we enjoyed a snorkeling time near the site.
At the end of our activity in the complex, we headed to the port to enjoy lunch.
Our next stop is the flamingo lagoon. We have time to take pictures. To finish, we headed to the Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center. We can see the turtles in the conservation area.
We finish the tour at 14:00 p.m. then we have to come back to Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz - 2 Hours of Ferry
What's Included
- Lunch
- Use of Snorkeling Equipment (Mask and fins)
- Hotel Pick Up (Inside the Urban Perimeter of Puerto Ayora)
- Professional Guide
- Ferrys Sta Cruz - Isabela - Sta Cruz
- Lunch
- Use of Snorkeling Equipment (Mask and fins)
- Hotel Pick Up (Inside the Urban Perimeter of Puerto Ayora)
- Professional Guide
- Ferrys Sta Cruz - Isabela - Sta Cruz
What's Not Included
- Breakfast - Hotel Drop off
- Nothing non specified in the program
- Wet suits is not included you must rent by yourself if you decide
- Dock Tax, Isabela
- Breakfast - Hotel Drop off
- Nothing non specified in the program
- Wet suits is not included you must rent by yourself if you decide
- Dock Tax, Isabela
Additional Information
We begin our journey in Puerto Ayora, followed by a swift boat ride to Isabela Island where we encounter indigenous creatures like tortoises, flamingos, and whimbrels, surrounded by abundant plant and animal life.
Explore Concha Perla Beach, a place where guests can dive into the water or snorkel amongst a variety of tropical fish, penguins, and sea…
We begin our journey in Puerto Ayora, followed by a swift boat ride to Isabela Island where we encounter indigenous creatures like tortoises, flamingos, and whimbrels, surrounded by abundant plant and animal life.
Explore Concha Perla Beach, a place where guests can dive into the water or snorkel amongst a variety of tropical fish, penguins, and sea turtles.
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- This is travel by boat, please plan accordingly (i.e motion sickness medication)
- Wet suits is not included you must rent by yourself if you decide
- Any extra payment like entrance to the national park, taxes or sea taxis must be paid by each customer in person
Location
Puerto Ayora
The guide will pick you up in the lobby of the hotel, (Hotel pick up inside the urban perimeter of
Puerto Ayora) or we can give you a good meeting point to join with us.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.1
(18 Ratings)
5 stars
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1 star
X29ibalexisc
Jun 17, 2025
Galápagos Islands - enchanted place - The Islands are dreamy, a place of amazing natural beauty and adventure. It is a place that should be in everyone’s bucket list
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Eduardo
May 28, 2025
Excellent zoological experience! - English: I’m right now on the trip back to Santa Cruz. This experience was phenomenal. We were partnered with a guide called Roger “Willow” and Holy Crap did we have fun. We saw penguins, boobies, sharks, seals, sea turtles, sea horses, flamingos, our whole checklist. I saw some comments about the boat rides being uncomfortable and long, but we found them to be meditative and chill. Super glad we booked this!
English:
Right now I'm back in Santa Cruz. This experience was phenomenal. We got a guide named Roger “Willow” and ufff, how fun it was! We saw penguins, boobies, sharks, sea lions, sea turtles, seahorses, flamingos... everything on our list! I saw some comments about the boat rides being awkward and long, but for us they were meditative and quiet. We are so happy to have booked this!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Vanessa
Feb 10, 2025
We'll be back! - Really very nice tour! The tour guide on site is passionate about it, which you can definitely see! We'll be back!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Steve_r
Jan 9, 2025
Rough ride but well worth the effort. - We took our family on this day excursion from Santa Cruz to Isabela Island. The ride between the islands was not pleasant due to constant pounding, but the rest of the trip was delightful. We saw penguins, blue-footed boobies, flamingos, white-tipped sharks, marine iguanas, sea lions, and sea turtles. The tortoise breeding station was a bonus. Our guide was excellent and informative. The snorkeling was easy and productive.
Review provided by Viator
C6207vtkathyd
Nov 4, 2024
Great way to see what Isabella has to offer. - Our guide was knowledgeable, entertaining, passionate, and professional. We had a group from many countries and he explained everything in English and Spanish. We were able to see penguins, Boobies , sharks, and flamingos. We had a blast on the boat ride over but do not recommend if you get sea sick.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Debra_l
Jul 12, 2024
Trip was great; Viator is fraudulent in not giving me refund for sick people - Viator is fraudulent as they would not give me a refund when five of our group got sick and could not go on this excursion. This trip was fully refundable and I cancelled 36 hours before the tour. VIATOR representative failed to report and execute the refund. I spent over $5000. on excursions in the Galapagos and Viator has treated me terribly by not giving me back $1245. when no fault of mine that their representative did not cancel five people from the tour.
Review provided by Viator
Julie_w
Jun 3, 2025
Isabela island - The snorkeling is rushed, and we kept getting told to hurry up. Which was ridiculous. But we spent almost an hour looking at tortoises and then we had like 15 minutes to stand on the beach and no one really knew what to do. It was weird. The 2 hour boat ride and water taxis are exhausting.
Review provided by Viator
Escape52564852290
Mar 2, 2025
Educational trip - Very educational and interesting trip. We saw very much and the guide was execellent. Extra nice that they helped us find our lost Iphone after the trip. A small minus because high price and that the ferry ride is not very comfortable.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Drbooboo
Jun 8, 2025
Not great - First of all, there was no one to meet the boat when we arrived at Isabel. Other yours had someone greeting passengers with their names as soon as they hit off the boat. Not this one. I had to go hunt down the guide. That was panic-inducing.
Second, I cannot find anywhere in the tour description where it said we would be ocean kayaking.. The description said a boat but certainly didn’t specify kayaks. As such, I was unprepared to go ocean kayaking with a large telephoto lens and my child to see penguins. Also, the tour advertises itself as being suited for children 4+ years but they did not have children’s PFDs available. Seeing the penguins was fantastic but it was darn near impossible to get any shots while also getting my camera out of the dry bag all while paddling the kayak and managing my child who was terrified and crying. Again, we didn’t know we were ocean kayaking and my child has never been ocean kayaking. The guide, Andrea, was shouting at me a lot of the time. Not great. I came on this tour specifically to photograph the penguins and I really didn’t get much of a chance. We also didn’t have time to do anything like change into swimsuits or apply sunscreen before the paddle as we were rushed into the kayaks. I ended up with a partial thickness sunburn on my shins.
We then went snorkeling. The snorkeling equipment broke for some people and we all had to wait for Andrea to walk back into town and get a replacement. Once we actually got in the water, Andrea left us. No instructions or anything. No specified meet up time. Again, anxiety producing.
Lunch was not great. Tasteless soup and dry chicken in a restaurant with questionable cleanliness. The view was nice.
The rest of the tour to see flamingos and tortoises was okay. I felt really rushed for the whole tour, like I was being herded along. As soon as we got off the “bus” another group was being herded on.
They don’t tell you that the water taxis are $1 per person each way. That’s $4 for one person. And there’s a fee at Puerto Ayora and when you get to Isabel. So bring plenty of cash in small bills.
I would not really recommend this tour. I can see why it’s priced much less than other, similar tours.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Alison_h
Dec 12, 2024
Terrible Tour Overpriced if through Viator - it was a 10hr trip 2.5 hrs each way was a ferry ride which was terrible the sea is quite rough and the boat was run full speed hitting and pounding every few seconds for the whole time my friend who is petit had bruises from hitting the seat so hard constantly, I am larger but it was extremely uncomfortable. If you had any neck or back problems it could be dangerous and as the time of the ferry ride ,or how bumpy it could be, was not even mentioned in the guide this could open your company to law suites if someone was injured. we were picked up and taken to the dock but the guide for the tour was only when we arrived on Isabella the tour was mediocre at best ,also most people had paid $140 -$160 for the tour we paid $249.almost $100 more. Altogether extremely disappointing and I have used Viator many times before and all trips have been great but this one is terrible and could be dangerous to some people
Review provided by Viator
