Galapagos Cruise Itinerary: Best Islands to Visit

A Galapagos visit is a story in itself. An adventure that will create memories to last for a lifetime. Galapagos Cruise Itinerary will come in handy for you for your next trip.

With so many sights on the itinerary schedule, you’ll forget about time and enjoy the attractions these islands have to offer. From playing in the water to watching the sunsets, while pondering the landscapes, Galapagos is a magnificent place to visit.

Highlights of the trip here would set you on an adventure into seeing blue-footed boobies, penguins, sea lions, giant tortoises, land iguanas, and frigate birds. While underwater, you can scuba dive with marine iguanas and giant schools of hammerhead sharks!

There are more than 17,000 islands on the archipelago, and in this article, we’ll discuss the main cruise itineraries on the best islands. Hoping on a cruise is really the best way to explore even the most remote parts of the scattered lands that make up the Galapagos. Aqua Expeditions offers the best Galapagos cruises that provide both adventure and luxury, making for an unforgettable trip. 

Let’s look at the bigger and more popular islands worth visiting and what to expect on your expedition to the famous Galapagos. 

San Cristobal Island

San Cristobal is an eastern island and home to the main airport and the capital Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Its population is 5400, and it is the 5th largest Galapagos island. You can spend your Galapagos islands vacation in the center of San Cristobal, which was used as a colony for many years.

There is a museum of natural history in the center of the town. As it is a coastal village, the villagers here still go fishing early in the morning to bring back fresh catch for meals that day.

Isla Lobos and Kicker Rock are the islands’ snorkel spots, so if you are into water sports, you can set off on a snorkeling adventure. Isla Lobos is the home of the blue-footed boobie and the sea lion colonies, while Kicker Rock is known for its famous bird-watching spot.

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Isabela Island

Isabela Island takes 58% of the Galapagos surface, making it the largest island on the archipelago. Even though it’s the largest one, it’s not the most visited or populated one. Additionally, it is the youngest island, being 1 million years old. It has several active volcanoes, Volcan Wolf being the highest point.

Isabela Island was formed by 6 volcanoes: Ecuador, Sierra Negra, Cerro Azul, Darwin, and Wolf. all of the volcanoes are active today, with the exception of Ecuador, making Isabela the land with the most active volcanic territory in the world.

Another interesting aspect of Isabela Island is the biodiversity. The flora and fauna have changed throughout the years due to the lack of vegetation zones and vast lava fields. Galapagos is the home to the giant tortoise, flightless cormorant, pink flamingo, and the famous penguin; which means, you have plenty to see besides the vegetation limitations.

The main port of Isabela Island is Puerto Villamil, with 1200 inhabitants. It hosts the most beautiful Galapagos sceneries with its white, sandy beaches and palm tree lines. A cruise to this island will take you to the Charles Darwin tortoise breeding center and a walk through the streets of pink flamingos and white-cheeked pintails.

Santa Cruz Island

Even though Galapagos has more than 17,000 islands on the archipelago, Santa Cruz is one of the most beautiful ones. It’s the second-largest island and the home to the serenity of beautiful beaches. One of the most popular beaches is Tortuga Bay.

Santa Cruz has the most famous harbor, Academy Bay. It was named after the California Academy of Sciences Expedition, where scientists traveled to the area to study the fauna and flora of the islands.

Floreana Island

Floreana Island is the home of the Punta Cormorant, sally lightfoot crab, and green sea turtles. Another common visitor spot is Post Office Bay which is still operational to this day. Devil’s Crown is another common tourist place that’s a marine site with an underwater volcano. There’s a high chance you will see reef fish, sea lions, and sharks at some of the best snorkeling spots.

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Espanola Island

Espanola Island, or known as the Spanish island is another Galapagos island, famous for its isolated lands, and a large number of endemic species like the mockingbird and the lava lizard, to name a few. Punta Suarez is one of the most popular visitor sites with a quantity of wildlife and a variety of landing sites.

Baltra Island

While Baltra Island is among the less popular, it’s used as an Ecuadorian naval base. During the World War II, the US military protected the island and the Panama Canal. However, the wildlife was reduced and exterminated at certain terms. 

Years after the war, land iguanas and other animals have been reintroduced into the flora and fauna’s island.

Santa Fe Island

Santa Fe Island is one of the smaller Galapagos Islands, located southeast of Santa Cruz. It’s a popular destination for daily cruises where you can see iguanas that are nowhere else to be seen, sea lion colonies, and endemic birds. 

Santa Fe is known for its volcanic history and conical shape.

Organize Your Trip

It’s time to organize your trip and book the flight now that you are familiar with the most popular Galapagos tourist attractions. For more information regarding traveling topics, visit our blog.