4 Days Galapagos Extreme: Sea Lions, Tortoises & Snorkel Adventures from Puerto Ayora

Puerto Ayora•moderate

Difficulty

moderate

Duration

4 days

Fitness Level

Suitable for travelers in good general health who can manage multiple short hikes (up to 2.5 km) and repeated snorkeling sessions.

Overview

A compact, expertly guided four-day loop from Puerto Ayora that pairs Santa Cruz highlands and the Charles Darwin Station with bay snorkeling, Tortuga Bay walks and full-day island boat trips. Expect close wildlife encounters, short hikes and daily chances to snorkel with sea lions.

4 Days Galapagos Extreme: Sea Lions, Tortoises & Snorkel Adventures from Puerto Ayora

Eco Tour

Bus Tour

Wildlife

Walking Tour

Select participants and date

Date

Thu, Oct 30

Travelers

The morning light on Puerto Ayora cuts across mangrove channels and brightens the white sand of Tortuga Bay, where the sea seems to dare you to dive in. On Day One you arrive to a personalized welcome at Seymour Airport and are driven up into Santa Cruz’s highlands — a cool, fern-dusted landscape that feels miles away from the salt and coral of the coast. That contrast — volcanic uplands giving way to reef-strewn shorelines — is the rhythm of a four-day Galapagos sprint that stitches close wildlife encounters with short hikes and repeated, deliberate dips into the Pacific.

Adventure Photos

4 Days Galapagos Extreme: Sea Lions, Tortoises & Snorkel Adventures from Puerto Ayora photo 1

Adventure Tips

Bring reef-safe sunscreen

Chemical sunscreens harm coral; choose reef-safe formulas and apply sparingly before snorkeling.

Rent a wetsuit if you’re cold-prone

Wetsuits are not included — rent one in town for cooler months or long snorkel sessions.

Carry small cash for park fees

National Park entrance and some local taxes must be paid in cash on arrival — bring USD.

Wear sturdy water shoes

Expect uneven volcanic rock and mangrove boardwalks; closed-toe water shoes protect feet on land and in shallow reefs.

Local Insights

Wildlife

Galapagos sea lion
Marine iguana

History

The islands were long a stop for whalers and later the site of Darwin's observations; the Charles Darwin Research Station now leads conservation and captive-breeding for giant tortoises.

Conservation

Visits support local conservation through park fees and guided rules; avoid single-use plastics, use reef-safe sunscreen and follow all biosecurity checks to limit invasive species.