Guayaquil to Santa Cruz: 7-Day Best of Ecuador — Galápagos Wildlife, Highlands & Snorkel
Difficulty
moderate
Duration
7 days (6 nights)
Fitness Level
Suitable for travelers who can walk 1–2 miles on uneven terrain and swim/snorkel for short periods; some mobility required for lava-rock sections.
Overview
From Guayaquil’s waterfront staircases to Santa Cruz’s lava-scarred highlands and crystalline bays, this seven‑day itinerary stitches urban history to island evolution. Swim with sea lions, walk among giant tortoises and explore lava tunnels on a compact introduction to the Galápagos.
Guayaquil to Santa Cruz: 7-Day Best of Ecuador — Galápagos Wildlife, Highlands & Snorkel
Select participants and date
You step off the Baltra ferry with salt on your lips and a wind that seems to know where you’re headed — toward lava fields that still hum with geological memory and beaches where marine iguanas sunbathe as if time were a local custom. The contrast is immediate: a morning in Guayaquil’s long Malecon, where port cranes and colonial stairways meet the commerce of Ecuador, and days later you’re threading trails across cracked black lava and walking into bays where sea lions regard swimmers like old friends.
Adventure Photos
Adventure Tips
Bring small bills and coins
Some local fees (ECOGAL transport and park entry) are paid in cash at the airport or checkpoints — carry small denominations.
Use reef-safe sunscreen
Sunscreen chemicals harm coral and marine life; choose reef-safe formulas and apply well before entering water.
Wear sturdy water shoes
Paths to Tortuga Bay and Las Grietas are sandy, rocky and occasionally slippery — shoes with grip protect ankles and feet.
Give wildlife space
Do not touch or feed animals; stay the required distance from sea lions, iguanas and tortoises to avoid stress or fines.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- Galápagos giant tortoise
- Marine iguana
History
Guayaquil grew as Ecuador’s main Pacific port and the painted houses and stacked stairways of Las Peñas reflect its 19th‑century merchant past; the Galápagos drew scientific fame from Darwin’s 19th‑century observations that shaped evolutionary theory.
Conservation
The Galápagos enforces strict biosecurity: inspect gear, avoid bringing fresh food, and follow park rules to limit invasive species and protect fragile habitats.
Select participants and date
Adventure Hotspots in Puerto Ayora
Frequently Asked Questions
Recommended Gear
Reef-safe sunscreen
Protects skin and the marine environment during long hours in strong equatorial sun.
summer specific
Sturdy water shoes
Grip for lava rocks and comfort for beach walks and boat landings.
Light waterproof shell
Shelters against wind and brief tropical showers common in the wet season.
spring specific
Personal snorkel and mask
Better fit and hygiene than shared rental gear, helpful for longer snorkel stops.