Island Hopping in the Galápagos — Self-Launched
9 days · Ecuador (Quito & Galápagos Islands)
Exodus charges £5,175
No-markup version: ~£1,050 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Discover the magic of the Enchanted Islands on this self-launched version of Exodus's classic island-hopping adventure. Explore four of the Galápagos' great islands — San Cristóbal, Floreana, Isabela and Santa Cruz — at your own pace, guided by local Naturalist guides who are mandatory for the national park. Snorkel with sea lions from La Lobería, spot blue-footed boobies at Isla Lobos, see sharks at Las Tintoreras, walk the Wall of Tears, meet giant tortoises at the Charles Darwin Research Station and take a full-day excursion to one of the uninhabited islands. DIY the logistics — budget flights, local speedboat transfers between islands, and affordable guesthouses instead of tour hotels — and save thousands versus the full guided group package.
Day-by-day
Adventure starts in Quito
Quito, Ecuador
Begin your adventure in Ecuador's capital, high in the Andes at 2,850m. Arrive, settle into your hostel in the historic centre, and spend the day acclimatising before walking the cobbled streets of the UNESCO-listed Old Town. In the evening, head out for a group-style welcome dinner at a local restaurant in La Ronda or the Mariscal district, sampling Ecuadorian specialities like locro de papa or llapingachos.
🚌Local taxi/bus from airport (~£3-5) or AeroTaxi
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel in Quito's Old Town (e.g. Community Hostel Quito, ~£12/night)
- →Settle into Quito Old Town
- →Acclimatise to 2,850m altitude
- →Group dinner at local restaurant (La Ronda area)
Fly to San Cristóbal • Visit La Lobería
San Cristóbal Island, Galápagos
Take an early morning flight (via Guayaquil) from Quito to San Cristóbal Island. On arrival pay the Galápagos National Park entry fee and Transit Control Card, then check into your guesthouse in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Spend the afternoon snorkelling at La Lobería beach, a wonderful stretch surrounded by mangroves, volcanic rocks and sea lion colonies. Rent or bring your own snorkel gear and swim among sea lions in the clear water, or opt for the coastal walk to Charles Darwin's landing site. All Galápagos site visits must be done with a licensed Naturalist Guide, so book a local guide in town for your outings.
🚌Flight Quito→San Cristóbal via Guayaquil (~£150-200 one-way, book via LATAM/Avianca)
🛏Guesthouse in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (e.g. Casa de Nelly, ~£18/night)
- →Fly to San Cristóbal Island
- →Pay National Park fee (~£80) and Transit Card (~£16)
- →Snorkel at La Lobería with local guide (~£25)
- →Rent snorkel gear
Tour Isla Lobos and Playa Ochoa
San Cristóbal Island, Galápagos
Join a small-group boat excursion with a licensed Naturalist Guide to Isla Lobos, a small uninhabited island near San Cristóbal and one of the best spots for birdwatching. Slow walk across volcanic terrain spotting frigatebirds, blue-footed boobies and sea lions. Snorkel from the boat in clear waters hoping to see turtles, rays and sometimes whitetip reef sharks. After a packed lunch on board, head to Playa Ochoa, a white-sand beach with turquoise waters ideal for relaxing and more snorkelling. Rest of the afternoon free back in town — book local operators in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno for this excursion.
🚌Local boat transfer to Isla Lobos (included in day trip)
🛏Guesthouse in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno
- →Day excursion to Isla Lobos with licensed guide (~£60)
- →Snorkel at Playa Ochoa
- →Birdwatching — frigatebirds, blue-footed boobies
Speedboat to Floreana Island • Visit the highlands
Floreana & Isabela Islands, Galápagos
Take a 3-hour speedboat from San Cristóbal to Floreana, one of the first inhabited islands, riding the route other travellers share (watch for whales and dolphins en route). After lunch at a local restaurant in Puerto Velasco Ibarra, arrange a short highland excursion to see lava caves once used by pirates and a large enclosure of giant tortoises. In the afternoon continue by speedboat (2.5–3 hours) to Isabela Island, the largest of the archipelago, and check into your guesthouse in Puerto Villamil — a laid-back, sandy town and a budget traveller favourite.
🚌Speedboat San Cristóbal→Floreana→Isabela (~£40)
🛏Guesthouse in Puerto Villamil, Isabela
- →Speedboat island crossing
- →Highlands visit — lava caves & giant tortoises (Floreana, ~£35)
- →Explore Puerto Villamil
Visit Las Tintoreras • Wall of Tears
Isabela Island, Galápagos
Take a 15-minute boat trip with a local Naturalist Guide to the islet and lava channels of Las Tintoreras, one of the best places in the Galápagos to see whitetip reef sharks, penguins and sea lions. A 40-minute walk explores the islet before snorkelling in the sheltered channel. In the afternoon, walk the flat 12km round-trip trail to the Wall of Tears — a sombre relic built by convicts of a penal colony between 1946-1959, set amid beautiful lava fields. This self-guided walk is free and easy to do from town.
🚌Short boat to Las Tintoreras (included in tour)
🛏Guesthouse in Puerto Villamil, Isabela
- →Las Tintoreras snorkel tour with guide (~£40)
- →Walk to Wall of Tears (free, 12km round-trip)
Speedboat to Santa Cruz • Charles Darwin Station • Tortuga Bay
Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos
Take an early speedboat (2–2.5 hours) from Isabela to Santa Cruz. Drop bags at your hostel in Puerto Ayora then visit the Charles Darwin Research Station's Fausto Llerena Breeding Center to learn about giant tortoise conservation and see hatchlings being reared for eventual release. Get your passport stamped at the exhibit hall. In the afternoon walk the paved 9km round-trip trail to Tortuga Bay, one of the archipelago's best beaches, where marine iguanas bask among the rocks. Enjoy souvenir shops and restaurants of Puerto Ayora in the evening.
🚌Speedboat Isabela→Santa Cruz (~£40)
🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Puerto Ayora (e.g. Hostal Santa Cruz)
- →Speedboat crossing to Santa Cruz
- →Charles Darwin Research Station (entry ~£8)
- →Walk to Tortuga Bay beach (free)
Full-day boat tour to an uninhabited island
Bartolomé, South Plaza, Santa Fe or North Seymour
Book a full-day excursion with a local operator in Puerto Ayora to one of the uninhabited islands — which one depends on official Galápagos National Park Directorate regulations and scheduling. They rotate daily. Bartolomé offers the archipelago's most famous viewpoint of dramatic red cinder cones; South Plaza is famous for its land iguanas at the base of opuntia cacti; North Seymour is a major nesting site for frigatebirds and blue-footed boobies; Santa Fe has stunning turquoise bays ideal for snorkelling. Lunch is on board. Book a day or two ahead in Puerto Ayora's tour agencies.
🚌Full-day catamaran/boat excursion (included in tour price)
🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Puerto Ayora
- →Full-day uninhabited island tour with guide & lunch (~£95)
Fly to Quito
Quito, Ecuador
After breakfast, transfer from Santa Cruz to Baltra Island Airport via minibus and ferry, then fly back to Quito via Guayaquil. Check into your hostel in the Old Town and spend the evening exploring or gathering for a final celebration dinner at one of Quito's popular spots like Mama Clorinda or La Pampa. If your flight times allow, enjoy sunset views over the city from the Basilica or El Panecillo.
🚌Baltra→Quito flight via Guayaquil (~£130-180)
🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel in Quito Old Town
- →Return flight to Quito
- →Final dinner in Quito Old Town
Adventure ends in Quito
Quito, Ecuador
Your self-launched adventure ends after breakfast. If you have time, explore more of Quito — the TelefériQo cable car up Pichincha, the Mitad del Mundo equator line, or the colourful markets of Otavalo on a day trip. Otherwise transfer to the airport for your onward journey home.
- →Breakfast in Quito
- →Optional: TelefériQo or Mitad del Mundo day trip
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. Exodus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exodus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,050 | £5,175 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £4,125 per person (80%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exodus-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,050
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Island Hopping in the Galápagos — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,050 per person for 9 days in Ecuador (Quito & Galápagos Islands). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Exodus?+
Yes — Exodus charges around £5,175 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,050 — a saving of roughly £4,125 (80%) per person.
How long is the Ecuador (Quito & Galápagos Islands) trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through Ecuador (Quito & Galápagos Islands).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a wildlife, adventure, backpacker trip through Ecuador (Quito & Galápagos Islands), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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