Every island in the Galápagos has its own attraction. The more time you have, the richer your experience will be, but even if you have only a few days, with proper planning you'll come home with a lifetime of memories. When you're choosing a tour operator, you should always examine the itinerary. Note that 7-day trips often make frequent stops at Santa Cruz or San Cristobal to collect and drop off passengers. The best trips head out to far-flung places, such as Genovesa, Española, and spend only 1 day docked in Puerto Ayora, on Santa Cruz. To help you decide which trip might be best for you, here's a list of what each island has to offer.
Santa Cruz: You will most likely begin and end your trip to the Galápagos on Santa Cruz. If you plan to arrange your trip on your own, you should use Santa Cruz as your base. The main city here, Puerto Ayora, is an active and attractive little harbor, with a variety of small hotels, restaurants and gift shops. If you're looking for a luxury hotel getaway, this island offers the only such options on the Galápagos. This island is also home to the Charles Darwin Research Station, where you can observe tortoises directly. Some companies will take you to a farm in the highlands, where you can see tortoises in the wild. If you can, try to turn back after you see the tortoises. Finally, most trips make a stop at the lava tubes, where you can wander through underground tunnels created by the movement of hot lava. On the north side of the island is Cerro Dragon, which is a great place to see the unique Galápagos land iguana.
Bartolome: This Island is famous for have one of the most common anchorage, near the oddly shaped Pinnacle Rock. From here, visitors can climb 372 steps of a wooden walkway to reach the top of an extinct volcano. The view from the viewpoint is stunning, with the Pinnacle Rock below. This island has one of the larger colonies of Galápagos peng
San Cristobal: Most boats only stop on San Cristobal to pick up and drop off passengers. Still, the island's main town, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, is a pretty little port, with an attractive waterfront walkway or Malecón. The main attraction on the island is Interpretive Center, a small, interesting museum with exhibits on the natural, human, and geological history of the island. You can also visit La Loberia, a pretty beach with sea lions, red crabs, and colorful lava gulls. It's also worth visiting La Galapaguera de Cerro Colorado, a natural giant-tortoise reserve. If you sail into or out of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, you will probably pass through Leon Dormido or Kicker Rock; a unique rock formation set about 1.5km (1 mile) offshore. uins, and many snorkelers have spotted penguins off this island.