I am spending 2 weeks on a land/people based volunteer project on Santa Cruz and have 4 nights booked in a hotel at the end. I am looking for suggestions as to best places to visit on day trips. I am going to San Cristobel in the middle of the volunteering so don't want to go there again.
1
ecuadorem
Hi
I would personally head to Isabela for those extra nights at the end (if you can change your hotel reservations...) You can take a speedboat for around $30 - 2/3 hour trip - pretty gruelling ocean crossing so definitely worth staying for a couple of nights once you get to Isabela - beautiful beach, sleepy town and lots of things to do - boardwalk hike to the tortoise breeding centre, visit the volcano, snorkelling and visit to Las Tinotreras (Galapagos penguins), body boarding, biking, etc.
I think you can take a day trip to Isabela from Santa Cruz but I wouldn't recommend it - the crossing in boat does take it out of you and going there and back in one day wouldn't be my kind of idea of fun.
On Santa Cruz you have Tortuga Bay, Las Grietas, Highlands, Charles Darwin etc. but I imagine that you will have a chance to see all these places whilst you are volunteering!
Change your hotel reservations and go to Isabela! You won't regret it!!
2
lilau
I totally agree with EcuadorEm.
Isabela is lovely, the town is small with friendly people, nice eateries, a couple of tour agencies and the beach is big and beautiful, with marine iguanas, birds and an occasional sea lion passing by. A oerfect place to unwind and relax.
There are no ATMs on Isabela, so you have to bring all the cash you need for the time you are there.
Pro tip
Lonely Planet
trusted partner
trusted partner