Active Galapagos cruise aboard the Sagitta with hiking and snorkeling

Ultimate Galapagos

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"Hands down this is the best trip of any kind that we've ever taken.I just want to do it all over again." Amanda Ebright, Rochester, MN

There's a world of wonder in Darwin’s bewitching islands—on the land as well in the sea. We proudly present our most comprehensive Galápagos Island adventure: 10 action-packed days on these idyllic islands with time for more landings, more snorkeling, more island walks, and more visits to incredible wildlife colonies. Animal life varies widely from island to island, and our special 10-day itinerary brings us to a fantastic variety of sites, each one unique, including remote Tower Island, with its photogenic colony of tree-nesting red-footed boobies. Galápagos snorkeling is out of this world, and our daily snorkeling sessions immerse us in a kaleidoscopic world of sea turtles, tropical fish, manta rays, tiny penguins, playful sea lions, and an incredible underwater volcanic formations. We have two kayaks on board so we can set out for wonderful paddling sessions, gliding through the mangrove lagoons and into sea caves. If you have always dreamed of the ultimate Galápagos adventure, this is it!

The Sagitta is the preferred yacht for this itinerary. Click here to see photos, deck plans and more specific information.

Below is an Itinerary-in-Brief. To view a complete Detailed Itinerary, Download Full Itinerary or Email our Area Specialist

Itinerary-in-Brief

Days 1-2
Quito

We meet in Quito (9,200') and explore this highland capital.

Days 3-4
Galapagos / Tower

We hike and snorkel at North Seymour, then set out for the northern wildlife oasis of Tower, anchoring in spectacular Darwin Bay, the island's huge caldera. Colonies of red-footed boobies nest in trees here and we should see Galapagos petrels, magnificent frigatebirds, and much more. Tower has unbelievable snorkeling among Galapagos fur seals, dolphins, and more tropical fish than any other island.

Days 5-6
South Plaza / Santa Fe / Santa Cruz

On tiny South Plaza, we hike on scenic cliffs looking for lovely red-billed tropicbirds, visit the giant tortoises at the Darwin station on Santa Cruz, then hike in the highlands, a completely unexpected environment of verdant forests. On Santa Fe, with its prickly pear cactus and turquoise lagoon, our snorkeling excursions are exceptional.

Day 7
Española

Beautiful Española (Hood), with its long white beaches where sea lions laze, has a high degree of species differentiation due to its remoteness. There is great snorkeling on the northeast coast at Gardner Bay. Española is famed for its nesting waved albatross (April to November).

Day 8
Floreana

Our hikes at Post Office Bay and Punta Cormorant introduce us to this history-filled island, where 18th century whalers left messages in the "Post Office Barrel." Just offshore, Devil's Crown is a submerged volcanic crater and a renowned snorkeling paradise.

Days 9-10
Isabela / Fernandina

On Isabela, the largest of the islands, we snorkel among green sea turtles (seasonal), Galapagos sea lions, and tiny Galapagos penguins, then head to Fernandina, where flightless cormorants and the largest colony of marine iguanas thrive on barren lava flows. In the Bolivar Channel, we paddle our kayaks and keep an eye out for Bryde's whale, killer whales, and bottlenose dolphins.

Day 11
Santiago / Bartolomé

We hike across the other-worldly lava-scapes of Santiago (James) and visit the flamingo lagoon at James Bay, where British buccaneers anchored in the 1600s. A trail to the top of Bartolomé's volcanic summit offers incredible panoramas.

Days 12-13
Black Turtle Cove / Quito

After a panga ride among mangrove lagoons, we head back to the mainland. We depart on Day 13or join our Otavalo Extension.

Days 13-15
Otavalo Indian Market Extension

An historic hacienda is our elegant base for hikes and visits to highland craft villages.

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