woman photographing a land iguana in the Galapagos Islands

Land iguana

The Galapagos has two species of land iguana: Conolophus subcristatus, native to six islands, and Conolophus pallidus, found only on the island of Santa Fe. They are thought to have a common ancestor that floated out to the islands from mainland South America on rafts of vegetation.

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Galapagos Adventure route-map

Trip Details at-a-Glance

Cost From: $5595   see pricing
Length: 10 days
Arrive: Guayaquil, Ecuador
Depart: Guayaquil, Ecuador
Lodging: 8 days/ 7 nights aboard Mary Anne, 2 hotel nights in Guayaquil describe
Meals: All meals included except 1 lunch, 2 dinners
Activity: Small Boat & Yacht Cruising, Snorkeling, Wildlife & Natural History, Walking
Trip Level: Daily hikes, snorkeling, optional sea kayaking
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Highlights

  • Fascinating 8-day cruise including remote Tower, with its red-footed boobies
  • Snorkel with Galápagos penguins at Bartolomé
  • Delight in a beautiful 16-guest yacht with spacious decks and air-conditioned cabins
  • Active journey, with daily hiking, snorkeling, and sea kayaking opportunities


One of the best trips I have ever taken. Well organized, helpful and knowledgeable staff, and amazing sites. We plan to use Wilderness Travel again for our next adventure.Don I.—Santa Cruz, CA

Choosing the Right Trip

We work hard to help you choose the right trip for you, paying attention to your individual interests, abilities, and needs. If you have questions about the level of comfort or any of the activities described in this itinerary, please contact us.
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References

We are proud to have an exceptionally high rate of repeat travelers. For more information, we would be happy to put you in touch with a client who has traveled with us.

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Departure Notes

Once you have signed up on the trip, we send a complete packing list, relevant health information, and required travel documents.

Resources

The unique wildlife of the Galápagos has no fear of humans—we walk trails right among courting, nesting seabirds who take no notice of us—it’s an experience like no other! The older, greener Eastern Islands of this famed archipelago have an incredibly diverse ecosystem and a remarkable number of endemic species. Our eastern cruise includes famous Tower, prime nesting site of beautiful red-footed boobies, colorful South Plaza Island, with its hybrid iguanas, and Santa Fé, home to such endemics as the Galápagos hawk, and a great place to snorkel with playful sea lions. And life on board our lovely yacht? It’s a delight, with delicious meals savored al fresco. This is the ideal way to discover one of the most spectacular settings imaginable.

Itinerary at a Glance

For a more complete description, Download Full Detailed Itinerary


Itinerary below is the 2014 version, call or email us for 2013 version.

Days 1-2
Guayaquil, Ecuador / Galápagos Cruise / Baltra / Black Turtle Cove

Arrive in Guayaquil for overnight at the Hilton Colon Guayaquil. The next day, fly to Baltra, board our yacht, and sail to Black Turtle Cove for a Zodiac ride.

Days 3-4
Tower / Bartolomé

Navigating north to Tower (Genovesa) Island, we land at magnificent Darwin Bay, lined with red mangroves and prickly pear cacti where red-footed boobies and great frigatebirds perch and peer at us. We also hike along a cliff to see nesting frigatebirds, Nazca boobies, and impressive red-billed tropicbirds. On tiny Bartolomé, a trail to the summit offers magnificent views.

Days 5-6
Sullivan Bay, Santiago Island / Rabida / Mosquera

We snorkel at Santiago Island, famous for the underwater ballet of its fur seals in the lava grottoes. Rabida, with its seashell-pink sands, has a lagoon full of pink flamingos and we hike amid Darwin’s finches and Galápagos mockingbirds. On a coralline beach on Mosquera, home to a sea lion colony, we snorkel and explore by Zodiac.

Days 7-8
Plaza Sur / Santa Fé Island / Gardner Bay, Española

Colorful Plaza Sur is home to its own species of coppery-orange land iguanas. We see Santa Fé’s endemic land iguana, and on fantastic Española’s Gardner Bay, with its many sea lion colonies, we look for Galápagos hawks, Galápagos doves, and Hood mockingbirds, endemic to this island.

Day 9-10
Charles Darwin Research Station, Santa Cruz / Baltra / Guayaquil

After a visit to Darwin Station, we head to Baltra and fly to Guayaquil for overnight, departing Day 10 (or join our Ecuadorian Highlands, Amazon, or Machu Picchu extensions).

For a more complete description, Download Full Detailed Itinerary

Optional Extensions

If you would like to continue your adventure, we offer the following extensions:

What the Trip is Like

This trip is rated Level 1+, Easiest. It is appropriate for anyone in good health who is physically active and enjoys moderate walks. There are daily shore excursions featuring walks on well-marked trails through wildlife colonies, rocky lava fields, and along beaches. Our shore landings are either “dry” (where there are rocks or wooden piers to step onto when you disembark from the Zodiac) or “wet” (which involves stepping out of the panga into a foot or so of surf and wading to shore). Getting out of the panga for a dry landing is occasionally tricky, especially on days when the seas may be active because the Zodiac moves up and down with the waves and the rocks you step onto may be slippery. The yacht staff will assist in these landings. While we travel aboard small sailing vessels, we normally motor from island to island because of the long distances between islands and the desire to maximize our time on shore.

Explanation of Trip Levels

 

Departures & Leaders

Jun 28-Jul 7, 2013  Fausto Arellano
Jul 12-21, 2013  Bitinia Espinoza
Dec 27, 2013-Jan 5, 2014
Jan 10-19, 2014
Feb 21-Mar 2, 2014
Mar 7-16, 2014
Mar 21-30, 2014
Apr 18-27, 2014
May 2-11, 2014
May 16-25, 2014
Jun 13-22, 2014
Jun 27-Jul 6, 2014
Jul 11-20, 2014
Dec 26, 2014-Jan 4, 2015
Jan 9-18, 2015
Feb 20-Mar 1, 2015
Mar 6-15, 2015
Mar 20-29, 2015

Trip Cost

Prices are for 2014
Aboard the Mary Anne
$5595 (6-16 members)

Call for 2013 prices

Hotel single supplement: $225
No single supplement charge aboard the Mary Anne for single cabins only, call for details

Internal airfare: $495 (subject to change)
Galapagos park fee: $100 per person
Holiday surcharge (Dec): call for details
Discounts for children: call for details, some
   exclusions apply
more on pricing

Trip Cost Includes:

  • Expert leadership of a Wilderness Travel Trip Leader and local guides
  • Accommodations at the hotel in Guayaquil and aboard the yacht
  • All meals included except 1 lunch, 2 dinners
  • Airport transfers as indicated

Trip Cost Does Not Include:

International airfare, internal flights, Galapagos park fee, any meals not specified after each itinerary day in the Full Trip Brochure, airport departure taxes, optional gratuities (tipping your Trip leader and yacht crew is customary, but at your discretion), additional hotel nights (due to airline schedule changes or other factors), pre-trip expenses such as medical immunizations (if any), travel insurance, passports and visas, or other expenses of a personal nature (alcoholic beverages, laundry, and so on).

Trip Payment Schedule*

At time of reservation: $500
150 days prior to departure: 50%
90 days prior to departure: Balance

*Please note that this differs from our regular catalog departures.

Cancellation and Transfer Fee Schedule*

Minimum fee: $500
61-120 days prior to departure: 50% of trip cost
60 days or less: 100% of trip cost

*Please note that this differs from our regular catalog departures.

Hilton Colon Guayaquil

Hilton Colon Guayaquil

Day 1 (1 night),
Day 9 (1 night), Guayaquil, Ecuador

With a convenient location just 15 minutes from Guayquil's international airport, the Hilton Colon Guayquil offers spacious and comfortable rooms, a ...
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The <em>Mary Anne</em>

The Mary Anne

Days 2 to 8 (7 nights), Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

In legendary square-rigger tradition, the Mary Anne offers the truly romantic ambiance of a tall sailing ship combined with the comforts ...
Click here for full description and more photos

Extension Accommodations

If you would like to view the accommodations offered with our extensions options:

Note: Listed above are our signature accommodations for this trip. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.

Our Trip Leaders

Here are the Trip Leaders scheduled for this journey (please note that leader assignments are subject to change).

Fausto Arellano

Departure Dates: June 28-July 7, 2013

Fausto Arellano has been a naturalist guide and dive master in the Galapagos for over 20 years. He took his first trip to the Galapagos Islands in 1982 as a graduation present from high school. Captivated by the beauty of the islands, innocence of the wildlife, and peacefulness of nature, Fausto ...
Click here for a full bio and list of all upcoming trips

Bitinia Espinoza

Departure Dates: July 12-21, 2013

Bitinia Espinoza has been guiding groups to the Galapagos and throughout Ecuador since 1991. She graduated from the University of Guayaquil with studies in natural history. Her travels on the lecture circuit on behalf of the Galapagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Research Station have ...
Click here for a full bio and list of all upcoming trips

Optional Extensions

If you would like to continue your adventure, we offer the following extensions:

Ecuador

Amazon Rainforest Extension: Napo Wildlife Center

Into the Emerald Forest

Cultural Adventures, Walking, Wildlife & Natural History
4 days  -  Level 2

Amazon Rainforest Extension: Sacha Lodge

Into the Emerald Forest

Cultural Adventures, Walking, Wildlife & Natural History
4 days  -  Level 2

Otavalo and Hacienda Zuleta Extension

Traditional Cultures and Snow-Capped Volcanoes

Cultural Adventures, Walking, Wildlife & Natural History
3 days  -  Level 2

Peru

Cusco and Machu Picchu Extension

Exploring the Realm of the Incas

Archaeology, Cultural Adventures, Walking
6 days  -  Level 2