Darwin Cruise

The remarkable archipelago of the Galapagos, Darwin’s living laboratory, is truly “a world unto itself.” On our Darwin Cruise, we make a loop of the southern and eastern islands, enjoying fantastic snorkeling at Espanola’s Gardner Bay and Floreana’s Devil’s Crown, hiking among the land iguanas of South Plaza and among a plethora of bird life at San Cristobal, and searching for giant tortoises in the highlands of Santa Cruz. With wildlife walks, snorkeling, zodiac rides, and optional sea kayaking, each day is wonderfully active. In the evenings, we return to the intimate atmosphere of our delightful 16-guest tall ship Mary Anne for a delicious meal, a glass of wine, and a golden equatorial sunset over the “enchanted islands.”

Itinerary at a Glance

For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure

Days 1-2
Quito, Ecuador

Arrive in Quito (9,200'), the highland capital of Ecuador. The next day, set out for a tour of the charming streets and squares of Old Quito, a World Heritage Site of well-preserved colonial architecture. Overnights at the Hotel Hilton Colon.

Days 3-4
Galapagos Cruise / Baltra / Punta Carrion / South Plaza / Santa Fe

Fly to the Galapagos and board the Mary Anne at Baltra. We snorkel at Punta Carrion among a variety of reef fish and rays, then sail to South Plaza for a hike among land iguanas as they nibble on the fruit of prickly pear cactus. Seagoing marine iguanas roam the shores, and swallow-tailed gulls and red-billed tropicbirds are often found here. A walk on Santa Fe reveals Galapagos hawks, while a snorkeling adventure in the turquoise lagoon rewards us with encounters with playful sea lion pups. Galapagos hawks are often seen here up close, along with Darwin’s famous finches.

Days 5-6
San Cristobal / Espanola

San Cristobal Island, one of the first sites visited by Charles Darwin aboard the HMS Beagle in 1835, is an ideal place to swim, snorkel, or stroll in the company of Galapagos sea lions. A walk up Frigatebird Hill brings us to the nesting grounds of a number of frigatebird species. Later, at Punta Pitt, we hike to a viewpoint to watch seabirds, including great frigatebirds, ride the thermals. Heading south to Espanola, southernmost island in the archipelago, we snorkel in beautiful Gardner Bay and hike among nesting blue-footed boobies, and between April and December, the spectacular waved albatross.

Days 7-9
Devil’s Crown / Floreana / Santa Cruz / Baltra / Quito

Devil’s Crown, the remnant of a volcanic crater, offers fantastic snorkeling, and we visit Floreana’s historic Post Office Bay. En route to Baltra, we visit the highlands of Santa Cruz to look for Galapagos tortoises in the wild, then fly to Quito. Depart on Day 9.

For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure

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 panga) 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 panga 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