La Encantada Cruise

The peaceful Eden of the Galapagos Islands is a place unlike any other on earth. Recognized as a World Heritage Site, it is the legendary place where the young naturalist Charles Darwin, traveling on the research vessel HMS Beagle, made the first observations that would lead to his revolutionary theory of evolution. We experience Darwin’s islands aboard the tall ship Mary Anne, which hosts just 16 guests for an intimate Galapagos experience as we visit the western, central, and northern regions of las islas encantadas. With daily island hikes and snorkeling in a kaleidoscopic underwater world of playful sea lions and tiny penguins, our itinerary includes remote Tower Island, a mesmerizing oasis for seabirds, and Bartolome, where the snorkeling is spectacular and the view from its summit tremendous!

Itinerary at a Glance

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Days 1-2
Quito, Ecuador

Arrive in Quito and enjoy a day to explore the narrow cobblestone streets and charming squares of Old Quito, declared a World Heritage Site in 1978. Old Quito is abuzz with life, from the grand Plaza de Indepencia to beautiful La Ronda, one of the oldest streets, with its whitewashed buildings and blue window frames brimming with geraniums. Overnights at the Hotel Hilton Colon.

Day 3
Galapagos Cruise / Baltra / Santa Cruz

Fly to the Galapagos and board the Mary Anne at Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz. We look for giant tortoises in the wild in the island’s lush highlands, and visit the Charles Darwin Research Station’s tortoise breeding facility. We then set a course for Isabela, with its spectacular coastline of basaltic bluffs.

Days 4-6
Isabela / Fernandina

Our next few days are at Isabela, where we enjoy fascinating encounters with flamingos, green sea turtles, Galapagos penguins, and giant tortoises. Zodiac rides and snorkeling excursions round out our nature hikes. We also stop at pristine Fernandina Island, noted for its countless marine iguanas and rookery of flightless cormorants.

Days 7-8
Santiago / North Seymour / Black Turtle Cove

After viewing Galapagos fur seals at Puerto Egas on Santiago, we walk among magnificent frigatebirds and blue-footed boobies on North Seymour. A Zodiac ride through Black Turtle Cove reveals a red mangrove lagoon that is a nursery for many sharks and rays.

Days 9-10
Tower / Bartolome

Far-flung Tower Island is a birder’s dream, with thousands of red-footed boobies, great frigatebirds, storm petrels, swallow-tailed gulls (endemic to the Galapagos), and the hard-to-find short-eared owl. Heading to tiny Bartolome, we hike to the volcanic summit for breathtaking views of the surrounding islands and iconic Pinnacle Rock, and enjoy dazzling snorkeling with penguins in the waters below.

Days 11-13
Santiago / Rabida / Santa Cruz / Baltra / Quito

We walk along the lava flows of Santiago’s Sullivan Bay, with their strange pahoehoe formations. On the “red” island of Rabida, we see nesting brown pelicans, marine iguanas, and sea lions, and on Santa Cruz, we view land iguanas at Cerro Dragon. Arriving at Baltra airport on Day 12, we fly to Quito and depart on Day 13.

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