Fitzroy Cruise

Darwin wrote that among these islands “we seem to be brought somewhat near to that great fact—that mystery of mysteries—the first appearance of new beings on this earth.” Our Fitzroy cruise, named for the captain of Darwin’s vessel, discovers the extraordinary wildlife and wonders of the western islands, including Isabela, with its five active volcanoes, Santiago, with its eerie lava flows and Galapagos fur seals, and Santa Cruz, home to the Charles Darwin Research Station. Blue-footed boobies, flightless cormorants, flamingos, giant land tortoises, and tiny Galapagos penguins are just a few of the exotic species we encounter. Snorkeling, hikes, an expert naturalist guide, the extraordinary 16-guest tall ship Mary Anne—it’s all here on this amazing adventure!

Itinerary at a Glance

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Days 1-2
Quito, Ecuador

Arrive in Quito, the capital of Ecuador, with a day to enjoy the colonial heritage of Old Quito, at its most magnificent in the sprawling Iglesia San Francisco church and monastery, built over an Inca holy site, and ornate La Compania church, said to have seven tons of gold on its ceilings, walls, and altars. Overnights at the Hotel Hilton Colon.

Day 3
Galapagos Cruise / Baltra / Santa Cruz

Our flight to the Galapagos takes us out to Baltra Island. In Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, we visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, with its museum and tortoise-breeding facility. Later, we board the gracious Mary Anne and cruise to Isabela, the largest island in the Galapagos.

Days 4-6
Isabela / Fernandina

Our explorations on Isabela include walks on old lava flows, a Zodiac ride through a mangrove lagoon where we may see green sea turtles and Galapagos penguins, and a hike at Urbina Bay. We also hike to Darwin Lake, a saltwater crater lake, and land at Punta Albemarle, where marine iguanas and flightless cormorants greet us. On Fernandina Island, Punta Espinosa extends out from the base of the most active volcano in the Galapagos. Here we find sea lions, countless marine iguanas, and a colony of flightless cormorants.

Days 7
Santiago / Puerto Egas

Cruising to Santiago, we swim and snorkel off Espumilla Beach and explore a mangrove forest that shelters flamingos and other birds. At Puerto Egas, a magnificent stretch of coastline, erosion in the lava has formed pools, caves, and inlets where we see a great variety of wildlife from marine iguanas to Galapagos fur seals, herons, and shorebirds.

Days 8-9
North Seymour Island / Baltra / Quito

Before heading to Baltra, we cruise to North Seymour, a small, uplifted island with abundant sea lions and blue-footed boobies, for a hike among prehistoric-looking marine iguanas, Darwin’s “imps of darkness.” We fly to Quito and 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