galapagos islands cruise; wildlife; galapagos land iguana

Marine iguanas, Galápagos Islands

We explore by luxurious motor-sailer yacht in Darwin’s islands, a magical world of its own with an astonishing array of endemic species, from sea-going iguanas to tool-using finches.

Photo by Art Wolfe / Danita Delimont Agency

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Snorkel with playful sea lions and equatorial penguins, hike past dancing blue-footed boobies, and savor one of our planet’s quintessential natural history experiences! Natural predators have never existed on the Galápagos Islands, so the wildlife shows no fear around humans—we walk right among basking iguanas and seabirds on their nests for incredible opportunities to observe and photograph. As we explore a new island each day, our fantastic naturalist guide brings this unique world to life. A Galápagos pilgrimage is the dream of every nature lover, and we’ve perfected this journey, set aboard a luxurious, air-conditioned 12- to 16-passenger yacht—it’s the only way to go!

Highlights

  • Active adventure with seven days cruising Darwin’s magical isles
  • Swim with sea lions, snorkel in a kaleidoscopic underwater world
  • Small deluxe yacht—the ultimate way to go!

Details

  • 11-day trip begins and ends in Quito
  • 8 days / 7 nights aboard the yacht, 3 hotel nights in Quito
  • All meals included except 1 lunch, 2 dinners
  • Daily hikes, snorkeling

Tour Costs

Aboard the Beagle
$4195 (11-13 members)
$4595 (6-10 members)

Aboard the Sagitta
$4595 (14-16 members)
$4995 (6-13 members)

Aboard the Mary Anne
$4795 (14-16 members)
$5195 (8-13 members)

Single supplement (hotel only): $275
Single supplement (on boat): from $1300 (varies by boat)

Park fee: $100 (children 11 and under: $50)
Transit card: $10

Internal airfare (subject to change): $410 (children 11 and under: $210)

Child discount: $500 (15 and under, excludes private charters, Holiday departures and selected departures with special discounts)

December surcharge: $300

Cusco & Machu Picchu Extension from: $2150
Otavalo & Zuleta Extension from: $870
Napo Wildlife Center Extension from: $795
Sacha Lodge Extension from: $755

Prices are for 2010 dates

Departures & Leaders

2010 Dates
Mar 22-April 1, Sagitta
Apr 12-22, Mary Anne
Apr 25-May 5, Beagle
May 3-13, Mary Anne
Jun 14-24, Sagitta
Jun 28-July 8, Mary Anne
Jul 5-15, Mary Anne
Jul 12-22, Mary Anne
Aug 1-11, Beagle
Nov 22-Dec 2, Mary Anne
Dec 20-30, Mary Anne
Dec 27, 2010-Jan 6, 2011, Sagitta

2011 Dates—call for details
Jan 3-13, 2011, Mary Anne
Jan 10-20, Sagitta
Jan 31-10, Mary Anne
Feb 14-24, Sagitta
Feb 28-Mar 10, Mary Anne
Mar 14-24, Mary Anne
Mar 21-31, Sagitta
Apr 4-14, Sagitta
Apr 11-21, Mary Anne
Apr 18-28, Mary Anne
May 2-12, Mary Anne
Jun 6-16, Sagitta
Jun 13-23, Sagitta
Jun 20-30, Mary Anne
Jun 27-Jul 7, Mary Anne
Jul 11-21, Mary Anne
Jul 25-August 4, Sagitta
Nov 21-December 1, Mary Anne
Dec 19-29, Mary Anne
Dec 26-Jan 5, 2012, Mary Anne

Suggested Reading

Reading list, click here.

Itinerary at a Glance
Enchanted Isles route-map

Days 1-2
Quito, Ecuador

Meet in Quito and explore on your own in the colonial center, with its grand plaza, mansions, and baroque churches.

Days 3-4
Galápagos Cruise / North Seymour / Santa Cruz

There’s a world of wonder in Darwin’s bewitching islands—on land as well as in the sea. We fly out to the islands and sail to North Seymour Island for a hike among prehistoric-looking marine iguanas, Darwin’s “imps of darkness.” On Santa Cruz, we visit the town of Puerto Ayora and the Darwin Research Station, with its museum and tortoise breeding facility, then head up to the lush highlands for a chance to see Galápagos tortoises in the wild.

Day 5
Española

At remote Española (Hood), we discover a jewel of an island known for its high number of endemic species. Marine iguanas are inky black on most Galápagos islands, but on Española, they are brightly colored, with a reddish tint. At Punta Suarez, we find spectacular cliffs inhabited by colorful lava lizards, the indigenous Hood mockingbird, and cactus and warbler finches. We enjoy great snorkeling on the northeast coast at Gardner Bay, where sea lions laze on long white beaches. Between April and November, Española is famed for its colonies of nesting waved albatross. These giant birds use the island’s steep cliffs as runways to take off for their oceanic feeding grounds.

Days 6-8
Floreana / Isabela / Fernandina

Rich flora abounds on Floreana, and the snorkeling is out of this world at Devil’s Crown, the remnant of a volcanic crater whose pinnacles rise up from the sandy bottom. Red-billed tropicbirds nest in the crater’s rocky crevices, while schools of king angelfish and beautiful marbled rays swim below. On Punta Cormorant, we watch elegant pink flamingos wade in the shallows, and on Isabela Island, we snorkel among tiny Galápagos penguins who seem to fly through the water. We look for flightless cormorants at Punta Espinosa and marine turtles at Urbina Bay. On pristine Fernandina, we hike Punta Espinosa to see the biggest colony of marine iguanas in the islands. We can often see them diving in the intertidal areas.

Days 9-11
Santiago / Bartolomé / Quito

Santiago (James) Island has numerous shorebirds, including lava herons, Galápagos doves, and Galápagos hawks. Our hike up the volcanic cone called Pinnacle Rock on Bartolomé Island offers top-of-the-world views. We explore by panga in Black Turtle Cove, a red mangrove lagoon that is a nursery for many sharks and rays. Fly to Quito and depart on Day 11, or extend your journey to Machu Picchu, Ecuador’s mountain highlands, or the Amazon.

This is the Itinerary-at-a-Glance. For the complete trip description, Download Full Trip Brochure

Optional Extensions

If you would like to extend your adventure, we offer the following options:

Hilton Colon

Days 1 to 2 (2 nights),
Day 10 (1 night),
Quito, Ecuador

Quito's original luxury hotel has a fabulous location alongside a small park right at the juncture between old and new Quito. While the hotel ...
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The Sagitta

Days 3 to 9 (7 nights), Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

The Sagitta is a is a majestic 120-foot sailing yacht that caters to 16 passengers. She has ten air-conditioned cabins with private facilities, a ...
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The Mary Anne

Days 3 to 9 (7 nights), Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

The 216-foot Mary Anne is a stunningly beautiful 3-masted barquentine sailing ship that accommodates 16 passengers in double cabins with private ...
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The Beagle

Days 3 to 9 (7 nights), Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

The magnificent 105-foot steel hulled schooner Beagle (formerly named the Andando) has a teak deck, a luxurious interior, and six double cabins, ...
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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.