Experience the Magic of the Galápagos Islands—in WT style!
Small Yacht Travel: the Best Way to Experience The Islands — Wake each morning to a new island to explore, and while you enjoy lunch al fresco on deck, we move to a second fascinating site. Traveling by yacht gives you the greatest variety of wildlife, scenery, and certainly the best snorkeling sites.
Active Adventures, with Hiking, Snorkeling, Zodiac Explorations, and Optional Sea Kayaking — We capture the wonder of Darwin’s legendary archipelago on daily island hikes, on snorkeling excursions that reveal sea turtles, Galápagos penguins, marine iguanas, and a kaleidoscopic array of tropical fish, and on optional explorations by sea kayak.
Our Small Groups Ensure Your Experience Is Personalized — With just 16 guests on the Mary Anne and 14 guests aboard the Passion, you’ll enjoy wonderful camaraderie—it’s an experience not possible on the larger cruise ships.
Explore and Learn with World-Class Trip Leaders — Our Trip Leaders are the best and most experienced in the Galápagos. They are phenomenal teachers and delightful traveling companions with a gift for creating unforgettable experiences.
Our Commitment to Conservation — Wilderness Travel is a proud founding member of the International Galápagos Tour Operators Association (IGTOA), dedicated to the preservation of these extraordinary islands, and we support the Galápagos Conservancy and the Charles Darwin Foundation.
Overview
Step aboard the graceful 16-guest Mary Anne, a truly romantic sailing ship, and glide island to island into Darwin’s enchanted world—heads turn when this majestic tall ship comes into view! For an active 8-day cruise on the Mary Anne, choose either our Eastern or Western Islands journey. In the Eastern Islands, highlights include a seasonal breeding site for waved albatross (May-December), the largest red-footed booby colony in the world, and amazing snorkeling at iconic Pinnacle Rock. On our Western Islands journey, walk a shoreline full of endemic flightless cormorants, snorkel at famous Devil’s Crown, and visit a colony of magnificent frigatebirds. Life on board the Mary Anne each day is a delight—think a glass of wine at sunset and delicious meals al fresco!
Exceeded my expectations, with excellent service and handling from start to finish. The trip included just the right balance of naturalist-led hikes with snorkeling, etc. On board service and food was exceptional.
— Raymond G., Livermore, CA
Itinerary at a Glance
Days 1-4
Quito or Guayaquil / Genovesa Island / Bartolomé (Eastern Islands Itinerary)
After an overnight in Quito or Guayaquil, fly to Baltra, board the Mary Anne, and head out for a ride by panga (Zodiac) in Black Turtle Cove, a mangrove lagoon on the coast of Santa Cruz Island. Here green sea turtles or golden rays may cruise right next to our Zodiac. At highly volcanic Genovesa Island, also known as the “Bird Island” for its spectacular birdlife, we’ll land at Darwin Bay and snorkel (or kayak) among teeming marine life. We’ll also hike a coastal trail to see red-footed boobies, red-billed tropicbirds, great frigatebirds, and elegant swallow-tailed gulls, the only nocturnal gull in the world. Our trail on Bartolomé Island leads to magnificent views of Pinnacle Rock, a soaring volcanic cone. We’ll take a Zodiac ride around this scenic setting, visiting the tiny island of Sombrero Chino, an eroded cone. At the base of Pinnacle Rock, we can snorkel among tropical fish, friendly sea lions, and tiny Galápagos penguins.
Days 5-6
Rábida / Santa Cruz / Darwin Research Station
On small and rocky Rábida Island, red-sand beaches give way to a saltwater lagoon that hosts greater flamingos and white-cheeked pintails. The island is a great place for kayaking and to see nesting pelicans up close. Blue-footed and Nazca boobies can be seen on the cliffs above. At Cerro Dragon, we find a fantastic land iguana nesting site, and Galápagos mockingbird and Darwin’s finches are also found here. In the lush highlands of Santa Cruz Island, we visit El Chato Tortoise Reserve, where we can see giant tortoises in the wild, then return to the coast to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, where the big tortoises are bred. Established in 1959, the research station works closely with the Galápagos National Park Service to protect the islands.
Days 7-9
South Plaza / Santa Fé / Española
South Plaza Island captivates with its black-lava shoreline and copper-colored land iguanas (and this is the only island where land iguanas and marine iguanas share territory). On Santa Fé, we see the unique land iguana endemic to this particular island. Española is the spot to see waved albatrosses (mating and breeding season is between May and December). We follow flipper prints on a white-sand beach to find lounging sea lions, and keep an eye out for Galápagos hawks, Galápagos doves, and Hood mockingbirds. Fly to Quito or Guayaquil and depart on Day 9, or join one of our extensions.
Galapagos Adventure aboard the Mary Anne
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Similar Private Journeys
Your family or friends, your trip dates, your dream adventure! Book them as they are or customize the journey just for you.
With an Expert Naturalist Guide
Charter a private yacht, and with your naturalist guide, set off into Darwin’s world for an active journey full of nature hikes and wildlife wonders, including fantastic snorkeling with playful sea lions.
Download Brochure
View our online digital brochure of The Galápagos Islands 2023, featuring incredible wildlife adventures in Darwin’s Islands aboard the yacht Mary Anne, or the luxury yacht Passion. Or request a print copy to be sent by mail, or by calling 800-368-2794.
