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
Our 15-day Galápagos cruise combines both the Eastern and Western Islands for an incredible and full experience that includes history-rich Floreana, Fernandina, with its flightless cormorants, Santiago’s golden beaches, and the far-flung islands of Genevesa (Tower) and Española, with their endemic species. Snorkel with sea lions and Galápagos penguins, sea kayak among sea turtles, and hike past dancing blue-footed boobies. This is a perfectly designed adventure in one of the greatest natural history destinations in the world, and traveling aboard our classic tall ship, the 16-guest Mary Anne, is a beautiful way to go.
I can’t express how much I loved sitting on the back deck of the Mary Anne. And… how did you arrange that beautiful lunar eclipse and that pod of 1,000 dolphins that swam by the ship? Magical!
— Martha D., Los Altos, CA
Itinerary at a Glance
Days 1-4
Quito or Guayaquil / Baltra / Genovesa / Bartolomé
Overnight in Quito or Guayaquil, fly to Baltra, board the Mary Anne, and cruise to the mangrove lagoon known as Black Turtle Cove for a panga (Zodiac) ride among marine dwellers such as green sea turtles or golden rays. At remote Genovesa (Tower) Island, we land at magnificent Darwin Bay, a flooded caldera, to snorkel among colorful fish. Our hike on Genovesa’s coast may bring us red-footed boobies, red-billed tropicbirds, great frigatebirds, and elegant swallow-tailed gulls. We may also see Darwin’s famous finches. At Bartolomé Island, we hike a trail to the top of needle-like Pinnacle Rock, then snorkel with tiny Galápagos penguins in the cove below.
Days 5-10
Rábida / Santa Cruz / Santa Fé / Española / Devil’s Crown / Floreana
On Rábida Island, we’ll take a panga ride or kayak along the shore and look for marine iguanas and blue-footed boobies. Rábida’s saltwater lagoon is home to flamingos. Landing at Santa Cruz, we head up to El Chato Tortoise Reserve in the highlands to search for these giant creatures in the wild, then visit the Charles Darwin Research Station’s tortoise-breeding facility for an up-close visit with the big tortoises. We’ll watch sea lions strike a pose on Santa Fé Island, and between May and December, we can find nesting waved albatross on Española Island. At Devil’s Crown, a crushed caldera, there is teeming marine life, and we’ll hike to historic Post Office Bay on Floreana.
Days 11-16
Isabela / Fernandina / Santiago
We navigate to Isabela Island, with a good chance of seeing whales or dolphins swimming along with our yacht—an experience not possible from the larger cruise ships. We’ll step ashore at Punta Moreno for a walk on a superb pahoehoe lava flow, then land at Tagus Cove, a historic pirate hideaway. On Fernandina Island, we’ll find the flightless cormorants and marine iguanas a delight. We’ll alsoexplore Santiago’s Espumilla Beach, with its frigatebirds and blue-footed boobies. Fly to Quito or Guayaquil and depart on Day 16.
Ultimate Galapagos aboard the Mary Anne
Highlights
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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.
