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, 14 guests aboard the Passion, and 8 guests aboard the Vision, 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
Snorkel with playful sea lions and penguins, kayak among sea turtles, and hike past dancing blue-footed boobies on this active adventure in one of the greatest natural history destinations in the world. Our 15-day Galápagos cruise is the ultimate experience of both the Eastern Islands and Western Islands, including history-rich Floreana, Fernandina, with its flightless cormorants, and Santiago’s golden beaches. The tall ship the Mary Anne is the ideal way to go, getting you to places land-based trips cannot reach. The cuisine is delicious and served al fresco, and you’ll enjoy a new anchorage each night. Our small groups (just 16 guests) give you the best experiences with your expert naturalist guide.
Fabulous trip and fabulous experience. This was a bucket list trip for me and did not disappoint. It was a special treat to be aboard the Mary Anne, in my opinion the most beautiful ship in the Galapagos. The small group size was perfect.
— Mary M., Kealakekua, HI
Itinerary at a Glance
Days 1-4
Guayaquil / Baltra / Genovesa / Bartolomé
From Guayaquil, where we overnight, fly to Baltra and board the three-masted Mary Anne. This gracious yacht offers an inviting air-conditioned wood-paneled lounge, comfortable en-suite staterooms, and the romantic ambiance of a tall ship. We cruise by panga (Zodiac) through Black Turtle Cove, a mangrove lagoon on Santa Cruz Island. Pelicans and herons roost here, and green sea turtles or golden rays may cruise past our panga. At the remote island of Genovesa, we’ll hike to see frigatebirds, red-footed boobies, and red-billed tropicbirds nesting along the cliffs. On Bartolomé Island, our trail leads to views of needle-like Pinnacle Rock, the eroded remnant of an old volcanic cone with stunning vistas of the bay below. This scenic bay offers a wonderful opportunity to swim with tiny Galápagos penguins.
Days 5-10
Rábida / Santa Cruz / Santa Fé / Española / Devil’s Crown / Floreana
Rábida’s saltwater lagoon is home to colorful flamingos, and we learn about the important conservation work being done at the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz. On Santa Fé, we watch sea lions strike a pose on a white-sand beach. The waved albatross is a highlight of our explorations on Española (May to December), and we hike near the vast twin craters of Los Gemelos in the Santa Cruz highlands. Devil’s Crown shelters teeming marine life, and a hike brings us to historic Post Office Bay on Floreana.
Days 11-17
Isabela / Fernandina / Santiago
We search for whales and dolphins as we cross to Isabela Island. At Punta Moreno, we walk on a pahoehoe lava flow and take a panga ride through scenic Tagus Cove. Flightless cormorants and marine iguanas are a delight at Fernandina’s Punta Espinosa. We explore Santiago Island’s Espumilla Beach and walk to nesting colonies of the two species of frigatebirds as well as blue-footed boobies and swallow-tailed gulls on North Seymour. Fly to Guayaquil for a final overnight, and depart on Day 17.
Ultimate Galapagos
Highlights
Highlights
Details
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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.
Exploring Darwin’s Islands aboard the Passion or the Vision
Charter a luxury yacht with your naturalist guide,and 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
Download a PDF of our Ultimate Galapagos Detailed Itinerary to learn more about our day-to-day itinerary, prices and dates, lodging, and leaders.
