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, and Sea Kayaking — We capture the wonder of Darwin’s legendary archipelago on daily island hikes, snorkeling excursions that reveal sea turtles, penguins, and a kaleidoscopic array of tropical fish, and optional explorations by sea kayak.
Our Small Groups Ensure your Experience is Personalized — With just 14 guests aboard the Passion, island access, and a 1:1 staff guest ratio—it’s an experience not possible on larger cruise ships.
Explore and Learn with World-Class Trip Leaders — Our Naturalist Guides are the best and most experienced in the Galápagos. They are phenomenal teachers, passionate conservationists, 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
The Galápagos Islands are truly “a world unto themselves,” as Darwin wrote. Aboard your own private yacht with your naturalist guide, set off into Darwin’s world for an active journey full of island hikes, fantastic snorkeling, explorations by Zodiac, optional sea kayaking, and absolute wonder. Spotting giant tortoises in the wild and swimming with playful sea lions are experiences you’ll never forget! A Private Journey allows you to choose your own dates, travel with your closest friends and family, and still enjoy the signature quality of a Wilderness Travel group trip. Our collection of yachts can each welcome up to 16 guests, but they are ideal for smaller groups too—you’ll have the yacht all to yourselves! Explore the Eastern or Western islands on a 7-night/8-day route—your itinerary will depend on your dates—or combine both for a 15-day Ultimate Galápagos experience. Each itinerary sees all the major Galápagos species, so no matter which route you choose, your days are packed with fun, discovery, and the magic of up-close wildlife encounters. Our Galápagos Specialists are ready to help you plan the trip that’s right for you.
This was a fantastic experience for us and for the rest of the family. The crew was exemplary, and they made it a trip of a lifetime for all. We look forward to another similar trip, and we also look forward to several upcoming Wilderness Travel adventures.
— Alan B., Honolulu, HI
Itinerary at a Glance
Eastern Islands Itinerary
Days 1-3
Black Turtle Cover / Genovesa (Tower) Island / Bartolomé Island
Fly to Baltra, board your yacht, and enjoy a Zodiac cruise at Black Turtle Cove, a large mangrove lagoon on the north coast of Santa Cruz Island where pelicans and herons roost on the branches while marine dwellers such as green sea turtles or golden rays may cruise right next to our Zodiac. You'll then navigate to Genovesa (Tower) Island for a walk among its huge colony of photogenic red-footed boobies perched in palo santo trees—the only member of the booby family to nest in trees. A hike to the top of Bartolomé offers breathtaking views of Pinnacle Rock, the Galápagos’ most famous icon, and neighboring Santiago Island. We’ll be on the lookout for tiny Galápagos penguins, the only penguin species that lives north of the equator.
Days 4-5
Rábida Island / Santa Cruz Highlands / Charles Darwin Research Station
Rábida’s red-sand beaches give way to a saltwater lagoon with greater flamingos and white-cheeked pintails. After a snorkeling excursion, head into the highlands of Santa Cruz Island to visit El Chato Tortoise Reserve and search for these giant creatures in the wild. You’ll also visit the Charles Darwin Research Station’s tortoise-breeding facility. Established in 1959, the research station works closely with the Galápagos National Park Service to protect the islands. Here you’ll see giant tortoise species from several different islands.
Days 6-8
South Plaza / Santa Fé Island / Española / Los Gemelos
Step ashore on South Plaza (Plaza Sur), where huge seagoing marine iguanas roam the shores, and swallow-tailed gulls and red-billed tropicbirds rest. On Santa Fé Island, you’ll have the chance to snorkel in the beautiful turquoise waters before heading to fascinating Española, the southernmost island in the archipelago, for a spectacular walk on Punta Suarez near marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, and Galápagos sea lions. The huge waved albatross, with its seven-foot wingspan, are considered endemic not only to the Galápagos but also to Española. Disembark on Day 8 in Baltra, and en route to the airport, make a short stop at Twin Craters (Los Gemelos).
Western Islands Itinerary
Days 1-3
Santa Cruz Island / Darwin Station / Floreana
Fly to Baltra and explore the lush Santa Cruz highlands to look for the giant Galápagos tortoises that gave the islands their name. Board your yacht, then visit the Charles Darwin Research Station’s tortoise-breeding facility. Cruise to Floreana for a walk to a salt-water lagoon where pink flamingos wade. Snorkel at Devil’s Crown, a volcanic rock formation, and visit historic Post Office Bay, where sailors once left letters to be picked up by the next passing ship.
Days 4-5
Isabela Island / Urbina Bay / Tagus Cove / Fernandina
Land at Punta Moreno on Isabela for a walk on a superb broken lava flow surrounded by giant shield volcanoes—some are still active! Visit Urbina Bay, with its black-sand beach where green sea turtles nest, and hike at Tagus Cove, once an anchorage for pirate boats, for views of the volcanic landscapes of Darwin Volcano and Darwin Lake, a saline lake that is saltier than the sea! Cross Bolivar Channel to Fernandina Island and land at Punta Espinosa, a narrow point of land extending out from the base of the Fernandina Volcano, the most active volcano in the Galápagos. During nesting season (the first half of the year), you may see tiny marine iguana hatchlings here, as well as flightless cormorants, land iguanas, and Galápagos penguins.
Days 6-8
Santiago / Sullivan Bay / North Seymour
At Santiago, visit magnificent Puerto Egas, where you might see Darwin’s finches and the endemic Galápagos hawk. Enjoy idyllic Espumilla Beach, a great place for swimming and snorkeling and an important site for nesting marine turtles. Walk the recent lava flows of Sullivan Bay, with their fresh pahoehoe formations, then head to North Seymour to hike among prehistoric-looking marine iguanas and a colony of magnificent frigatebirds. Disembark at Baltra and transfer to the airport for ongoing flights.
Galapagos Private Journey
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Download Brochure
View our online digital brochure of The Galápagos Islands 2024, 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.
