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Sea lion coming in from a swim

Islands Circumnavigation III

Example 15 Day Cruise aboard Archipel I
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Take a cruise on this 15 day voyage that covers all the magnificent wonders the Galapagos has to offer. Spend your days exploring the archipelago, encountering sea lions, Galapagos penguins, frigate birds, flightless cormorants, tortoises, and many more unique native species! Get to know this fascinating and unique world inside and out with all the opportunities to snorkel, swim, and wander through the islands of this archipelago.
with the sun bathing iguanasKids loving Santa Cruz IslandIguana found during a Galapagos wildlife cruiseGiant tortoise on Santa CruzSea lion coming in from a swim
Activity Level: Relaxed
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Baltra - Santa Cruz Island - Highlands

  • Ship
  • 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
The guide will be waiting for you at Baltra Airport and will accompany you to the Archipell which anchors in Puerto Ayora harbor. After arrival on board, you will check in and be given general information before having lunch. The first excursion takes you to the Highlands to view incredible areas of vegetation. Then visit the private farm “Las Primicias”. This reserve offers one of the best opportunities to see the huge turtles of Santa Cruz Island in their natural habitat. You can observe them from a very close range.

Day 2-3: Isabela

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
With a surface area of 4588 square kilometers, Isabela Island is the largest of the archipelago. This island contains more than half of the land area of whole Galápagos. On the island of Tintoreras take an easy walk through the unique lava landscape with its huge colonies of sea lizards and sea lions. Have a chance to observe white tip sharks resting in the flat water near the shore. Located south of Isabela Island are the Humedales. This area contains an extensive variety of flora and fauna as well as incredible scenery of the bay. The town of Puerto Villamil, volcanoes, and islets can also be viewed from this point.

Punta Moreno has a young volcanic landscape with numerous fresh-water pools and lagoons. This is a great habitat for flamingos, bahama ducks, and other birds. The mangrove area of Elizabeth Bay has little off-shore islands where dwarf penguins make their home. Schools of manta rays, turtles, and other giants of the ocean make their home here. Whale-sharks are one of these common inhabitants in this area. Take a zodiac excursion that starts with a visit to the Marielas islets which is home to the largest penguin colony in the Galapagos. Continue into the red mangrove covered cove where sea turtles, flightless cormorants, spotted eagle rays, golden rays, brown pelicans and sea lions are abundant.

Day 4: Isabela - Fernandina

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Enjoy a zodiac tour along the cliffs of Tangus Cove where there is a good chance at seeing the Galapagos penguin, the flightless cormorant, and other sea birds. From the landing dock, it is about a 30 minute hike along the trail up to the top of the cliff where several volcanoes and the Darwin Lake can be viewed. Darwin lake is an uplifted ultra saline lake that is saltier than the sea. One of Fernandina’s incredible vista points is Espinoza. Espinoza is situated within a fascinating lava scenery filled with Lava-Cactus and mangroves. Enjoy seeing sea lions, penguins, the flightless cormorant as well as one of the biggest iguana colonies of the Galapagos. Snorkel and explore the beauty of the ocean floor and its inhabitants.

Day 5: Santa Cruz Island - Bachas Beach - North Seymour

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Las Bachas is a beautiful white-sand beach on the northern coast of Santa Cruz Island. Go for a relaxing stroll or do some easy snorkeling in the gentle surf. Sea turtles lay their eggs at the edge of the vegetation here on the beach. Also look for a rusted pontoon, a relic of the Second World War. 'Las Bachas' is a poor pronunciation of 'barges,' two of which were wrecked offshore during WWII. North Seymour is located slightly in the north of Baltra. It is a low, flat island, formed as a result of submarine lava formation uplift. Due to its covered of low, bushy vegetation, it contains the largest colony of magnificent frigate birds in the Galapagos. There is also a large population of Blue-Footed Boobies in this area. Get the chance to see them perform an amusing courtship dance when nesting conditions are right. It is definitely one of the highlights of this island.

Day 6: Genovesa

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Darwin Bay is the only sandy beach found in the caldera on Genovesa. Colonies of the Great Frigates are found along the beach here. The males will exhibit their red balloon pouch to females in hope of a match. View the Red-Footed Boobies that nest in the trees while the other two booby species will nest on the ground. El Barranco, also know as Prince Philip’s Steps, is a stair carved out of stone that will lead to a wide plateau. Observe large colonies of Masked Boobies, frigate birds, storm petrels and bahama ducks. Take an easy walk across a little Scalesia woodland to observe the short-eared owl.

Day 7: Bartolome - Santiago

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Admire the spectacular panorama of the Sullivan Bay and the famous Pinnacle Rock on Bartolomé Island. The beaches at the foot of the Pinnacle Rock are perfect for snorkeling. Take a trip to Sullivan Bay on the east coast of Santiago and explore the white coral sand beach and lava flows from less than 100 years ago. This is the perfect place to experience the volcanic origin of Galapagos.

Day 8: Santa Cruz Island - Charles Darwin Center

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
The Charles Darwin Research Station contains an information center, a museum, a library, and a tortoise breeding station. In the tortoise breeding you can encounter tortoises of different subspecies which are prepared here for reintroduction to their natural habitats. The most popular inhabitant of this Station is probably the Lonesome George turtle. The Highlands of Santa Cruz have incredible zones of vegetation. Visit the private farm “Las Primicias” that offers one of the best chances to see the huge turtles of Santa Cruz Island in their natural habitat.

Day 9: Floreana

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Cormorant Point has beautiful green olivine sand beaches that are perfect for strolling. Follow a short path to reach a beautiful lagoon with a bounty of magnificent flamingos. Later visit the Post Office Bay which still keeps the legendary post barrel that whalers used to post their mail. Then enjoy a visit to “Mirador de la Baronesa” where your guide will tell the legend of murder and mystery of the Baronesa. This viewpoint is located on the north of Floreana Island up a very easy climb. Steps are placed in this area for your security.

Day 10: Espanola

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Explore the variety of wildlife on Española Island including the various species of birds. Enjoy a chance to swim and snorkel in Gardner Bay where an abundance of different species of fish make their home where you may also encounter turtles and sharks. This bay is also frequented by colonies of sea lions which enjoy swimming with people. Point Suarez has one of the most outstanding wildlife areas of the archipelago. An extensive number of species are found along its cliffs and beaches.

Day 11: San Cristobal

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Punta Pitt is one of the only two sites where all three boobies breed. It is also occupied by frigate birds, swallow tailed gulls, and Galapagos storm-petrels. Cerro Brujo is one of the first sites visited by Charles Darwin and is a fascinating lava landscape located on the northeast coast of San Cristóbal. Observe a variety of birds including boobies, seagulls and some pelicans. This is a protected bay making it very popular for young ocean turtles and rays.

Day 12: Lobos - San Cristobal

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Explore the variety of wildlife on Española Island including the various species of birds. Enjoy a chance to swim and snorkel in Gardner Bay where an abundance of different species of fish make their home where you may also encounter turtles and sharks. This bay is also frequented by colonies of sea lions which enjoy swimming with people. Point Suarez has one of the most outstanding wildlife areas of the archipelago. An extensive number of species are found along its cliffs and beaches.

Day 13: South Plaza Island - Santa Fe

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
South Plaza provides some of the most interesting wildlife observations available in Galapagos. The unique Sesuvium plants and the Opuntia cactus are scattered across the landscape. Land iguanas are easily seen from the trail hiding in the shade. Santa Fe is one of the most entertaining destinations for shore excursions at Galapagos Islands. Here there will be two trails to choose from, each with its own unique sites. Hike to the tallest Opuntia cactus in the Galapagos or go to the highlands where land iguanas can be found. Take a relaxing swim in calm waters or snorkel with playful sea lions.

Day 14: Floreana

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Peace Asylum is the location of an artisan spring. It is one of the few year-round sources of fresh water making it a past attractions of pirates, whalers and later settlers to Floreana. The original settlers landed at La Cueva de los Piratas (Pirate's Cave) where pirates carved temporary shelter out of soft stone. La Loberia is a small beach, which is home to a colony of sea lions, as well as some marine iguanas. Walk there from town for some recreational snorkeling. Fortunate snorkelers may have the opportunity to spot a ray or a shark.

Day 15: Santa Cruz Island - Baltra

  • 1 Breakfast
On our last day, we will visit “Los Gemelos”, also known as “The Twins”, which are two enormous collapsed lava chambers. The short, easy hike to each of The Twins is swarming with an abundance of flora and fauna, including the remaining Scalesia Forest draped in liverwort. Finally, you will go to Baltra’s airport to take the flight to the continent.

Ship/Hotel

Archipel I

Enjoy sightseeing on the deck with a delicious snack.
Dining area on the Archipell I
Sundeck on the Archipell I

Dates & Prices

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Per person starting at
Standard Cabin on the Archipell I
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Standard Cabin
8 cabins with twin or double beds. Feature private facilities with hot & cold water, A/C.

Notes

Please reserve your kayak in advance prior to trip

Child Discount

20% discount for children under age 12 at time of Galapagos cruise. Child discounts are conditional and may not apply on certain departures. Please contact us for more information.

Children under 12 may receive discounts on Galapagos flight fares and entrance fees. Contact us for details.

Galapagos Flights

  • Quito - Galapagos Roundtrip
    • $530 - $675
  • Guayaquil - Galapagos Roundtrip
    • $475 - $620

Optional Hospitality Packages

Included
  • Accommodations on board based on double occupancy
  • Meals while in the Galapagos
  • Bilingual Naturalist Guide
  • Shore Excursions
  • Swimming and Snorkeling
  • Adventure Life Pre-departure Services and In-Country Assistance (Quito Representative)
  • Transfers and Baggage Handling in the Galapagos
  • Snorkeling Equipment
Excluded
  • Airfare (see Galapagos Flights)
  • Quito/Guayaquil Hotel and Transfers
  • $100 Galapagos Park Fee
  • Gratuities and drinks aboard the ship
  • Travel Insurance

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This was my first experience with Adventure Life - and I couldn't have been more pleased with the trip. The guides and local staff in both Buenos Aires and Uruguay were terrific - extremely helpful and accommodating. I really enjoyed meeting the friendly staff in Buenos Aires in person (I left my bags with them for the afternoon).
Karen Snider
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