Enjoy the Galapagos Islands aboard Galaxy in 15 days, where you explore magical landscapes with unique wildlife like giant tortoises, flamingos, iguanas, and sharks. There is an endless list of activities to do on the islands: San Cristobal, Española, Floreana, Santa Fe, South Plaza, Santa Cruz, Isabela, Fernandina, Santiago, Rabida, Genovesa and others.
Highlights
Enjoy a walking along the base of Alcedo Volcano on Urbina bay
Discover idyllic sandy-white beaches populated by friendly sea lions
Enjoy plenty of swimming, snorkeling and kayaking opportunities
Hike to the highlands of Santa cruz and visit the twin craters
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Arrive in San Cristobal and transfer to the Galaxy for your Galapagos Cruise.
In the afternoon, sail for Isla Lobos (Sea Lion Island) to view the sea lions which rest on the island's rocky shore. Isla Lobos is frequented with blue-footed boobies, great frigatebirds, brown pelicans, lava gulls, common noddies, yellow warblers and small and medium ground finches, making it an ideal location for birders. Snorkel near Kicked Rock, in the clear water and play with the sea lions in the shallows.
Journey to Gardner Bay, to snorkel with a variety of fish and playful sea lions. You will see the occasional turtle or shark which swim in the waters off the island.
In the afternoon, travel to Suarez Point one of the most significantly rich birdlife locations in the Galapagos archipelago. Around twelve thousand breading pairs have their nests in the Española Island. Depending on the time of year, you might catch the Blue-Footed Boobies and the Waved Albatross doing their extensive mating dances. Also view marine iguanas and over-sized lava lizards as they sun themselves on the rocks.
Sail for Post Office Bay, a sandy beach where past whalers used to leave and receive their letters in a barrel. Take part in the tradition by leaving an addressed postcard in the barrel. Additionally, pick up any letters within close proximity to your home to deliver once you return from the Galapagos.
Visit Punta Cormorant located to the west of Floreana Island. It has a unqiuely famous dark green beach due to the great quantity of olivine crystals. Then take a panga ride around Devils's Crown, a satellite islet of the island Floreana where constant sea erosion has formed the rocks into the shape of a crown. This is one of the better places to go snorkeling.
Arrive in Santa Fe to view the Opuntia cactus forest, the largest of its kind in the archipelago. It is home of one of the two species of land iguanas in the Galapagos islands. Crabs, nocturnal herons, marine iguanas, and land doves are often seen. The gorgeous turquoise bay is an excellent place to swim and go snorkeling with sea turtles, rays, sea lions and tropical fishes.
In South Plaza, you will find two small islands with one of the largest populations of land iguanas in the Galapagos islands. Take a cliff-side trail which circumnavigates the island for spectacular views and varied vegetation.
Day 5: Charles Darwin Center | Santa Cruz Highlands
Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn about the natural history of the islands and the effects of human involvement. See the tortoise breeding and rearing project at work.
After lunch, hike in the El Chato reserve looking for the infamous giant tortoises in their natural habitat.
Return to the ship to relax before dinner.
Visit Las Tintoreras to see the colony of white tip sharks which can often be seen resting in a lava canal. Snorkel in the shallows or relax on the beach with a sea lion colony.
In the afternoon, visit Moreno Point. It is used only to take small speedboat trips to observe the wildlife unique to this place. It’s a bay that is located in front of the narrowest site of the Isabela Island: the Perry isthmus, where there’s a water entry that has formed a bay within a bay, with calmed waters that are protected and surrounded by mangle which makes it a perfect place for sea turtles. It’s truly a spectacle of nature!
Journey to Elizabeth Bay, one of the island's breeding sites for penguins. Watch Galápagos hawks soar overhead and see schools of pompana as they swim beneath you. Explore the red mangrove cove looking for Brown pelicans, flightless cormorants, spotted eagle rays, and golden rays.
Sail for Urbina Bay at the base of Alcedo Volcano to watch sea turtles and rays. Take a short hike (3.2km) which leads to a coral reef. The area is abundant with marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, and even lobsters.
Sail for Tagus Cove west of Darwin Volcano in Isabela Island. Hike to Darwin Lake passing by pirates graffiti carved into the rocks in the 1800s. Then take a panga trip below the high cliffs of the island. See penguins, marine iguanas, Sally Lightfoot crabs and sea lions on shore, and snorkel off the sandy beach.
In the afternoon, visit Espinoza Point to view hundreds of marine iguanas as they gather on the black lava rocks. Walk around to see the various lava flows and hopefully spot the Flightless Cormorant. Admire Fernandina Island from Espinoza Point where its last volcanic eruption was in May 2005.
Sail for Puerto Egas with its black sandy beach create by volcanic deposits from the island's volcano, Pan de Azucar. The crater of this volcano is a salt lake, and in 1928 there were some explorations into harvesting the salt, but it proved to be too difficult.
After lunch explore the Palo Santo Wood of Espumilla Beach, a very important site for nesting tortoises.
Hike Dragon Hill in the Northwestern side of Santa Cruz Island, which consists of a trail that runs through three different environments at just 1,600 m long.
Visit Black Turtle Cove, surrounded by mangroves, accessible by panga only. The superficial cove is a safe refuge for marine life. Black-tip reef sharks, marine turtles, and a variety of rays are often spotted here.
Spend the morning on the red sandy beaches of Rabida Island, take a loop trail around the internal lagoon. The red color of the rocks and sand is due to oxidization of the very porous volcanic material.
This afternoon travel to the small, volcanic island of Sombrero Chino (Chinese Hat). On the west you can see pillow-type lava formations, which are an indicator that the flows were formed under the sea and have been raised upward, which is why coral heads are found on the lava. This visit provides an excellent opportunity for the interpretation of geological features such as lava tubes and lava flows. Here you will be able to hike around and see magnificent lava tubes and lava flows that cover the island.
Hike across the visitors trail, a one mile walk through low vegetation on North Seymour. Blue-footed-boobies and land iguanas are abundant on this rocky island.
In the afternoon explore Mosquera islet between Baltra Island and North Seymour. Here, we find the biggest sea lions colony; also it is possible to observe several species of birds. Hike along the white sandy beach!
Explore Sullivan Island by walking around the amazing, uneroded, black lava flow covered with lava bubbles. Learn about the plants that thrive in this seemingly desolate landscape.
Spend the afternoon exploring Bartholomew Island by land and by see. First take a short hike to view the plant and bird life coexisting with the volcanic landscape. Then swim and snorkel around from the beach on the northside of the island.
Visit Genovesa, a shield volcano. Rich in birdlife, Genovesa stretches about five miles and is filled with salt water. Hike up Prince Philip's Steps which give an extraordinary view of the island.
In the afternoon head to Darwin Bay beach for a hike in small forest of mangrove swamp where you will discover a colony of Frigates, marine iguanas, red-foot boobies and mask boobies, the great terrestrial and cactus finch. After this visit inland, you have the option to enjoy swim and snorkel in the bay.
Day 15: San Cristobal | Disembark | Home
1 Breakfast
Visit the Interpretation Center to learn about the history and biodiversity of the Galápagos Islands. Take an informative self-guided walking tour to view Galapagos conservation at work.
In the afternoon, transfer to the airport for your connection back Home.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$8,496
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Lower Deck
Comfortable cabins with lower beds and port hole windows. Cabins have private bathrooms with hot/cold water and air conditioning.
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Main Deck
Comfortable cabins with lower beds and large windows. Cabins have private bathrooms with hot/cold water and air conditioning.
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Upper Deck
Comfortable cabins with lower beds and large windows. Cabins have private bathrooms with hot/cold water and air conditioning.
Child Discount
10% 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.
Initial deposit is 35% ($400 minimum), and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 (10 weeks) prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
For full cancellation policy details, please contact us for a quote.
Included
14 Breakfasts, 13 Lunches, 14 Dinners
14 Nights Accommodations
Accommodations as listed
Ground transportation as listed
Activities as listed
Meals as listed
Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
Snorkeling equipment, wetsuits, kayaks, and paddleboards are all included in the cruise cost and are available for your use onboard.
Bilingual Naturalist Guide
Adventure Life Pre-departure Services and In-Country Assistance (Quito Representative)
Shore Excursions, Swimming and Snorkeling
Transfers and Baggage Handling in the Galapagos
Excluded
Gratuities
Travel Insurance
Personal Expenses
Flight costs (please request a quote)
Additional excursions during free time
Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
Galapagos Park Entrance Fee: $200 per adult, $100 per child under 12 (fees of $100 per adult and $50 per child valid on arrivals throughAug 1, 2024). Payable upon arrival to the Galapagos, only in cash dollars. Subject to increase by Galapagos Park Service.
The trip might have been the absolute best of our lifetime (thus far). We particularly want to commend our guide Peter in the Guilin area-he was so incredibly attentive, energetic, enthusiastic-and absolutely dedicated to ensuring that our meals were 100% vegetarian.
Jack Charney
TrustScore 4.8 | 169 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
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5 days ago
I spoke with at least a half dozen other travel companies, looking for a Galapagos cruise that fit our schedule and budget. Some companies could manage one or the other, but Erin was the only one who could do both. She found us the perfect cruise, at a fantastic price! And she has been quick and patient with responses to my many questions. So far, Adventure Life has been a fantastic company to work with!
Sandi T
2 weeks ago
Erin was patient, thorough, responsive, knowledgeable.
Karen Bukolt
3 weeks ago
Erin was responsive, knowledgeable, helpful, and ran through a few different choices with us. She got us a fabulous price on a trip, and made everything easy to do. And QUICK!!
Tina
1 month ago
From the initial meeting and planning process with our trip planner Jess, through to the finalizing of our itinerary, trip details and questions, I was very impressed with the professionalism, thoroughness, organization and attention to details. I would highly recommend Adventure Life to anyone looking to plan a unique travelling experience, knowing that the expertise and experience provided will result in a seamless trip of a lifetime.
Lynn Farquharson
1 month ago
Excellent suggestions I line with my desires on a Galapagos very last minute cruise.
Swift and professional guidance and assistance in booking the trip. Helped me realising a substantial saving.