This 11-day Northern Islands Galapagos cruise explores the islands of Santa Cruz, Rabida, Chinese Hat, Seymour, Santiago, Bartholomew, Genovesa and San Cristobal. Snorkel with sea lions, witness the famous dance of the blue-footed boobies, and see the giant tortoises which gave this archipelago its name.
Highlights
Hike to the highlands of Santa cruz and visit the twin craters
Enjoy a walking along the base of Alcedo Volcano on Urbina bay
See endemic wildlife on Egas Port
Ride around Tagus Cove and see the two volcanic craters locket the step to open sea
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 Galapagos and drive to the Santa Cruz Highland to explore. Hike in the El Chato reserve looking for the infamous giant tortoises in their natural habitat.
Return to the ship to relax before dinner.
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 pirate's 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.
Visit Espinosa 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 lat 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 visitor 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, you will find the biggest sea lions colony; it is also 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 sea. 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 a 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 on land, enjoy swimming and snorkeling in the bay.
Day 11: 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 to the mainland.
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.
$6,072
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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
10 Breakfasts, 9 Lunches, 10 Dinners
10 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.
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
TrustScore 4.6 | 107 reviews
TrustScore 4.6 of 5
Based on 107 reviews on
20 hours ago
Clara and Rhenee were gracious and available. Phone contact is so important to answer questions and discuss all aspects of trip. If not immediately available they scheduled a time to speak.
They were knowledgeable, honest, realistic and very friendly. They are both very professional and take their role seriously.
Happy Camper
20 hours ago
Jason has been wonderful. He is full of information and was very willing to listen to what was of interest to us.
Lee
2 days ago
The ability (of Kassandra) to tailor a guided trip to my exact preferences is very valuable to me, as well as the ability (of Kassandra) to provide expert guidance on destinations and travel dates. I also appreciate the ability of the backup staff (Maria Ignacio, Exito Travel) to coordinate all the details to make the travel logistics easy for the customer.
Mark Whalen
2 days ago
Our Costa Rica trip was amazing! Kassandra planned everything and the excursions, hotels, overall organization were outstanding. Everything worked out smoothly, the excursions guides were knowledgeable allowing us to see so much of the fauna and flora of the country. The hotels were great as well, all in fantastic locations and with beautiful views.
Danny
2 days ago
This is our 7th trip Kassandra has planned and she is wonderful to work with. She is responsive, helpful, patient and knowledgeable. We are so grateful to have the opportunity to work together with her. We love Adventure Life!