Have questions? We're here.
Pinnacle rock in Bartolome

Northwest Islands

Example 11 Day Cruise aboard Galaxy
Talk with an expert
Build your ideal Galapagos trip. Call 1.406.541.2677
Start Planning My Trip
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.
Marine iguana in the GalapagosEnjoy amazing snorkellingCruise the Galapagos on the Beagle shipGalapagos giant tortoisePinnacle rock in Bartolome
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
Places Visited
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.
0

Full Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1: Baltra - Santa Cruz Island Highlands | Embark

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.

Day 2: Moreno Point | Elizabeth Bay

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 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.

Day 3: Urbina Bay | Tagus Cove, Isabela

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
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.

Day 4: Fernandina | Isabela

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
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.

Day 5: Santiago

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
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.

Day 6: Dragon Hill | Black Turtle Cove

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
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.

Day 7: Rabida | Chinese Hat

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
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.

Day 8: North Seymour | Mosquera

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
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!

Day 9: Santiago | Bartholomew

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
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.

Day 10: Genovesa

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
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.

Ship/Hotel

Galaxy

Galaxy ship exterior
Living area
Bar lounge

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
$6,072
Lower deck cabin
Select a Date
Lower Deck
Comfortable cabins with lower beds and port hole windows. Cabins have private bathrooms with hot/cold water and air conditioning.
Main deck cabin
Select a Date
Main Deck
Comfortable cabins with lower beds and large windows. Cabins have private bathrooms with hot/cold water and air conditioning.
Upper deck cabin
Select a Date
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.
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 through Aug 1, 2024). Payable upon arrival to the Galapagos, only in cash dollars. Subject to increase by Galapagos Park Service.
  • Internal Flights: Mainland Ecuador - Galapagos - Mainland Ecuador: $475-675

Map

Inquire

* By providing your phone number, you consent to receive direct phone calls or SMS messages from our Trip Planners to get the process started. We do not share your information with third-parties.
Travel Agents

We Love to Talk Travel

Call 1.800.344.6118
or
Chat Now
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
More Reasons

Why Travel With Adventure Life

All News

Recognized By