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Punto Egas, Santiago Island, Galapagos

Northwest Islands

Example 8 Day Cruise aboard Tip Top II
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Embark on this exciting 8-day tour of the Galapagos' wild northwest! Highlights include the amazing black beaches of Santiago, wildlife-rich Isabela, cliff-laden Fernandina, and the beautiful Santa Cruz. These islands are rich with an abundance of wildlife both in and out of the ocean including flamingos, iguanas, sea turtles, rays, and reef sharks. Enjoy the company of friendly sea lions while snorkeling or hike across volcanic landscapes, making this a truly unique vacation.
Travelers snorkeling in the beautiful Galapagos waters.Hike in BartolomeA pair of friendly sea lionsSierra Negra, Isabela Island, GalapagosPunto Egas, Santiago Island, Galapagos
Highlights
  • Hike to the summit of Bartolome Island for impressive views
  • Land at Darwin Bay and observe frigatebirds, boobies, and turtles
  • Navigate around Buccaneer Cove, an area of steep cliffs and dark beaches
  • Visit Punta Espinoza's large colony of sea lions and marine iguanas
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.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Baltra | Santa Cruz Island | Embark

Fly from mainland Ecuador (Quito or Guayaquil) to Baltra and arrive at approximately 9:20 AM. Your guide shows you to a bus and after a short 5-kilometer ride to the pier you are ready to board the Tip Top II. As the crew weighs anchor, be greeted with your first orientation and a light snack. After navigating, disembark on Playa Las Bachas, a place where you can appreciate a flamingo lagoon. During all walks, your guide explains the details about the lives of the birds and animals. There is an optional opportunity for swimming and/or snorkeling. In the evening enjoy an orientation about the Galapagos Islands in general, a welcome cocktail with the entire crew, and dinner.

Day 2: Santiago | Bartolome

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
After breakfast make a wet landing on Sullivan Bay, a perfect place to get a feel of the volcanic origin of the islands. Enjoy some swimming and snorkeling. Return to the boat for a delicious lunch and in the afternoon, make a dry landing on Bartolome Island and hike to the summit. During the hike observe colonies of marine iguanas and lava lizards. On the summit you can see an impressive view of the surrounding islands, including the eroded tuff cone of Pinnacle Rock. Return to the yacht for a delicious dinner and your nightly orientation.

Day 3: Genovesa

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
After breakfast, take a panga ride and make a dry landing on Prince Phillips’s Steps (Barranco). Walk and observe the interesting lives of the birds here before a delicious lunch on board. Later in the afternoon make a wet landing at Darwin Bay to hike and observe frigatebirds, herons, mockingbirds, boobies, shorebirds, turtles, marine iguanas, etc. There is optional time for swimming, snorkeling, or kayaking. Enjoy dinner on the ship, and then your orientation about conservation efforts made to protect the Islands.

Day 4: Santiago

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
After breakfast, make a wet landing at James Bay (Puerto Egas) to walk and observe sponges, snails, hermit crabs, a variety of shore birds, barnacles and the endemic four-eyed blenny, marine iguanas, and sea lions. There is optional time for swimming, snorkeling, or kayaking. Return to the boat for a delicious lunch. In the afternoon, navigate around Buccaneer Cove (Caleta Bucanero), an area of steep cliffs and dark beaches. The cliffs and pinnacle are used as nesting areas by several species of seabirds. This was a popular place for 17th & 18th-century buccaneers to careen their vessels. Here you can enjoy more optional time to swim, snorkel or kayak. Then make a wet landing to walk along a coastal trail to visit an abandoned salt mine. Return to the ship for dinner and your nightly orientation.

Day 5: Isabela | Fernandina

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Make a morning visit to Punta Vicente Roca to observe plenty of sea lions, marine iguanas, blue-footed and masked boobies, and flightless cormorants. Enjoy some swimming and snorkeling. After lunch, make a dry landing on Punta Espinoza to observe and see a large colony of sea lions, marine iguanas, and the flightless cormorant. The unique landscape here is covered with clumps of lava cactus. Return to the ship for dinner and your nightly orientation.

Day 6: Isabela

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Start out the day with a trip to Urbina Bay to take a walk and observe a coral area, land iguanas, flightless cormorants, and giant tortoises. Enjoy some time for swimming or snorkeling. Return to the yacht for lunch and in the afternoon take a panga ride around the islets of Elizabeth Bay to see marine iguanas, penguins, marine turtles, seabirds and shorebirds, herons and blue-footed boobies. Go back to the ship for dinner and your nightly orientation.

Day 7: Isabela

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
After breakfast, make an expedition to Sierra Negra Volcano, considered the oldest of the volcanoes on Isabela. The crater of Sierra Negra is 10 km in diameter and is the second largest in the world; its last eruption occurred in 2005. The sulfur, iron, and cooled magma make up a colorful landscape. Your adventure begins with a 45-minute ride on a bus to the “Paradero Sierra Negra” in the highlands of Isabela - from here walk the slopes of the volcano. The trail leads to Volcan Chico (on the northeast of Sierra Negra Volcano), a fissure composed of scum and lava. This fissure had its last eruption in 1979, with volcanic activity lasting for a week. From here you have an amazing view of the north of the island and if the day is clear, a majestic view of the Perry Isthmus, a surrounding island. This expedition allows you to step through volcanic features and over lava flows formed in very recent years. You can also see the formations of petrified lava of many different colors and textures and fumaroles scattered throughout this area.

Return to the ship for lunch and in the afternoon visit Humedales, where you can see a series of lagoons, mangrove species, flamingos, and numerous migratory birds. After that, make a visit to the Breeding Center “Arnaldo Tupiza”, where you can observe tortoises of different ages and sizes (in total there are 330 between juvenile and adult tortoises) and where you can learn about the reproduction of the giant tortoises. Return to the ship for a delicious dinner and your nightly orientation.

Day 8: Santa Cruz Island | Disembark | Baltra

  • 1 Breakfast
Make an early visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station and its Interpretive Center. Here scientific research and environmental education is conducted for the purpose of conservation. Then take a bus to the airport in Baltra for your return to the mainland.

Ship/Hotel

Tip Top II

Tip Top II
Tip Top II
Tip Top II

Dates & Prices

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Per person starting at
$6,384
Tip Top II
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Main Deck Single
Cabins 1 & 2 have one single lower double bed and are 120 sq ft. Can be booked as single or matrimonial.
Tip Top II
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Main Deck
Cabins 3-6 have two single lower berths and are 196 sq ft.
Tip Top II
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Upper Deck
Cabins 7-8 are located on the Upper Deck, are 170 sq ft and feature a private balcony. Cabins 7 & 8 have two single lower berths.
Tip Top II
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Upper Deck Cabins 9 & 10
Cabins 9-10 are located on the Upper Deck, are 170 sq ft and feature a private balcony. Cabins 9 &10 feature a single king bed.

Notes

  • Children under 12 during the time of the cruise will receive a discount, providing flight tickets are booked by Tip Top Travel and the child is accompanied by an adult.​
  • Generally infants are not accepted on board the Tip Top II, however each case is subject to review and availability. If accepted, the child discount applies.
  • In order to apply for the Family Room on board the Tip Top II, your party must include either 2 adults and one child under 12 years of age, or 2 adults and 2 children under 12 years of age. No additional discount applies to the Family Room rate. The Family Room rate cannot be applied to 3 or 4 adult passengers.
  • Please reserve your wetsuit in advance prior to trip.

Child Discount

50% 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
  • 7 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches, 7 Dinners
  • 7 Nights Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
  • 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
  • Use of all on-board water toys, such as snorkeling gear, kayaks, paddle boards, etc.
  • Internal Flights: Mainland Ecuador - Galapagos - Mainland Ecuador
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.
  • Wetsuits are not included but are available to rent on board - $30 short and $35 long size for 4-day tours; $35 short and $40 long size for 5-day tours; $40 short and $50 long size for 8-day tours; $65 short and $75 long size for 11-day tours; and $70 short and $80 long size for 15-day tours.

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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
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