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Galapagos penguin by the water

Eastern Islands

Example 8 Day Cruise aboard Alya
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Join the Alia on this 8-day journey cruising across the Eastern Galapagos Islands, ecologically recognized for their pure beauty and uniquenes. Visit Witch Hill, a perfect spot for hiking on one of the most photographed beaches in the archipelago with white powdery sand and an abundance of animals including frigatebirds, storm petrels, Nazca boobies, and blue-and red-footed boobies. Explore the famous blowhole that spurts water into the air at Suarez Point, and snorkel and delight yourself with extraordinary marine wildlife at Gardner's Bay.
Colorful South Plaza IslandCurious sea lion during a snorkeling outingHiking through cacti in the GalapagosThe iconic feet of a Blue-Footed BoobyGalapagos penguin by the water
Highlights
  • Enjoy watching the three unique types of booby birds in Pitt Point
  • Dive into turquoise waters to swim with sea lions
  • Take a dinghy ride to Black Turtle Cove, an inlet surrounded by mangroves
  • Walk across a lovely white-sand beach in Gardners Bay
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: San Cristobal | Embark

  • Ship
  • 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Morning flight from Quito or Guayaquil to San Cristobal, Galapagos Islands.

Arrive at San Cristobal Island in the morning. After going through immigration and baggage claim, be met by an Alya staff member and transferred to the yacht. Settle into your cabin where you can have some time to settle in before lunch and a welcome briefing.

In the afternoon, be involved in an excursion to Lobos Island which means “Sea Lion Island.” This appropriately named island is ripe with noisy, playful, jolly sea lions who will welcome you to their home with open, well, fins. This island also offers great snorkeling opportunities as well as the chance to see blue-footed and Nazca boobies.

Day 2: San Cristobal

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
In the morning, visit Witch Hill. Located on the northern coast, this eroded hill and its surroundings present one of the most picturesque beaches in the Galapagos with its white powdery sand and the abundance of animals. Wildlife includes sea turtles, rays, and various types of booby birds. The clear water provides an excellent opportunity for enjoying swimming and snorkeling.

In the afternoon, end up visiting the Pitt Point, situated on the north-eastern tip of the island, hosts frigatebirds, storm petrels, and all three types of booby birds: the Nazca, blue-footed and red-footed boobies. A steep trail goes up a cliff and through a ravine leading visitors to an area with an abundance of birds.

Day 3: Española

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
In the morning visit Suarez Point. On the trail you have the chance to see blue-footed boobies, albatrosses, and Nazca boobies. This island is the breeding site of nearly all of the world’s 12,000 pairs of waved albatrosses. Enjoy the beautiful site on the ocean front with a cliff that the large albatrosses use as a launching pad, and discover the famous blowhole that spurts water into the air. The landscape is great for photography.

In the afternoon, an excursion takes you to the spectacular Gardner Bay. After landing, walk across a lovely white-sand beach amongst a busy sea lion colony or dive into the water to swim with sea lion pups. You may also see curious mockingbirds on the beach.

Day 4: Santa Cruz | North Seymour

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Your morning excursion takes you from Puerto Ayora to the green highlands of Santa Cruz for a visit to El Chato reserve. The area is divided in two: Caseta and Chato. The trail begins at Santa Rosa (13.7 miles / 22 km) from Puerto Ayora, with the Caseta route being the most challenging. The reserve allows visitors to observe giant tortoises in the wild during the dry season and is also a good place to spot short-eared owls, Darwin’s finches, yellow warblers, Galapagos rails and paint-billed crakes.

In North Seymour interact with Galapagos sea lions, blue-footed boobies, and magnificent frigatebirds which are abundant on this island. North Seymour was formed by a series of submarine lava flows containing layers of sediment that were uplifted by tectonic activity. The island is characterized by its arid vegetation zone.

Day 5: Genovesa

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
In the morning, sail to the white-sand coral beach of Darwin Bay with a half-mile trail (0,75km) that winds through mangroves filled with land birds. Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, and swallow-tailed gulls can be spotted here. Further down the path find tidal pools where sea lions swim playfully. At the end is a spectacular view of a cliff.

In the afternoon, explore El Barranco (also known as Prince Phillip’s Steps), a steep, rocky path that leads up to a high cliff-face. A marvelous view can be appreciated from here. This site is also home to palo santo vegetation as well as red-footed boobies, short-eared lava owls, Galapagos swallows, and Galapagos doves.

Day 6: Santiago | Bartholomew

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
In the morning, visit Sullivan Bay located on the southeast part of Santiago. Sullivan Bay is covered by lava flows, with elevations in the form of small volcanoes.

In the afternoon, head off to Bartholomew Island, home of the famous Pinnacle Rock. Bartholomew consists of an extinct volcano with a variety of red, orange, black and even green volcanic formations. Take a trail of stairs to the summit of the volcano (about 30 or 40 minutes) where you can enjoy one of the best views of the islands. Discover a small, beautiful beach surrounded by the only vegetation found on this barren island. The beach is perfect for snorkeling; you may even see Galapagos penguins!

Day 7: Santa Cruz

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
In the morning, visit Dragon Hill on Santa Cruz. The visitor's site at Dragon Hill is located on the northwestern part of Santa Cruz Island and consists of a trail that runs through three different environments although it is only slightly less than a mile long (1,600 meters). This beach is very rocky and at high tide it’s a nice place for snorkeling. At this site enjoy the amazing vegetation typical of the intertidal and dry zones.

In the afternoon, visit Black Turtle Cove on the northern part of Santa Cruz Island. This inlet is surrounded by mangroves and is only accessible by dinghy. The shallow cove is a haven for young marine life. Black-tip and white-tip reef sharks, sea turtles, and a variety of rays are spotted here.

Day 8: Santa Cruz | Disembark | Baltra

  • 1 Breakfast
In the morning, visit Fausto Llerena Breeding Center in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island, where giant tortoises are bred in captivity; this is home to tortoises ranging from 3-inches (new hatchlings) to 4-feet long adults. Subspecies of the giant tortoises interact with one another, and many of the older tortoises are accustomed to humans stretching out their heads for a photo opportunity. The babies are kept until they are about four-years-old and strong enough to survive on their own.

After this final visit, be transferred to the Baltra airport in time for your flight back to the mainland.

Ship/Hotel

Alya

Alya Bridge
Alya living room
Alya Bar

Dates & Prices

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Per person starting at
$8,181
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Standard
9 comfortable cabins, 8 with private balconies. All the beds can be double or twin. Upper Deck cabins are 172ft² / 16m²; Main Deck cabins measure 215ft² / 20m².

Notes

Please provide your wetsuite size in advance prior to trip

Child Discount

10% discount for children under 12 years of age. Children over 6 years old are welcome aboard. 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
  • 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

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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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