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Chinese Hat (Sombrero Chino) Island, Galapagos

Islands Circumnavigation

Example 15 Day Cruise aboard Koln
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Take a cruise on this 15-day voyage that covers all the magnificent wonders the Galapagos has to offer. Spend your days exploring the archipelago. Snorkel and swim with friendly sea lions. Also enjoy several opportunities to encounter the incredible wildlife including Galapagos penguins, frigatebirds, flightless cormorants, tortoises, and many more unique native species! Get to know this fascinating and unique world inside and out.
Beach time at Cerro Brujo, San CristobalSea lion relaxing on Fernandina Island in the GalapagosApproaching kicker rockBeach on Isabela islandChinese Hat (Sombrero Chino) Island, Galapagos
Highlights
  • Observe the endemic blennyon of four eyes and other species in Egas Port
  • Expedition to Sierra Negra Volcano the oldest volcano of Isabela island
  • Diving and snorkeling at Kicker Rock and see the underwater ecosystem
  • Hike in Chinese Hat and observe penguins on the rocky shoreline
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 | Embark | Santa Cruz Island

The guide conducts you to a bus and after a short 5-kilometer ride to the pier; board the Yacht without delay.

Disembark on Playa Las Bachas, a place where can appreciate a Flamingos lagoon. During all walks, the guide explain details about the lives of the birds and animals. 

Day 2: Santiago | Bartholomew island

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Sullivan Bay, a perfect place to get a feel of the volcanic origin of the islands.

Hike to the summit on Bartholomew Island! During the hike, observe colonies of marine iguanas and lava lizards. On the summit see an impressive view of the surrounding islands, including the eroded tuff cone of Pinnacle Rock. 

Day 3: El Barroco | Genovesa

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

 Walk and observe frigatebirds, herons, mockingbirds, boobies, shorebirds, turtles, and marine iguanas in Darwin Bay  

Day 4: Santiago | Egas Port

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Walk and observe sponges, snails, hermit crabs, a variety of shore birds, barnacles and the endemic four-eyed blenny, marine iguanas and sea lions on James Bay (Puerto Egas). 

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.

Day 5: Floreana

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Observe plenty of sea lions, marine iguanas, blue-footed and masked boobies, and flightless cormorants on Punta Vicente Roca.

You will make a dry landing on Punta Espinoza to observe and see a large colony of sea lions, marine iguanas and the flightless cormorants and clumps of lava cactus. 

Day 6: Isabela | Elizabeth Bay

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Take a walk and observe a coral area, land iguanas, flightless cormorants and giant tortoises on Urbina Bay.

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. 

Day 7: Isabela | Sierra Negra Volcano

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Make an expedition to Sierra Negra Volcano, considered the oldest of the volcanoes on Isabela, the crater of Sierra Negra has a 10 km diameter and it’s the second largest in the world; its last eruption occurred in 2005. The Sulfur, iron and the cooled magma make up a colorful landscape. Your adventure begins with a 45 minutes ride on a bus to the highlands of Isabela, arrive at “Paradero Sierra Negra”, then you walk through slopes of the Volcano. The trail conducts you to Volcan Chico (on the northeast of Sierra Negra Volcano), a fissure composed of scum and lava. This fissure had its last eruption on 1979 and the volcanic activity lasted for a week. From here, you will have an amazing view of the north of the island and if the day is clear you will have 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. Also see the formations of petrified lava made up of many different colors and textures and fumaroles scattered throughout this area.

Visit Humedales, where you can see series of lagoons, mangrove species, flamingos and numerous migratory birds. After that, visit 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 learn about the reproduction of the giant tortoises, in the Breeding Center you can also see different native plants.

Day 8: Santa Cruz Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Disembark and a bus takes you to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island for a visit to the native forests and twin craters.

Land at the pier for a visit to the Charles Darwin Station and its Interpretive Center. Return to the Port for a walk through the little town to appreciate various handicrafts. 

Day 9: Santa Fe Island | South Plaza Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Visit the cactus forest and a colony of land iguanas native from Santa Fe. 

Sail to South Plaza, make a dry landing on the pier of the island, there enjoy the antics of the sea lions. A walk through a cactus forest allows you to observe land iguanas and many species of tropical birds. 

Day 10: Chinese Hat | Rabida

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Make a wet landing on Chinese Hat (Sombrero Chino), a small island off the Coast of Santiago Island, ;you can observe on the rocky shoreline: Galapagos penguins, eagle rays, sea lions and marine iguanas. This is an excellent snorkeling site. 

Walk and observe marine iguanas and sea lions, pelicans, blue-footed boobies, masked boobies and brown pelicansmake on Rabida. Walk and arrive at a small saltwater lagoon, see pink flamingos. 

Day 11: Santa Cruz Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Black Turtle Cove, series of mangrove-surrounded coves and islets; observe white-tipped sharks, marine turtles, spotted eagle rays, and yellow cow-nosed rays.

Make a dry landing on Dragon Hill, see land iguanas; walk to a hypersalinic lagoon (saltier than the ocean), observe flamingos, common stilts, pintail ducks and other species of birds. 

Day 12: Post Office Bay | Floreana

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Post Office Bay, a historic site that recalls the days of the whalers, who presumably placed a wooden barrel in the 18th century to use it as a post office. Then, make a panga ride on La Lobería of Post Office, where you can observe sea lion rookeries (the main attraction) on the beach and in the bay of the Lobería, sea turtles and marine iguanas.

Visit the Devil’s Crown, and enjoy a submerged volcano, snorkelling for those who wish it (this is one of the best snorkelling sites in the Islands), then you can make a wet landing on Point Cormorant for a short walk to the Flamingo Lagoon of this island. Then continue the walk until you reach the beach called "La Picona" to see marine turtles and their spawning grounds. Optional: time for those who would like to swim and/or snorkel. Return to the Yacht for dinner and your nightly orientation.

Day 13: Española | Garden Bay

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Make an early dry landing on Punta Suarez and walk along lava beds where you can observe unique colonies of marine birds, including Albatross (May - December).

Walk on the beach of Gardner Bay and observe a colony of sea lions, which inhabit the beach in great quantity during the breeding season; this is also an important nesting area for sea turtles. Then take a panga ride around the Osborn Islet and the islets of Gardner. 

Day 14: San Cristobal | Witch Hill

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
San Cristobal port, after a short drive we arrive at Jacinto Gordillo Turtle Breeding Center where you can learn about its reproductive process and the programs to maintain the species. Take the bus back to the port to visit the Interpretation Center of Human History of the Islands; this tour takes you through the geological and human history of the islands and its conservation. 

An experienced Captain sails easily around Kicker Rock (Leon Dormido), a massive tuff-rock that juts abruptly almost 500 feet straight from the ocean. Kicker Rock serves as nesting place for many sea birds. Then make a wet landing on Cerro Brujo and walk on a white sand beach to observe sea lions, brown pelicans, marine iguanas and blue-footed boobies. 

Day 15: North Seymour Island | Disembark | Baltra

  • 1 Breakfast
North Seymour Island, a low, flat island that was uplifted from the sea by underground seismic activity. Observe blue footed boobies (they nest from May to November), marine iguanas, pelicans, frigate birds, shore birds, sea lions and endemic Palo Santo. Return to the Yacht for disembarking on the pier at 09:00. A guide accompanies you on the bus ride directly to the airport.

Ship/Hotel

Koln

Koln facade
Koln Dining Area
Koln Social Area

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
$11,208
Koln lower deck cabin with single lower beds
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Cabins 3-6
Cabin size: 12m² 4 lower deck cabins. Equipped with 2 Single Lower Beds (2x1m/each). Each cabin has a Private bathroom (toilet, shower, hair dryer, washbasin, vanity, hot and cold water), Locker and drawers, a Safety box, Air-conditioned, an Electric outlet 110v, and a USB port.
Koln upper deck cabin with double bed
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Cabins 7 & 8
Cabin size: 8.5m² 2 upper deck cabins. Equipped with 1 Double Bed (2x1.40m/each). Each cabin has a Private bathroom (toilet, shower, hair dryer, washbasin, vanity, hot and cold water), Locker and drawers, a Safety box, Air-conditioned, an Electric outlet 110v, and a USB port.
Koln upper deck cabin with single lower beds
Select a Date
Cabins 9 & 10
Cabin size: 9.5m² 2 upper deck cabins. Equipped with 2 Single Lower Beds (2x1m/each). Each cabin has a Private bathroom (toilet, shower, hair dryer, washbasin, vanity, hot and cold water), Locker and drawers, a Safety box, Air-conditioned, an Electric outlet 110v, and a USB port.

Notes

Please reserve your wetsuit in advance prior to the trip.

Internal Galapagos flights included.

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
  • 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
  • Bilingual Naturalist Guide 
  • Adventure Life Pre-departure Services and In-Country Assistance (Quito Representative)
  • Transfers and Baggage Handling in the Galapagos
  • Snorkeling and kayaking equipment is included in the cruise cost and available for your use on board.
  • Internal Flights: Mainland Ecuador - Galapagos - Mainland Ecuador
  • Hot drinks (tea, coffee, aromatic waters)
  • Drinking water and iced tea dispenser
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.
  • All alcoholic & Non-alcoholic drinks
  • Neoprene suits (for rent)

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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
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