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Pinnacle rock on Bartolome

Western Islands

Example 8 Day Cruise aboard Koln
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This Galapagos cruise takes you beyond the highlights of the western islands with 8 days of exploration and adventure! This cruise features some of the most sought-after destinations in this region. Enjoy the company of friendly sea lions while snorkeling and make friends with the gentle giant tortoises at the Charles Darwin Research Station. These islands are rich with an abundance of wildlife both in and out of the ocean including sea lions, marine iguanas, penguins, marine turtles, seabirds and shorebirds, herons and blue-footed boobies. There is an endless list of activities to make this the most memorable trip ever.
Hike in BartolomeSierra Negra volcanoSierra Negra, Isabela Island, GalapagosCatch a glimpse of a Blue-footed Booby on your Galapagos Islands tourPinnacle rock on Bartolome
Highlights
  • Visit Mosquera Islet, a reef of rocks and coral & a great white sand beach
  • Observe the daily routine of various birds on El Barroco
  • Walk around Rabida Island to see blue-footed boobies & masked boobies
  • Snorkel at Chinese Hat, a small island off the Coast of Santiago
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 | Mosquera Islet

  • Ship
  • 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Flight from mainland Ecuador (Quito or Guayaquil) to Baltra; arriving at 09:20 a.m. approximately. Your guide meets you at arrivals gate, your crew takes care of your luggage. Your guide conducts you to a bus and after a short 5-kilometer ride to the pier; you board the Yacht immediately. As the crew weighs anchor, enjoy the first orientation and a light snack. After lunch, you make an early wet landing on Mosquera Islet, a reef of rocks and coral (the result of an uprising) and a great white sand beach and tide pools. You observe colonies of sea lions, brown pelicans, blue-footed boobies and sally light-foot crabs, the contrast between these bright red crabs on top and blue on the bottom and the black lava is stunning. Optional: time for those who would like to swim and snorkel. In the evening, have an orientation about the Galapagos Islands in general: their origin and evolution. Welcome cocktail with the entire crew, and dinner.

Day 2: Sullivan Bay | Rabida

  • 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. Optional: time for those who would like to swim and snorkel. Return to the boat for a delicious lunch. After this, you make a wet landing on Rabida, to walk and observe marine iguanas and sea lions, pelicans, blue-footed boobies, masked boobies and brown pelicans. You make a little walk and you arrive at a small saltwater lagoon where you can see pink flamingos. Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel or kayak. Return to the Yacht for dinner.

Day 3: Espinoza Point | Elizabeth Bay

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
After breakfast, enjoy a dry landing on Espinoza Point to observe and see a large colony of sea lions, marine iguanas and the flightless cormorants and clumps of lava cactus. Optional: time for those who would like to swim and snorkel. You come aboard for lunch. In the afternoon, you make a panga ride around the islets of Elizabeth Bay to see marine iguanas, penguins, marine turtles, seabirds and shorebirds, herons and blue-footed boobies. Return to the Yacht for dinner.

Day 4: Urbina Bay | Tagus Cove

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
After breakfast, you make a wet landing on Urbina Bay to take a walk and observe a coral area, land iguanas, flightless cormorants and giant tortoises. Optional: time for those who would like to swim or snorkel. Return to the Yacht for lunch. In the afternoon, take a panga ride on Tagus Cove, a cove between the shoulders of two volcanic craters, which protect it from the open sea; observe penguins, marine iguanas, sea lions and a variety of birds including flightless cormorant and blue-footed boobies. Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel or kayak. Return to the Yacht for dinner.

Day 5: Egas Port | Bartolome

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
After breakfast, you make a wet landing on James Bay (Puerto Egas), to walk and observe sponges, snails, hermit crabs, a variety of shorebirds, barnacles and the endemic four-eyed blenny, marine iguanas and sea lions. Optional: time for those who would like to swim or snorkel. You return to the boat for a delicious lunch. In the afternoon, you make a dry landing on Bartolome Island, to hike to the summit; during the hike, you observe colonies of marine iguanas and lava lizards. On the summit, you see an impressive view of the surrounding islands, including the eroded tuff cone of Pinnacle Rock. Optional: time for those who would like to swim or snorkel. You return to the yacht for a delicious dinner.

Day 6: Chinese Hat | Dragon Hill

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
After breakfast, you 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. Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel or kayak. You return to the boat for lunch. Later in the afternoon, you make a dry landing on Dragon Hill, where you can see land iguanas; you walk to a hypersalinic lagoon (saltier than the ocean), where you can observe flamingos, common stilts, pintail ducks and other species of birds. Optional: time for those who would like to swim or snorkel. You return to the Yacht for dinner.

Day 7: Santa Cruz Highlands | Interpretation Center Fausto Llerena

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
After breakfast, disembark to take the bus to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island for a visit to the native forests, Twin Craters, then, enjoy the giant tortoises in the wildlife on a farm. Be delighted with the lunch in the farm. After lunch, return to Puerto Ayora to start the visit to the Interpretation Center Fausto Llerena inside the Charles Darwin Research Station. You return to the Yacht for dinner.

Day 8: North Seymour | Disembark | Baltra

  • 1 Breakfast
After breakfast, make an early dry landing for a walk along the coast and the interior of 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. You return to the Yacht for disembarking on the pier at 09:00. Your 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
$6,084
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
  • 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)
  • 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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