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Sea lion encounter while snorkeling

Complete Galapagos Wildlife Cruise

Example 8 Day Cruise aboard Letty
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Explore the Galapagos on this 8-day cruise of the western islands viewing unique wildlife like sea lions, marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, giant Galapagos tortoises, and even penguins! Highlights of the west include beautiful Santa Cruz Island, wildlife-rich Isabela, cliff-laden Fernandina, and the amazing black beaches of Santiago. The wildlife here is abundant and the landscape is stunning to behold, making this an incredible vacation package. Further explore with optional activities that include kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, snorkeling and more.
Exploring the Galapagos - Kicker RockView of Isabela From FernandinaRock formations on IsabelaGiant tortoise on Isabela Sea lion encounter while snorkeling
Highlights
  • Hike Prince Philip's Steps for extraordinary views of the island
  • Encounter giant tortoises in their natural habitat at Las Primicias
  • Hike to a salt water lagoon and view shore birds
  • Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and learn about conservation
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
Fly to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristobal Island, and transfer by bus to the main dock and then by Zodiac to the ship anchored in the bay.  After a welcome briefing and safety drill, a delicious buffet lunch is served on board. In the afternoon, travel by bus to Cerro Colorado to visit  Centro de Crianza Jacinto Gordillo (La Galapaguera) where the National Park has established a breeding program for giant tortoises in their natural habitat. At the visitor center, learn about the origin and evolution of tortoises, as well as threats by introduced animals. Along the trail, watch for the San Cristobal mockingbird and Calandrinia plant, both endemic to this island. Return to the yacht for a briefing followed by the Captain’s welcome cocktail party and dinner prepared by your chefs.

Day 2: Genovesa

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Spend the entire day on Genovesa Island, one of the most spectacular places in Galapagos for bird species. Land at Prince Philip’s Steps, where red-footed boobies nest in palo santo trees, while Nazca boobies nest near the trail, and storm petrels gather in large numbers in an open lava field. With luck, you may spot the elusive short-eared owl. Return to the yacht for lunch on the sundeck. Choose to paddle from a kayak or stand up paddle board and explore the cliffs. Look for the red-billed tropic bird hiding in the crevices, or snorkel in deeper water from the Zodiac. Land at Darwin Bay, a coral sand beach where swallow-tailed and lava gulls gather near the tide pools. Enter a forest of Opuntia cactus and mangroves where colonies of great frigatebirds nest, the males inflating their red-throated pouches to attract females as they fly overhead. Choose to relax on the beach or swim with sea lions in these northern warmer waters. Return to the yacht for a briefing and dinner followed by a sky full of stars.

Day 3: Santa Cruz Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Today guests on board the Letty visit Las Bachas beach, which is the Spanish translation for “barges”. There is a long stretch of a soft white sand beach and interior lagoons where you can find greater flamingos, pelicans, white-cheeked pintail ducks, stilts and iguanas. There is also a wonderful chance to take a stroll along the beach or swim from the shore.

Day 4: Fernandina | Isabela

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
This morning’s stop is at Punta Espinoza on Fernandina, the youngest and most pristine Island in the Galapagos with no introduced animals. Recent lava flows formed by an active volcano stretch their way around the coast. Observe sea lion harems with resident bulls carefully guarding their territory, and hundreds of marine iguanas, the largest colony in the Galapagos, basking in the sun along the rugged shoreline. Out on the point, flightless cormorants build their nest close to shore since loosing their ability to fly. There is a chance to snorkel with sea turtles and marine iguanas that frequent this area before returning to the yacht for lunch. While cruising through the Bolivar Chanel, whales and dolphins riding the bow wave are often seen here. Disembark at Urbina Bay on Isabela Island, where four miles of coastal seabed were exposed due to a dramatic uplift during a volcanic eruption in 1954. See the remnants of coral skeletons, some of them waist-high, and keep an eye out for the very large and colorful Galapagos land iguanas, as well as marine iguanas, Darwin finches, brown pelicans, flightless cormorants and giant tortoises. Return to the yacht for briefing and dinner.

Day 5: Isabela

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Visit Elizabeth Bay on Isabela Island by zodiac to explore a secluded cove, lined with large red mangrove trees, where sea turtles, turtles, rays, and shore birds are often spotted. Motor along the rocky islets “Las Marielas” to find a colony of nesting penguins, flightless cormorants, and giant marine iguanas. Isabela was created when six volcanoes flowed together and formed the largest Island in the Galapagos. Return to the yacht for lunch served on the sun deck. Go ashore on Tagus Cove, a favorite anchorage for pirates and whalers over the centuries. Sections of the rocky cliffs are covered with graffiti dating back to the 1800s. An uphill hike brings you to a salt-water lagoon, a scenic overlook with a spectacular view of the ocean, lava fields, and volcanic formations. Take advantage of the secluded cove and explore the shoreline by kayak or stand up paddleboard in search of Galapagos penguins, flightless cormorants, blue-footed and Nazca boobies and pelicans. An excellent snorkeling site is offered from the zodiac. After dinner, a sky full of stars beckons you to go on deck and observe the galaxy while crossing the equator for the last time.

Day 6: Santiago | Rabida

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Stroll along the shoreline at Puerto Egas on Santiago (James) Island looking for octopus, starfish, and other sea life caught in the tide pools. At low tide, catch a glimpse of marine iguanas as they feed on exposed green algae. Watch for great blue herons, lava herons, American oystercatchers and yellow-crowned night herons. The walk ends at the grottos, deep pools of clear water where you can encounter fur sea lions once on the verge of extinction. Before returning to the yacht, there is a chance to snorkel from the beach. After lunch, take a seat on deck to view the dramatic landscape and dolphins that are often spotted here. Disembark on Rabida (Jervis), a small island considered the geographic center of Galapagos because its volcanic rocks are the most diversified in the archipelago. The dark red color of the beach comes from the high iron content in the volcanic stones. Follow the trail to a saltwater lagoon where greater flamingos migrate, keeping an eye out for marine iguanas, mockingbirds, yellow warblers, and Darwin finches. Afterwards, do not miss the chance to snorkel with sea lions and rays as well as tropical fish and white-tipped sharks. Return to the yacht for dinner and a briefing.

Day 7: Santa Cruz Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
**Since Aug 2020, yachts are no longer able to visit Darwin Station as regularly listed in the day description below. We expect these restrictions to lift at some point in the future.** 

Disembark at Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island, the social heart of the Galapagos, with a population of 24,000 humans. Travel by bus to the highlands, passing through all seven vegetation zones found in the Galapagos. Visit the tortoise reserve at “Las Primicias” a private farm that protects the giant tortoises in their natural habitat. Stop at “the tunnels”, the largest lava tubes found in the Galapagos, and visit Los Gemelos (The twins), a pair of large craters. Return to the yacht for lunch on board. This afternoon, visit the Centro de Crianza Fausto Llerena (formerly the Charles Darwin Research Station). Visit the tortoise corals and the breeding center with hatchlings and miniature tortoises that will be repatriated when grown. Visit the new exhibit honoring Lonesome George, a worldwide icon of conservation as the last surviving tortoise from Pinta Island and who tragically died of natural causes. Stroll through town to shop for souvenirs or stop at an internet café. Return to the yacht for dinner or, if you wish, remain in town for dinner on your own and stimulate the local economy. Zodiac shuttles from the yachts to the main dock are offered throughout the evening.

Day 8: San Cristobal | Disembark

  • 1 Breakfast
After breakfast, travel by bus to the Interpretation Center on San Cristobal Island to gain a more complete understanding of the natural and human history of the Islands. Afterwards, spend time in port before heading to the airport for your flight back to the mainland.

Ship/Hotel

Letty

Letty ship in the Galapagos
Letty ship in the Galapagos
Letty ship in the Galapagos

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
$5,100
Letty ship in the Galapagos
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Triple
Iguana Deck cabins # 9 & 10 have two twin lower beds and one upper berth with porthole windows. These two cabins can be sold as triples.(Cabins average 110 square feet.)
Letty ship in the Galapagos
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Iguana Deck
Cabins #7 & 8 have two twin lower beds and porthole windows. Cabins # 9 & 10 have two twin lower beds and one upper berth with porthole windows. These two cabins can be sold as triples.(Cabins average 110 square feet.)
Letty ship in the Galapagos
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Booby Deck
Cabins # 5 & 6 cabins have one double bed and picture windows. (Cabins average 90 square feet.)
Letty ship in the Galapagos
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Dolphin Deck
Cabins #1,3 & 4 have two twin lower beds and picture windows. Please inquire to see if rooms can be arranged to have a double bed. Cabin # 2 has one double bed and picture window. (Cabins average 95 square feet.)

Notes

Travelers on this yacht need to pre-pay the Galapagos Islands National Park Fee.
Stand up paddle boards are also available and included in the cruise price.

Child Discount

25% discount for children age 11 and younger at time of Galapagos cruise. 15% discount for children age 12-17 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
  • Please note that your cruise has an open bar policy which includes white, red and sparkling wine, beer, spirits, juice, sodas, coffee and tea 24/7. 
  • 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
  • Snorkeling and kayaking equipment is included in the cruise cost and available for your use on board.
  • Wetsuits are available free of charge on a first come, first serve basis. Reserve a suit for your exclusive use for $25
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
  • If you are traveling to the Galapagos, your crew will work very hard to make your Galapagos adventure most enjoyable.  At the end of the voyage, tips will be collected and distributed among your guide and other members of the crew. Gratuities or tips are always at your discretion.

    For passengers on the MV Origin, it is recommended that you budget a $350-400 gratuity per person, per week. For passengers on the Letty, it is recommended that you budget a $250-300 gratuity per person, per week. This is, of course, if you are pleased with the service on board.

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