Have questions? We're here.
Sea lion on Santiago Island in the Galapagos

Islands Circumnavigation

Example 15 Day Cruise aboard Galaxy
Talk with an expert
Build your ideal Galapagos trip. Call 1.406.541.2677
Start Planning My Trip
Enjoy the Galapagos Islands aboard Galaxy in 15 days, where you explore magical landscapes with unique wildlife like giant tortoises, flamingos, iguanas, and sharks. There is an endless list of activities to do on the islands: San Cristobal, Española, Floreana, Santa Fe, South Plaza, Santa Cruz, Isabela, Fernandina, Santiago, Rabida, Genovesa and others.
Oyster catcher shore birdSouth Plaza IslandGalapagos Green Sea Turtle off the shores of Santa Fe IslandKicker Rock, San CristobalSea lion on Santiago Island in the Galapagos
Highlights
  • Enjoy a walking along the base of Alcedo Volcano on Urbina bay
  • Discover idyllic sandy-white beaches populated by friendly sea lions
  • Enjoy plenty of swimming, snorkeling and kayaking opportunities
  • Hike to the highlands of Santa cruz and visit the twin craters
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.
0

Full Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1: San Cristobal | Isla Lobos | Embark

Arrive in San Cristobal and transfer to the Galaxy for your Galapagos Cruise.

In the afternoon, sail for Isla Lobos (Sea Lion Island) to view the sea lions which rest on the island's rocky shore. Isla Lobos is frequented with blue-footed boobies, great frigatebirds, brown pelicans, lava gulls, common noddies, yellow warblers and small and medium ground finches, making it an ideal location for birders. Snorkel near Kicked Rock, in the clear water and play with the sea lions in the shallows.

Day 2: Española

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Journey to Gardner Bay, to snorkel with a variety of fish and playful sea lions. You will see the occasional turtle or shark which swim in the waters off the island.

In the afternoon, travel to Suarez Point one of the most significantly rich birdlife locations in the Galapagos archipelago. Around twelve thousand breading pairs have their nests in the Española Island. Depending on the time of year, you might catch the Blue-Footed Boobies and the Waved Albatross doing their extensive mating dances. Also view marine iguanas and over-sized lava lizards as they sun themselves on the rocks.

Day 3: Floreana

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Sail for Post Office Bay, a sandy beach where past whalers used to leave and receive their letters in a barrel. Take part in the tradition by leaving an addressed postcard in the barrel. Additionally, pick up any letters within close proximity to your home to deliver once you return from the Galapagos.

Visit Punta Cormorant located to the west of Floreana Island. It has a unqiuely famous dark green beach due to the great quantity of olivine crystals. Then take a panga ride around Devils's Crown, a satellite islet of the island Floreana where constant sea erosion has formed the rocks into the shape of a crown. This is one of the better places to go snorkeling.

Day 4: Santa Fe | South Plazas Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Arrive in Santa Fe to view the Opuntia cactus forest, the largest of its kind in the archipelago. It is home of one of the two species of land iguanas in the Galapagos islands. Crabs, nocturnal herons, marine iguanas, and land doves are often seen. The gorgeous turquoise bay is an excellent place to swim and go snorkeling with sea turtles, rays, sea lions and tropical fishes.

In South Plaza, you will find two small islands with one of the largest populations of land iguanas in the Galapagos islands. Take a cliff-side trail which circumnavigates the island for spectacular views and varied vegetation.

Day 5: Charles Darwin Center | Santa Cruz Highlands

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn about the natural history of the islands and the effects of human involvement. See the tortoise breeding and rearing project at work.

After lunch, hike in the El Chato reserve looking for the infamous giant tortoises in their natural habitat.
Return to the ship to relax before dinner.

Day 6: Isabela

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Visit Las Tintoreras to see the colony of white tip sharks which can often be seen resting in a lava canal. Snorkel in the shallows or relax on the beach with a sea lion colony.

In the afternoon, visit Moreno Point. It is used only to take small speedboat trips to observe the wildlife unique to this place. It’s a bay that is located in front of the narrowest site of the Isabela Island: the Perry isthmus, where there’s a water entry that has formed a bay within a bay, with calmed waters that are protected and surrounded by mangle which makes it a perfect place for sea turtles. It’s truly a spectacle of nature!

Day 7: Isabela

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Journey to Elizabeth Bay, one of the island's breeding sites for penguins. Watch Galápagos hawks soar overhead and see schools of pompana as they swim beneath you. Explore the red mangrove cove looking for Brown pelicans, flightless cormorants, spotted eagle rays, and golden rays.

Sail for Urbina Bay at the base of Alcedo Volcano to watch sea turtles and rays. Take a short hike (3.2km) which leads to a coral reef. The area is abundant with marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, and even lobsters.

Day 8: Isabela | Fernandina

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Sail for Tagus Cove west of Darwin Volcano in Isabela Island. Hike to Darwin Lake passing by pirates graffiti carved into the rocks in the 1800s. Then take a panga trip below the high cliffs of the island. See penguins, marine iguanas, Sally Lightfoot crabs and sea lions on shore, and snorkel off the sandy beach.

In the afternoon, visit Espinoza Point to view hundreds of marine iguanas as they gather on the black lava rocks. Walk around to see the various lava flows and hopefully spot the Flightless Cormorant. Admire Fernandina Island from Espinoza Point where its last volcanic eruption was in May 2005.

Day 9: Santiago

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Sail for Puerto Egas with its black sandy beach create by volcanic deposits from the island's volcano, Pan de Azucar. The crater of this volcano is a salt lake, and in 1928 there were some explorations into harvesting the salt, but it proved to be too difficult.

After lunch explore the Palo Santo Wood of Espumilla Beach, a very important site for nesting tortoises.

Day 10: Dragon Hill | Black Turtle Cove

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Hike Dragon Hill in the Northwestern side of Santa Cruz Island, which consists of a trail that runs through three different environments at just 1,600 m long.

Visit Black Turtle Cove, surrounded by mangroves, accessible by panga only. The superficial cove is a safe refuge for marine life. Black-tip reef sharks, marine turtles, and a variety of rays are often spotted here.

Day 11: Rabida | Chinese Hat

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Spend the morning on the red sandy beaches of Rabida Island, take a loop trail around the internal lagoon. The red color of the rocks and sand is due to oxidization of the very porous volcanic material.

This afternoon travel to the small, volcanic island of Sombrero Chino (Chinese Hat). On the west you can see pillow-type lava formations, which are an indicator that the flows were formed under the sea and have been raised upward, which is why coral heads are found on the lava. This visit provides an excellent opportunity for the interpretation of geological features such as lava tubes and lava flows. Here you will be able to hike around and see magnificent lava tubes and lava flows that cover the island.

Day 12: North Seymour | Mosquera

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Hike across the visitors trail, a one mile walk through low vegetation on North Seymour. Blue-footed-boobies and land iguanas are abundant on this rocky island.

In the afternoon explore Mosquera islet between Baltra Island and North Seymour. Here, we find the biggest sea lions colony; also it is possible to observe several species of birds. Hike along the white sandy beach!

Day 13: Santiago | Bartholomew

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Explore Sullivan Island by walking around the amazing, uneroded, black lava flow covered with lava bubbles. Learn about the plants that thrive in this seemingly desolate landscape.

Spend the afternoon exploring Bartholomew Island by land and by see. First take a short hike to view the plant and bird life coexisting with the volcanic landscape. Then swim and snorkel around from the beach on the northside of the island.

Day 14: Genovesa

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Visit Genovesa, a shield volcano. Rich in birdlife, Genovesa stretches about five miles and is filled with salt water. Hike up Prince Philip's Steps which give an extraordinary view of the island.

In the afternoon head to Darwin Bay beach for a hike in small forest of mangrove swamp where you will discover a colony of Frigates, marine iguanas, red-foot boobies and mask boobies, the great terrestrial and cactus finch. After this visit inland, you have the option to enjoy swim and snorkel in the bay.

Day 15: San Cristobal | Disembark | Home

  • 1 Breakfast
Visit the Interpretation Center to learn about the history and biodiversity of the Galápagos Islands. Take an informative self-guided walking tour to view Galapagos conservation at work.

In the afternoon, transfer to the airport for your connection back Home.

Ship/Hotel

Galaxy

Galaxy ship exterior
Living area
Bar lounge

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
$8,496
Lower deck cabin
Select a Date
Lower Deck
Comfortable cabins with lower beds and port hole windows. Cabins have private bathrooms with hot/cold water and air conditioning.
Main deck cabin
Select a Date
Main Deck
Comfortable cabins with lower beds and large windows. Cabins have private bathrooms with hot/cold water and air conditioning.
Upper deck cabin
Select a Date
Upper Deck
Comfortable cabins with lower beds and large windows. Cabins have private bathrooms with hot/cold water and air conditioning.

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
  • 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

Map

Inquire

* By providing your phone number, you consent to receive direct phone calls or SMS messages from our Trip Planners to get the process started. We do not share your information with third-parties.
Travel Agents

We Love to Talk Travel

Call 1.800.344.6118
or
Chat Now
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
More Reasons

Why Travel With Adventure Life

All News

Recognized By