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Galapagos hawk

Northwest Islands

Example 8 Day Cruise aboard EcoGalaxy
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This 8-day Northwest Islands cruise aboard the Galaxy II, explores the islands of Santa Cruz, Isabela, Rabida, and more! Snorkel with colorful fish, swim among sea lions, and hike along beautiful trails to observe many endemic species of birds. A wonderful way to observe the unique wildlife and landscapes of the Galapagos!
Pinnacle rock in BartolomeSnorkeling on IsabelaLava Gull, IsabelaLearn at the Breeding Center on your Galapagos cruiseGalapagos hawk
Highlights
  • Learn about conservation and the unique wildlife on Charles Darwin Center
  • Enjoy walking along the base of the Alcedo Volcano in Urbina bay
  • Swim and snorkel around Pinnacle Rock
  • See endemic wildlife in Egas Port
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 | Santa Cruz | Embark

  • Ship
  • 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Land in Baltra and transfer to the Galaxy II. Enjoy a welcome drink and lunch before beginning your Galapagos adventure! Your first stop is the Charles Darwin Research Center on Santa Cruz, where you can learn about the protection and conservation of the islands, as well as the breeding, rearing, and protection of Galapagos tortoises.

Day 2: Isabela, Las Tintorera | Moreno Point

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
This morning, head to Tintoreras on Isabela. Take a panga ride to a small bay where you may look for sea lions, marine iguanas, marine tortoises, rays, and Galapagos sharks.

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 basically formed a bay within a bay, with calmed waters that are protected and surrounded by mangle which make it a perfect place for sea turtles. It’s truly a spectacle of nature. 

Day 3: Isabela, Elizabeth Bay | Urbina Bay

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Start your day on Elizabeth Bay, one of Isabela's breeding sites for penguins. Visit a beautiful red mangrove cove, where you may find brown pelicans, spotted eagle rays, flightless cormorants, golden rays, and sea lions.

In the afternoon, head to Urbina Bay, where you may hike on a beautiful trail along the base of the Alcedo volcano. Look for tortoises, hawks, land iguanas, and red and blue lobsters.

Day 4: Fernandina | Isabela

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Begin today at Espinoza Point on Fernandina. Here you may find Galapagos penguins, large colonies of marine iguanas, flightless Cormorants, Galapagos hawks, and Galapagos snakes.

After lunch, head to Vicente Roca Point on Isabela, a large bay full of spectacular sea life. Keep an eye out for sea turtles, seahorses, and Mola Mola (sunfish).

Day 5: Santiago | Rabida

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Start the day on the black sand beaches of Egas Port where you may find sea lions and marine iguanas sunbathing on the rocks. The unique color of the sand on this beach is due to volcanic tuff deposits.

In the afternoon, head to the red beaches of Rabida Island. Walk along a trail to a coastal lagoon, where you may find a variety of land birds such as yellow warblers, doves, mocking birds, finches, and flamingos. The beach is often full of sea lions and is a great base for snorkeling.

Day 6: Santa Cruz, Black Turtle Cove | Bachas Beach

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
In the morning, visit Black Turtle Cove in northern Santa Cruz. Take a dinghy ride around a beautiful mangrove forest, then into the cove to look for a variety of marine life such as black-tip reef sharks, marine turtles, and a variety of rays.

In the afternoon, head to Bachas Beach. Walk along two soft, white beaches and look for sea turtle nests. Behind one of the beaches is a beautiful lagoon where you may spot several different coastal birds such as flamingos, black-necked stilts, and whimbrels.

Day 7: Santiago | Bartolome

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Begin today in Sullivan Bay, one of the most amazing volcanic sites in the Galapagos. Walk around the remarkable lava flow and admire the amazing geological formations that make up Santiago Island.

After lunch, sail to Bartolome Island, where you can hike, swim, snorkel, and take some amazing pictures! Visit Pinnacle Rock, where you may see a large colony of Galapagos penguins.

Day 8: Santa Cruz | Baltra | Disembark

  • 1 Breakfast
Spend the morning hiking around the amazing highlands of Santa Cruz. Admire the rolling hills and extinct volcanic cones covered with grass and lush greenery year round. Also visit the Twin Craters and a local ranch where you can observe the giant tortoise species of Santa Cruz in its natural habitat.

In the afternoon, transfer to the airport and fly to mainland Ecuador.

Ship/Hotel

EcoGalaxy

Lounge area
Sun deck

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
$5,218
Twin Cabin
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Main Deck
4 spacious staterooms on the Main Deck
Double Bed Cabin
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Upper Deck
4 spacious staterooms on the Upper Deck

Child Discount

10% discount for children under 12. 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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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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