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Family in the Galapagos

Eastern Islands

Example 8 Day Cruise aboard Cachalote Explorer
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Enjoy this 8-day cruise through the eastern islands of the Galapagos, covering some of the most beautiful islands including San Cristobal, South Plaza, Santa Cruz, and Genovesa. Overflowing with wildlife, volcanic wonders, and breathtaking landscapes, this is the perfect vacation choice. Get ready to see an abundance of unique wildlife including flamingos, frigate birds, iguanas, and enjoy some friendly interaction with the island's playful sea lions. Fill your days with opportunities to snorkel, swim, and wander through the islands of this archipelago.
Lazing in the sun South Plaza(Floreana) CoastlineBeach time at Cerro Brujo, San CristobalGalapagos Tortoise close upFamily in the Galapagos
Highlights
  • Observe the giant Galapagos tortoise in its natural habitat
  • Take a boat ride to Black Turtle Cove
  • Climb up Prince Phillip's Steps to get a glimpse at the Galapagos birds
  • Snorkel around Devil's Crown, a submerged volcano
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 | Highlands | Charles Darwin Station, Santa Cruz

  • Ship
  • 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Arrive at Baltra Airport. Galapagos giant tortoises can be seen in the wild in the Highlands of Santa Cruz. 

Visit the Charles Darwin Station a research facility and National Park Information Center. The Charles Darwin Station has a giant tortoise and land iguana breeding program and interpretation center.
Activities: Walking

Day 2: South Plaza | Santa Fe

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
South Plaza Island or Plazas consists of two very small islands that were uplifted from the sea, separated by a channel. Only South Plazas has a visitor site. The highlights include tall Opuntia cactus, land and marine iguanas, a rocky cliff that looks out towards the open ocean which is also a nesting site for red-billed tropic birds and gulls, and a seal lion bachelor colony.
Activities: Walking 

Santa Fe Island is a smaller island of 24 km2. The visitor site Santa Fe is located on the northeast end of the island. Highlights include Santa Fe land iguanas, pelican nesting site, sea lion colony, mockingbird, and Palo Santo trees.
Activities: Walking, Kayaking, Panga ride, Snorkeling

Day 3: Witch Hill (Cerro Brujo) | Galapaguera and El Junco, San Cristobal Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
San Cristóbal Island (Chatham) is the easternmost island of the Galapagos and also one of the oldest.

Witch Hill (Cerro Brujo) is a volcanic cone that looks over a beautiful white sandy beach that has plenty of sea lions, pelicans, blue-footed boobies, waders, and marine iguanas.
Activities: Walking, Kayaking, Panga ride, Snorkeling

El Junco Lagoonis the only fresh water reservoir in Galapagos and has great views from its altitude of 700m in the highlands of San Cristóbal. Rainwater has been collected in the caldera for hundreds of years and formed this lagoon. Galapaguera is a good area to see tortoises in their natural environment.
Activities: Walking

Day 4: Gardner Bay | Osborn Islet | Punta Suarez, Española Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Hood Island (Española) is the oldest of the Southern Islands and is the southernmost in the archipelago. Because of its remote location, a unique range of endemic species evolved here.

Gardner Bay is located on the northeast of the island, the site has a long and beautiful white sand beach inhabited by sea lion colonies. 
Activities: Walking, Kayaking, Panga ride, Snorkeling

Islote Garnder and Islote Osborn islets are snorkeling sites where visitors will see an abundance of tropical fish, reef sharks,  and turtles.

The wildlife at Punta Suarez is plentiful and varied. Along the cliff, visitors can enjoy the blowhole where seawater is forced about 20m into the air. The highlights are the Waved albatross (April-Dec) that are only found on Hood, Galapagos Hawks, blue-footed boobies, Ñasca boobies, and Española lava lizards.
Activities: Walking

Day 5: Punta Cormorant | Devil's Crown | Post Office Bay, Floreana Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Floreana Island is best known for its colorful history of buccaneers, whalers, convicts, and early colonists.

Punta Cormorant has two contrasting beaches and a large inland lagoon where pink flamingoes can be seen.
Activities: Walking, Kayaking, Panga ride, Snorkeling

Devil’s Crown is a snorkeling site located just off Punta Cormorant. The site is a completely submerged volcano that has eroded to create the appearance of a jagged crown.
Activities: Snorkeling

Post Office Bay is one of the few sites visited in its human history. Visit the wooden mail barrel where letters are dropped off and picked up as remains of the Norwegian fishing village.
Activities: Walking, Snorkeling

Day 6: Dragon Hill, Santa Cruz | Sullivan Bay, James Island (Santiago)

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Dragon Hill or Cerro Dragon has hypersalinic small lagoon behind the beach, often frequented by flamingoes
​​Activities: Walking, Snorkeling

James Island (Santiago) is located between Isabela and Santa Cruz Islands. This Island offers a wide variety of seabirds, marine iguanas, and fur seals.
Sullivan Bay is of great geological interest. Highlights: 100-hundred-year-old lava flow field, pahoehoe formations, and lava bubbles.
​​Activities: Walking, Snorkeling

Day 7: Darwin Bay | El Barranco, Genovesa (Tower) Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Tower Island (Genovesa) is an eroded flat volcanic island, with a natural harbor, which is actually the submerged caldera of this volcanic island.

Darwin Bay's steep cliffs of this area dominate the island. This area is home to thousands of frigate birds, red-footed boobies, Noddy terns, lava gulls, tropicbirds, doves, storm petrels, and Darwin’s finches.
Activities: Walking, Kayaking, Panga ride, Snorkeling

In El Barranco, a good possibility of seeing the unique “Short-eared owl” at this site. During the dinghy rides along the cliffs fur seals and several species of seabirds can be spotted.
Activities: Walking, Kayaking, Panga ride, Snorkeling

Day 8: Turtle Cove, Santa Cruz | Disembark | Baltra

  • 1 Breakfast
Caleta Tortuga (Turtle Cove) is a red mangrove lagoon on Santa Cruz and a perfect example of how mangroves alter the marine environment to create a rich and unique habitat.
Activities: Panga ride

Return flight from Baltra to Quito.

Ship/Hotel

Cachalote Explorer

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Cachalote Explorer
Cachalote Explorer

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$4,000
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Cabin 1-2
Comfortable rooms featuring a matrimonial bed with individual climate controls and private bathrooms with hot and cold water.
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Cabin 3-7
Comfortable rooms featuring a matrimonial bed with individual climate controls and private bathrooms with hot and cold water.
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Cabin 8
Comfortable room featuring a matrimonial bed with individual climate controls and private bathrooms with hot and cold water.

Child Discount

50% 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, 7 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)
  • 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.
Excluded
  • Gratuities
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Additional excursions during free time
  • 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
  • Wetsuits are not included but are available to rent on board - $30/week per person.
  • Fuel Surcharge - to be invoiced separately

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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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