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Iconic wildlife of the Galapagos sunning themselves

Galapagos Islands Circumnavigation

Example 15 Day Cruise aboard Bonita
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Join the Bonita for a spectacular 15-day cruise through the Galapagos. Encounter distinctive biodiversity, including giant tortoises and abundant marine life. Snorkel in the olive green beach of Cormorant Point, west of Floreana, to observe sea lions, sea iguanas, frigates, and pelicans. See the waved albatross at Suarez Point as you continue your journey. Sail across Lobos Island, South Plaza, and Santa Cruz before reaching Darwin Bay in Genovesa. Breathtaking dinghy rides, stunning views, and close encounters with the most iconic birds of the archipelago, such as red-footed boobies and mask boobies, the great terrestrial finch, awaits you. Hike the volcanic island of Bartolome, famous for its postcard view of the Pinnacle Rock. Your tour concludes in the Charles Darwin Station on Santa Cruz, the main breeding site of tortoises and land iguanas in captivity.
Sea lions on Fernandina IslandDevil's Crown GalapagosTwo Galapagos tortoisesUnique landscape and cactus found on the Galapagos IslandsIconic wildlife of the Galapagos sunning themselves
Highlights
  • Land in Darwin Bay and explore its coral sand beach and tide pools
  • Kayak and stand up paddle board along island coastlines
  • Admire the distinctive biodiversity of the Galapagos
  • Hike across islands covered in cacti
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: Santa Cruz Highlands | Embark

After your arrival and lunch on board, visit the interesting highlands, hike, and encounter giant tortoises in their natural habitat, a natural wonder. We recommend using sport shoes, long pants, a raincoat, hat, and sunblock for this visit.

Day 2: Cormorant Point | Devil's Crown | Post Office Bay

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Today, make a wet landing at Cormorant Point for snorkeling and short trekking. This point is located west of Floreana Island, and it is famous for its dark green beach (due to the great number of olivine crystals). You can see many marine invertebrates and sea lions, sea iguanas, frigates, and pelicans.

The next stop is Devil's Crown to enjoy a panga ride and optional swimming. Take a panga ride around a small island that serves as a satellite islet of Floreana. Here, find a group of rocks that resemble a Crown due to the constant erosion caused by the sea. It is one of the better places to snorkel (shallow diving) in the interior and around the crown. Excellent visibility allows guests to admire a great variety of fish and sea animals.

In the afternoon, explore Post Office Bay and enjoy a short walk, swimming, snorkeling, explanation of the mail system. Description: Mail Bay is located on the north side of Floreana Island. Captain James Colnett installed an empty barrel to be used as a post office for the whaling fleets that stopped at the Galapagos Islands. You can leave postcards to your friends and relatives here and/or pick up mail to deliver. Back at the ship, Delicious snacks and beverages are waiting for you.

Day 3: Suarez Point | Gardner Bay

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
This morning discover Suarez Point. There is no color more unique and outstanding in this tropical desert island than the blue-foot boobies. These birds have an impressive “greeting,” and it is a real thrill to see their mating dance. The blue-footed booby can be seen on several islands as nesting grounds and feed in several coastal locations. The albatross, an aristocratic bird, weighing up to four kilograms, can be observed here. One of the largest birds of the islands, approximately 12,000 couples nest on Espanola Island, while a smaller number nest on Silver Island, near mainland Ecuador. This species is considered endemic to this island; during your walk, observe these fantastic birds while taking in the beautiful landscapes offered by this island. It is important to note that albatrosses will not be seen between January and March (non-breeding). See colonies of marine iguanas, zayapas, masked boobies, finches, Espanola cucuves, and seagulls unique to the islands. Walk on lava rocks to see lava tubes. Red mangroves are found here. Delicious snacks and fresh beverages are waiting for you on the ship.

The sea lion is one of the animals in Galapagos which gets the total attention of the visitors in the Galapagos: they are curious and playful, but at times aggressive; they are nice and loving, but also lazy. In Gardner Bay, you will find many of them relaxing on the beach, enjoying the sun. In addition to observing these fascinating animals while snorkeling, swimming with sea lions, sea turtles, a diversity of tropical fish, marine iguanas, and a lot more.

Day 4: Interpretation Center | Lobos Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
This center is a location in the main port. After breakfast, visit the Interpretation Center of San Cristobal, a modern and sophisticated architectural space designed for the natural interpretation of the Galapagos. Learn about the volcanic formation of the islands, the evolution of the species, the history of human settlement, and complex systems and management models.

You can walk, swim, and snorkel at Lobos Island among the seals, frigates, marine iguanas, lava lizards, and the small endemic Galapagos snake. 

Day 5: Daphne OR Bachas | South Plaza

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Daphne Major is a rather large tuff cone somewhat eroded by the sea. You can find Nazca boobies, red-billed tropicbirds, and blue-footed boobies nesting here. Nearly all of the finches on the island are banded. At Daphne Major, you can also observe sea lions, sea turtles, Eagle Rays, various sharks, and other pelagic species.
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This beautiful sandy white-coral beach, located north of Santa Cruz Island, is one km long. During WWII (World War II), the site was named when the American army left two barges on the beach. The early colonists couldn’t pronounce barges correctly, so they called the area “Bachas.” It is considered one of the nesting sites for sea turtles. Observe flamingos, seabirds, and white-cheeked pintail ducks.

Later, visit Plazas, two small islands created by an uplifting of the land. The land iguanas are smaller here; they nest during the warm season. The hike goes along an extraordinary cliff where sea birds nest. There are approximately 1000 sea lions (Zalophus Wollebaeki) located on the south side of the Plazas.

Day 6: Black Turtle Cove | Santa Cruz Highlands

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Today, visit Black Turtle Cove, situated in the northern region of Santa Cruz. This bay surrounded by mangroves is accessible by dinghy only. The shallow cove is a safe refuge for marine life. Black-tip reef sharks, marine turtles, and a variety of rays are often spotted here.

Have trekking and find the giant tortoises in their natural habitat, a natural spectacle. We recommend good walking shoes, long pants, a raincoat, a hat, and sunblock for this visit.

Day 7: Darwin Bay | El Barranco

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Genovesa is a small island in the north of the Galapagos. Our unloading in Darwin Bay will be wet. Near the beach is a mangrove swamp where a colony of frigates, marine iguanas, red-footed boobies and mask boobies, the great terrestrial finch, seagulls, herons, and cactus finch, awaits. Following the land visit, our passengers can enjoy a swim in the bay. Snacks and refreshments are available.

Here, go for a walk on the Barranco path. On your journey, observe tropical birds, petrels, common frigate, red-foot boobies, mask boobies, doves, and finches.

Day 8: Sullivan Bay | Bartolome Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Virtually uneroded lava flows cover an extensive area of this island. Lava pahoehoe (basaltic lava with a smooth, billowy, undulating, or ropy surface), hornitos, and mollugo (a lava colonizer) can be seen. Snacks and refreshing beverages await you on board the ship. 

Activities on Bartolome Island include walking, swimming, snorkeling, and photography. Follow a path to the top (114m) to see pioneering plants like tiquilia, chamaesyce, and scalesia. The island has been formed by cones, lava pipes where lava once flowed. Following the wet landing at the beach, follow mangrove swamps and dune vegetation to the south coast. At the north beach, guests can enjoy swimming and snorkeling. From the top of Bartolome, see the islands of Santiago, Rabida, and Isabela. See penguins in the Rock Pinnacle.

Day 9: Seymour | Dragon Hill

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Marine fossils dating back to the Pleistocene period were found on this island. In 1932, Captain Alan Hancock and his crew took 72 malnourished land iguanas from Baltra Island to North Seymour Island to live in better conditions. In 1934, colonists verified that the iguanas were in good condition. The vegetation of North Seymour is bushy and is host to nesting Real Frigates of the Galapagos.

After lunch, your first visit is to Dragon Hill, located in the northwestern area of Santa Cruz Island. It consists of a 1,600 m long trail running through 3 different environments. In 1975, it was one of the only places on Santa Cruz Island where healthy land iguanas (Conolophus Subcristatus) could be found. That same year, the Galapagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Foundation initiated a program to conserve land iguanas. In the lagoons found here, there are shrimp (Artemia salina), the food of the flamingos. At certain times of the year, the shrimp are more abundant, and the flamingo population increases.

Day 10: Espumilla Beach | Boucanier Cove | Egas Port

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
The main attractions include Palo Santo Wood, the beach, and the stunning landscape; the beach is an important site for tortoises because they use it for nesting. One time, the pigs were the main predatory of tortoise’s eggs; pigs were eradicated with the creation of the Isabela Project. 

At Egas Port, find a beautiful black sand beach; to the south of the beach is the Pan de Azucar Volcano, whose volcanic deposits have contributed to the formation of the black sand beach. The crater of this volcano contains a saltwater lake that dries up during hot weather. Between 1928 and 1930, explorations to develop a salt mine were carried out, but it was decided that a mine was not feasible. The workers’ use of endemic woods also damaged the environment, and the development was scrapped. Descent to the salt mine is not allowed.

Day 11: Vicente Roca Point | Espinosa Point

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Vicente Roca Point, comprised of two separate coves,  is a large bay with spectacular sea life. Keep an eye out for seahorses, sea turtles, and the strange yet fascinating Mola mola (sunfish).

Fernandina is the third biggest island in the Galapagos. It has only one visiting site: Espinoza Point, famous for the large colonies of marine iguanas and the home of the flightless cormorant, the Galapagos penguin, snakes, and more. From Espinoza Point, we can admire the beauty of Fernandina Island and its volcano, which last erupted in May of 2005. Fernandina is the only island that doesn’t have mammals, and the open areas are extremely fragile. From January to June, the nesting period of the marine iguana, we take great care when walking.

Day 12: Urbina Bay | Tagus Cove

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Make a wet landing at Urbina Bay, located at the base of Alcedo Volcano between Elizabeth Bay and Tagus Cove. The trail length is around 3.20 Km; during this walk, you can observe land iguanas, hawks, and tortoises. It is also possible to see red and blue lobsters.

Tagus Cove is located to the west of Darwin Volcano on Isabela Island. While walking, find several inscriptions (names of pirates) dating back to the 1800s. From here, we can see Darwin Lake, a saltwater lake with a depth of approximately 9 m. It contains no fish. It is very common to see a variety of bird species.

Day 13: Moreno Point | Elizabeth Bay

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Disembark at Moreno Point, located near Elizabeth Bay on the west coast of Isabela Island. The plethora of birds seen during a dinghy ride along the striking rocky shores or a hike along a path through lava rock leading to tide pools and mangroves create a birdwatcher’s delight. In the tide pools, green sea turtles or white-tip sharks can be spotted.

After lunch, visit Elizabeth Bay, one of the island’s breeding sites for penguins. Located on the west coast of Isabela, Elizabeth Point is a marine visitor site. Visit Red Mangrove Cove: Brown pelicans, flightless cormorants, spotted eagle rays, golden rays, and sea lions are often seen.

Day 14: Tintoreras | Humedales

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Visit Tintoreras, located in the bay of Puerto Villamil. This small island, surrounded by calm, turquoise waters, has an easy trail with great landscapes and interesting fauna. Along the trail, see large numbers of Marine Iguanas basking in the sun, lava lizards, herons, gulls, and sea lions. In the coves, it is easy to find Sea Turtles, rays, and even penguins. Among the many inlets and channels on the coast, sometimes see White-tipped Reef Sharks (in Spanish "Tintoreras"). Following the excursion, return to the boat for breakfast and sail to your next destination.

Los Humedales is one of the Isabela Hidden Gems. "Humedales" translates to Wet Lands. This area, characterized by sandy beaches, rocky shores, and mangroves, has an extremely important role in the Galapagos as they provide a nursery for young marine animals and a nesting site for birds. Following the various paths, find a fabulous destination for bird lovers, pink flamingos, and migratory birds, including black-bellied and semipalmated plovers, whimbrel, osprey, greater and lesser yellowlegs, Wilson's phalarope, short-billed dowitcher, common tern, blue-winged teal, to name a few. You can also observe young giant tortoises from the Isabela Breeding Center.

Day 15: Charles Darwin Station | Disembark

  • 1 Breakfast
After breakfast, visit Charles Darwin Station which is located in the main port on Santa Cruz Island; take a private bus to the entrance of the breeding center to see tortoises and land iguanas in captivity. This center is the main breeding site on the islands. 

Transfer to airport.

Ship/Hotel

Bonita

Side View Bonita Cruise
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Dates & Prices

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Per person starting at
$7,809
Twin Cabin
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Lower Deck
Cabins # 1, 2 & 4 have two twins lower beds and porthole windows. These two cabins can be sold as triples. (Cabins average 110 square feet.)
Double Cabin
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Upper/Main Deck
In the upper deck, we have 4 cabins. Cabins # 7, 8, 9 & 10 could be matrimonial or twin, while in the main deck, we have 2 matrimonial cabins. . (Cabins average 95 square feet.)

Notes

Stand-up paddleboarding equipment is included on this voyage.

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, 14 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
  • 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
  • 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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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
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