Experience world-class Galapagos diving surrounded by sharks, whales, red-lipped batfish, rays, turtles, penguins, iguanas, sea lions, and more on this 8-day diving cruise. Galaxy Orion takes you to the most stunning dive sites in the Galapagos Islands with a team of expert guides and cutting-edge dive equipment. Explore El Derrumbe, La Banana, Shark Bay, Darwin Island, Douglas Cape, and Cousin Rock among others.
Highlights
Explore El Derrumbe, one of the most famous dive sites in the Galapagos
Discover the north islet known by locals as La Banana, a dive site only for advanced divers
Dive among Hammerheads and Galapagos sharks in Shark Bay
See the impressive stone arch formation, known as Darwin's Pillars
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Welcome to the Galapagos Islands, where today marks the beginning of your diving adventure onboard the Galaxy Orion liveaboard yacht. The journey starts with your arrival at Seymour Airport, also known as Baltra Airport, located on the island of Baltra. As you step off the plane, you'll be greeted by the guide and the friendly staff of the Galaxy Orion, who will help you with your luggage and transfer you to the Galaxy Orion.
Then, enjoy a delicious lunch and settle into your cabins. But before you dive into the waters, it's important to note that there are strict guidelines for passengers to the archipelago due to the area's designation as a national park. These guidelines help preserve the delicate environment of the Galapagos Islands, ensuring that you can continue to enjoy the beauty of this unique ecosystem for years to come.
After all, you have the safety drill and check dive to try all the equipment by having your first immersion among the wonders of the Galapagos Islands. With the Galaxy Orion as your home base, you'll explore the pristine waters and encounter incredible marine life that can't be found anywhere else. It's sure to be an unforgettable experience that will leave you with memories to last a lifetime.
As the sun rises on your first day of diving aboard the Galaxy Orion yacht, feel the excitement building for what's in store at your first dive site, Punta Carrion. Gather your gear, and with the guidance of the expert dive master instructors, dive into the crystal-clear waters surrounding the stunning Santa Cruz Island.
Descending deeper into the underwater world of Punta Carrion, you'll be immediately mesmerized by the incredible visibility and the abundance of marine life that surrounds you—schools of hammerhead and whale sharks, this last one available between June and December. At the same time, playful sea lions dart in and out of the rocky underwater cliffs.
Learn more about the vivid and colorful world of tropical fish as you continue your exploration, including groups of surgeonfish, angelfish, and parrotfish. Luckily, you can even find a few secretive seahorses hidden in the reef's crevices. Later, joyfully discussed your underwater excursions. At the same time, the onboard cook makes a lovely lunch when you return to the Galaxy Orion. Finally, in the late afternoon, you'll begin your 14 hours of navigation through the Galapagos Sea to Wolf Island.
Difficulty: Moderate Immersions AM: 2
Day 3: Shark Bay | La Banana | La Ventana Islet | El Derrumbe
Today, you'll have an exciting diving adventure as you discover the hidden riches of this enchanted location.
The first stop is the breathtaking Shark Bay, where you can spot the majestic Galapagos shark, eagle ray, and sea lion that will meet you as you plunge into the ocean's depths. These magnificent creatures are a sight to behold, with exquisite movements that will take your breath away.
Following a thrilling morning dive, travel to La Banana to continue your journey and discover the Galapagos Islands' abundant marine life. In addition, you'll see playful sea lions in their native environment, darting and whirling about you with elegant, engaging, and mesmerizing beauty.
As the day unfolds, make your way to La Ventana Islet and El Derrumbe, two diving locations known for their diverse marine life. Go into the fascinating world of colorful fish, turtles, and sea stars as they welcome you into their natural home. The beauty and magic of the undersea environment will wow you as you explore these hidden jewels.
As you wrap up your diving day, take a minute to enjoy the beautiful sunset while reflecting on the incredible experiences of the day. The Galapagos Islands are indeed a treasure trove of natural beauty and you are privileged to accompany you on this magnificent voyage. Therefore, be ready to immerse yourself in a world of wonder and go on a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Today, you'll go to El Arenal. This magnificent location will leave you spellbound by the natural beauty of the Galapagos Islands. A diving site considered one of the best diving points in the world. This site is close to Darwin's Arch and offers moderate to strong currents with depths ranging from 46 to 121 ft and visibility from 40 to 80 ft. As you dive deeper into the sea, you'll be greeted by the impressive Galapagos underwater biodiversity.
Then move on to Darwin's Tower, commonly known as Darwin's Arch, one of the most iconic dive sites in the world. This awe-inspiring location is a must-visit for any avid diver. You're thrilled to share this incredible experience with you. As you dive into the deep blue waters, a world of vibrant coral, schools of colorful fish, and the majestic beauty of the hammerhead shark will be waiting for you with their imposing presence and graceful movements. The thrill of diving at Darwin's Tower is indescribable, and you'll be amazed by the sheer beauty of this underwater wonderland.
The first dive site of the day is El Arenal. As you explore the vibrant coral reefs and discover the diverse marine life, you'll have the chance to encounter an incredible array of species. Some of them could be dolphins commonly sighted feeding on schools of fish, hammerhead sharks, whale sharks, rays, Galapagos sharks, and even tiger sharks and killer whales. But the beauty of El Arenal isn't just in its impressive marine life; the geological formations are also a sight to behold.
After an exhilarating morning dive, move on to El Derrumbe, where you'll discover the fascinating marine diversity of the Galapagos Islands. This site offers a unique diving experience with its underwater cliffs and caves. You'll encounter many species, including green turtles, sea lions, and eagle rays. But what makes this site truly special is the presence of bull sharks, one of the few places in the world where you can dive with them in shallow waters.
Your last dive of the day takes you to Shark Bay, where you'll explore the hidden treasures of the Galapagos Islands. This site is famous for its incredible diversity of marine life, including the Galapagos shark, eagle ray, and sea lion. But what makes this site truly unique is the presence of whale sharks that visit the Galapagos Islands every year from July to November. It's a rare opportunity to witness these gentle giants, and we're honored to share this experience with you.
Difficulty: Moderate to Advance Immersions AM: 2 Immersions PM: 2
As you continue your journey through the pristine waters of the Galapagos Islands onboard the Galaxy Orion, ready for some incredible dives planned for you on this sixth day in the deeper sea of the Galapagos Islands.
Start your day by diving at Douglas Cape, where you can observe the marine iguanas feeding on algae underwater. These graceful creatures spend time basking in the sun to warm up before diving into the sea for about 20 minutes to feed. Watching them glide through the water is a truly unforgettable experience. The seas surrounding Douglas Cape are teeming with unique marine life, such as the famous Galapagos marine iguana, red-lipped batfish, fur seals, Galapagos penguins, and flightless cormorants.
The following dive site is Vicente Roca Point, located on the northwest coast of Isabela Island. The abundance of colorful corals and gorgonians make this site one of the best in the Galapagos Islands for enjoying macro life, such as seahorses, different species of nudibranchs, toadfish, and even the elusive Mola Alexandrini (mola mola), the largest bony fish in the world. You may also encounter penguins and flying cormorants, green turtles, and, if lucky, a cat shark. The stunning coral formations and the impressive array of marine life at Vicente Roca Point will take your breath away.
This morning you'll have the opportunity to do your last dive at Cousin Rock—one of the most colorful dive sites in the archipelago. The vibrant coral walls and gorgonians create a stunning backdrop for encounters with seahorses, reef fish, and various nudibranchs. Keep an eye out for the curious coral hawks as they dart around the reef. As you dive deeper, you might glimpse a school of eagle rays gracefully gliding by or spot a white-tip shark resting in a crevice. If you're lucky, you might even see mobulas and schools of barracudas. Finally, the playful sea lions will appear and invite you to join their underwater games.
After lunch, disembark and head for a reserve in the Santa Cruz Highlands. Here, you'll have the unique opportunity to witness the iconic Galapagos Tortoise in its natural habitat. Walking through the lush vegetation, you might even spot some of the other residents of the highlands, like the elusive Galapagos Rail or the bright Vermilion Flycatcher.
After a week of unforgettable experiences, it is time to bid farewell to this enchanting land. As you'll be transferred to Baltra Airport, take the memories of a lifetime and the magic of the Galapagos Islands.
This itinerary is no longer available. For other trip ideas, please visit Galapagos Cruises & Tours.
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Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Matrimonial Cabins
7.85m2 - Equipped with a private bathroom, hot/cold water, air conditioning, a hair dryer, a towel, internal phone, safe box, closet, and speaker.
Ideal for couples and provides a well-deserved rest.
Twin Cabins
10m2 - Equipped with a private bathroom, hot/cold water, air conditioning, a hair dryer, a towel, internal phone, safe box, closet, and speaker.
This cabin has 2 beds ideal for families with children, friends, or couples who like independent comfort.
Child Discount
10% discount for children under 12 (between 6 to 11 years old). Child discounts are conditional and may not apply to 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.
Initial deposit is 20%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
For full cancellation policy details, please contact us for a quote.
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
Wetsuits - Available on board
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
Kayak Equipment
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. Payable upon arrival to the Galapagos, only in cash dollars. Subject to increase by Galapagos Park Service.
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
TrustScore 4.9 | 306 reviews
TrustScore 4.9 of 5
Based on 306 reviews on
4 weeks ago
Jess was very responsive and quick to address questions. She was patient when we wanted to make changes. We did check the BBB and found good reviews. We look forward to a fabulous Machu Picchu and Galapagos trip and hope to book many other trips with Adventure Life. Thank you.
Mary Westphal
4 weeks ago
Adventure life made it so easy to plan my trip. They were very professional and answered all of my question promptly and completely. They were also flexible in accommodating my changes to the trip.
J Rugg
4 weeks ago
Excellent information by company . Easy to book trip.
Jay Cohen
1 month ago
Excellent travel advice and service
This is my second experience working with Adventure Life. I’m sold. Jess Heuermann is an experienced traveler and provides a lot of useful information when planning a trip. These are the questions I like to ask at the outset - What’s it like to go here, there, what would you suggest, what do people report, can we add any additional side trips? Jess took the time to answer my questions and seek additional information to share with me. Petchie Colina is outstanding in helping with travel logistics and final preparations. Adventure Life has excellent guides and offers private guides and small group adventures. We enjoyed the opportunity to talk with the guides and drivers to learn more about their countries, cultures and histories. A highlight was having the guides pick local restaurants where we could share meals together. Highly recommend.
Claire Cordon
1 month ago
Jess was very easy going and answered all our questions. It’s not easy dealing with 6 people at once but she did an outstanding job!