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Elizabeth Bay, Isabela Island, Galapagos, Sea Lion

Western Islands

Santa Cruz Island to Mosquera - Example 8 Day Cruise aboard Tip Top IV
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Embark on an 8-day Galapagos Islands adventure through the pristine waters of Ecuador aboard Tip Top IV. Visit iconic sites such as Black Turtle Cove, Darwin Bay, and Prince Philip’s Steps to explore unique ecosystems teeming with marine life. Navigate around Santa Cruz, Isabela, Fernandina, and Floreana, each revealing distinctive wildlife encounters and volcanic landscapes. Discover the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center, admire giant tortoises at El Chato Reserve, and snorkel beside sea lions and penguins at Elizabeth Bay. Explore historical Post Office Bay and the scenic Baroness Viewpoint. This cruise combines guided land excursions, kayaking, and snorkeling.
Kayak and snorkel in clear blue watersFloreana IslandA Green Sea Turtle in the beaches of Punta Cormorant, Floreana Island.Mosquera Islet Island on a clear sunny day, beach and ocean view, Galapagos EcuadorEl Chato ReserveElizabeth Bay, Isabela Island, Galapagos, Sea Lion
Highlights
  • Glide through Black Turtle Cove to spot rays and reef sharks
  • Walk among seabirds at Prince Philip’s Steps on Genovesa Island
  • Snorkel with penguins and turtles across serene Elizabeth Bay waters
  • Explore Post Office Bay’s historic barrel and Baroness Viewpoint ruins
Places Visited
Activity Level: Variable
Activity options vary depending on destination and operator. Activity level is determined by the range and intensity of activities you choose to participate in. Discuss with your Trip Planner which options are best for you.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Baltra | Embark | Black Turtle Cove

Fly from mainland Ecuador, either Quito or Guayaquil, to Baltra with LATAM Airlines, arriving around 9:50 a.m. Meet your guide at the arrivals gate, where the crew manages your luggage. Ride a short 5-kilometer bus route to the pier and board the yacht. As departure preparations begin, receive a brief introduction and enjoy a light snack.

After lunch, take a panga ride through Black Turtle Cove, a calm area of mangrove channels and small islets. Watch for white-tipped reef sharks, marine turtles, spotted eagle rays, and yellow cow-nosed rays in the clear waters.

In the evening, attend an orientation about the Galápagos Islands’ history, geology, and ecosystems. Share a welcome cocktail with the crew before dinner and a nightly briefing about the next day’s activities.
Activities: Walking

Day 2: Darwin Bay | Prince Phillip´s Steps

Begin the morning with breakfast before making a wet landing at Darwin Bay. Explore the area to observe diverse wildlife such as frigate birds, herons, mockingbirds, boobies, shorebirds, sea turtles, and marine iguanas.
Activities: Snorkeling, Panga Ride, Kayaking, Walking

After lunch on the yacht, take a panga ride and make a dry landing at Prince Philip’s Steps. Walk along the trail to see nesting seabirds and experience the unique behavior of local species up close.

Enjoy dinner on board, followed by an evening briefing focused on Galápagos conservation and ongoing protection efforts.
Activities: Snorkeling, Panga Ride, Kayaking, Walking

Optional: your guide will inform you where there will be time for swimming and snorkeling.

Day 3: Fausto Llerena Breeding Center | El Chato Reserve

Once you've had breakfast, you'll disembark you start the day with a visit to a fascinating visit to the Interpretation Center Fausto Llerena within the Charles Darwin Research Station. After this enriching experience, hop on a bus to drive towards the highlands of Santa Cruz Island, where you'll explore the native forests and El Chato Reserve, a farm to marvel at giant tortoises roaming freely in their natural habitat.
Activities: Walking

Lunch will be served on the farm, promising a delightful experience.  Return to Puerto Ayora and enjoy a city stroll on your own, until it´s time to get back aboard for the nightly orientation and dinner.
Activities: Walking

Day 4: Vicente Roca Point | Espinoza Point

After breakfast, make a panga ride on Punta Vicente Roca to observe plenty of sea lions, marine iguanas, blue-footed and masked boobies, and flightless cormorants. Return aboard for a delicious lunch.
Activities: Snorkeling, Panga Ride

In the afternoon, you'll embark on an adventure with a dry landing at Espinoza Point, where you'll encounter a bustling colony of sea lions, fascinating marine iguanas, and the unique flightless cormorants, all amidst striking clusters of lava cactus. You'll then return to the Yacht for a delicious dinner and the nightly orientation.
Activities: Snorkeling, Walking

Optional: your guide will inform you where there will be time for swimming and snorkeling.

Day 5: Tagus Cove | Elizabeth Bay

After breakfast, you’ll take a panga ride through Tagus Cove, a sheltered inlet nestled between two volcanic craters that shield it from the open ocean. During the ride, you’ll spot penguins, marine iguanas, sea lions, and a variety of bird species, including the flightless cormorant and blue-footed boobies.
Activities: Snorkeling, Panga Ride, Kayaking, Walking

In the afternoon, you´ll explore the islets of Elizabeth Bay by panga, where you will spot marine iguanas, penguins, sea turtles, seabirds, shorebirds, herons, and more blue-footed boobies. Early in the afternoon, return to the yacht for dinner and the nightly orientation.
Activities: Panga Ride, Kayaking

Optional: your guide will inform you where there will be time for swimming and snorkeling.

Day 6: Urbina Bay | Moreno Point

Enjoy your breakfast and continue to embark on an exciting wet landing at Urbina Bay, where you'll trek through a fascinating coral area and encounter land iguanas, flightless cormorants, and giant tortoises. For those seeking more thrills. You'll then return to the Yacht for a hearty lunch.
Activities: Snorkeling, Walking

You´ll keep sailing to Punta Moreno for another wet landing. A walk along the shore lagoons—set among ancient lava flows—offers the chance to
see a variety of bird species. From a panoramic viewpoint, depending on the weather, you will be able to admire the majestic Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul volcanoes, as well as the highest point of Fernandina Island. Return to the yacht for dinner and the evening briefing.
Activities: Snorkeling, Panga Ride, Walking

Optional: your guide will inform you where there will be time for swimming and snorkeling.

Day 7: Cormorant Point | Champion Islet | Post Office Bay | Baroness Viewpoint

Followed by a delicious breakfast, make a wet landing at Cormorant Point for a short walk to the Flamingo Lagoon. Continue the walk to "La Picona" beach to see marine turtles and their nesting grounds. The activities continue with a panga ride around Champion Islet, a small island off the coast of Floreana Island. The main attraction here is the nearly extinct Charles (Floreana) Mockingbird. Visitors can also observe bird species such as Swallow-tailed Gulls, Nazca Boobies, and Brown Noddies. Champion Islet is an excellent spot for snorkeling, where you can see sea turtles, reef fish, Galapagos Penguins, and white-tipped reef sharks.
Activities: Snorkeling, Panga Ride, Walking

Enjoy the stunning landscape and explore the ruins of her house. Next, stop at Post Office Bay, a historic site dating back to the 18th century when whalers used a wooden barrel as a post office. Pay a visit to Baroness Point, named after the intriguing Baroness Eloisa von Wagner, who once lived on Floreana Island. Early in the afternoon, return to the yacht for dinner and a nightly orientation.
Activities: Panga Ride, Kayaking, Walking

Optional: your guide will inform you where there will be time for swimming and snorkeling.

Day 8: Mosquera Islet | Disembark | Baltra

  • 1 Breakfast
Very early in the morning, you'll embark on an early adventure, wet landing on Mosquera Islet, which features a reef of rocks and coral formed by an uprising, along with a beautiful white sand beach and tide pools. You'll have the chance to observe colonies of sea lions, brown pelicans, blue-footed boobies, and Sally Lightfoot crabs. The striking contrast between the bright red tops and blue bottoms of the crabs against the black lava is truly stunning. Before breakfast, you make an early wet landing on Mosquera Islet, a reef of rocks and coral (the result of an uprising), and a great white sand beach and tide pools. You observe colonies of sea lions, brown pelicans, blue-footed boobies, and Sally light-foot crabs; the contrast between these bright red crabs on top and blue on the
bottom and the black lava is stunning.

You'll then return to the Yacht, have a farewell breakfast. Your guide will accompany you to disembark at the pier on Baltra Island. After a short bus ride, you reach the airport, just in time to board your flight back to the mainland.

Ship/Hotel

Tip Top IV

Upper Deck Terrace
Sun Deck
Dining Area

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Deals

Special Offer 28269
Promotional rates, including domestic flights available on select departures for a limited time.

These offers cannot be combined with other discounts, are subject to availability, and are only valid on new bookings.  Additional restrictions may apply; please discuss with your trip planner about applicable dates and cabin types.
Applies to select departures

Per person starting at
$5,600 2-3 travelers
Lower Deck Double Bed
Lower Deck Cabin
6 lower deck with two twin beds that can be converted into king beds. Some rooms are interconnecting, which is a great option for families.
Upper Deck Twin Bed
Upper Deck Cabin
4 upper deck cabins with two twin beds that can be converted into king beds.

Notes

Please reserve your wetsuit in advance prior to trip.

Child Discount

50% discount for children under the age of 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
  • Use of all on-board water toys, such as snorkeling gear, kayaks, paddle boards, etc.
  • Internal Flights: Mainland Ecuador - Galapagos - Mainland Ecuador
  • Complimentary internet
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. Subject to increase by Galapagos Park Service.
  • Wetsuits are not included but are available to rent on board - $35 short and $40 long size for 4-day tours; $40 short and $45 long size for 5-day tours; $45 short and $55 long size for 8-day tours; $70 short and $80 long size for 11-day tours; and $80 short and $90 long size for 15-day tours.

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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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