This 8-day cruise of Galapagos' Southern Islands on the Letty yachts explores the islands of Espanola, Santa Cruz, San Cristobal and more. Kayak and paddle board along island shores, swim and snorkel among sea lions, and enjoy breathtaking views on hikes.
Highlights
Hike across islands covered in cacti
Kayak and stand up paddle board along island coastlines
Admire the distinctive biodiversity of the Galapagos
Encounter giant tortoises in their natural habitat
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
San Cristobal is the easternmost island in the Galapagos archipelago and, geologically, one of the oldest. Spot nesting colonies of frigatebirds and cruise around Kicker Rock, a cone formation which rises nearly 500 feet out of the sea.
Arrive at Cerro Brujo, a breathtaking white coral beach. Cerro Brujo is considered to be one of the most pristine in the Galapagos Islands and is ideal for birders and short walks. Snorkel or swim with sea lions or take a Zodiac ride.
Punta Suarez, Espanola, offers the highest range of endemic species in Galapagos. Land on the beach as sea lions greet and observe your movements. Colonies of blue-footed boobies are found engaging in sky-pointing, a technique used to show off for future mates. Snorkel and swim with sea lions in the shallows or sit on the beach and observe Sally Light-foot crabs skirt across the lava rocks.
Step ashore at Punta Cormorant, one of the only populated islands in the Galapagos archipelago. This island is intriguing, presenting a rich human history with that of the animals. Hike along a trail towards a lagoon, home to several species of birds including the greater flamingo. Sea turtles lay their eggs in sand dunes and rays swim and occasionally jump in the shallow water. Snorkel at Devil’s Crown or Champion, shallow sunken craters known for their fish and coral inhabitants.
**Since Aug 2020, yachts are no longer able to visit Darwin Station as regularly listed in the day description below. We expect these restrictions to lift at some point in the future.**
Travel by bus to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island. Watch as the scenery changes, eventually covering each of the seven vegetation zones represented in the Galapagos. Visit Las Primicias, a private farm where you can encounter giant tortoises in their natural habitat. Stop at the tunnels, the largest lava tubes found in Galapagos, then visit the Charles Darwin Research Station.
Day 6: Santa Cruz Island | Bartolome | Chinese Hat
Stop at Bartolome, an island which is largely inhospitable to most plants and wildlife. Hike a 30-minute trail to the summit of a dormant volcano. Admire lava bombs, spatter, and cinder cones caused by old eruptions. Snorkel in the clear water with schools of tropical fish and Galapagos penguins or take a ride on the zodiac.
Travel to Sombrero Chino (Chinese Hat) which owes its name to its unique hat-like shape. Explore a sea lion colony and take a seaside trail through the island's volcanic landscape.
Visit South Plaza, a small geological uplift with tall cliffs, featuring spectacular views. Take a trail through Prickly Pear or Opuntia and Sesuvium forests, often finding Galapagos landiIguanas feeding on cactus leaves. Encounter a colony of bachelor sea lions and observe their rights of power. These dominant bulls are in various stages of recovery from battles lost over prime beach territory.
Day 8: Disembark on San Cristobal
1 Breakfast
Visit the Interpretation Center and gain a more complete understanding of the natural and human history of the Islands.
In the afternoon, transfer to the airport for your connecting flight to the mainland.
This itinerary is no longer available. For other trip ideas, please visit Galapagos Cruises & Tours.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Triple
Iguana Deck cabins # 9 & 10 have two twin lower beds and one upper berth with porthole windows. These two cabins can be sold as triples.(Cabins average 110 square feet.)
Iguana Deck
Cabins #7 & 8 have two twin lower beds and porthole windows.
Cabins # 9 & 10 have two twin lower beds and one upper berth with porthole windows. These two cabins can be sold as triples.(Cabins average 110 square feet.)
Booby Deck
Cabins # 5 & 6 cabins have one double bed and picture windows.
(Cabins average 90 square feet.)
Dolphin Deck
Cabins #1,3 & 4 have two twin lower beds and picture windows. Please inquire to see if rooms can be arranged to have a double bed.
Cabin # 2 has one double bed and picture window. (Cabins average 95 square feet.)
Notes
Travelers on this yacht need to pre-pay the Galapagos Islands National Park Fee.
Stand up paddle boards are also available and included in the cruise price.
Child Discount
25% discount for children age 11 and younger at time of Galapagos cruise. 15% discount for children age 12-17 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.
Initial deposit is $750 per person ($1500 for singles), and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 (100 days for holiday weeks) 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
If you are traveling to the Galapagos, your crew will work very hard to make your Galapagos adventure most enjoyable. At the end of the voyage, tips will be collected and distributed among your guide and other members of the crew. Gratuities or tips are always at your discretion.
For passengers on the MV Origin, it is recommended that you budget a $350-400 gratuity per person, per week. For passengers on the Letty, it is recommended that you budget a $250-300 gratuity per person, per week. This is, of course, if you are pleased with the service on board.
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.
I just returned from a 10 day trip to Ecuador and The Galapagos Island. From the very first conversation with Adventure Life until my return, everything went smoothly. It was a great trip! Adventure Life excels at communication and organization. Every detail was considered, which made the preparation for my trip really easy. In country, my guides were outstanding...friendly, knowledgeable, on time, professional. I really can't say enough good things about how well I was taken care of during my trip. When flying to a new country it's comforting to be met by a friendly face at the airport who knows where you're going! All of my hotels were well-located and thoughtfully selected for comfort and historic interest. The yacht I sailed on through the islands exceeded my expectations in every way. My cabin was very comfortable, the food we were served was excellent and the crew was first-class. Our Park Guide found the perfect balance between fun and education. His passion for the Galápagos Islands was evident in every activity on every island. I look forward to planning my next trip with Adventure Life, and thank their entire team for making this adventure wonderful!
Tracy Heuermann
2 months ago
Kevin had first hand experience of Ecuador and The Galapagos which helped us plan time before and after our visit to the Galapagos by water. We always plan our travel independently, but since we needed a guide in the galapagos, this was a perfect blend of self plan and assistance.
Lori
2 months ago
Adventure Life helped guide us toward just the right trip for us and then made all the planning super easy. We absolutely loved our time at Hacienda Jimenita in Quito and on the Anahi in the Galapagos and would recommend both to anyone. Everything went so smoothly from start to finish because Adventure Life took care of all the arrangements.
Marla Zucker
2 months ago
Jane went out of her way to help accommodate my what's and needs.
Walt LIGHTFOOT
2 months ago
Adventure Life (with partner Adventure Journey) got us the real experience that we were hoping for. The food was definitely above what we expected, as were the accomodations. Gabriel S. (our Galapagos guide) was so very personable and tuned in that we felt we had the premium of experiences (food, activities, people to meet and interact with). Our experience in the Cloud Forest was an impressive "birding" experience with great accomodations and wonderful food.
