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Western Islands

Example 8 Day Cruise aboard Seaman Journey
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Sail to the western islands aboard the Seaman Journey on a Galapagos cruise. This 8-day voyage explores the islands of Rabida, Santiago, Isabela and more, and gives travelers the chance to swim with sea lions, observe the famed giant Galapagos tortoise, and hike in mangroves.
Explore secluded shores of the Galapagos on your small ship cruiseBeautiful Galapagos landscapeSail the Galapagos on the Origin ship!Cave on coast of Isabela.Image of a giant tortoise.
Highlights
  • Observe the giant Galapagos tortoise in its native habitat
  • Experience superior snorkeling sites, beach walks, and panga & zodiac rides
  • Visit lava tubes and lava flows, craters, sinkholes, and black sand beaches
  • View cave inscriptions dating to the 1800s by pirates and whalers
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 | Santa Cruz Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
On this day, fly to the Galapagos Island. The guide picks you up and carries your luggage to the bus that transports tourists to the ferries to cross the Itabaca Channel. After this, another bus takes you to the first visit to Ranch Manzanillo where you must wear comfortable walking shoes, light clothing, a waterproof jacket, sun-block lotion, a camera, and repellent for the first activity. The visit to Ranch Manzanillo includes a picnic lunch and a short walk before boarding the Motor Catamaran. Follow these instructions to accomplish this itinerary properly. Please be aware that passengers' luggage will be sent directly to the Seaman Journey yacht. Santa Cruz offers excellent opportunities to observe the wild Galapagos Tortoises. Tracking tortoises is not the only exciting activity to be found in the highlands. There are also plenty of lava tubes, sinkholes, and craters ready to be explored. After this visit, move to the M/C Seaman Journey.
Activities: Hiking

Day 2: Mangle Point, Fernandina | Punta Moreno, Isabela

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Off the eastern coast of Fernandina, Mangle Point can be found, a superior snorkeling site and a beautiful location for riding in a panga or zodiac through a grove of mangrove trees. A hike of about 1/2 miles is possible. While you are on your ride, you are likely to see sea lions, tortoises, pelicans, rays, and birds too numerous to name them all.
Activities: Snorkeling

Punta Moreno is located on the north coast of Isabela Island between the volcano Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul volcanoes. The trail runs along a lava flow Pahoehoe (solidified lava in the form of corrugated or an accordion) into a complex of coastal lagoons, where several species of birds can be found around these lakes and mangroves.
Activities: Snorkeling

Day 3: Urbina Bay | Tagus Cove

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Urbina Bay is located at the base of Alcedo Volcano on the west coast, between Tagus Cove and Elizabeth Bay. This area experienced a major uplift in 1954, which caused the land to rise over 16 feet. The coast expanded half a mile out, leaving marine life stranded on the new shore. This area is also a great place to snorkel. Urbina Bay is a path that starts off with a wet landing. The course is approximately 3200m and is made up of sand, pumice, lava, coral, and vegetation where one can observe iguana burrows. It is an ideal place to see red and blue lobster! In Bahia Urbina, you can see Darwin's finches. Its main attraction is the land iguanas, which are larger than in places like South Plaza Island and Galapagos tortoises also in the wild, and sometimes even out of season, they are on the bottom of the islands. A large amount of vegetation can be observed such as chamomile and Rosewood, but among all these plants, the beautiful flowers of cotton Darwin, endemic to the Galapagos Islands stand out.

Tagus Cove is located west of Darwin Volcano on Isabela Island. This was a favorite spot for pirates and whalers, and it was them who started the following tradition: the inscription of the names of boats. At the beginning of the trail, you will see a small cave where you will find inscriptions dating to the 1800s. Its name originated from a British warship that went across the islands in 1814 looking for Galapagos Tortoises for food. Due to former eruptions, the substrate has a large number of volcanic rocks of different sizes, among the most common are little balls of a nearly spherical shape known as the "lapilli" or petrified rain.
Activities: Kayaking

Day 4: Espinoza Point | Vicente Roca Point

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Espinoza Point is a famous place known for its large colonies of marine iguanas and as the habitat of unique species like the flightless cormorant, Galapagos penguin, Galapagos hawk, and Galapagos snake.

One of the most impressive and spectacular places of the enchanted Galapagos Islands; with high cliffs and tuff stone, ash, and lava formations give this area a majestic touch, is Punta Vicente Roca. It is located on the north-western coast of the island; it comprises two distinct islets. This large bay has spectacular marine life. Here, you can see seahorses, sea turtles, and the strange yet fascinating Mola-mola or sunfish. This bay is a great place to practice Panga Ride and Snorkeling. You can as well find: Penguins, Blue-footed boobies, Terns, Boobies, and Sealions. Also, you can snorkel and observe sea turtles, stingrays, and puffer fishes.
Activities: Snorkeling

Day 5: Espumilla beach | Puerto Egas

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Espumilla beach is located on the northern coast of Santiago Island in James Bay. During the last presence of the El Niño phenomenon, one of the two lagoons in this site underwent a process of sedimentation, thus causing the disappearance of a representative colony of flamingos. The main attractions are the palosanto forest and the nesting of baby turtles.
Activities: Kayaking

Its black beach is located on the west side of the island and is the main attraction of the island. Their volcanic tuff deposits have favored the formation of this special black sand beach. This site is called Puerto Egas, because there was an attempt to start the exploitation of salt, which failed because the price of salt in the continent was very cheap, and did not justify its exploitation in Galapagos. The project and the infrastructure was left abandoned.
Activities: Hiking

Day 6: Rábida | Chinese Hat

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Rábida Island is unique due to the red color that colors all rocks and sand. The volcanic material on this island is very porous and external factors such as rain, salty water, and sea breeze have acted as an oxidizing agent. A short walk along a trail leads you to a coastal lagoon behind the beach which permits you to observe the land birds such as finches, doves, yellow warblers, and mockingbirds. At the lagoon, there is a colony of flamingos.
Activities: Hiking, Kayaking

This is a small islet (1 sq km) located just off the southeastern tip of Santiago Island. It is a recent volcanic cone, shaped like a Chinese hat when seen from the north. On the west you can see lava formations, formed under the sea and raised upwards, this is why coral heads are found on the lava. This is an excellent visit for the interpretation of geological features such as lava tubes and lava flows. The landscape is covered by sea lions colonies, marine iguanas, and Galapagos penguins.
Activities: Kayaking

Day 7: Santiago | Bartolomé

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Santiago, also called James, or San Salvador Island, is located in the west central part of the Galapagos archipelago. It is the fourth largest island in the archipelago (following Isabela, Fernandina and Santa Cruz). Along with some of the large western volcanoes of Isabela and Fernandina, Santiago is also volcanically active, with many young flows and cones to be seen, particularly along the south, west, and east coasts. These may even be seen from the summit of Darwin Volcano and from space. A number of historic eruptions have been reported over the last 2 centuries. Santiago actually consists of two coalesced volcanoes: a typical shield volcano on the northwest end and a low, linear fissure volcano on the southeast end.

Bartolome Island is situated across Sullivan Bay. It has an altitude of 114 meters, from where you can observe one of the most beautiful sceneries of the Galapagos Islands such as Volcanic cones, lunar-like craters, lava fields, and the famous Toba-formed pinnacle eroded by the sea. There is very little vegetation on this island. It has two breathtaking beaches where marine turtles exist and at the base of the pinnacle, as well as a very small colony of Galapagos penguins.
Activities: Snorkeling

Day 8: Santa Cruz Island | Baltra | Disembark

  • 1 Breakfast
These two small beaches are found to the West of Turtle Cove. Their sand is made of decomposed coral, which makes it white and soft, making it a favorite nesting site for sea turtles. Behind one of the beaches, there is a small brackish water lagoon, where it is occasionally possible to observe flamingos and other coastal birds, such as black-necked stilts and whimbrels. The other beach is longer, but it has two old barges that were abandoned during the Second World War when the USA used Baltra Island as a strategic point to protect the Panama Channel.

After the morning excursion, head to the airport for your flight to the mainland

Ship/Hotel

Seaman Journey

Seaman Journey Ship
Seaman Journey
Matrimonial Suite Seaman Journey

Dates & Prices

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Per person starting at
$6,003
Twin Cabin Ocean view
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TWIN OCEAN VIEW (MAIN DECK)
Cabins on Main Deck with two twin beds, a picture window, and a private bath facility.
Matrimonial Suite Seaman Journey
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MATRIMONIAL SUITE (UPPER DECK)
Cabins on the Upper Deck with a double bed, panoramic window, and private bath facility.

Child Discount

15% discount for child under the age of 12 at time of Galapagos cruise traveling with two adults. 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.
  • Wifi
  • Citizen Science Program
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 - $10/day, or $30 for 4-day tours, $40 for 5-day tours, and $70 or 8-day tours.
  • Fuel Surcharge - to be invoiced separately

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Everything was amazing! The planning with Adventure Life went smoothly. The actual trip was fantastic! One of the best trips I have experienced. The cruise staff members were knowledgeable and attentive. I will be writing more about this on the blog!
Justin Chappelle
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