Grand Daphne Galapagos Cruise

Explore Rábida Island, known for its striking red-sand beach and saltwater lagoon, where flamingos gather among the mangroves. Along the trail, look for nesting pelicans, marine iguanas, sea lions, and pintail ducks, then continue through an opuntia cactus forest where land iguanas and Galápagos hawks may be spotted.

Later, head to Albemarle, where mangroves fringe the bay and shelter sea turtles, penguins, and flightless cormorants. Walk inland to see remnants of a World War II radar base and unusual pahoehoe and ʻaʻā lava formations before taking to the water for a rewarding snorkeling excursion.

• Activity:Walking. Snorkeling. Panga Ride.
• Meal:Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or single cabins.

Explore Tagus Cove on the western coast of Isabela, a sheltered inlet once frequented by sailors, pirates, and whalers. Follow the trail to Darwin Lake, passing volcanic formations and historic inscriptions carved into the rock by visiting ships and their crews.

Continue south to Urbina Bay, where volcanic and tectonic forces once lifted an ancient seabed above the water. Exposed coral formations reveal this dramatic geological history, while the surrounding coast provides habitat for Galápagos giant tortoises and land iguanas. A snorkeling excursion offers another perspective on the bay’s marine life.

• Activity:Walking. Snorkeling. Panga ride.
• Meal:Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or single cabins.

Set out for Espinoza Point on Fernandina Island, a narrow peninsula of lava and sand at the foot of La Cumbre volcano. Explore one of the archipelago’s richest wildlife sites, where lava cacti grow among colonies of marine iguanas, sea lions, and Galápagos penguins. Keep watch for Galápagos hawks and flightless cormorants, then take the opportunity to snorkel alongside turtles, sea lions, and other marine life.

In the afternoon, continue to Vicente Roca Point on Isabela’s northwestern coast. A panga ride along the cliffs offers close views of the abundant wildlife, while the sheltered waters are ideal for snorkeling. You may also enter two shallow underwater caves, adding a memorable element to the exploration.

• Activity:Walking. Snorkeling. Panga ride.
• Meal:Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or single cabins.

Visit Egas Port on Santiago Island, where a black-sand beach meets striking volcanic tuff formations. Walk along the shoreline in search of marine iguanas, Galápagos sea lions, fur seals, pelicans, finches, mockingbirds, and oystercatchers. Along the coast, tidal pools formed by ancient lava flows harbor sponges, snails, hermit crabs, barnacles, and fish.

Later, cruise to Buccaneer Cove, a sheltered bay once used by pirates and buccaneers as a place to anchor and repair their ships. The cove’s dramatic cliffs and rock formations provide a glimpse into the archipelago’s colorful maritime history.

• Activity:Walking. Snorkeling. Panga ride.
• Meal:Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or single cabins.

Begin the day on Bartolomé Island, one of the Galápagos’ most recognizable landscapes and a haven for Galápagos penguins and lava lizards. Climb the wooden staircase to the summit for sweeping views of Pinnacle Rock, a dramatic volcanic formation rising from the sea and among the most photographed sights in the archipelago.

Later, visit Chinese Hat, a small volcanic islet surrounded by white-sand beaches and turquoise water. Follow an easy trail past sea lions and penguins before snorkeling among reef sharks, sea turtles, penguins, sea lions, and colorful fish.

• Activity:Walking. Snorkeling. Panga ride.
• Meal:Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or single cabins.

Explore North Seymour on foot, where colonies of blue-footed boobies and swallow-tailed gulls share the island with land iguanas, marine iguanas, and sea lions. The island is also an important breeding ground for frigatebirds, whose striking courtship displays can be seen throughout the nesting season. After the hike, cool off with a snorkeling excursion among tropical fish, rays, white-tipped reef sharks, and sea lions.

Later, visit Puerto Ayora and the Charles Darwin Research Station, the heart of the Galápagos’ conservation efforts. See giant tortoises, young tortoises, and land iguanas while learning about ongoing research and the work being done to protect the archipelago’s unique ecosystems.

• Activity:Hiking. Snorkeling. Panga ride.
• Meal:Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or single cabins.

Travel into the Santa Cruz highlands, passing through the island’s agricultural region before reaching misty forests of scalesia trees. Keep watch for giant tortoises roaming in the wild, Darwin’s finches, and, if conditions are right, the elusive woodpecker and warbler finches. Vermilion flycatchers may also appear among the vegetation.

After exploring the highlands, bid farewell to the Galápagos and transfer to the airport for your mid-morning flight to Quito. The approximately 2.5-hour journey includes a stop in Guayaquil, and you’ll spend your final night in Quito.

• Activity:Exploring. Walking. Departure.
• Meal:Breakfast.

Explore Santa Fe Island, home to a large colony of sea lions and an abundance of endemic wildlife. Walk through the island’s dry forest in search of the endemic Santa Fe land iguana and Galápagos hawks, then take to the water to snorkel among sea lions, marine turtles, and colorful fish in the island’s sheltered coves.

Later, head to South Plaza, where rugged volcanic terrain supports one of the largest populations of land iguanas in the Galápagos. Follow the trail along the cliffs to spot swallow-tailed gulls and tropicbirds, while sea lions gather along the shoreline below.

• Activity:Walking. Snorkeling. Panga ride.
• Meal:Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or single cabins.

After an overnight sail, arrive at Genovesa Island, one of the archipelago’s most important seabird habitats. Climb Prince Philip’s Steps into the island’s interior, where trails lead through nesting colonies of red-footed boobies, storm petrels, frigatebirds, and other seabirds.

Continue to Darwin Bay, a sheltered cove surrounded by cliffs and lush vegetation. Walk along the shoreline among sea lions, lava herons, mockingbirds, and other birdlife before snorkeling in the clear waters, where you may encounter rays, sharks, sea turtles, and colorful reef fish.

• Activity:Walking. Snorkeling. Panga ride.
• Meal:Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or single cabins.

Explore Sullivan Bay on Santiago Island, where a trail crosses a remarkable field of pahoehoe lava created by a volcanic eruption in 1897. The unusual formations provide an opportunity to appreciate the island’s geological history, while marine iguanas, Sally Lightfoot crabs, sea lions, finches, turtles, sharks, and penguins may be spotted along the coast.

Later, visit Cerro Dragón, or Dragon Hill, one of Santa Cruz Island’s best sites for observing land iguanas. Follow the trail from the dry landing to a brackish lagoon frequented by flamingos and pintail ducks, with Darwin’s finches and Galápagos mockingbirds inhabiting the surrounding arid vegetation.

• Activity:Walking. Exploring. Snorkeling.
• Meal:Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or single cabins.

Begin the day with an early Zodiac excursion through Black Turtle Cove, a tranquil mangrove wetland on the northern coast of Santa Cruz. The sheltered channels provide important habitat for green turtles, while yellow warblers, lava herons, golden cownose rays, eagle rays, and Galápagos sharks may also be seen.

After your final excursion, return to the Grand Daphne before transferring to Baltra Airport for your flight back to Quito.

• Activity:Walking. Panga Ride. Departure.
• Meal:Breakfast.

Visit Post Office Bay, where sailors established a simple postal system in 1793 by leaving letters in a wooden barrel for passing ships to deliver. Continue the tradition by leaving a postcard or letter of your own, taking one addressed to someone else home with you to deliver.

Later, explore Cormorant Point, known for its distinctive olive-green sand formed from olivine crystals. Walk to a white-sand beach where green turtles nest and look for flamingos and sea lions before heading to Devil’s Crown for some of the Galápagos’ finest snorkeling, with opportunities to see rays, sharks, sea lions, and turtles.

• Activity:Walking. Snorkeling. Exploring. Panga ride.
• Meal:Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or single cabins.

Sail to Española, the southernmost island in the Galápagos and home to an extraordinary collection of endemic wildlife. Explore Suárez Point, where trails lead through colonies of marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, and waved albatrosses while offering spectacular views along the rugged coastline.

In the afternoon, relax on the white sands of Gardner Bay, where sea lions and Española mockingbirds are common sights. Snorkel in the clear waters alongside playful sea lions, sea turtles, reef sharks, and colorful fish, with white-tipped reef sharks often found resting beneath the rocks.

• Activity:Hiking. Exploring. Snorkeling. Panga ride.
• Meal:Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or single cabins.

Begin the day with an excursion to Kicker Rock, or León Dormido, a dramatic basalt formation rising from the sea and shaped like a sleeping sea lion. Cruise through the narrow channel between its towering cliffs, watching for seabirds, tropicbirds, marine iguanas, and sea lions, then snorkel in the surrounding waters for the chance to encounter Galápagos sharks, hammerheads, sea turtles, and abundant marine life.

After your final Galápagos excursion, return to San Cristóbal and transfer to the airport for your mid-morning flight to Guayaquil or Quito.

• Activity:Walking. Exploring. Departure.
• Meal:Breakfast.