Galapagos Grand Majestic Cruise

Begin at Gardner Bay, where a beautiful white-sand beach provides habitat for a lively sea lion colony. Walk along the shore among resting sea lions and curious mockingbirds, or take the opportunity to swim and snorkel in the surrounding waters. A visit to nearby Osborn Islet offers further opportunities to explore the marine environment.

Later, hike at Punta Suárez, one of the Galápagos’ most remarkable wildlife sites. Look for blue-footed and Nazca boobies, along with waved albatrosses, which breed almost exclusively on Española. The trail also leads to dramatic coastal cliffs and a natural blowhole that sends seawater high into the air.

• Activity:Walking, snorkeling, panga ride.
• Meal:Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or single cabins.

Explore Cormorant Point, where a lagoon attracts flamingos, common stilts, and white-cheeked pintails. Follow the trail to two contrasting beaches: Green Beach, colored by olivine crystals, and the white coral-sand shoreline known as Flour Beach. Later, snorkel at Devil’s Crown, a partially submerged volcanic formation surrounded by rich marine life.

In the afternoon, visit Post Office Bay, where an old wooden barrel continues a tradition established by whalers in the 18th century. Visitors leave postcards and carry those addressed to places they can deliver them. Continue to Baroness Viewing Point for panoramic coastal views and an introduction to the story of the mysterious baroness who once lived on Floreana.

• Activity:Hiking, snorkeling, panga ride.
• Meal:Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or single cabins.

Visit Twin Craters, known locally as Los Gemelos, on the road crossing Santa Cruz Island between Puerto Ayora and Baltra. Despite their name, these formations are not true volcanic craters but collapsed underground chambers and fissures. Surrounded by highland vegetation, they offer striking views of the island’s geological landscape.

After the excursion, transfer to Baltra Airport in time for your flight back to mainland Ecuador, bringing your four-day Galápagos cruise to a close.

• Activity:Walking, exploring, departure.
• Meal:Breakfast, lunch, dinner.

Visit El Barranco, also known as Prince Philip’s Steps, where a steep, rocky trail climbs to the island’s plateau. The surrounding Palo Santo vegetation provides habitat for red-footed boobies, short-eared owls, Galápagos storm petrels, and Galápagos doves. Enjoy views across the island’s rugged volcanic landscape.

Later, explore Darwin Bay, landing on a beautiful white coral-sand beach. Follow a trail through mangroves and coastal vegetation, where Nazca and red-footed boobies and swallow-tailed gulls are commonly seen. Continue toward tidal pools frequented by sea lions and enjoy views from the cliffs overlooking the bay.

• Activity:Snorkeling, hiking.
• Meal:Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or single cabins.

Explore Rábida Island, known for its distinctive reddish-brown beach and varied volcanic landscapes. Follow an easy trail to a scenic viewpoint overlooking the coastline, then enjoy the opportunity to snorkel in the surrounding waters, where marine life is abundant.

In the afternoon, visit Chinese Hat, a small volcanic islet off the southeastern coast of Santiago Island. Its distinctive summit gives the island its name, while the surrounding shoreline reveals striking lava formations, tunnels, and flows. Look for evidence of ancient underwater eruptions in the raised lava and coral formations.

• Activity:Walking, snorkeling.
• Meal:Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or single cabins.

Visit Witch Hill on the northern coast of San Cristóbal, where a beautiful white-sand beach meets clear turquoise water. The sheltered coastline offers opportunities for snorkeling, with sea turtles, rays, and seabirds among the wildlife you may encounter.

Later, explore the highlands of Santa Cruz, where lush vegetation contrasts with the island’s drier coastal regions. Walk through a natural lava tunnel to see how volcanic activity shaped the landscape, then visit the Fausto Llerena Tortoise Breeding Center in Puerto Ayora to observe giant tortoises at different stages of development.

• Activity:Walking, hiking, snorkeling.
• Meal:Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or single cabins.

Visit the San Cristóbal Interpretation Center to learn about the archipelago’s volcanic origins, ocean currents, and distinctive wildlife. Exhibits also trace the human history of the islands, from their discovery and settlement to modern conservation efforts.

After the visit, transfer to San Cristóbal Airport for your flight back to mainland Ecuador, bringing your Galápagos cruise to a close.

• Activity:Walking, departure.
• Meal:Breakfast.

Spend the morning at Gardner Bay, where a beautiful white-sand beach is home to a lively sea lion colony. Walk along the shore among resting sea lions and curious mockingbirds, or enjoy the opportunity to swim and snorkel in the surrounding waters.

In the afternoon, explore Punta Suárez, one of Española Island’s most remarkable wildlife sites. Look for blue-footed and Nazca boobies, along with waved albatrosses, which breed almost exclusively on the island. Follow the trail to dramatic coastal cliffs and watch for the natural blowhole that sends seawater high into the air.

• Activity:Hiking, snorkeling, exploring.
• Meal:Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or single cabins.

Visit Cormorant Point, where a lagoon attracts flamingos and white-cheeked pintails. Follow the trail to two contrasting beaches: Green Beach, colored by olivine crystals, and the white coral-sand shoreline known as Flour Beach. Later, snorkel at Devil’s Crown, a partially submerged volcanic formation surrounded by rich marine life.

In the afternoon, visit Post Office Bay, where an old wooden barrel continues a letter-exchange tradition established by whalers in the 18th century. Visitors leave postcards and hand-carry those addressed to places they can deliver them. Continue to Baroness Viewing Point for coastal views and an introduction to the mysterious history of the baroness who once lived on Floreana.

• Activity:Hiking, exploring, snorkeling.
• Meal:Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or single cabins.

Visit Twin Craters, known locally as Los Gemelos, on the road between Puerto Ayora and Baltra. Despite their name, these formations are not true volcanic craters. They were created when surface material collapsed into underground fissures and chambers, leaving two impressive depressions surrounded by highland vegetation.

Later, visit the Fausto Llerena Tortoise Breeding Center in Puerto Ayora. Learn about conservation programs protecting the Galápagos giant tortoises and observe individuals at different stages of development, from juveniles to adults.

• Activity:Hiking, exploring.
• Meal:Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or single cabins.

Explore El Barranco, also known as Prince Philip’s Steps, where a steep, rocky trail climbs the island’s cliffs to the plateau. The surrounding Palo Santo vegetation provides habitat for red-footed boobies, short-eared owls, Galápagos storm petrels, and Galápagos doves. Take in views across Genovesa’s rugged volcanic landscape as you follow the trail.

Later, land on Darwin Bay’s white coral-sand beach and follow a trail through mangroves and coastal vegetation. Look for Nazca and red-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, and other seabirds. Further along, tidal pools attract sea lions, while the trail ends at a scenic viewpoint overlooking the bay.

• Activity:Hiking, exploring, snorkeling.
• Meal:Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or single cabins.

Visit Rábida Island, known for its distinctive reddish-brown beach and varied volcanic landscapes. Follow an easy trail to a scenic viewpoint overlooking the coastline, then enjoy the opportunity to snorkel in the surrounding waters, where you may encounter a variety of marine life.

In the afternoon, explore Chinese Hat, a small volcanic islet near the southeastern coast of Santiago Island. Its distinctive summit gives the islet its name. The surrounding shoreline reveals striking lava formations, including tunnels and flows that formed underwater before being raised above sea level. Coral formations embedded in the lava offer evidence of this geological history.

• Activity:Hiking, exploring, snorkeling.
• Meal:Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or single cabins.

Explore Witch Hill on San Cristóbal’s northern coast, where a white-sand beach meets clear turquoise water. The sheltered coastline offers opportunities for snorkeling, with sea turtles, rays, and seabirds among the wildlife you may encounter.

Later, visit Lobos Islet, a small island just off the coast of San Cristóbal. Its name refers to the sea lions that gather along its shores. Explore the area and look for blue-footed and Nazca boobies, with opportunities to snorkel in the surrounding waters.

• Activity:Hiking, snorkeling.
• Meal:Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or single accommodation.

Visit the San Cristóbal Interpretation Center to learn about the archipelago’s volcanic origins, ocean currents, and distinctive wildlife. Exhibits also trace the human history of the islands, from their discovery and settlement to modern conservation efforts.

After the visit, transfer to San Cristóbal Airport for your flight back to mainland Ecuador, bringing your eight-day Galápagos cruise to a close.

• Activity:Walking, departure.
• Meal:Breakfast.

Explore North Seymour, an uplifted island formed from submarine lava flows and layers of sediment. Follow the trails to observe Galápagos sea lions, blue-footed boobies, and magnificent frigatebirds, which gather in large numbers across the island.

Later, cross the Bolívar Channel to Fernandina Island and visit Punta Espinoza. Walk past colonies of marine iguanas and sea lions to reach one of the island’s notable wildlife sites: a nesting area for flightless cormorants.

• Activity:Hiking.
• Meal:Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or single accommodations.

Visit Bartolomé Island, home to the iconic Pinnacle Rock and a striking landscape of red, orange, black, and green volcanic formations. Climb the staircase to the summit, a walk of approximately 30 to 40 minutes, for panoramic views across the surrounding islands. You’ll also visit a small beach framed by the island’s sparse vegetation.

In the afternoon, explore Puerto Egas, also known as James Bay, on Santiago Island. Follow the coastal trail past tidal pools and rocky grottos, where Galápagos fur seals rest along the shore. Look for Galápagos hawks and lava lizards, and enjoy the opportunity to snorkel in the surrounding waters.

• Activity:Hiking, snorkeling.
• Meal:Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or single accommodations.

Explore Tagus Cove, a historic anchorage on Isabela Island once frequented by sailors and whalers. The sheltered inlet lies across the Bolívar Channel from Fernandina, with views of the neighboring island and its rugged volcanic coastline.

Later, visit Urbina Bay, near the foothills of Alcedo Volcano on Isabela’s western coast. This area is known for a major geological uplift in 1954, when sections of the seabed rose above the waterline, exposing marine formations along the shore. Explore this unusual landscape and enjoy opportunities to snorkel in the surrounding waters.

• Activity:Hiking, snorkeling.
• Meal:Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or single accommodations.

Return to Punta Espinoza on Fernandina Island, crossing the Bolívar Channel from Isabela. Walk along the rugged shoreline past colonies of marine iguanas and sea lions, and look for flightless cormorants nesting along the coast.

Later, explore Vicente Roca Point on Isabela’s northern coast. Its two sheltered coves support abundant marine life, and snorkeling offers opportunities to spot seahorses, sea turtles, and, occasionally, the distinctive ocean sunfish, or mola mola.

• Activity:Hiking, walking.
• Meal:Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or single accommodations.

Spend the morning at Espumilla Beach, where marine iguanas bask along the shore and Sally Lightfoot crabs attract hunting herons. Snorkel in the surrounding waters, which provide habitat for octopuses, moray eels, reef sharks, and a variety of tropical fish.

In the afternoon, visit Sullivan Bay on Santiago’s southeastern coast. Walk across a landscape shaped by relatively recent lava flows, where unusual formations and small volcanic mounds reveal the forces that created the island.

• Activity:Snorkeling, hiking.
• Meal:Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or single accommodations.

Visit Las Bachas Beach on the northern coast of Santa Cruz, a beautiful stretch of white sand ideal for swimming. The area also offers opportunities to spot flamingos, Sally Lightfoot crabs, hermit crabs, black-necked stilts, and whimbrels. Remnants of a floating pier from the United States’ World War II presence in the Galápagos can also be seen here.

Later, visit the Fausto Llerena Tortoise Breeding Center in Puerto Ayora. Learn about conservation efforts to protect the archipelago’s giant tortoises and observe individuals at different stages of development, from juveniles to adults.

• Activity:Hiking.
• Meal:Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or single accommodations.

Visit Kicker Rock, also known as León Dormido, a dramatic volcanic formation rising from the ocean off the western coast of San Cristóbal. Its towering rock walls frame a narrow channel popular for snorkeling and diving, where you may encounter sharks, sea turtles, and a variety of fish.

After this final excursion, transfer to San Cristóbal Airport for your flight back to mainland Ecuador, bringing your eight-day Galápagos cruise to a close.

• Activity:Hiking, departure.
• Meal:Breakfast.