Galaxy Orion Galapagos Cruise

Welcome to the Galapagos Islands, where today marks the beginning of our diving adventure onboard the Galaxy Orion liveaboard yacht. Your journey starts with our arrival at Baltra Airport, located on the island of Baltra. As you step off the plane, you’ll be greeted by our guide and the friendly staff of the Galaxy Orion. After all, you have the safety drill and check dive to try all the equipment by having your first immersion among the wonders of the Galapagos Islands. With the Galaxy Orion as your home base, you’ll explore the pristine waters and encounter incredible marine life that can’t be found anywhere else. It’s sure to be an unforgettable experience that will leave you with memories to last a lifetime.

• Activity:Arrival, Walking, Diving.
• Meal:Lunch, Dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins.

AM: Descending deeper into the underwater world of Punta Carrion, you’ll be immediately mesmerized by the incredible visibility and the abundance of marine life that surrounds us—schools of hammerhead and whale sharks, this last one available between June to December. At the same time, playful sea lions dart in and out of the rocky underwater cliffs.
PM: Later, a joyfully discuss our underwater excursions. At the same time, the onboard cook makes a lovely lunch when you return to the Galaxy Diver. Finally, in the late afternoon, you’ll begin the 14 hours of navigation through the Galapagos Sea to Wolf Island.

• Activity:Diving, Cruising.
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins.

AM: The first stop is the breathtaking Shark Bay, where you can spot the majestic Galapagos shark, eagle ray, and sea lion will meet you as you plunge into the ocean’s depths. These magnificent creatures are a sight to behold, with exquisite movements that will take your breath away. Then travel to La Banana to continue our journey and discover the Galapagos Islands’ abundant marine life. In addition, we’ll be able to see playful sea lions in their native environment, darting and whirling about us with elegant, engaging, and mesmerizing beauty.

PM: As the day unfolds, you’ll make your way to La Ventana Islet and El Derrumbe, two diving locations known for their diverse marine life. Go into the fascinating world of colorful fish, turtles, and sea stars as they welcome you into their natural home.

• Activity:Diving.
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins.

AM: El Arenal. This magnificent location will leave you spellbound by the natural beauty of the Galapagos Islands. A diving site considered one of the best diving points in the world. This site is close to Darwin’s Arch and offers moderate to strong currents with depths ranging from 46 to 121 ft and visibility from 40 to 80 ft. As you dive deeper into the sea, you’ll be greeted by the impressive Galapagos underwater biodiversity.

PM: You’ll then move on to Darwin’s Tower, commonly known as Darwin’s Arch, one of the most iconic dive sites in the world. This awe-inspiring location is a must-visit for any avid diver. You’re thrilled to share this incredible experience with you. As you dive into the deep blue waters, a world of vibrant coral, schools of colorful fish, and the majestic beauty of the hammerhead shark will be waiting for you with their imposing presence and graceful movements.

• Activity:Diving.
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins.n

AM: Your first dive site of the day is El Arenal. As we explore the vibrant coral reefs and discover the diverse marine life, you’ll have the chance to encounter an incredible array of species. Some of them could be dolphins commonly sighted feeding on schools of fish, hammerhead sharks, whale sharks, rays, Galapagos sharks, and even tiger sharks and killer whales. But the beauty of El Arenal isn’t just in its impressive marine life; the geological formations are also a sight to behold. After an exhilarating morning dive, you’ll move on to El Derrumbe, where you’ll discover the fascinating marine diversity of the Galapagos Islands. This site offers a unique diving experience with its underwater cliffs and caves.
PM: The last dive of the day takes you to Shark Bay, where you’ll explore the hidden treasures of the Galapagos Islands. This site is famous for its incredible diversity of marine life, including the Galapagos shark, eagle ray, and sea lion. But what makes this site truly unique is the presence of whale sharks that visit the Galapagos Islands every year from July to November. It’s a rare opportunity to witness these gentle giants, and you’re honored to share this experience with you.

• Activity:Diving.
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins.

AM: You start the day by diving at Douglas Cape, where you can observe the marine iguanas feeding on algae underwater. These graceful creatures spend time basking in the sun to warm up before diving into the sea for about 20 minutes to feed. Watching them glide through the water is a truly unforgettable experience. The seas surrounding Douglas Cape are teeming with unique marine life, such as the famous Galapagos marine iguana, red-lipped batfish, fur seals, Galapagos penguins, and flightless cormorants.

PM: The following dive site is Vicente Roca Point, located on the northwest coast of Isabela Island. The abundance of colorful corals and gorgonians make this site one of the best in the Galapagos Islands for enjoying macro life, such as seahorses, different species of nudibranchs, toadfish, and even the elusive Mola Alexandrini (mola mola), the largest bony fish in the world. You may also encounter penguins and flying cormorants, green turtles, and, if lucky, a cat shark. The stunning coral formations and the impressive array of marine life will take your breath away.

• Activity:Diving.
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or Single Cabins.

AM: This morning you’ll have the opportunity to do the last dive at Cousin Rock—one of the most colorful dive sites in the archipelago. The vibrant coral walls and gorgonians create a stunning backdrop for encounters with seahorses, reef fish, and various nudibranchs. Keep an eye out for the curious coral hawks as they dart around the reef.

PM: After lunch, you disembark and head for a reserve in the Santa Cruz Highlands. Here, you have the unique opportunity to witness the iconic Galapagos Tortoise in its natural habitat. Walking through the lush vegetation, we might even spot some of the other residents of the highlands, like the elusive Galapagos Rail or the bright Vermilion Flycatcher.

• Activity:Walking, Diving.
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or Single accommodation.

AM/PM: After a week of unforgettable experiences, it is time to bid farewell to this enchanting land. As you’ll be transferred to Baltra Airport, take the memories of a lifetime and the magic of the Galapagos Islands.

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

AM: You arrive at Baltra Island at around noon, where you will be greeted by the guide in the lobby, who will be waiting for your arrival to drive us to the Galaxy Diver. Your baggage will be handled by one of the crew members who, aboard the small Zodiacs will transport you directly to the yacht. The captain and the crew will welcome you on board, and then you will have your cabins assigned.

PM: Bachas Beach: The sand of the beach is made of decomposed coral, making it white and soft, while it is also one of the favorite nesting places of sea turtles. Nearby, you can also find a small lagoon where you will be able to observe flamingos, black-necked stilts, and thrushes, as well as two old ships that were abandoned during the Second World War. Furthermore, you will also find sea lions, marine iguanas, and seabirds resting on the beach.

• Activity:Arrival, Hiking.
• Meal:Lunch, Dinner.
• Accommodation:Single or Double Cabins.

AM: SULLIVAN BAY: This hike is a journey into understanding the birth of these volcanic islands. You will walk in a very well preserved flow of Pahoehoe lava, which will give you endless opportunities to see the delicate textures of these type of lavas which only appear in a few places throughout the world.
PM: Rabida is a small island famous for its reddish lava rocks (rich in iron) which gives it a unique look. The beach is also red and hosts a small colony of sea lions. There is a small salt water lagoon where we will see ducks and stilts and sometimes flamingoes. The trail will take you inland to get beautiful views of the beach and the lagoon.

• Activity:Hiking, Snorkeling.
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or Single accommodations.

AM: Punta Espinosa is home for an array of species, including herons, pelicans, oystercatchers, sea turtles, shorebird and many more. Look up in the mangroves as Galapagos hawks often perch to look for their prey. The nutrient-rich waters around Punta Espinosa attracts great numbers and diversity of fish and sea turtles. Seaweeds are also abundant, making this place the best for seeing marine iguanas feeding underwater.
PM: Tagus cove is one of the places Charles Darwin visited during his exploration of the Galapagos islands. A trail will take you through a dry Palo Santo forests where you can see Darwin finches and mockingbirds. You will get great views of Darwin’s lake and the large volcanos of northern Isabela.

• Activity:Hiking, Snorkeling.
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or Single accommodations.

AM: Urbina Bay is known for the dramatic uplifting that happened here during the 1950’s. A large portion of the coast was pushed up, exposing many hectares of previously submerged land. Look carefully along the trail and you will find small shells and corals, a proof that the area was underwater more than sixty years ago. The trail will give the opportunity to see land iguanas and, during certain seasons, giant tortoises. Galapagos hawks nest in the area and are often seen flying or perched on the trees.

PM: Elizabeth Bay is located on the east coast of Isabela Island. The bay contains many islets, which can be visited by dinghy. Penguins and blue-footed boobies can be spotted on the rocky islets. With an abundance of marine life and clear water, the area is perfect for snorkeling and viewing schools of colorful fish, sea lions, and perhaps even sharks.

• Activity:Hike, Snorkeling.
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or Single accommodations.

AM: Tintoreras – Located very close to Puerto Villamil, the main town in Isabela, this small islet is surprisingly rich in wildlife. There are extensive colonies of marine iguanas and sea lions and you will see rays and sea turtles in the shallow channels. Here it’s easy to see reef sharks, locally known as “Tintoreras”. Herons and gulls are also common and if you are lucky, you might see a Galapagos penguin, as there are a few individuals in the area.
PM: The wetlands of Villamil include a large area of lagoons, channels and coves located near the town. The salt water lagoons are surrounded by mangroves and are rich in bird species, sheltering species such as American flamingo, white-cheeked pintails, gallinules, stilts, herons, and other shorebirds.

• Activity:Hiking, Walking.
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or Single accommodations.

AM: You will land on a beach and head to a spot where 18th-century whalers placed a wooden barrel used as an unofficial mailbox. The custom continues to this day with Galapagos visitors. So, don’t forget your postcards, and don’t be surprised if the postcard arrives at its destination before you even get home! – You will have a chance to snorkel around Devil’s Crown which is the rocky remains of an offshore volcano sticking out of the water. This is a great location to spot a wide range of marine creatures.

PM: Cormorant Point hosts a large flamingo lagoon where other birds such as common stilts and white-cheeked pintails can also be seen. The beaches on this island are distinct: The Green Beach is named so due to its green color, which comes from a high percentage of olivine crystals in the sand, and the Flour Sand Beach is composed of white coral.

• Activity:Snorkeling, Hiking.
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or Single accommodations.

AM:This is the best place in the Galapagos to see these gentle giants (reaching over 300 kg / 600 pounds!) casually grazing and resting in freshwater ponds. This is also home for a great diversity of birds rarely found at the lowlands, including finches (tree, woodpecker and vegetarian finches), flycatchers and several species of water birds. You will visit a lava tunnel (depend on the itinerary) and learn how these extraordinary formations where created by ancient volcanic eruptions.
PM: The Charles Darwin Station is a nonprofit organization which has been working for decades together with the Galapagos National Park to preserve the biodiversity of these unique islands. During this visit you will learn about the projects that both institutions carry together to protect the native species and eradicate the invasive ones which are threatening the Galapagos environment.

• Activity:Hiking, Walking.
• Meal:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
• Accommodation:Double or Single accommodations.

AM: SEYMOUR – This island is home for large colonies of both magnificent and great frigatebirds and you can see them displaying their red balloons to attract a female. Blue-footed boobies nest in the ground and perform their famous dance in the open areas, while swallow-tailed gulls perch on the cliff edges. Land iguanas are common inland while their marine cousins bask in the rocks by the sea, close to sea lions, which often like to body surf in the waves.
PM: After this final visit, you will be transferred to the Baltra Airport in time for your flight back to the mainland.

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