Luxury All-Inclusive Galapagos

Your itinerary starts with a private executive transfer right from your front door to the airport for your flight to Quito, Ecuador’s wonderful capital city. Upon arrival in this UNESCO World Heritage Site city, you will transfer to a hotel for an overnight stay. Depending on flight times, this should allow you time to explore this historic location.

This morning you will transfer to the airport for your domestic flight to the Galapagos. Upon arrival on San Cristóbal island, you will transfer to the dock to board your luxurious vessel. San Cristóbal is a dormant volcanic island and is one of the oldest islands in the archipelago. Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on the southwestern tip of the island is the capital city of the Galapagos Islands, and we will enjoy a quick visit here before retuning at the end of our cruise for a more in-depth exploration. This evening enjoy some time settling into your sumptuous surroundings and meeting your crew and shipmates.

Our first full day in the Galapagos will see us head to Genovesa Island, one of the northernmost islands of the archipelago, where we will jump in the Zodiacs (small boats) and make our way to shore. Genovesa is often referred to as “Bird Island” thanks to the extraordinary diversity of land and seabirds found here including Magnificent Frigatebirds, Red-billed Tropicbirds, Short-eared Owls and Nazca and Red-footed Boobies to name just a few. The visitor site of Prince Philip’s Steps gives access to the flat plateau above the bay and we will visit here in search of some bird sightings and to look at the palo santo forest and extensive lava field there. In the area you can also enjoy your first deep water snorkelling excursion where you will explore the deep dark blue waters inside the Island's caldera in search of Green sea turtles, fur seals, Moorish idols and maybe even some sharks! A very strenuous hike will also be offered to the island’s cliff which will reward in an astonishing view of Darwin Baya and a walk through a beautiful forest of Palo Santo trees.

In the afternoon we will make our way to the Darwin Bay visitor site where we will Zodiac to the picturesque sandy beach which is often dotted with Galapagos sea lions. We will explore along the shore looking for marine iguanas, and hike inland to look for Red-footed Boobies, Yellow-crowned Night Herons and Great Frigatebirds. Snorkelling will bring us sightings of large schools of reef fish, reef sharks, parrotfish and brightly coloured sea stars.

The first stop this morning will see us land onto the black lava rock of North Seymour Island where a short climb will take us to flat plateau frequented by frigatebirds and sea lions and their pups. The island’s arid conditions are exemplified by the surrounding prickly pear cactus trees which attract good numbers of Galapagos land iguanas, and the red-brown volcanic boulders are often visited by large male Magnificent Frigatebirds which can be seen inflating their vivid red gular sacs in hopes of impressing females flying overhead. Blue-footed Boobies are also spotted at certain times of the year participating in their famous ritualised mating dance.

Whilst here you can enjoy a Zodiac cruise along the island’s cliffs in search of birds, seals, sea lions and iguanas, a high-activity hike through the island’s rocky trails, or a deep water snorkelling excursion to see king angelfish, razor surgeonfish, reef sharks, Creole wrasses, Parrotfish and more.

In the afternoon you can explore the lava fields of Sullivan Bay on Santiago Island, which more resemble walking on the moon than on the earth! Watch the Sally Lightfoot crabs scuttle along the black volcanic shores as you learn all about the geology and formation of the island. Snorkelling in Sullivan Bay surrounded by a very young lava field is a great experience and may reward in sightings of Galapagos Penguins.

On Fernandina Island this morning we can enjoy some more excellent birding opportunities as we head to a cove surrounded by mangroves where uniquely, sea birds, shorebirds and land birds all converge in one place. The mangroves are also home to green sea turtles and juvenile sharks. This is another great spot for snorkelling, and you can hope for sightings of Galapagos penguins, Flightless Cormorants, reef sharks and sea lions.

Over on Isabela Island in the afternoon, we will Zodiac to beautiful Punta Moreno to discover the young lava formations and search for adapted wildlife. Punta Moreno is an impressive Pahoehoe lava field that lies between two active volcanoes, Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul, and a walk here should reward in numerous sightings of the largest marine iguanas in the archipelago. Other wildlife we may spot here on a Zodiac cruise or hike includes Black-necked Stilts, White-cheeked Pintail Ducks, and sometimes even Flamingos.

This morning’s hike takes us to the Santa Cruz Highlands which have very distinctive conditions. Due to the altitude, the clouds concentrate and create a micro climate. This is the ideal ecosystem for giant tortoises to thrive and for Galapagueños to cultivate different type of crops. That's why The Coffee Walk in Montemar is one of our favorite excursions during the week. You will meet a couple of retired naturalists who used their knowledge of the islands to build a sustainable and ecofriendly project. Combining the responsible production of the delicious Galapagos coffee with the amazing opportunity to walk among giant tortoises in their natural habitat.

In the afternoon we will go in search of the endemic Santa Fe Land Iguana on the sea lion covered beach of Isla Santa Fé. You can enjoy a hike to view some of the tallest and widest prickly pear cacti of the islands, Zodiac cruise in search of Galapagos sea lions, Galapagos Hawks, marine iguanas, and Blue-footed Boobies, or take a snorkelling excursion. A fantastic kayaking excursion will also be offered here to explore the collapsed rocks of the cliff's walls and get up-close to the famous wildlife including sea lions, turtles and iguanas.

A full day on Española Island will begin with a landing at beautiful Gardner Bay where the turquoise waters lapping up against the white sandy beach looks like something from a postcard. One of the oldest islands in the archipelago, Española is home to many endemic species including Hood Mockingbirds and a particular subspecies of colourful Marine iguanas. While we are here we may also see Galapagos hawks and Giant tortoises. There will be multiple opportunities for kayaking, hiking and snorkelling this morning.

Staying on Española Island, we then spend the afternoon around Punta Suárez where the sheer cliffs are home to an abundance of seabirds including Blue-footed and Nazca boobies, Swallow-tailed Gulls, Galápagos Hawks, Darwin Finches, Hood Mockingbirds and Waved Albatross, the largest seabird to nest in the Galapagos Islands.

Our last day in the Galapagos sees us spend the full day on San Cristóbal Island and our first stop will be the fantastic Rodriguez Breeding Centre where you can learn all about Giant Tortoises. In the afternoon we will visit Cerro Brujo to enjoy some of our last birdwatching opportunities and some swimming, snorkelling or Zodiac cruising.

This morning you will disembark and bid farewell to your crew before transferring to the airport for your flight back to Quito. You will transfer to a hotel for an included overnight stay. The following morning a transfer will take you to the airport for your flight back home.