Galapagos Cruise
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The 16-passenger Ocean Spray motor catamaran has three passenger decks with a total of 9 elegantly appointed and spacious double cabins, all with private facilities – including balconies – and some of the largest cabins on any small catamaran in the Galapagos. On this 5-day/4-night Galapagos luxury tour, you will find out why this archipelago is a bucket list destination. On board the luxury Ocean Spray catamaran, you will make landings on central islands of the archipelago, as well as on scenic Genovesa Island in the north. Each of these sites is all home to an array of fascinating animal and plant species – many of which are found nowhere else on earth. Snorkel amid shimmering fish, green sea turtles, tiny penguins, and playful sea lions on this amazing Galapagos Islands tour. View for yourself the unique species of wildlife that were the inspiration for Darwin’s staggering theory and contributed to science’s understanding of life.
“The trip was excellent from beginning to end. The Isabella II was a fine ship and the crew and guides were all of the highest quality. I would recommend them to others. For us, the ship was the perfect size – not too small and not too large.”
AM: In the morning, you will fly from the Ecuadorian mainland to Baltra Island, in the heart of Galapagos archipelago. Upon arriving at the airport, you will need to pay the national park entrance fee, which goes to protecting both the Galapagos National Park and Marine Reserve. A member of the crew will then welcome you and accompany you to your ship: the Ocean Spray motor vessel.
PM: Later, upon arriving on Bartolome Island, we will go up to a lookout point to admire the spectacular panorama of Sullivan Bay and the famous Pinnacle Rock. The beaches at the foot of the Pinnacle Rock boast some of the finest snorkeling in the islands. There, you can discover a marvelous underwater world and will have a good chance of finding gently gliding sea turtles. On the beaches beneath Pinnacle Rock, it’s quite possible to meet one of the quick-as-an-arrow Galapagos penguins; at around 25 centimeters tall, this is second smallest species of penguin in the world. Likewise, you’re likely to see harmless Whitetip reef sharks in these waters.
AM: Our destination for today is Genovesa Island, considered to be one of the wildest and most pristine islands in Galapagos National Park. Known as “Bird Island,” Genovesa is the only place where you will be able to see Red-footed boobies. After a wet landing at Genovesa Island’s Darwin Bay, we will walk along a short path that leads through the nesting sites of booby and frigatebird colonies. On the beach, you can observe the interesting spectacle of how frigate birds try to rob the prey of the different species of boobies.
PM: In the afternoon we will go ashore at a crater wall where Prince Phillip’s Steps are located. These stairs were carved in the stone wall and lead up to a wide plateau where you will find nesting places of great frigate birds, red-billed tropic birds, Bahama ducks, lava seagulls, and fork-tailed seagulls. During this easy stroll, we will cross a little scalesia wood where you can observe the short-eared owl. With a little bit of luck, you will also be able to observe the unique courtship carried out by various species of boobies (Red- and Blue-footed as well as masked boobies). It truly is a show. The same path will lead us back to your boat.
AM: This morning we will land on the fourth largest island in the Galapagos: Santiago Island, also known as “James Island” or “San Salvador Island.” The old rusted machines and run-down buildings of former salt mine workers are still apparent on the island, though the last attempts to populate Santiago Island were given up on forty years ago. We will visit Espumilla Beach, where marine iguanas relax and sea turtles nest. While snorkeling, you might find octopuses, morays and many types of tropical fish. There is also a Palo Santo forest close to this beach.
From there we will go to Buccaneer Cove, which in the 18th and 19th centuries was a shelter for pirates, whalers, and sailors. The bay is surrounded by high tuff cliffs where many sea-bird nests. In the cliffs, you can try to find two rock formations that look like a monkey and an elephant.
PM: Later in the day, we will have a wet landing on the dark sand beach of Puerto Egas, where you can find an abundance of marine iguanas. After a short walk of about 2 km along the coast, we will reach the rugged lava coastline. On these shores are natural pools where you can find sea lions, herons and other seabirds. The surrounding area is also a good spot for observing colonies of red Sally Light Foot crabs, lava lizards, Galapagos buzzards and lava herons.
AM: After a dry landing on North Seymour Island, we will take a short walk along the coast. Here you will encounter Swallow-tailed gulls, sea lions, and Cliff crabs. This part of Seymour Island is also known for being a major nesting site for Blue-footed boobies and the largest colony of Magnificent frigatebirds, a species different from the Great frigatebird. We can also spot both of the endemic species of iguanas: marine iguanas and land iguanas. You will enjoy this relaxing hike around the nesting sites.
PM: After lunch, we will visit the highlands of Santa Cruz Island, where the lush landscape is a welcome contrast to the arid scenery of the smaller, lower islands. On the way, we will cross through different vegetation zones – from the dry lower region full of cactuses to the scalesia woods in the Highlands. There one can find two small agricultural communities that grow the famous organic Galapagos coffee. While in the Highlands you will have the option of visiting one of two tortoise breeding centers: El Chato or Rancho Las Primicias. At either site, approaching these enormous and slow-moving reptiles is always an inspiring adventure. The El Chato tortoise reserve was founded in 1964 to allow visitors to observe the island’s huge Galapagos turtles and White herons in their natural habitat. You will also be able to walk through nearby underground lava tunnels formed during volcanic eruptions. As the outside of the lava hardened, the inside continued to flow to the ocean, creating these tunnels. Alternatively, Rancho Primicias is a great place to see about ten to fifteen Galapagos giant tortoises in the wild. In addition to being able to view the ocean from this location in the Highlands, you can walk through a lava cave that was formed by a volcanic eruption.
AM: Today we will anchor at Mosquera Island, which is located near Itabaca Channel and in between the Baltra and Seymour islands. The island consists of a long narrow stretch of white sand, rocks and small lagoons with large populations of sea lions. This is one of the best places to take photos of these aquatic mammals. A stroll down the beach also permits views of Brown pelicans and Blue-footed boobies.
Afterwards, we will take a bus to Itabaca Channel, which we will cross to reach the Baltra Island airport for your flight back to the mainland. Enjoy the last view of the “enchanted islands,” a unique paradise with fascinating natural highlights.
| Room | Charter | Golden Staterooms |
| 5 Days | US$ 73,890 PP | US$ 4,949 PP |
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“The trip was excellent from beginning to end. The Isabella II was a fine ship and the crew and guides were all of the highest quality. I would recommend them to others. For us, the ship was the perfect size – not too small and not too large.”