The Galapagos Islands | Ecuador | South America
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FROM: £3,092 pp
Galapagos Encounters - 7 days map

GALAPAGOS CRUISE - CENTRAL, NORTH & EAST ISLANDS: Boasting an incredible array of endemic species from the blue-footed booby to the marine iguana, the Galapagos Islands are a true nature lovers’ paradise. Get up close and personal with the resident wildlife on an unforgettable 5 day cruise of these famed islands. Begin and end your adventure with a night in Quito, Ecuador's charming capital.

Inclusions
Itinerary
Prices & Dates
M/C Anahi
Accommodation

Trip Highlights

The M/C Anahi - Spend 4 nights aboard this first-class catamaran with capacity for 16 passengers. Enjoy the jacuzzi with ocean view and soak up the sunshine on deck. Delight your palate with tasty local cuisine, relax at the bar as you cruise around the beautiful islands at sunset and enjoy comfortable nights in a spacious cabin
Quito - Explore the UNESCO listed colonial city
Genovesa Island - Find great frigate birds, the red-footed boobies and storm petrels
Santa Fe Island - Find its famous and unique species of land iguana
San Cristobal Island - Visit El Junco Lagoon or the Galapagos Tortoise Breeding Centre
Explore unforgettable sites and observe incredible wildlife on daily excursions with expert guides. Go kayaking, enjoy panga rides and encounter penguins, turtles and fish as you snorkel and swim in the crystal-clear waters
Santa Cruz Island - Visit this favourite nesting site for sea turtles and home of the famous Charles Darwin Station with its turtle breeding centre
South Plazas Island - Explore and encounter the 1000's of sea lions that call it home
San Cristobal Island - Discover the only place in the Galapagos to see the three species of boobies and two species of frigates nesting together.
Lobos Island - Marvel at the abundance of sea lions

Included

6 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 4 dinners
5 day Galapagos Cruise - 4 nights onboard the M/C Anahi catamaran (First Class category) in a twin or double cabin, on the main deck with en suite and A/C. Option to upgrade to a suite upon request.
Galapagos Flights: Quito to Baltra and San Cristobal to Quito - including airport and port transfers
Complementary soft drinks onboard (tea, coffee and water) plus welcome and farewell drinks
Kayaking and snorkelling at the permitted points (wetsuits can be hired onboard for an additional fee)
2 nights 3 star hotel in Quito, standard room including breakfast. Option to upgrade to a suite upon request.
Quito airport arrival transfer on day 1 with an English speaking guide
The services of 9 crew members and an experienced English speaking Naturalist guide
Two guided Galapagos excursions a day

Not Included

International flights and visas
Tips for the crew, your guide and drivers.
Airport departure transfer on day 7
Galapagos National Park entrance fee (US$200pp) and Migration Control Card (US$20pp). Subject to change

Itinerary

Day 1

Quito

Upon arrival at Quito airport you will be met by an English speaking guide and transferred to your hotel in the city. Spend the rest of the day at leisure, independently exploring.
Overnight: Quito

Day 2

Baltra Island & Santa Cruz

Quito - Galapagos. This morning, you'll be collected from your hotel and transferred to the airport for the short flight to Baltra Airport on Santa Cruz island in the Galapagos, where our guide will be waiting for you. Transfer to the M/C Anahi catamaran, your home for the next 5 days. Settle into your cabin and enjoy lunch onboard before your tour of the Galapagos Islands begins.

Our first stop is Bachas Beach – a favourite nesting site for sea turtles. Made up of two beaches separated by outcropping lava rocks, Bachas is certainly a sight to behold with spectacular white sand and crystal clear waters. Behind one of the beaches is a small lagoon where we may be lucky enough to see flamingos and other coastal birds, such as Black-necked stilts and whimbrels.
Overnight: Galapagos Islands - M/C Anahi  |  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3

Genovesa Island

Today we explore Genovesa, a horse-shoe shaped island in the northern reaches of the Galapagos Islands. We start the day with a visit to Darwin Bay, an incredible geological structure formed by a collapsed volcanic caldera. Following a trail of coral sand and slabs of lava, we’ll go in search of bird-life, from nesting colonies of the common frigate and the Nasca booby to the swallow-tailed gull. We will also have the chance to see the nesting site of the red-footed booby - Genovesa is home to the largest nesting colony of pelagic birds in the Galapagos.

Later in the afternoon we follow the El Barranco trail, situated in the southern part of Darwin Bay, walking 1.5 kilometres along volcanic rock. The natural erosion that has occurred in these lava flows has become the ideal place for nesting Storm Petrels, which we can see nesting in the cavities of the lava. We enjoy panga (dingy) rides along the cliffs to hopefully spot some fur seals.
Overnight: Galapagos Islands - M/C Anahi  |  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4

South Plazas & Santa Fe

This morning's excursion takes us to South Plaza, a small island off the eastern coast of Santa Cruz. Despite its size, this island is home to an incredible number of species including around 1000 sea lions and several hybrid iguanas. The result of crossing a male marine iguana and a female land iguana, these iguanas are unique and easily recognizable at first glance by their black or gray colour, with a land iguana's crest, but face and tail of the marine iguana.

Next stop is Santa Fe, also off the coast of Santa Cruz, where we will meet even more unique species of iguana. The archipelago is also home to six endemic species of rats, one of which can be found on Santa Fe and another attraction is the presence of giant tunas.
Overnight: Galapagos Islands - M/C Anahi  |  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5

San Cristobal Island

Our next port of call is San Cristobal, one of the easternmost of the Galapagos Islands. We start the morning by exploring Punta Pitt, situated at the eastern end of the island. Here we follow a trail that will take us past an olvine beach before ascending to the top of a volcanic tuff hill, passing several picturesque viewpoints en route. This is the only place in the Galapagos Islands where you can see the three species of boobies and two species of frigates nesting in the same area. You may also get to see colonies of sea lion relaxing on the beach or rocky outcrops.

After lunch we stop to see the Leon Dormido Rocks, the remains of a lava cone eroded by the sea. Rising some 500 feet out of the ocean, these two vertical rocks form a small channel that is navigable by small boats. Many tropic birds, frigates and boobies can be seen in the area, making it a favourite stop off for visitors. Beneath the sea the nearly crystal-clear waters offer a brilliant show of colourful tropical fish and invertebrates.

We continue on to explore Lobos Island which is home to a small population of blue-footed boobies, as well as two species of sea lions. From your panga you can try to spot brown pelicans and several species of shorebirds, and if you opt to snorkel it's common to see young sea lions, manta rays and sea turtles.
Overnight: Galapagos Islands - M/C Anahi  |  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6

Galapagos Tortoise Breeding Centre

This morning our tour has two options. The first option starts from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, and involves a visit to the El Junco Lagoon. For hundreds of years, rain water and condensation have caused an accumulation of water in the caldera of an extinct volcano, creating a paradise for frigate birds and turtles. Alternatively we take a visit to the Galapagos Tortoise Breeding Centre located in the southeast of San Cristobal Island. The natural population of tortoises from San Cristobal is seriously threatened by introduced animals (mainly wild goats, rats and cats), which to date has been impossible to eradicate despite continuing efforts. The San Cristobal tortoises are one of the 11 populations of Galapagos tortoises. At the visitors centre, we learn all about the natural history of the giant tortoises of this island.

After visiting the breeding centre, transfer back to the town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno where our bus will be waiting to transfer you to the airport for your flight back to Quito. Upon arrival at Quito airport you'll be met and transferred back to your hotel in Quito for your final night at leisure.
Overnight: Quito  |  Breakfast

Day 7

Quito

Wednesday. Arrangements end after breakfast and hotel check out today.
Breakfast

Prices & Dates

The cruise operates with a minimum of 8 persons. 'Twin/Double' prices are per person when there are 2 people sharing a room/cabin. 'Single' prices are applicable to those who don’t have anyone to share a room/cabin with or anyone wanting the privacy of a single room/cabin.

Read More
Guaranteed Departure

Extra Prices

Twin Share
Single Room

Hotels

The hotels listed below are ones which we frequently use on this tour. We reserve the right to substitute these hotels to ones of a similar standard.

Ikala Quito Hotel, Quito

Our Category: Superior   |   Regional Category: 4 Star Hotel

Inspired by the rich history and culture of Ecuador, the Ikala Quito Hotel's 44 rooms are housed in three grand colonial houses which were once home to Ecuadorian aristocracy. Offering a choice of standard rooms or deluxe suites, there's tasteful decor in abundance and artwork painted on canvas or directly onto the walls. Rooms feature ensuite bathrooms and there is free Wi-Fi throughout the property. As well as the onsite restaurant and bar, there are plenty of outdoor areas, including patios, gardens, and a rooftop terrace with panoramic views over the city.

M/C Anahi Yacht , Galapagos Islands

Our Category: Superior   |   Regional Category: 4 star cruise boat

The M/C Anahi is meticulously designed to provide travellers with an unforgettable and immersive experience while exploring the enchanting Galapagos Islands. This first class vessel boasts an elegant and modern design, with a maximum capacity of just 16 passengers, providing an intimate setting. The catamaran offers spacious and well-appointed cabins which are tastefully decorated and equipped with large windows, allowing guests to wake up to breath-taking views of the Galapagos Islands. Each en suite cabin is air-conditioned and furnished with cozy amenities to create a tranquil retreat after a day of exploration. There are six standard cabins located on the main deck (four twin and two double). On the upper deck the vessel has two suites, equipped with a double bed and sofa bed. Each day the chef serves a delectable range of dishes inspired by both local and international cuisines. Meals are prepared with fresh, locally sourced ingredients, and dining is a delightful experience in the spacious dining area, complete with panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. Guests can soak in the beauty of the Galapagos Islands from the observation decks and lounges strategically positioned throughout the yacht. Whether you're stargazing or soaking up the sunshine, enjoying a cocktail at the bar or relaxing in the jacuzzi, these areas provide the perfect vantage point to appreciate the natural wonders of the archipelago. The M/C Anahi offers an enriching experience with certified naturalist guides who are passionate about the Galapagos Islands and its wildlife. These experts lead daily excursions and share their knowledge about the unique flora and fauna that call these islands home. The Anahi's itinerary includes a range of thrilling activities, such as snorkeling, kayaking, and hiking, allowing guests to get up close and personal with the incredible wildlife and landscapes of the Galapagos.

At a Glance

Range
Trip Type
Starts
Quito
Ends
Quito
Departs
Thursdays - every fortnight
Group Size
Min 8 / Max 16
Hotel Rating
3 star hotel & first class cruise
Tour Guide
Yes - naturalist guide in the Galapagos
Meals
Breakfast: 6, Lunch: 4, Dinner: 4
Countries
Minimum Age
5 yrs, accompanied by an adult
Arr. Transfer
Yes
Dep. Transfer
No
Marine iguana on a rock on the Galapagos Islands
Marine iguana on a rock on the Galapagos Islands
Marine iguana on a rock on the Galapagos Islands
Ecuador's capital city, Quito, surrounded by mountains

We loved the tour but especially the crew and the guide. Special hoorah for Gino, the Chef and Carlos.

Bonita Meyersfeld
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