Galapagos

Eastern & Southern Galapagos Islands Cruise - GALAXY M/Y

5 days | 4 nights
Shared tour
From On request per person
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Cruise Description

Travel from San Cristobal to Santa Cruz on this 5-day Galapagos Islands cruise on the luxury Galaxy Yacht and discover the natural gems of the eastern and southern Galapagos Islands.

Your journey begins with a warm welcome to San Cristobal Airport where you'll meet and greet your expert naturalist guide and fellow passengers before boarding the Galaxy, your five star home for the next five days.

Spend your first afternoon of this journey touring Lobos Islet. Named in honor of the large colony of sea lions that populate this land, you'll have the exciting opportunity to approach females within just a few meters. Discover what makes the four million-year-old Española Island unique on the second day of this Enchanted Islands cruise, and spend your morning strolling its pristine white sand beach, observing napping sea lions in the warm sunshine and snorkeling with these playful creatures.

Then journey to Punta Suarez, an unmissable site for bird lovers, and encounter the island's varied collection of seabirds. Among colonies of Nazca and blue-footed boobies, the endangered waved albatrosses also reside here, and visitors have the opportunity to watch them engage in synchronized courtship dances between May and November.

Next, explore Floreana Island, beginning with a visit to Post Office Bay on the island's northern shores. Mail home a postcard from this historic site and climb Baroness Lookout for a striking panorama of the Galapagos archipelago. Here, you'll also learn from your knowledgeable guide about the self-proclaimed Empress of the Galapagos, Baroness Eloisa von Wagner Bosquet, and visit the ruins of her home.

Continue to Punta Cormorant, where its shimmering olive green beach will dazzle you, and embark on a guided walk along the shores to observe sea lions, frigatebirds, and pelicans in their natural habitat.

Then sail towards Santa Fe, an island rich with endemic wildlife despite its tiny land area of 24 sq. km. Here, snorkel among colorful tropical fish and marine tortoises in the shimmering waters before sailing onward to South Plaza Island, half a pair of the Plazas Island off the eastern shores of Santa Cruz. With your knowledgeable naturalist guide, embark on a hike and observe one of the largest sea lion colonies of the Galapagos archipelago.

Your five day Eastern and Southern Galapagos Islands cruise ends with a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station on the outskirts of Puerto Ayora, where you'll have the opportunity to learn how this facility works to maintain biodiversity in the region.

As the premiere giant tortoise breeding site of the Galapagos Islands, you'll also observe these land animals live in captivity. From there, be transported to Seymour Airport on Baltra Island for your onward flight to Quito or Guayaquil.

With a thoughtfully designed five day itinerary and carefully selected daily excursions, guests aboard the Galaxy experience the Galapagos archipelago's most anticipated eastern and southern highlights by snorkeling, embarking on guided walks along pristine shorelines and observing a vast variety of endemic wildlife.

Newly renovated in 2017, the five star Galaxy boasts nine spacious double cabins and modern social spaces designed to encourage interaction between guests. With a dedicated crew of eight and a 16 passenger capacity, the small ship works to cultivate a strong sense of community for an intimate and unparalleled onboard experience.

Spend your leisure time relaxing on the seven inviting loungers on the shaded sundeck, or sip on a cocktail at the bar as you sail past the most picturesque landscapes of the eastern and southern islands of the Galapagos.

Destinations

Galapagos

Trip at a glance

Visits

SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND: Lobos Island

ESPAÑOLA ISLAND: Gardner Bay, Punta Suarez

FLOREANA ISLAND: Punta Cormorant, Post Office Bay, Devil's Crown

SANTA FE ISLAND

SOUTH PLAZA ISLAND

SANTA CRUZ ISLAND: Charles Darwin Research Station

Trip details

Itinerary

Day 1 ARRIVAL: SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND

Morning

Arrival at San Cristobal Airport on San Cristobal Island

Meet and greet your naturalist guide upon arrival at San Cristobal Airport. Before leaving the airport, you'll pass an inspection point where your Transit Control Card will be stamped. Be sure to store this with your travel documents as you'll need to show it again when you depart the Galapagos Islands. If you haven't already, you'll also pay the Galapagos National Park entrance fee of 100 USD here. You'll then be escorted onboard the Galaxy where your captain and crew will welcome you with drinks and lunch.

Afternoon

Lobos Island

Its name of Lobos Island pays homage to the large population of sea lions that take over the land, where visitors have the exciting opportunity to approach females within a few meters. On a short guided walk around the islet, witness seals, marine iguanas and lava lizards at play along the shoreline, before traveling to the port of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno for your departure.

Evening

Enjoy dinner and night on the Galaxy.

MEALS
  • Lunch onboard
  • Dinner onboard

Day 2 ESPAÑOLA ISLAND

Morning

Gardner Bay

Following a wet landing at Gardner Bay this morning, go for a short walk along Española Island's pristine stretch of white sand beach, perfect for relaxing and swimming. Though Gardner Bay is an important breeding site for Pacific green turtles, the star of this morning's stop is the colony of lazy sea lions napping in the sun. Hop in the shallow water along the shoreline's rocks for a chance to swim with these playful creatures, and enjoy a morning of snorkeling among tropical fish and sea turtles, and perhaps observe sharks in the ocean's crystal clear waters. 

Afternoon

Punta Suarez

Reach Suarez Point by dry landing this afternoon and walk among the island's lava rocks to view its lava tubes. A must-see destination for any passionate bird watcher because of its impressive and varied colonies of sea birds, Suarez Point also affords the exclusive opportunity for visitors to observe its endangered waved albatrosses in their natural habitat. Time your visit to their mating dances, which takes place primarily between May and November, when waved albatrosses engage in synchronized courtship dances by whistling and bowing. You'll also be able to witness these large birds take flight by using the rugged cliff of Suarez Point as a launching pad. Weighing up to four kilograms, these waved albatrosses are one of the largest birds in the Galapagos, with some 12,000 pairs nesting on Española Island. Enthusiastic birdwatchers will also appreciate sightings of Nazca and blue-footed boobies. With your naturalist guide, point out colonies of marine iguanas and hood lava lizards on your afternoon excursion to Suarez Point.

Evening

Enjoy dinner and night on the Galaxy.

MEALS
  • Breakfast onboard
  • Lunch onboard
  • Dinner onboard

Day 3 FLOREANA ISLAND

Morning

Post Office Bay

Arrive at Post Office Bay this morning, one of three visitor’s sites on Floreana’s northern shores. Mail home a postcard from the traditional barrel on this historic site, which pays homage to an improvised mail system that was set-up for communication between British whalers and poachers in the 16th century. Learn about the history of the whaling industry here and how this post box revealed the positions of the whaling vessels to the American frigate USS Essex during the Anglo-American War between 1812 and 1815. Climb Baroness Lookout for a striking panorama of the Galapagos, and admire the blue waters of the ocean against lush red mangroves below. From your guide, learn about the self-proclaimed Empress of the Galapagos, Baroness Eloisa von Wagner Bosquet, who was one of the early settlers of this island, and view the ruins of what used to be her home. 

Afternoon

Punta Cormorant

Situated on the western shores of Floreana Island, Cormorant Point is widely recognized for its olive green sands, due to a surplus of olivine crystals. Following a wet landing, join your naturalist guide on a short trek to observe sea lions, frigatebirds and pelicans in their natural habitat.  


Devil's Crown

Continue to nearby Devil's Crown on the Solaris, aptly named for its ring-shaped assembly of jagged rocks that resemble a crown when seen from afar. Hop into its enticing waters for a swim among the colonies of small fish and sea lions. With excellent visibility and a diverse population of marine wildlife, Devil's Crown is highly regarded by many as the premier snorkeling spot in the Galapagos.

Evening

Enjoy dinner and night on the Galaxy.

MEALS
  • Breakfast onboard
  • Lunch onboard
  • Dinner onboard

Day 4 SANTA FE ISLAND & SOUTH PLAZAS ISLAND

Morning

Santa Fe

At an estimated four million years, Santa Fe Island is one of the oldest in the Galapagos archipelago. With a relatively small land area of 24 sq. km, this island situated between Santa Cruz and San Cristobal boasts a diversity of endemic species - the Santa Fe land iguana, Galapagos Mockingbird and rice rat. Its landscape is unique for its population of the large prickly pear cactus, Opuntia Echios, which feeds Santa Fe's land iguanas. Following a wet landing among a sea lion colony at Barrington Bay, enjoy a swim or snorkel in its shimmering waters as hawks fly overhead, keeping your eyes peeled for rays, tropical fish and marine tortoises. Board the Galaxy where snacks and refreshing beverages await you. 

Afternoon

South Plaza

Half a pair of Plazas Island off the eastern shores of Santa Cruz, South Plaza is recognized for its outstanding collection of wildlife species despite its small size. While the North Plaza Island is visited for research purposes only, you'll visit the South Plaza Island this afternoon to see one of the largest sea lion colonies in the Galapagos, which is estimated to be at about 1000. On a hike with your naturalist guide, you'll notice that the land iguanas on South Plaza Island are smaller, primarily due to overpopulation and heavy competition for food sources. You'll also have the opportunity to observe them as they feed on the fruit of the prickly pear cacti as you wind along a rugged cliff where seabirds nest.

Evening

Enjoy dinner and night on the Galaxy.

MEALS
  • Breakfast onboard
  • Lunch onboard
  • Dinner onboard

Day 5 DEPARTURE: SANTA CRUZ ISLAND

Morning

Charles Darwin Research Station

Spend your final morning on this five day Eastern and Southern Galapagos Islands cruise visiting the Charles Darwin Research Station on the outskirts of Puerto Ayora, the premiere giant tortoise breeding site of the Galapagos archipelago. Featuring a number of interpretation and information centers about the National Park, this facility is dedicated to marine life conservation and maintaining biodiversity in the region. Learn the story of Lonesome George, the fabled final survivor of the giant tortoise species who lived at the Charles Darwin Research Station for four decades, and enjoy some free time to stroll the quaint streets of Puerto Ayora. Your visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station concludes this five day cruise on the Galaxy. Your guide and friendly crew members will transfer you by shuttle to Seymour Airport on Baltra island for your onward journey, and accompany you to the check-in counters and departure hall.

MEALS
  • Breakfast onboard

Map

Video

Services

What's included

Accommodation

Nights
4 nights onboard M/Y Galaxy

Meals

Full board plan
4 breakfasts + 4 lunches + 4 dinners

Transportation

Bus
All transfers from/to Baltra/San Cristobal Airport

Orientation

Guide
Shared English-speaking naturalist guide

What's not included

  • Entrance Fee to Galapagos National Park (100 USD/Person)
  • TCT Ingala Migration Card (20 USD/Person)
  • Domestic Flights
  • International Flights
  • Travel Insurance
  • Wetsuit Rental
  • Extra Meals
  • Drinks
  • Tips

Prices


Important notes

Each guest must strictly follow the Galapagos National Park Rules: 

  • Remain on marked trails at visitor sites and respect signs at all times for the protection of wildlife
  • Maintain a distance of at least six feet (two meters) from wildlife to avoid disturbing them, even if they approach you
  • Never feed wildlife, as this can cause health problems
  • Flash photography is not permitted when taking photos of wildlife
  • Professional photography and videos recorded for commercial purposes must be authorized by the Galapagos National Park Department
  • It is your responsibility not to introduce food, animals, or plants into the Archipelago. Cooperate fully with all environmental inspection and quarantine officials during your visit.
  • Do not take or buy any products or souvenirs made from banned substances, including black coral, shells, lava rock, animal parts, or any native wood or vegetation prior to leaving Galapagos. This is illegal and must be reported
  • Practice “leave-no-trace” principles in order to maintain the beauty of the environment
  • Pack out all trash and dispose of or recycle it in the populated areas or on your tour boat
  • Smoking and/or campfires are strictly prohibited within the Galapagos National Park
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