The Eastern Galapagos Islands are home to many fascinating plants and animals. Learn about lava flows, cacti, sea lions, frigatebirds, turtles, and more. Cruise to places like Santa Cruz Island, Genovesa, and Floreana. Enjoy snorkeling, visiting Post Office Bay, hiking along the island trails, and the Charles Darwin Station on this 8-day cruise aboard the Eden.
Highlights
Climb to the highest point in Bartolome
Experience some of the most spectacular snorkeling in the Galapagos
Visit a Tortoise Rearing Center to find baby and adult tortoises
Walk along a path on Espanola to see hundreds of blue-footed boobies
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Arrive in Baltra and your bilingual naturalist guide greets you at the airport. During lunch you are introduced to the islands, flora, and fauna that you can encounter at Las Bachas Beach.
The white sand beaches of Las Bachas give you a closer look at the sea turtle nesting area as well as pink flamingos and other migratory birds. Take a swim in the Pacific Ocean and then enjoy a welcome dinner aboard the ship.
Day 2: Genovesa
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Disembark at Genovesa "Tower" Island and anchor at Darwin Bay. Take a walk and witness several swallow-tailed gulls. On your way back from the beach see a variety of Opuntia cactus and mangroves. Tower is an outpost for many sea birds. There are almost no land reptiles except for the marine iguanas.
Visit El Barranco during the afternoon and then return to the boat for dinner.
Day 3: Bartolome | Sullivan Bay
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Explore Bartolome and climb to the highest point for one of the most photographed vistas in the archipelago. The island is fairly young and quite volcanic so only a handful of plant and animal species call it home.
Visit nearby Sullivan Bay and admire the lava flow.
Day 4: Daphne Island | Black Turtle Cove | Cerro Dragon
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Arrive at Daphne Island, a cone formed by the accumulation of volcanic ash. It is home to thousands of birds such as blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds, tropic birds and many more. You do not go ashore here, but instead navigate around the island to look at the birds.
Move on to Black Turtle Cove, a red mangrove lagoon on Santa Cruz. Be on the lookout for white-tip reef sharks, golden rays, spotted eagle rays, scalloped hammerhead sharks, black-tip sharks, and maybe even turtles.
After lunch visit Cerro Dragon and make a dry landing on lava rocks. Observe the many land iguanas that live in the area.
Day 5: Santa Cruz Island | Charles Darwin Center
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Sail to Santa Cruz Island and visit the Charles Darwin Station. This is one of the best places to see land tortoises, including Lonesome George, the last survivor of his subspecies. Go to the station's Tortoise Rearing Center and find tortoises that range from babies the size of your hand to adults over 500 pounds.
Santa Cruz Island is also home to the largest town and economic center of the Galapagos, Puerto Ayora. Explore the portside town and then move on to the upper region of the island. Learn about the vegetation and animal life in the area and see Darwin's finches, yellow warblers, and vermillion flycatchers.
Day 6: Floreana
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Visit Punta Cormorant and follow a path to a flamingo lagoon. On your way pass by Carolina Beach, a sea turtle nesting area with countless sea birds and sea rays.
Next, stop at the Devil's Crown, a sub-marine crater that offers some of the most spectacular snorkeling in the Galapagos. This is a great spot for seeing a wide array of tropical fish and white-tipped sharks.
After lunch sail to Post Office Bay, the island's original post office which is really just a wooden barrel! Drop off unstamped letters and postcards and pick up whatever mail you can hand deliver when you return home.
Day 7: Espanola
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Take a dingy to the shore of Espanola and watch sea lion pups sunbathing with marine iguanas. Also see blue-footed boobies and the Galapagos hawk. Depending on the season, you may be able to witness the blue-footed booby mating dance.
As you walk along the island's path, pass hundreds of blue-footed booby nesting sites and one colony of masked boobies. There is also a good chance you see the frigatebird, the red-billed tropic bird, and the swallow-tailed gull. Pass El Soplador, a giant blowhole that explodes to heights of 25 feet. You may also see sea lions lounging in the nearby tide pools.
After lunch visit Gardner Bay, a perfect place to relax, swim and snorkel near lionfish, flycatchers, and Galapagos hawks.
Day 8: San Cristobal | Disembark
1 Breakfast
Arrive at San Cristobal, the captial city of the Galapagos. The first site is Kicker Rock, a tuff volcanic cone that has been eroded by the wind and marine currents making it look like a sleeping lion. This site is home to blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, and many others.
After navigating around Kicker Rock, continue on to the Interpretation center in Puerto Baquerizo. Your guide explains the formation of the islands and how the flora and fauna arrived. Visit the corrals where there are several species of giant tortoises under the care of the National Park Service.
Fly back to the mainland.
Dates & Prices
Per person starting at
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Initial deposit is 35%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 100 prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
For full cancellation policy details, please contact us for a quote.
Included
7 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches, 7 Dinners
7 Nights Accommodations
Accommodations as listed
Ground transportation as listed
Activities as listed
Meals as listed
Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
Gear Rental: Snorkeling Gear
Bilingual Naturalist Guide
Adventure Life Pre-departure Services and In-Country Assistance (Quito Representative)
Shore Excursions, Swimming and Snorkeling
Transfers and Baggage Handling in the Galapagos
Excluded
Gratuities
Travel Insurance
Personal Expenses
Flight costs (please request a quote)
Additional excursions during free time
Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
Galapagos Park Entrance Fee: $200 per adult, $100 per child under 12 (fees of $100 per adult and $50 per child valid on arrivals throughAug 1, 2024). Payable upon arrival to the Galapagos, only in cash dollars. Subject to increase by Galapagos Park Service.
Wetsuits are not included but are available to rent on board with cash - $60 for an 8 day cruise or $35 for a 4 or 5 day cruise. If you have special requirements, please reserve in advance.
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
TrustScore 4.8 | 174 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 174 reviews on
1 week ago
I spoke with at least a half dozen other travel companies, looking for a Galapagos cruise that fit our schedule and budget. Some companies could manage one or the other, but Erin was the only one who could do both. She found us the perfect cruise, at a fantastic price! And she has been quick and patient with responses to my many questions. So far, Adventure Life has been a fantastic company to work with!
Sandi T
3 weeks ago
Erin was patient, thorough, responsive, knowledgeable.
Karen Bukolt
3 weeks ago
Erin was responsive, knowledgeable, helpful, and ran through a few different choices with us. She got us a fabulous price on a trip, and made everything easy to do. And QUICK!!
Tina
1 month ago
From the initial meeting and planning process with our trip planner Jess, through to the finalizing of our itinerary, trip details and questions, I was very impressed with the professionalism, thoroughness, organization and attention to details. I would highly recommend Adventure Life to anyone looking to plan a unique travelling experience, knowing that the expertise and experience provided will result in a seamless trip of a lifetime.
Lynn Farquharson
1 month ago
Excellent suggestions I line with my desires on a Galapagos very last minute cruise.
Swift and professional guidance and assistance in booking the trip. Helped me realising a substantial saving.