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Pinnacle rock on Bartolome

Western Islands

Example 8 Day Cruise aboard Tip Top V
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This Galapagos cruise takes you beyond the highlights of the western islands with 8 days of exploration and adventure! This cruise features some of the most sought-after destinations in this region. Enjoy the company of friendly sea lions while snorkeling and make friends with the gentle giant tortoises at the Charles Darwin Research Station. These islands are rich with an abundance of wildlife both in and out of the ocean including sea lions, marine iguanas, penguins, marine turtles, seabirds and shorebirds, herons and blue-footed boobies. There is an endless list of activities to make this the most memorable trip ever.
Hike in BartolomeSierra Negra volcanoSierra Negra, Isabela Island, GalapagosCatch a glimpse of a Blue-footed Booby on your Galapagos Islands tourPinnacle rock on Bartolome
Highlights
  • Visit Mosquera Islet, a reef of rocks and coral & a great white sand beach
  • Observe the daily routine of various birds on El Barroco
  • Walk around Rabida Island to see blue-footed boobies & masked boobies
  • Snorkel at Chinese Hat, a small island off the Coast of Santiago
Places Visited
Activity Level: Relaxed
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Baltra | Embark | Mosquera Islet

Flight from mainland Ecuador (Quito or Guayaquil) to Baltra. Your guide meets you at the arrivals gate, your crew takes care of your luggage. Your guide conducts you to a bus and after a short 5-kilometer ride to the pier; you board the Yacht immediately. As the crew weighs anchor, enjoy the first orientation and a light snack.

After lunch, you make an early wet landing on Mosquera Islet, a reef of rocks and coral (the result of an uprising), and a great white sand beach and tide pools. You observe colonies of sea lions, brown pelicans, blue-footed boobies and sally light-foot crabs, the contrast between these bright red crabs on top and blue on the bottom and the black lava is stunning. Optional: time for those who would like to swim and snorkel. In the evening, have an orientation about the Galapagos Islands in general: their origin and evolution. Welcome cocktail with the entire crew, and dinner.
Activities: Walking, Panga Ride, Snorkeling

Day 2: Sullivan Bay | Rabida

After breakfast, make a wet landing on Sullivan Bay, a perfect place to get a feel of the volcanic origin of the islands. Optional: time for those who would like to swim and snorkel. Return to the boat for a delicious lunch.
Activities: Walking, Snorkeling

After this, you make a wet landing on Rabida, to walk and observe marine iguanas and sea lions, pelicans, blue-footed boobies, masked boobies, and brown pelicans. You make a little walk and you arrive at a small saltwater lagoon where you can see pink flamingos. Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel or kayak. Return to the Yacht for dinner.
Activities: Walking, Kayaking, Panga Ride, Snorkeling

Day 3: Espinoza Point | Elizabeth Bay

After breakfast, enjoy a wet landing on Sullivan Bay, a perfect place to get a feel of the volcanic origin of the islands. Optional: time for those who would like to swim and snorkel. Return to the boat for a delicious lunch.
Activities: Walking, Snorkeling

After this, you make a wet landing on Rabida, to walk and observe marine iguanas and sea lions, pelicans, blue-footed boobies, masked boobies and brown pelicans. You make a little walk and you arrive at a small saltwater lagoon where you can see pink flamingos. Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel or kayak. Return to the Yacht for dinner and your nightly orientation.
Activities: Panga Ride

Day 4: Urbina Bay | Tagus Cove

After breakfast, you make a wet landing on Urbina Bay to take a walk and observe a coral area, land iguanas, flightless cormorants, and giant tortoises. Optional: time for those who would like to swim or snorkel. Return to the Yacht for lunch.
Activities: Walking, Snorkeling

In the afternoon, take a panga ride on Tagus Cove, a cove between the shoulders of two volcanic craters, which protect it from the open sea; observe penguins, marine iguanas, sea lions, and a variety of birds including flightless cormorants and blue-footed boobies. Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel or kayak. Return to the Yacht for dinner.
Activities: Walking, Kayaking, Panga Ride, Snorkeling

Day 5: Egas Port | Bartolome

After breakfast, you make a wet landing on James Bay (Puerto Egas), to walk and observe sponges, snails, hermit crabs, a variety of shorebirds, barnacles, and the endemic four-eyed blenny, marine iguanas, and sea lions. Optional: time for those who would like to swim or snorkel. You return to the boat for a delicious lunch.
Activities: Walking, Snorkeling

In the afternoon, you make a dry landing on Bartolome Island, to hike to the summit; during the hike, you observe colonies of marine iguanas and lava lizards. On the summit, you see an impressive view of the surrounding islands, including the eroded tuff cone of Pinnacle Rock. Optional: time for those who would like to swim or snorkel. You return to the yacht for a delicious dinner.
Activities: Walking, Panga Ride, Snorkeling

Day 6: Chinese Hat | Dragon Hill

After breakfast, you make a wet landing on Chinese Hat (Sombrero Chino), a small island off the coast of Santiago Island, you can observe on the rocky shoreline: Galapagos penguins, eagle rays, sea lions, and marine iguanas. This is an excellent snorkeling site. Optional: time for those who would like to swim, snorkel or kayak. You return to the boat for lunch.
Activities: Walking, Kayaking, Panga Ride, Snorkeling

Later in the afternoon, you make a dry landing on Dragon Hill, where you can see land iguanas; you walk to a hypersalinic lagoon (saltier than the ocean), where you can observe flamingos, common stilts, pintail ducks, and other species of birds. Optional: time for those who would like to swim or snorkel. You return to the Yacht for dinner.
Activities: Walking, Snorkeling

Day 7: Santa Cruz Highlands | Interpretation Center Fausto Llerena

After breakfast, disembark to take the bus to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island for a visit to the native forests, El Chato Reserve, then, you will go to enjoy the giant tortoises in the wildlife on a farm. You will be delighted with the lunch on the farm.
Activities: Walking

After lunch, you will return to Puerto Ayora to start the visit to the Interpretation Center Fausto Llerena inside the Charles Darwin Research Station. You return to the Yacht for dinner and your nightly orientation.

Day 8: North Seymour | Disembark | Baltra

  • 1 Breakfast
After breakfast, make an early dry landing for a walk along the coast and the interior of North Seymour Island, a low, flat island that was uplifted from the sea by underground seismic activity. Observe blue-footed boobies (they nest from May to November), marine iguanas, pelicans, frigate birds, shorebirds, sea lions, and endemic Palo Santo.
Activities: Walking, Panga Ride

You return to the Yacht for disembarking on the pier. Your guide accompanies you on the bus ride directly to the airport.

Ship/Hotel

Tip Top V

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
$5,922 2-3 travelers
Cabin 1-2
cabins with one king size bed (6.5’ x 6.5’) – (210 square feet each cabin)
Cabin 3-4
cabins with two single beds (3.15’ x 6.5’)– (210 square feet each cabin)
Cabin 5-6
cabins with one king size bed (6.5’ x 6.5’)– ( 200 square feet each cabin plus 70 square feet balcony)
Cabin 7-10
cabins with single lower beds (6.5’ x 6.5’) – (170 square feet each cabin plus 35 square feet balcony)

Child Discount

50% discount for children under age 12 at time of Galapagos cruise. Child discounts are conditional and may not apply on certain departures. Please contact us for more information.

Children under 12 may receive discounts on Galapagos flight fares and entrance fees. Contact us for details.
Included
  • 7 Breakfasts, 7 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
  • 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
  • Use of all on-board water toys, such as snorkeling gear, kayaks, paddle boards, etc.
  • Internal Flights: Mainland Ecuador - Galapagos - Mainland Ecuador
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. 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 - $35 short and $40 long size for 4-day tours; $40 short and $45 long size for 5-day tours; $45 short and $55 long size for 8-day tours; $70 short and $80 long size for 11-day tours; and $80 short and $90 long size for 15-day tours.

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Everything was amazing! The planning with Adventure Life went smoothly. The actual trip was fantastic! One of the best trips I have experienced. The cruise staff members were knowledgeable and attentive. I will be writing more about this on the blog!
Justin Chappelle

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