This cruise allows you to experience more than just the highlights of the Galapagos' northern and central islands. Take a 4-day adventure and enjoy the wonders of Santa Cruz, Genovesa, Santa Fe and Mosquera Islet. Get up close and personal with giant tortoises, snorkel in the crystalline waters and view colorful fish, sharks, rays, and sea turtles. The wildlife here is abundant and the landscape is stunning to behold, making this an incredible vacation.
Highlights
Observe Galapagos giant tortoises in their natural habitat
Travel to Genovesa Island and be marveled at its variety of sea life
Relax in Santa Fe's white sand beaches and snorkel among sea lions
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Departing from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra Island in a 2:30 hour flight. Upon arrival in the Galapagos, passengers are picked up at the airport by our Natural Guides and taken to a 10-minute bus drive to the pier to board the M/V Galapagos Legend.
In the central highlands of Santa Cruz Island, you have your best opportunity to interact at close quarters with totally wild, Galapagos giant tortoises. A short walk among these huge, 600lb, reptiles will also offer the chance for more highland species, especially several species of the famed finches.
Highlights: Giant tortoises, tree & ground Darwin finches.
Disembarking: dry landing
Physical Condition: low
Type of terrain: flat & muddy
Activities: 1 hour 30 min bus ride / 1 hour 30 min visit
Day 2: El Barranco (Prince Philip's Steps) | Darwin Bay, Genovesa
Riding your dinghy to the far side of the caldera, red-billed tropicbirds display vociferously overhead while Galapagos fur seals can be seen on the shoreline. Once at the top of the rocky stairway you are immediately met by Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, mockingbirds and finches that line your way through a Palo Santo forest until you arrive at an expansive open lava field. Wedge-rumped storm petrels swarm above the lava where you keep your eyes peeled for short-eared owls.
Highlights: Dried lava field, red-footed bobbies, short-eared ow, Nazca boobies’ nesting site.
Disembarking: dry landing
Physical Condition: medium
Type of terrain: rocky
Activities: 2-hour hike / 45-min dinghy ride
From within the flooded caldera of Tower Island you set foot onto a sandy beach to be greeted by swallow-tailed gulls often said to be the most beautiful gull in the world. Your short, flat, trail leads you past stands of mangroves and saltbush on which you have your best possible looks at nesting red-footed boobies and great frigatebirds. At the tidal lagoon you may also see the rarest gull in the world, our very own, endemic lava gull.
Highlights: Sandy coral beach, swallow-tailed and lava gulls, mockingbirds, yellow-crowned night herons.
Disembarking: wet landing
Physical Condition: low
Type of terrain: sandy
Activities: 45 min kayaking / 45 min glass-bottom boat or 1-hour deep or beach snorkeling /
1 hour 15 min hike
Sea lions, swallow-tailed gulls and land iguanas are all present at the landing site. The small island is covered with a carpet of a red succulent studded with Opuntia cacti. At the cliff edge, you spend time watching birds fly past at eye level in the up draught. These include, frigatebirds, flocks of Galapagos shearwaters and of particular note, flights of displaying red-billed tropicbirds. Back at sea level, you once again encounter land iguanas, some of which have hybridized with their resident marine cousins.
Highlights: Large colony of sea lions, endemic cactus forest, land & marine iguanas, Nazca & blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls.
Disembarking: dry landing
Physical Condition: medium
Type of terrain: rocky
Activities: 2 hour 15 min hike
After a fabulous snorkel in the turquoise waters of the protected bay you may have enjoyed time with sea lions, turtles, reef sharks and spotted eagle rays. Landing onto a sandy beach you are immediately distracted by the abundant sea lions there with you. You begin a walk past a forest of island-endemic giant Opuntia cacti. Here you search for another island-endemic the Santa Fe land iguana, paler than its cousins on other islands. Galapagos hawks and even endemic rice rats are also things to look out for.
Highlights: Endemic Santa Fe land iguana, Galapagos hawk, mockingbirds, sea lions.
Disembarking: wet landing
Physical Condition: medium
Type of terrain: rocky
Activities: 30 min glass-bottom boat ride / 45 min kayaking / 1-hour hike / 1-hour deep snorkeling
Day 4: Bachas Beach, Santa Cruz | Disembark | Baltra
1 Breakfast
Named for some wrecked World War II barges whose ribs are still visible in the sand this visitor site offers a lovely walk along the shore and a visit to a lagoon behind the high tide line with wading birds, marine iguanas and sometimes even flamingoes. The two beaches are also favorite nesting sites for green turtles which often leave tractor-like tracks in the sand.
Highlights: One of the main nesting sites of sea turtles, flamingoes, snorkeling to see sharks, rays.
Disembarking: wet landing
Physical condition: low
Type of terrain: sandy
Activities: 1-hour hike / beach time
After the visit, passengers will be transferred to Baltra airport for their return flight to Guayaquil or Quito.
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.
$1,9392-3 travelers
Standard Cabin
Averaging 140 sq. ft. Two interior cabins located on the Earth Deck, with double or twin bed options. These cabins donĀ“t have exterior views.
Standard Plus Cabin
Averaging 118 sq. ft. Six cabins are located on the Sea and Earth Deck, with double or twin bed options, and portholes. Include reusable bottles and a crossbody bag as souvenirs.
Junior Suite
Averaging 161 sq. ft. Twenty-four suites are located on the Earth Deck with double or triple bed options. 4 larger cabins can be booked in quadruple occupancy. Include two panoramic windows on each cabin, reusable bottles, and a crossbody bag as souvenirs.
Balcony Suite
Averaging 237 sq. ft. Four balcony suites on the Moon Deck and six balcony suites located on the Sky Deck, with double, and triple bed options. Include panoramic view windows, a private balcony, a complimentary bottle of champagne, top of line amenities & bathrobe, reusable bottles and a crossbody bag as souvenirs.
Legend Balcony Suite
Averaging 355 sq. ft. One suite located on the Moon Deck with double, and triple bed options. Includes a generously large balcony, exclusive & exquisite decorations, with a complimentary bottle of champagne, top of line amenities & bathrobe, reusable bottles and a crossbody bag as souvenirs.
Child Discount
Children under 12 years old receive a 50% discount (25% for holiday season) when sharing a cabin with two full-fare paying guests. 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.
Initial deposit is $500 per person, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days 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
3 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 3 Dinners
3 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. 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 - $25 for 4-day and 5-day tours, $50 for 8-day, 11-day, and 12 day tours, and $75 for 15-day tours.
This was our first trip to South America and we were a little nervous. But Adventure Life made things so easy! All our questions were answered before we left, and our guide, Vidal, was amazing! He gave us enough space to explore without rushing us along. He also knew where the best picture taking opportunities were, which was great.
Info was accurate and delivered quickly so that a decision could be made. This is my second trip with Adventure Life.
Bill BASLER
2 weeks ago
Claudia does an excellent job of communicating. HOWEVERā¦you paperwork requirements are constipated ā a real impediment to doing business. Fire the lawyers or accountants over that.
STODDARD/MARK JAMES
2 weeks ago
Plans were described and booked with efficiency and speed. Adventure LIfe is outstanding in travel planning.
Laurel Hansen
1 month ago
The travel planner was very knowledgeable about the countries I will be visiting and was very helpful in booking my trip. It was a great experience in dealing with them - very personable and promptly address any of my concerns.
Customer
1 month ago
Super smooth with questions answered & booking in just 2 days with Mary Curry. AND, the price was great!