$7500
14 nights and 15 days
All year round
Private Yacht
By private yacht
Quito
Spend a full 11-days/10-nights aboard the yacht in the Galápagos Islands, visiting all the significant outer islands, and allowing for a maximum of wildlife observations. Each day we typically go ashore twice, observing and photographing the unique wildlife – the plants and animals that led Darwin to his theory of evolution when he visited the Galápagos in 1835.
Our days are full, with early-morning and late-afternoon excursions to catch the peak animal activity as well as best lighting for photography. There are also 1 or 2 snorkeling sessions most days. Several days will also have time to optionally explore by kayak. The evenings are devoted to natural history lectures conducted by the Tour Leader. Star viewing is also incredible as there is no outside light interference as you search the night sky for the Southern Cross and other constellations not visible from the northern hemisphere.
Group size is capped at 16 participants so you may experience the wonders of the islands without the crowds that come with larger vessels. We don’t think you’ll find a Galapagos tour where you will learn more or get more photo opportunities!
The trip begins in Quito, Ecuador. On arrival, you will be transferred directly to the hotel where we will spend the night.
Today is a free day in the High Andes city of Quito, with a spectacular old town district that is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. Nearby sightseeing possibilities include Indian markets, the Equatorial Monument, tropical cloud forests and active volcanoes. Overnight in Quito
A morning flight will take you from the High Andes to another world; the Galapagos Islands. Upon arrival we will be transferred to the yacht, the M/Y TIP TOP IV, waiting for us in the nearby harbor. This afternoon we will begin our program of shore excursions with a visit to the island of NORTH SEYMOUR.
North Seymour is home to the largest colony of magnificent frigatebirds in the Galápagos. Both marine and land iguanas are found in good numbers here, and sea lions often surf the rocky shore break.
Stay overnight on the Yacht
Located in the northeast portion of the Galápagos, Tower is an outpost for many sea birds. Depending on conditions we often will have a chance to snorkel and kayak within the bay.
Darwin Bay is an anchorage within a caldera, with surrounding cliffs forming the inner portion of the rim. Along the small beach there is a forest of salt bush where adjacent colonies of great frigatebirds and red-footed boobies nest.
A visit to Prince Philip’s Steps begins with a panga ride along the cliffs, watching for red-billed tropicbirds and the occasional fur seal, while squadrons of frigate birds fly overhead in their endless piratical pursuits.
Stay overnight on the Yacht
James Bay/Puerto Egas is home to Fur Seal Grotto – not only a beautiful site, but this is your only chance to get close to the endemic fur seals. Some of the best tide-pooling is also here, drawing a wonderful variety of shorebirds and seabirds, with yellow-crowned night herons and American Oystercatchers being the most commonly seen.
Playa Espumilla is a golden sandy beach where sea turtles nest, and ghost crabs and wading birds abound. Beyond the mangroves that frame the beach lie saline lagoons.
A cruise past Buccaneer Cove shows where sailors cleaned ship, hunted meat from the abundant sea lions along the beach, and collected firewood and water.
Stay overnight on the Yacht
The cold waters approaching Punta Vicente Roca offer some of the best opportunities for whales and dolphins, and maybe the chance to snorkel with a mola mola.
Punta Espinosa is a wonderful visitor site, with the largest colony of marine iguanas in the islands, in addition to flightless cormorants, Galápagos Penguins, herons and Galápagos Hawks. This is often the best place to see marine iguanas in the water as they feed on the barely submerged rocks along the shore.
Stay overnight on the Yacht
Tagus Cove is a natural harbor featuring steep cliffs replete with graffiti carved or painted into the face by ship’s crews dating as far back as 1836. The cliffs are populated by marine iguanas, penguins, crabs, sea lions, and in the crevices outside the bay, brown noddy terns abound.
Elizabeth Bay is a mangrove inlet explored by zodiac, with an amazing concentration of green sea turtles and rays. The neighboring Marielas Islets are home to the largest colony of Galápagos Penguins, with penguins often seen in the water here.
Stay overnight on the Yacht
In 1954, Urvina Bay was the site of a dramatic volcanic uplift, where 4 miles of coastline suddenly
rose nearly 15 feet. Inland land iguanas, and an occasional tortoise, are found here. Along the shore flightless cormorants and brown pelicans typically nest.
Situated against a backdrop of 3 volcanos, Punta Moreno features views of Isabela’s Sierra Negra & Cerro Azul, and Fernandina’s Le Cumbre. The shoreline features Blue-footed Boobies and nesting flightless cormorants while the lagoons are home to white-cheeked pintail ducks and flamingos feeding on abundant brine shrimp.
Stay overnight on the Yacht
An early-morning landing on the olivine beach at Punta Cormorant has an emphasis on plant life and shore birds. A brackish lagoon is home to flamingos, pintail ducks, and commons stilts. A nearby white sand beach is a turtle nesting area. Panga cruising and snorkeling at the offshore islet of Champion.
Post Office Bay is one the most historically famous island locations – be sure to bring a postcard or two ashore with you to “mail”.
Black Beach & the Highlands – while not official park visitor sites, both are rewarding. A visit to the highlands is also your only opportunity in the archipelago to search for the endemic medium tree finch.
Stay overnight on the Yacht
A trip to the Highlands (by van) traverses all 7 vegetation zones of the Galápagos. In addition to Los Gemelos, two enormous pit craters, other volcanic formations include some of the largest known lava tunnels in the Galápagos. Not surprisingly, the lush highland vegetation is home to a variety of land birds, including vermillion flycatchers, Galápagos Flycatchers, woodpecker finches, dark- billed cuckoos, and Barn Owls. Tortoises are often seen in the wild here.
Puerto Ayora is the scientific heart of Galápagos, including the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS), as well as the primary population center.
Stay overnight on the Yacht
Punta Suarez is a paradise for birders, with waved albatross, Nazca Boobies, blue-footed boobies, Galápagos Hawks, Galápagos Doves, and also marine iguanas (the most colorful in the islands) all vying for center stage.
Gardner Bay is a tranquil white sandy beach known for sea lions, lava lizards, finches, yellow warblers, & Hood Mockingbirds, to name just a few. Gardner or Tortuga Rocks offer great snorkeling, as well as the occasional chance to kayak.
Stay overnight on the Yacht
This is the easternmost, and geologically oldest, island in the archipelago (and also the provincial capital). Punta Pitt is a coastal tuff formation that serves as a nesting site for many sea birds, including blue-footed, Nazca & red-footed boobies, frigate birds, swallow-tailed gulls, and storm petrels.
Cerro Brujo is a very striking, eroded tuff cone. One of the first places visited by Charles Darwin, the beautiful white coralline sand beach and lagoon are home to brown pelicans, blue-footed boobies and swallow-tailed gulls, plus a variety of shore birds.
San Cristóbal is also home to the endemic Chatham
Mockingbird.
Stay overnight on the Yacht
Mosquera is a tiny islet, really more of a long narrow sand spit, with a huge population of sea lions. Additional occupants include Sally Lightfoot Crabs and lava lizards, plus a wonderful variety of birdlife flying over.
Baltra – Transfer to the airport for your late morning return flight to Quito, Ecuador. This evening we will enjoy a farewell dinner. Overnight in Quito
After breakfast transfer to the airport for your return flight home. Or, if you prefer, remain on in Ecuador for a few days exploring the High Andes, Amazon Basin, or tropical cloud forests, talk to us for more information