- Witness the unparalleled biodiversity that inspired Charles Darwin
- Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station
- See endemic penguins, fur seals, marine iguanasand giant tortoises
- Hike the highlands of Santa Cruz to a Galapagos tortoise sanctuary
- Gaze out over Bartolomé Island’s iconic Pinnacle Rock
- Dive with up to 30 different species of shark during one incredible trip!
- Large marine life, including manta rays, dolphinsand sea lions
- Indulge in delectable cuisine and five-star service
- Visit a flamingo lagoon, Post Office Bay, Baroness Lookout, and more
- Diving option available
Day 1:
Once you arrive at Baltra airport, you will be met by our team and escorted on a short cross-island transfer to Aqua Mare. After lunch, pick out a snorkelling kit and wetsuit for your personal use during the week. You will also receive a special waterproof bag and an Aqua Expeditions water bottle as a welcome gift.
The afternoon will see you head out for your first excursion to the beautiful white beach of Bahia Borrero on the northern part of Santa Cruz. You might be able to spot Darwin’s finches, cactus finches, and small ground finches. For those who prefer to snorkel, you will likely encounter sea turtles at the beach. Afterwards, head back to the yacht and indulge in a sumptuous dinner.
Day 2:
This morning, you’ll wake up on the other side of the equator and head over to Bahia Darwin’s coralline beach for hiking and snorkelling. Following a sumptuous lunch, explore Genovesa Island with a tender ride along the volcanic rocks of El Barranco, where you’ll be able to view fur seals. A 1.5 km hike inland will then take us to the lava fields to view red-footed boobies as well as great frigatebirds and Galapagos storm petrels.
Day 3:
Our first excursion of the day will take us to Santiago Island with a dry landing at Bahía Sullivan to discover recent Pahoehoe lava flows. Alternatively, a morning rendezvous diving option is also available.
After lunch and a lecture from one of our expert naturalist guides, we leave for Sombrero Chino Island, so named after the small crater that forms the islet. In the surrounding crystal-clear waters, you might have the opportunity to observe sea lions and penguins from above. There will be time for snorkelling, stand-up paddleboarding, and kayaking. After working up an appetite, return to the yacht for evening sundowners and a signature dining experience.
Day 4:
With an early morning anchor at Bartolomé Island, you will embark upon a mild climb up to the summit of a spatter cone for a spectacular view of the island’s iconic Pinnacle Rock. Cool down afterwards with a snorkel, where you may encounter sea turtles and Galapagos penguins, before heading back to the yacht. Alternatively, a morning rendezvous diving option is also available. Enjoy a tasty lunch as the boat sails to Santa Cruz for an afternoon excursion to Cerro Dragón, or Dragon Hill. Back onboard, enjoying the best of the region’s flavours through seafood specialties.
Day 5:
This morning you will explore a giant tortoise reserve to see these interesting creatures up close in their natural habitat. The area is also a great place to observe Darwin’s finches, yellow warblers, flycatchers, cattle egrets, and possibly Galapagos rails.
After a delicious lunch, you will visit Darwin Station and National Park headquarters to observe tortoises in captivity at the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center, as well as the different-aged hatchlings categorized by islands. There will be free time to enjoy the town of Puerto Ayora before returning to the ship. For divers, there is the option of a full day of diving instead of joining the day’s excursions.
Day 6:
This morning’s excursion is to Punta Suárez, one of the most interesting landing sites in the Galapagos Islands, due to the high percentage of unique endemism in its fauna. In the afternoon, we will take a tender ride to the beautiful array of islets where you will be able to snorkel alongside playful sea lions, sea turtles, sharks, and rays. The last visit of the day will be Bahía Gardner, an outstanding coralline sand beach that boasts one of the biggest colonies of sea lions in the Galapagos.
Day 7:
After a night of sailing, you will visit Santa Fe Island, where you will spot land iguanas, lava lizards, mockingbirds, and Darwin’s finches. After the visit, we will be able to go snorkelling, kayaking, or stand-up paddleboarding. A morning rendezvous diving option is also available.
As you enjoy lunch onboard, the boat will sail to Plaza Sur Island, located off the eastern shore of Santa Cruz. In the afternoon, you disembark at Plaza Sur Island and head out on a two-hour hiking excursion led by your guide.
Day 8:
Build your own adventure today from a selection of activities, whether you’re interested in snorkeling, hiking, cycling, or even scuba diving. Please reach out to our Cruise Directoronboard for more information. You will be able to meet new companions joining you onward for the next seven nights and spend the evening exploring the main town of Puerto Ayora. We recommend strolling along the main waterfront, where you can stop by the many boutiques and jewelry shops before heading back to the ship for a fascinating lecture from our guides. Finally, end the day fresh seafood dining in the Galapagos Islands.
Day 9:
This morning we will be anchored in the southern part of the archipelago at Floreana Island. After breakfast, the morning’s wet landing excursion will take you to a big brackish water lagoon to observe greater flamingos, ducks, black-necked stilts, and other shorebirds at Punta Cormorant. You will be able to observe where sea turtles nest at night and spot stingrays and sharks swimming very close to the shore. For those wishing to dive, a morning rendezvous diving option is available.
After lunch on board, head back out to Floreana to pay tribute to an old island tradition at Bahia Post Office. The visit will follow another quick tour of what once was a fishing enterprise in the 1920s before continuing onboard the tenders to visit Mirador de la Baronesa.
Day 10:
After a night of sailing, we will arrive on the western side of Isabela Island. For the morning excursion, a hike at Punta Moreno takes us among mangroves and gas-rich basaltic lava rocks. You will also embark on a dinghy ride to observe marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, and penguins, among other species.
In the afternoon, the Aqua Mare will sail north to Bahía Urbina, where you can see land iguanas, some of the biggest marine iguanas roaming free in the Archipelago, and on occasion, tortoises as well. We’ll end the day with an unforgettable view of Isabela’s five volcanoes.
Day 11:
Our next anchorage is Punta Espinoza. The region is famous for its large colonies of marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, and lizards. We might come across Galapagos penguins, Galapagos hawks, and snakes as well. You will spend the morning on shore with the option to snorkel before returning to the yacht for lunch.
Crossing the Bolivar Channel back towards Isabela Island, you will visit Caleta Tagus—once a favourite anchorage spot for pirates and whalers. Here we will hike to see Darwin Lake, a saltwater lake trapped inside a tuff cone. If you would rather not hike, you can go kayaking, snorkelling, stand-up paddleboarding, or take a ride on our elegant black tenders.
Day 12:
This morning, we’ll take a tender ride to Caleta Bucanero, a 17th-century pirate rest stop where pirates used to stock up on fresh tortoise meat and fresh water. In case ocean conditions are unfavorable, we’ll visit Playa Espumilla instead, a golden sandy beach which is a well-known breeding ground for sea turtles.
We head back to the yacht for lunch before exploring the black sand beaches of Puerto Egas, northwest of Santiago Island. You will be able to walk the intertidal zone to the fur seal grottos or snorkel to watch sea turtles, sea lions, and whitetip reef sharks.
Day 13:
Depart by tender to Rábida Island, also known as the red island. You will be able to hike, kayak, stand-up paddleboard, or snorkel, as well as observe hundreds of sea lions who have made their home on the beach. Alternatively, a morning rendezvous dive is also available.
After a delicious lunch, listen to an afternoon lecture presented by our expert guides. The Aqua Mare will sail towards the north of Santa Cruz Island, to Caleta Tortuga Negra, a mangrove estuary that is home to sea turtles. This is a tender ride excursion, as there is no landing site, but you will be able to spot green sea turtles, as well as blacktip and Galapagos sharks.
Day 14:
Your penultimate day in the Archipelago begins with a refreshing breakfast before heading out to Seymour Norte Island—known for its healthy population of land iguanas, blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, and great frigate birds. Alternatively, a morning rendezvous dive is also available. After a morning full of fun activities, you will head back to the yacht for a delicious lunch aboard Aqua Mare.
For the afternoon excursion, hop onto one of our tenders for a wet landing onto Mosquera Island—one of the hotspots for spotting sea lions. Around sunset you will return to the sleek comfort of Aqua Mare for your last evening aboard.
Day 15:
Enjoy the views from Aqua Mare as we circumnavigate Daphne Island before making our way to Baltra Island for disembarkation. You will be escorted to the airport for your flight back to the mainland.
Sample itineraries are for guidance only. Actual itineraries may differ slightly due to factors such as weather, wildlife, logistics and local regulations.
Queen size bed2 peopleNon shareable
Twin or double bed2 peopleShareable
King size bed2 peopleNon shareable
