Expedition Details

Trip Highlights

• Snorkel amid shimmering fish, sea turtles, penguins, and playful sea lions.
• Cruise to pristine islands and walk among colonies of animals and birds unfazed by your presence.
• Observe rare giant tortoises at the Charles Darwin Research Station.
• Explore the waters of the Galápagos by kayak, glass-bottom boat (Endeavour only), or Zodiac.

Itinerary - 10 Days

Day 1 — U.S./Guayaquil, Ecuador

Depart for Guayaquil and upon arrival, transfer to our hotel.

Day 2 — Guayaquil/Galápagos

This morning, fly to the Galápagos Islands and board our comfortable expedition ship. During lunch, sail to North Seymour Island for a magnificent introduction to the diverse wildlife of the islands. This afternoon, walk along the sandy shoreline looking for land iguanas, sea lions, and rare birds.
(B,L,D)

Days 3 through 8 — Exploring Galápagos

In keeping with the nature of an expedition, our itinerary is flexible, allowing you to take advantage of this extraordinary wildlife sanctuary. You will have the opportunity to go on nature walks with local naturalists; swim; snorkel; or explore the waters by kayak, glass-bottom boat (Endeavour only**), or Zodiac.
(B, L, D daily)

We plan to make the following stops during this voyage:

Isla Bartolomé
Bartolomé's landscape is an enchanting convergence of lava flows, mangroves, and beautiful white-sand beaches. Here you may also have the opportunity to swim with Galápagos penguins.

Isla Santiago
Santiago offers some of the best "tide pooling" in the islands. Follow a path along a series of pools and underwater caverns in search of Galápagos fur seals, sea lions, and Sally Lightfoot crabs.

Isla Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz is home to the Charles Darwin Research Station, a breeding station for endangered native species. Join a staff member of the research station for an introduction to the Darwin Foundation's ecological studies and giant Galápagos tortoise breeding program. Later, travel into the highlands and roam the moss-draped landscape where wild tortoises often forage.

Isla Isabela
Spend the early morning on the lookout for dolphins; whales; sea turtles; and the astonishing ocean sunfish, the Mola mola. Then trace the southern coast of Isla Isabela to the cliffs known as Punta Vicente Roca. Explore caves and hidden lagoons by Zodiac, and don snorkeling gear to examine shells and other marine life embedded in hardened lava flows. Many species of birds-from flamingos and penguins to flightless cormorants-can be found here.

Isla Fernandina
Discover Punta Espinosa on Isla Fernandina, the youngest and most pristine island in the Galápagos. Through a thicket of white mangroves lies the largest colony of marine iguanas in the Galápagos. Sea lions play along the coast and flightless cormorants hunt from their nesting site against the dramatic backdrop of Isla Isabela's volcanoes.

Isla Floreana
At Champion Islet, snorkel among sea lions in clear waters, or peer into an underwater world in a glass-bottom boat (Endeavour only) while keeping an eye out for flamingos, pintail ducks, and shorebirds. Hike to a pristine white-sand beach, a favorite nesting site for sea turtles. Those interested can take a Zodiac ride to Post Office Bay. If you see a letter addressed to someone who lives near you, the tradition is to deliver it by hand.

Isla Española
A paradise for bird lovers, Isla Española is home to Darwin's finches, Hood mockingbirds, and blue-footed boobies. You'll also see Española marine iguanas, which develop vivid green and red coloration from their food, a coastal seaweed that blooms in iguana-mating season.

Day 9 — Galápagos/Guayaquil

After breakfast, disembark the ship and fly to Guayaquil. The evening is at your leisure.
(B)

Day 10 — Guayaquil/U.S.

Depart Guayaquil this morning, arriving home the same day.
(B)

Optional Extensions

• Peru - Post-Trip Extension, 8 Days
• Quito - Post-Trip Extension, 1 Day)

Related Trips

• Galápagos Family Odyssey
• Galápagos and Peru

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This trip is offered in association with Lindblad Expeditions.

Expedition Dates

2010

• Feb 12 - 21, 2010
• Feb 13 - 22, 2010
• Feb 19 - 28, 2010
• Feb 20 - Mar 01, 2010
• Feb 26 - Mar 07, 2010
• Feb 27 - Mar 08, 2010
• Mar 05 - 14, 2010
• Mar 06 - 15, 2010
• Mar 12 - 21, 2010
• Mar 13 - 22, 2010
• Mar 19 - 28, 2010
• Mar 26 - Apr 04, 2010
• Mar 27 - Apr 05, 2010
• Apr 03 - 12, 2010
• Apr 09 - 18, 2010
• Apr 10 - 19, 2010
• Apr 16 - 25, 2010
• Apr 17 - 26, 2010
• Apr 23 - May 02, 2010
• Apr 24 - May 03, 2010
• Apr 30 - May 09, 2010
• May 01 - 10, 2010
• May 07 - 16, 2010
• May 08 - 17, 2010
• May 14 - 23, 2010
• May 15 - 24, 2010
• May 21 - 30, 2010
• May 22 - 31, 2010
• May 28 - Jun 06, 2010
• May 29 - Jun 07, 2010
• Jun 04 - 13, 2010
• Jun 05 - 14, 2010
• Jun 11 - 20, 2010
• Jun 12 - 21, 2010
• Jun 19 - 28, 2010
• Jun 25 - Jul 04, 2010
• Jun 26 - Jul 05, 2010
• Jul 03 - 12, 2010
• Jul 09 - 18, 2010
• Jul 16 - 25, 2010
• Jul 17 - 26, 2010
• Jul 23 - Aug 01, 2010
• Jul 30 - Aug 08, 2010
• Jul 31 - Aug 09, 2010
• Aug 06 - 15, 2010
• Aug 07 - 16, 2010
• Aug 14 - 23, 2010
• Aug 20 - 29, 2010
• Aug 21 - 30, 2010
• Aug 28 - Sep 06, 2010
• Sep 04 - 13, 2010
• Sep 11 - 20, 2010
• Sep 24 - Oct 03, 2010
• Oct 01 - 10, 2010
• Oct 08 - 17, 2010
• Oct 15 - 24, 2010
• Oct 16 - 25, 2010
• Oct 22 - 31, 2010
• Oct 23 - Nov 01, 2010
• Oct 29 - Nov 07, 2010
• Oct 30 - Nov 08, 2010
• Nov 05 - 14, 2010
• Nov 06 - 15, 2010
• Nov 12 - 21, 2010
• Nov 13 - 22, 2010
• Nov 19 - 28, 2010
• Nov 20 - 29, 2010
• Nov 26 - Dec 05, 2010
• Nov 27 - Dec 06, 2010
• Dec 03 - 12, 2010
• Dec 04 - 13, 2010
• Dec 10 - 19, 2010
• Dec 11 - 20, 2010
• Dec 17 - 26, 2010
• Dec 18 - 27, 2010
• Dec 24, 2010 - Jan 02, 2011
• Dec 25, 2010 - Jan 03, 2011

National Geographic Islander
National Geographic Endeavour