CRUISE THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS ABOARD THE Journey I

4-day itinerary

You’ll arrive by plane on the island of Baltra and here we will meet you and take you to your yacht! We’ll be heading off straight away for the Bachas beaches of Santa Cruz Island. The soft sand is actually decomposed coral and is a favourite nesting site for sea turtles. To the side of one of the beaches is a small lagoon, where you can see flamingos and other coastal birds.

In the morning we will visit Rabida Island. With its dark red-coloured beach, frequented by crowds of sea-lions, it is often described as the geological centre of the Galapagos Islands because it has the most varied volcanic rocks of all the islands. After we have taken in the superb birdlife on view, we will go for a dinghy ride by the reefs to enjoy some excellent snorkelling opportunities. Then, in the afternoon, we will head on to James Bay on Santiago, where we will have a short walk across the dry interior to see this island's amazing colonies of seabirds.

Bartolomé is famous for Pinnacle Rock - a towering, pointing obelisk that rises from the water by a double beach that has become the best-known landmark in the Galapagos. We will climb to the summit of the island for some superb views before heading back down to the beach to swim with penguins and sea-lions! In the afternoon we will sail around the northern coast of Santa Cruz, passing the cliff-bound island of North Seymour, which is a real haven for seabirds.

In the morning we will visit the Plazas Islands which, despite their small size, are home to some of the most interesting species to be found anywhere in the Galapagos. You will be able to see iguanas, sea-lions, and large colonies of sea-birds such as frigate birds, pelicans, mullets and shearwaters. Then it's time to head to Baltra to catch your flight back to the mainland.

Please note that all Galapagos cruise itineraries are subject to change by the Galapagos National Park Authorities.

5-day itinerary

You’ll arrive by plane on the island of Baltra and here we will meet you and take you to your yacht! We’ll be heading off straight away for the Bachas beaches of Santa Cruz Island. The soft sand is actually decomposed coral and is a favourite nesting site for sea turtles. To the side of one of the beaches is a small lagoon, where you can see flamingos and other coastal birds.

This morning we will arrive on San Cristobal Island, where we will visit the National Park centre to have a quick briefing session. Then we will climb up to Tijeretas hill, from where we have a superb view over the island. Then, in the afternoon, we visit Lobos island, which is appropriately-named as the sea-lions leap, frolic, and generally have a great time here!

Today we will sail south to the island of Española and the headland known as Punta Suarez. This rocky point of land is home to one of the most impressive colonies of sea-birds in the Galapagos. Along the southern shore, huge cliffs rise up from the sea, giving you spectacular views of soaring birds and an enormous blowhole, where water spouts up to 15m in the air! Then, in the afternoon, we will sail around to Gardner Bay to visit a friendly sea-lion colony.

This morning we will head on to Floreana Island and Punta Cormorant, with its olivine-crystal beach, for an easy walk that includes a brackish water lagoon where bird species like Greater flamingos, pintail ducks, common stilts, herons, sandpipers, and others may be observed. Then we will head to Post Office Bay, where pirates and whalers used to leave messages for each other in a floating barrel.

This morning we will dock in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz, from where we will take you to Baltra to catch your flight back to the mainland, where we'll meet you and take you back to your hotel.

Please note that all Galapagos cruise itineraries are subject to change by the Galapagos National Park Authorities.

8-day itinerary

You’ll arrive by plane on the island of Baltra and here we will meet you and take you to your yacht! We’ll be heading off straight away for the Bachas beaches of Santa Cruz Island. The soft sand is actually decomposed coral and is a favourite nesting site for sea turtles. To the side of one of the beaches is a small lagoon, where you can see flamingos and other coastal birds.

This morning we will arrive on San Cristobal Island, where we will visit the National Park centre to have a quick briefing session. Then we will climb up to Tijeretas hill, from where we have a superb view over the island. Then, in the afternoon, we visit Lobos island, which is appropriately-named as the sea-lions leap, frolic, and generally have a great time here!

Today we will sail south to the island of Española and the headland known as Punta Suarez. This rocky point of land is home to one of the most impressive colonies of sea-birds in the Galapagos. Along the southern shore, huge cliffs rise up from the sea, giving you spectacular views of soaring birds and an enormous blowhole, where water spouts up to 15m in the air! Then, in the afternoon, we will sail around to Gardner Bay to visit a friendly sea-lion colony.

This morning we will head on to Floreana Island and Punta Cormorant, with its olivine-crystal beach, for an easy walk that includes a brackish water lagoon where bird species like Greater flamingos, pintail ducks, common stilts, herons, sandpipers, and others may be observed. Then we will head to Post Office Bay, where pirates and whalers used to leave messages for each other in a floating barrel.

Today we will travel up into the highlands of Santa Cruz island. First, we will visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, where we will learn a little about the protection and conservation work that is going on on the islands and go to visit Lonesome George – the only surviving tortoise of Pinta Island. Then we will set off on an extraordinary hike into the lava tunnels that were created as the streams of molten rock from the island's volcano cooled down. After lunch, our trail leads us to Santa Cruz’s beautiful white sand beaches and equatorial lagoons.

In the morning we will visit Rabida Island. With its dark red-coloured beach, frequented by crowds of sea-lions, it is often described as the geological centre of the Galapagos Islands because it has the most varied volcanic rocks of all the islands. After we have taken in the superb birdlife on view, we will go for a dinghy ride by the reefs to enjoy some excellent snorkelling opportunities. Then, in the afternoon, we will head on to James Bay on Santiago, where we will have a short walk across the dry interior to see this island's amazing colonies of seabirds.

Bartolomé is famous for Pinnacle Rock - a towering, pointing obelisk that rises from the water by a double beach that has become the best-known landmark in the Galapagos. We will climb to the summit of the island for some superb views before heading back down to the beach to swim with penguins and sea-lions! In the afternoon we will sail around the northern coast of Santa Cruz, passing the cliff-bound island of North Seymour, which is a real haven for seabirds.

In the morning we will visit the Plazas Islands which, despite their small size, are home to some of the most interesting species to be found anywhere in the Galapagos. You will be able to see iguanas, sea-lions, and large colonies of sea-birds such as frigate birds, pelicans, mullets and shearwaters. Then it's time to head to Baltra to catch your flight back to the mainland.

Please note that all Galapagos cruise itineraries are subject to change by the Galapagos National Park Authorities.

Prices

8 day Galapagos cruise from £2850pp
5 day Galapagos cruise from £2100pp
4 day Galapagos cruise from £1775pp

We know it's confusing when you're looking at lots of different options to work out what is, and isn't, included. We try to keep things simple by just including everything we can think of so you don't have any nasty surprises

The only sizeable cost we don't include is the $100 Galapagos National Park fee as we are unable to pre-pay this, however we do include all of the following:

• Full return airfare between Ecuador and the Galapagos
• 2 nights accommodation in Quito - one before and one after your cruise
• All transfers
• All your meals while on board
• Services of the ships crew
• Services of at least one on-board guide and qualified naturalist

You will need the accommodation in Quito because of the timing of international flights and the flights to and from the Galapagos but most operators don't include these non-optional costs in their prices so make sure you check!