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2013 - 5 Day/4 Night Cruise

The Beluga Hood Galapagos cruise itinerary consists of a 5-day/4-night cruise touring Santa Cruz, Espanola (Hood), Santa Fe and San Cristobal Islands. Experience wonderful flora and fauna from the tall opuntia and prickly pear cacti to the giant Albatross, magnificent Frigate birds, marine iguana and hammerhead sharks.

Dragon Hill, Santa Fe and Plazas are some of the most diverse sites in the Galapagos with countless birds, colorful marine and land iguanas and a rich marine environment with sharks, rays and sea turtles. Visit Kicker Rock, white-sand beaches and a museum in the "capital" of Galapagos, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristobal Island. Snorkel with Sea Lions, view a blow hole and the waved albatross on Hood Island. The Beluga Hood cruise itinerary features a variety of landing sites and species in a short time, and begins and ends in Baltra.

The Beluga Hood Galapagos Cruise itinerary can be combined with the James itinerary to make a longer 8-day/7-night cruise. This combination can also be combined with the Fernandina itinerary for an all encompassing 15-day/14-night cruise. The Hood details are listed below, or click the following links to view the other Beluga itinerary options.

Galapagos James 4 days/3 nights
Galapagos Tower 8 days/7 nights
Galapagos Fernandina 8 days/7 nights
Beluga Galapagos Cruise Main Page

Day 1 - FRI - Baltra to Dragon Hill

Upon arrival in Baltra you are met by the Expedition Leader, transfer to the Beluga and continue on to the north shore of Santa Cruz, Cerro Dragon (Dragon Hill). A dinghy ride cruising in shallow turquoise colored water gives the chance to see marine turtles, rays and sharks. Make a dry landing for a walk up to Dragon Hill which offers a beautiful view of the bay and the western area of the archipelago. This area is a natural nesting site of a large number of land iguanas, which is constantly monitored and assisted by the Charles Darwin Research Station.

Accommodations: Beluga
Included Meals: lunch and dinner

Day 2 - SAT - Santa Fe & Plazas, Santa Cruz

Santa Fe has one of the most beautiful coves of all the visitor sites in the region. The Santa Fe species of iguana are a brighter yellow color and have uncommonly large spikes on their spine. The opuntia cactus, a favorite food of the land iguana, grows unusually tall here, up to 33 feet high and are the largest of their kind in Galapagos. Manta rays and sea turtles may be seen against the sandy bottom of Santa Fe's beautiful anchorage.

The Plaza islands are situated off the east coast of Santa Cruz Island, where you make a dry landing. The island has one of the largest populations of land iguanas in the archipelago and can be observed feeding on the prickly pear cactus. There are also iguanas that are a cross between the marine and land varieties. Along the sea cliffs frigate birds, shear waters, brown pelicans and masked boobies may be seen. You may snorkel from the beach where turtles, sharks and other fish are found.

Accommodations: Beluga
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 3 - SUN - Witch Hill, Kicker Rock & Puerto Moreno, San Cristobal

Begin today at Witch Hill located on the northern coast of San Cristobal. This eroded hill and its surroundings present one of the most picturesque beaches in the Galapagos with its white powdery sand and the abundance of animals. The clear water provides an excellent opportunity for enjoying swimming and snorkeling.

Next cruise to Kicker Rock (Leon Dormido) also known as the Sleeping Lion because of its resemblance. The remains of a lava cone eroded by the sea, the two vertical rocks rising 500 feet from the ocean form a small channel that is navigable by small boats. This Galapagos Islands natural monument has become a favorite sight for cruises due to the many Tropicbirds, Frigates and boobies that fill the surrounding air. Beneath the sea the nearly crystal waters offer a brilliant show of colorful tropical fish and invertebrates.

After lunch tour Puerto Baquerizo Moreno - the Capital City of the Galapagos Islands. Visit the natural history museum as well as the cathedral with painted murals depicting Galapagos themes. The Natural History Museum is full of birds, iguanas, sea lions and dolphins as well as whalebones, tortoise shells, corals and crabs. The only living species in the museum is a tortoise called Pepe, who lives in an enclosure behind the main building.

Accommodations: Beluga
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4 - MON - Gardner Bay & Punta Suarez, Hood

Begin the day with a morning tour of Gardner Bay (Hood Island). Disembark at a white coral beach to take a short walk and watch the sea lions, mockingbirds and finches or enjoy the beach. There is great snorkeling in this area if you wish to partake.

At Punta Suarez, take a walk along the lava terrain to visit its sea bird colonies, including the waved albatross (May - December), masked and blue footed boobies. Waves crash onto jagged cliffs and the famous blowhole shoots water up to 30 meters in the air.

Accommodations: Beluga
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5 - TUE - Santa Cruz & Return to Baltra

After a delicious breakfast transfer to the Baltra Airport for flights returning to the mainland. This concludes the Beluga Hood Galapagos Cruise itinerary.

Accommodations: n/a
Included Meals: breakfast

GALAPAGOS CRUISE INCLUSIVE PACKAGE: For your convenience we offer an Inclusive Package with three nights hotel accommodations in Quito, all airport/hotel transfers, Galapagos flights, Galapagos National Park entrance fees and taxes, Galapagos migration card and your Galapagos cruise. View details of our Galapagos Cruise Inclusive Package.

Travelers not interested in our inclusive package must purchase Galapagos flights in conjunction with their Galapagos cruise.

GALAPAGOS CRUISE CUSTOM PACKAGE: If you are booking a cruise-only program our experts can assist with hotels, transfers, flights and tours. Call AdventureSmith Explorations about customizing your tour or the possibilities of combining this trip with our Mainland Ecuador and Peru: Machu Picchu extensions. We are Galapagos cruise and Ecuador travel experts and our staff can help you customize the perfect Galapagos cruise or Ecuador tour package.

Itinerary Notes: Use the itinerary as a guide only. Itineraries may be altered due to weather, wildlife, National Park regulation or at the captain's discretion. The ability to be flexible makes this type of small ship cruising unique.

Included: Double accommodation in cabins, all meals, excursions and guides.

Exclusions: International airfare; Airfare from mainland Ecuador; Galapagos National Park Entrance Fee (US $100 per adult, $50 for children under 12 years old. This can be paid directly by passengers [cash only] or it is included in our INCLUSIVE PACKAGE TOURS); Galapagos National Institute Migration Control Card (US $10 per person); departure tax ($40.80); gratuities for guides, crew, drivers or local staff; bottled beverages on board; other personal expenses, medical services or insurance of any kind. Snorkel gear and wetsuits are available for rent. For 2013 Christmas and New Years weeks, a $130 holiday surcharge applies per person.

Room Configurations: There is a 50% surcharge for single occupancy. If you are traveling alone and wish to share accommodations, a Roommate Share Program will guarantee double occupancy rates for boat cabins even if we are unable to match you with a roommate.

Families & Children: Children under 12 years old receive a 40% discount when traveling with 1 adult. One child per adult at discounted rate. Not applicable over Christmas and New Years departures. There is no minimum age for children.

Arrival & Departure: Most flights to the Galapagos will depart Quito or Guayaquil between 7:00am-9:00am on day 1 and return between 2:00pm-5:00pm on the final day. We highly recommend travelers arrive Ecuador 2 days prior to their Galapagos cruise.

Payment & Cancellation: A cruise deposit of $700 per person is required at the time of booking. For land packages a deposit of $300 per person is required at the time of booking. A Reservation Form, which includes a release of liability, must be completed and signed by all travelers. The balance of the trip price is due 90 days before the departure date. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing. Cancellations are subject to the following fees, based on number of days prior to departure:
Up to 61 days - 10% of total trip cost
60 to 0 days - 100% of total trip cost

Terms & Conditions: This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A packing list and extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information is sent upon confirmation.

Travel Insurance: We highly recommend our travelers protect their investment with travel insurance. Please note that you must purchase your travel insurance policy within 14 days of booking your trip for it to cover pre-existing medical conditions. Click the link below for a selection of policies from our partners at Travelex.



Activities: There are numerous opportunities to swim and snorkel. The underwater experience is an integral part of any Galapagos cruise. We encourage all travelers to try snorkeling. Snorkeling gear (mask, snorkel, fins, floating vest and net bag) and wet suits are available to rent for a fee. Wet suits are recommended from June to December.

Daily excursions from the boat to the islands will be made in pangas (dinghies). Trip members will hike from the landing point to specific areas for wildlife observation. Hiking time for most landings will be a couple of hours round-trip with lots of time to stop to study, photograph and enjoy the flora and fauna. Some landings are dry but many are "wet," requiring cautious footing on slippery rocks. The boat staff will be on hand to assist.

Qualifications: The 5-day Beluga Hood Galapagos Cruise will be enjoyed by anyone who is in good health and leads an active life.


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