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Located 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador is an ecosystem among the most unique and prolific in the world: the Galapagos Islands. It was here, in 1853, that Charles Darwin caught the first glimmer of his earth-shaking theory of evolution. We'll follow in his footsteps, with unparalleled opportunities for observation and photography. Walk and snorkel among the island's famed and protected inhabitants - The giant tortoise, iguana, sea lions, boobie birds, penguin, finches, flamingo and more.

Our Mary Anne Galapagos cruise combines enjoyable sailing, simple comforts and delicious meals with the most talented naturalist guides offering a range of activities designed to bring you into intimate contact with the unique creatures and ecosystems of the Galápagos. Spend more time ashore hiking among nesting frigate birds or albatross, more time snorkeling with sea lions, or perhaps just relaxing on a crescent beach.

The Mary Anne Galapagos cruise packages begin and end in colonial Quito, Ecuador and include Quito hotel accommodations, airport/hotel transfers, round trip flights from mainland Ecuador to the Galápagos Islands and a half day tour of the Quito's old town, a UNESCO designated World Heritage Site. Join us and see why, quite simply, our small ship and yacht cruises to the Galápagos Islands are the vacation of a lifetime!

Day 1 - Arrive Quito Ecuador

Upon arrival at the Quito, Ecuador international airport you are met by our local representative and transferred to your hotel.

Accommodations: Hotel Patio Andaluz or similar
Included Meals: na

Day 2 - Colonial Quito

South America's oldest capitol city, Quito sits at 9,184-feet elevation. It has been amazingly preserved and is protected as a UNESCO world heritage site. Enjoy a three hour guided walking tour of Quito's colonial center including Independence Plaza, La Compania Church and San Francisco Cathedral. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy this lively city, rest or prepare for your Galápagos Cruise.

Accommodations: Hotel Patio Andaluz or similar
Included Meals: breakfast

Day 3 - Quito to Baltra, Galapagos Islands & Plaza Sur

This morning depart on a three-hour flight to the island of Baltra in the Galapagos. Upon arrival at Baltra airport meet your Expedition Leader and transfer to the Mary Anne. After a brief safety meeting and a delicious lunch, the Mary Anne will set course for South Plaza Island, known for its large Galapagos Sea Lion colonies, Land Iguanas, Opuntia cacti, Swallow-tailed Gulls, Audubon Shearwaters and Red-billed Tropic-birds.

Accommodations: Mary Anne
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4 - Española(Hood) Island: Gardner Bay, Punta Suarez

Gardner Bay, located on the eastern shore of Hood, hosts a magnificent beach frequented by a transient colony of sea lions and is a major nesting site for marine turtles. Snorkel around the small islets nearby and view many fish and possibly sea turtles and white-tipped sharks. Take a stroll along this beautiful, white-sand beach and marvel at the fearlessness of the friendly Galapagos sea lions sunbathing as you walk on by. In the afternoon, sail on to Punta Suarez, one of the worlds densest and most diversified concentrations of wildlife. The area is famous for its marine iguanas with unique copper-red patches, swallow-tailed gulls, lava lizards, finches, long-billed mockingbirds, blue-footed and masked boobies and oystercatchers. When heavy swells are running, Punta Suarez is also the site of a spectacular blowhole, with thundering spray shooting thirty yards into the air. On a trail leading to the western tip of the island, you will pass the only nesting sites in the Galapagos of the waved albatross. These huge birds nest here from April to December and represent the majority of the world's population.

Accommodations: Mary Anne
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5 – Santa Cruz Island: Highlands, Darwin Research Station

Arrive in the morning to the island of Santa Cruz and travel by bus to the Santa Cruz Highlands for the opportunity to see the Galapagos Giant Tortoises in the wild. Enjoy the opportunity to photograph these fascinating creatures as they walk at a very slow pace. This is also one of the best sites for watching land birds including: Darwin's Finches and Vermilion Flycatchers.
In the afternoon return to Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz's main population center boasting about 10,000 people, and visit the world famous Charles Darwin Research Station. Here guests will have the best opportunity to see the famed giant tortoises while visiting this informational and educational site. The research center aids the National Park Service in its efforts to preserve the wildlife of the Galapagos. Keep an eye out for Lonesome George, the last remaining of the La Pinta giant tortoises. Following this informational and educational visit, enjoy some free time in town for some shopping & sight-seeing.

Accommodations: Mary Anne
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 6 – North Seymour Island & Sombrero Chino

North Seymour is an active seabird breeding colony throughout the year. Take a walk on a short interpretive trail along the coast and interior for a comprehensive and dynamic view of the island's abundant wildlife. Admire the blue-footed boobies, pelicans, swallow-tail gulls, frigatebirds and marine iguanas that call this island home. Regardless of the time of year, visitors are likely to observe some kind of courtship, mating, or nesting on North Seymour. Time permitting, there may be an opportunity for excellent snorkeling. Following an enjoyable visit to North Seymour Island, set sail for Sombrero Chino, a small, scenic, island just off the southeastern tip of Santiago (James). Sombrero Chino is a fairly recent volcanic cone with a few intact lava tunnels. Hike a short trail along a white-sand beach frequented by Sea lions and oystercatchers. The trail continues along the coastline of the cove, passing beside the island's characteristic lava terrain and colorful pioneer vegetation, offering glimpses of lava lizards, marine iguanas, and Sally Lightfoot crabs battling the changing tides. Take the opportunity to swim in the tranquil blue waters along the cove and have fun playing with sea lions and spotting tropical fish.

Accommodations: Mary Anne
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 7: Isabela: Playa Tortuga, Tagus Cove & Fernandina: Pta Espinosa

This morning arrive at Isabela Island, the largest island in the Galapagos Archipelago. Land at Playa Tortuga Negra (Black Turtle Beach), a stunning long, dark sandy beach flanked by mangroves which host the critically endangered Mangrove Finch, the second tool-using bird of the Galapagos Islands. The beach is an important nesting site for the East Pacific Green Sea Turtle. Afterwards, motor over to nearby Tagus Cove, an early landing site of whalers and pirates, and enjoy some snorkeling and a panga-ride. Marvel at the Galapagos penguins as they dive from the steep cliffs into the water. This is also a good opportunity to spot cormorants! In the afternoon, cross the Bolivar Channel and arrive at Punta Espinosa on Fernandina Island, the westernmost island in the Galapagos Archipelago. Make dry landing on black lava and continue walking over lava fields and to several beaches. Listen to your naturalist guide as they interpret your surrounding and point out the large colonies of Marine Iguanas, Flightless Cormorants, penguins and sea lions, and sea turtles.

Accommodations: Mary Anne
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 8 – Santiago Island: Puerto Egas & Rabida Island

Puerto Egas, with its black sand beaches, was the site of a small salt mining industry in the 1960s, and a costal walk is an excellent opportunity to sight land birds such as finches, doves and hawks. Take a trail leading to the Fur Seal Grottos, one of the only places in the islands where Fur Seals can be seen. Look for sea lions basking on the rocks beneath a natural rock bridge, diving blue-footed boobies, Sally Lightfoot crabs and colorful lava lizards scurrying at our feet. After an enjoyable walk, take advantage of the excellent swimming and snorkeling off the landing beach. In the afternoon make a wet landing at Rábida Island, also known as the red island due to its high iron content. Explore its beautiful and surreal reddish interior featuring amazing scenery, with its multitude of Darwin’s finches. The visitor site has a permanent salt water lagoon and, given the right time of the year, Brown Pelicans nest on the Salt Bush that flanks the beach.

Accommodations: Mary Anne
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 9 – Santiago Island: Sullivan Bay & Bartolome

Continue your exploration of Santiago Island and make a dry landing in Sullivan Bay and enjoy a unique opportunity to walk over a recent lava flow. Observe the very young and interesting “pahoehoe” lava formations, lava bubbles containing crystallized minerals, and pioneer plants. Following the walk, the opportunity to snorkel may exist. The afternoon will be spent on Bartolome. Most likely the first of the islands to rise from the sea, Bartolome is a small island that has beautiful white sand beaches and luxuriant green mangroves. After a dry landing, take an easy up-hill walk to the summit and delight in the panoramic views of Bartolomé and the famous Pinnacle Rock. After descending from the peak, enjoy your free time swimming and snorkeling off the beach where more Galapagos penguins and sea lions can be found.

Accommodations: Mary Anne
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 10 - Mosquera Islet, Baltra, Return to Quito

The ship anchors in the morning at Mosquera enabling us one last island visit. Mosquera Islet is a small, flat, sandy islet almost devoid of vegetation and one of the best places to observe sea lion behavior. It is also a good area for Lava Gulls and coastal birds. Following this visit, return to Baltra in time board your flight back to mainland Ecuador. Upon arrival in Quito, you will be transferred to your hotel and spend the rest of the evening at your leisure.

Accommodations: Hotel Patio Andaluz or similar
Included Meals: breakfast

Day 11 - Depart Quito

Transportation will be provided to the airport for return flights home or for excursions into Ecuador's Highlands or Jungle or Peru's Machu Picchu.

Accommodations: n/a
Included Meals: breakfast



Notes on Itinerary: We may occasionally alter itineraries slightly for safety, or to take advantage of weather, wildlife, and unplanned discoveries. Our ability to be flexible makes our style of cruising unique. Please note: on this trip the Galapagos National Park entrance fee must be paid directly by visitors upon their arrival.

Single Travelers: Single rooms are available at the listed rate. If you are traveling alone and wish to share accommodations, our Roommate Share Program will guarantee double occupancy rates for boat cabins even if we are unable to match you with a roommate.

Family Travelers: Child discounts are available for children under 12 years old, sharing a cabin with an adult. Cabins 9 & 10 can accommodate a small family and consist of a double bed for an adult couple and a single bed for a small child. Not valid during holiday periods. Minimum child age is 5 years old.

Land Cost Includes: Three nights Quito hotel accommodations with breakfast included, all airport/ hotel transfers, Galapagos flight, transit cards, Galapagos cruise including all meals while aboard and an experienced Galapagos Islands naturalist guide.

Not Included: Airfare from US to Quito; excess baggage charges; airport departure tax from Quito; Galapagos national park entrance fee; tips to local staff and items of a personal nature such as soft drinks or alcoholic beverages, laundry fees and insurance of any kind. On board purchases must be paid in cash. No credit cards accepted.

Arrival and Departure: This trip begins and ends in Quito, Ecuador. Plan flights to arrive at any time on Day 1 and depart anytime on the last day. Airport transfers are included for travelers arriving and departing on scheduled arrival/departure days. This trip can also be arranged to begin and end in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Payment and Cancellation Policy: We charge a higher deposit of $1000 for our Galapagos trips at the time of booking with the final payment due 90 days from departure. A special cancellation policy applies to all Galapagos trips, which is stricter than the AdventureSmith Explorations policy. When a trip cancellation is received inside of 70 days from departure, all trip costs are 100% non-refundable. Please see AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions. We highly recommend our travelers protect their investment with

Accommodations Aboard: The Mary Anne accommodate 16 guests in 10 double cabins, all with private bathrooms and air-conditioning. There is also a bar, interior dining room, and an open-air dining area. Life aboard a small boat requires some physical agility and a flexible and social nature. Accommodations are in double cabins, each with toilet and shower. The crew is comprised of the captain, multilingual naturalist guides, cook, barman/waiter, mechanic and two to four sailors. All meals are prepared and served by the crew on board. Alcoholic beverages are available for purchase on board.

Qualifications: This trip will be enjoyed by anyone who is in good health and leads an active life. 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 roundtrip with lots of time to stop to study, photograph and enjoy the flora and fauna. Given the islands volcanic origin, and the fact that most walking is done over pristine and irregular volcanic terrain, guests must be in suitable physical condition. Two types of shore landings are planned in the Galapagos Islands. On Dry Landings guests will step from the dinghy directly onto rocks or a dock. On wet Landings, as the dinghy edges onto a sandy beach, guests step into knee deep water and wade ashore. There are numerous opportunities to swim and snorkel. Sit on top kayaks are also available. The boat staff will be on hand to assist.

Snorkeling: 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) are provided for the duration of the cruise. Shortie wet suits may be available for rent and are recommended from June to December. If interested, please advise your adventure coordinator upon booking.

Extending Your Trip: Call AdventureSmith Explorations about the possibilities of combining trips to Mainland Ecuador and Peru: Machu Picchu

General Information: 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, extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information is sent upon confirmation. We strongly recommend the purchase of Trip Insurance through AdventureSmith Explorations. If purchased within 14 days of sign-up, the pre-existing condition exclusion is waived.

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Call today.

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