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The Galapagos Voyager is a 16-passenger expedition yacht designed and built exclusively for Galapagos cruises. A Galapagos Cruise aboard the Galapagos Voyager includes first class accommodations and amenities, daily naturalist led hikes, snorkeling and panga boat rides. A wide variety of activities and locations, expert guides, and an optional dive program make the Galapagos Voyager a great option for Holiday family travel to the Galapagos.

Our Galapagos Voyager cruise packages begin and end in colonial Quito, Ecuador and include three night’s accommodations, transfers and a tour in Quito. Also included are round trip flights to the Galapagos Islands and your Galapagos National Park entrance fees and tourist cards. Our inclusive packages take the guesswork out of planning your Galapagos Cruise aboard the Galapagos Voyager.

A Galapagos Cruise aboard the Galapagos Voyager combines a first class yacht with the most talented naturalist guides and offers a range of activities designed to bring you into intimate contact with the unique creatures and ecosystems of the Galapagos Islands. Spend more time ashore hiking among nesting birds, more time snorkeling with sea lions, or perhaps just relaxing on a crescent beach.

Day 1 - Arrive Quito Ecuador

Begin your Galapagos Santa Cruz Cruise Package in Quito, Ecuador. Upon arrival at the Quito international airport you are met by our local representative. A transfer to your Quito hotel is included.

Accommodations: Hotel Patio Andaluz or similar
Included Meals: n/a

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 Galapagos Cruise.

Accommodations: Hotel Patio Andaluz or similar
Included Meals: breakfast

Day 3 - Santa Cruz

This morning depart on a three-hour flight to the island of Baltra in the Galapagos. Upon arrival in Baltra our guide will be waiting to help cross the Itabaca Channel and continue from the northern side of Santa Cruz towards Puerto Ayora. On our way to the town of Puerto Ayora, stop in the interior’s highlands dense vegetation to observe the giant Galapagos tortoises in a natural environment. Stroll around the compound and watch and learn about this magnificent endangered species and their habitat. Make our way to the Darwin Research Center located near the town of Puerto Ayora, a research facility dedicated to the study and protection of Galapagos flora and fauna. After visiting this facility we embark on our vessel for the next seven nights.

Accommodations: Galapagos Voyager
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 4 - South Plaza and Santa Fe

South Plaza Island is small but has a great variety of flora and fauna on display. On this southern island you'll find the smallest species of land iguanas, but also nests of gulls, boobies, frigate birds, tropic birds, marine iguanas, lava lizards and sea lions. Offshore we can spot shear-waters, terns, mullet and surgeon fish. Farther out dolphins, mantas and killer whales have been seen. Later, sail to Santa Fe for a beach landing with snorkeling and hiking opportunities. The arrival here is truly impressive: a great white beach with colorful turquoise water and a forest of Opuntia cactus covers the island. The walk is easy and short, and on the trails we can find land-iguanas chewing on the fallen cactus pads. After our brief hike enjoy water activities along this beautiful beach.

Accommodations: Galapagos Voyager
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 5 - Espanola (Hood)

Upon landing on Espanola this morning you are greeted by great colonies of nesting blue footed boobies and waved albatross. The trail runs around the island in a loop, and leads through an open rocky area where blue footed boobies nest in the hundreds. The scenery is dramatic with cliffs and sea water blow holes in view from the trail. After our hike on Espanola we'll make our way to Gardner Bay and its brilliant white sand beach. A large sea lion colony here makes for excellent snorkeling with possibilities to see Galapagos sharks, white-tipped reef sharks, sea turtles and surgeon fish.

Accommodations: Galapagos Voyager
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6 - San Cristobal

Sail this morning to a large rock outcrop off the coast of San Cristobal called “Leon Dormido” because of the lion shape that was seen by the Spaniards who first named the formation. The rocks are remnants of a vertical tuff cone formation, abruptly rising almost 150 meters (500 feet) from the ocean, covered with hundreds of blue-footed boobies. After the morning sail we'll make our way to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. This town, the official capital of the Archipelago, is home to the Galapagos Interpretation Center. After exploring this exhibit, have some free time to stroll around this lovely village. After lunch the afternoon is spent at Loberia Beach, an area home to a colony of sea lions. Walk through beach trails and black lava rocks where we find the largest marine iguanas in the archipelago. After observing these unique reptiles relax on the beach or go for a swim in the clear waters.

Accommodations: Galapagos Voyager
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 7 - Santa Cruz

After breakfast land on Bachas Beach, located on the north shore of Santa Cruz Island. This area is a major site for Pacific green sea turtles where they nest and lay eggs, especially from November to February. Near the beach is a salt lagoon where we view a large flamingo population. Bachas Beach is also perfect for swimming and here we can find marine iguanas resting on the rocks between their feeding sessions on the ocean floor. In the afternoon we motor by panga into Caleta Tortuga Negra (Black Turtle Cove). From December to March, these beautiful turtles breed here in peace and quiet. White-tipped reef sharks are also seen here, and if we are lucky we can observe graceful eagle and golden rays gliding under the panga.

Accommodations: Galapagos Voyager
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 8 - Genovesa

Darwin Bay is an exotic, partially eroded volcano, famous for its crater walls, hundreds of magnificent frigate birds, red-footed boobies, swallowed tailed gulls and brilliant storm petrels, all which mate here. Prince Philip’s Steps is a rocky climb, a 25m ascent to the open terrain above. Darwin beach is made of white coral remains from the surrounding reefs. The coral can be quite sharp, so be sure to ware sneakers or sandals. Here the marine iguanas are the smallest in all of the Galapagos. Snorkeling can be amazing here; although at times the visibility can be poor large marine life is common.

Accommodations: Galapagos Voyager
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 9 - Santiago and Bartolome

Sullivan Bay is an area of Santiago Island that is primarily covered with lava. If you look closely, you'll can see parts of trees that were vaporized by the lava over 100 years ago. Walk over an extensive lava field formed by twentieth century volcanic eruptions. Sullivan Bay is also a perfect spot for snorkeling and swimming, where we may even be able to swim with Galapagos penguins.

Our next stop is on Bartolome, climb up a carbon cone(359ft) high and experience one of the most beautiful views in all the surrounding islands. The ascent takes about half an hour and the trail is made easier with steps. At days end we make our way back to Santa Cruz, and the town of Puerto Ayora where you'll have an opportunity to explore the largest town in the islands and perhaps buy souvenirs before our return flights the following day.

Accommodations: Galapagos Voyager
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 10 - Baltra and Return to Quito

On our way back to the Baltra airport this morning we will stop for a short visit to the Twin Craters (Los Gemelos); another miracle of Mother Nature. Two enormous craters were formed after a collapse due to the weight of the overlying rocks. This area is overgrown with vegetation and we can observe flycatchers and the amazing “woodpecker” finch. Upon arrival in Quito you are greeted by our local representative. A transfer to your Quito hotel is included.

Accommodations: Hotel Patio Andaluz or similar
Included Meals: breakfast

Day 11 - Depart Quito

Transportation will be provided to the Quito International Airport for return flights home. Consider extending your Galapagos Cruise with an excursion into the Amazon Basin rainforest or Machu Picchu, Peru.

Accommodations: n/a
Included Meals: breakfast

7 Day Itinerary THU - WED:
Day 1 - Thursday - Arrive Quito Equador
Day 2 - Friday - Quito City Tour
Day 3 - Saturday - Santa Cruz Island
Day 4 - Sunday - Plaza Sur & Santa Fe
Day 5 - Monday - Espanola
Day 6 - Tuesday - San Cristobal
Day 7 - Wednesday - Depart Quito


8 Day Itinerary SUN - SUN:
Day 1 - Sunday - Arrive Quito Equador
Day 2 - Monday - Quito City Tour
Day 3 - Tuesday - San Cristobal
Day 4 - Wednesday - Bachas Beach & Black Turtle Cove
Day 5 - Thursday - Genovesa
Day 6 - Friday - Bahia Sullivan & Bartolome
Day 7 - Saturday - Baltra
Day 8 - Sunday - Depart Quito



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 Galapagos cruising unique.

Single Travelers: The Galapagos Voyager does not have 'single' cabins. There are no 'Share Accommodations' or roommate match available. Single travlers would be required to pay double rate.

Family Travelers: No child discounts or triple rooms are available. Minimum child age is 7 years old.

Land Cost Includes: Quito hotel accommodations with breakfast included, all airport/hotel transfers, round trip flight from Quito to the Galapagos Islands, Galapagos National Park entrance fees & taxes, Galapagos transit card, Galapagos cruise including all meals and activities while aboard, an experienced Galapagos Islands naturalist guide and snorkeling gear.

Not Included: Airfare from US to Quito; excess baggage charges; airport departure tax from Quito; tips to local staff and items of a personal nature such as soft drinks or alcoholic beverages, laundry fees and insurance of any kind.

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: 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.

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.


Accommodations Aboard: The Galapagos Voyager can accommodate 16 guests. 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 includes: the captain, multilingual naturalist guides, cook, barman/waiter, mechanic and two sailors. All meals are prepared and served by the crew on board. Alcoholic drinks are available for purchase on board. Hairdryers are available on board by request.

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). It is compulsory to wear a life vest during al dinghy rides between the ship and shore. 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 We 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.

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) is available free of charge. Shortie wet suits are available on board for $31 per person and are recommended.

Extending Your Trip: Call AdventureSmith Explorations about the possibilities of combining this trip with our Mainland Ecuador and Peru: Machu Picchu extensions.

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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