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The Mary Anne's Eastern 8-day small ship cruise itinerary allows you to walk along unspoiled white sand beaches where Galapagos sea lions bask in the sun and marine iguanas crawl out of the sea to dry off on the sun-baked lava rocks. As you sail through the charismatic Eastern Islands you will encounter dramatic cliff edge landscapes teeming with seabirds, booby nesting sites that showcase in real life the everyday trials of the ‘survival of the fittest’, and the subtle differences in wildlife and geology that make each of the islands in the Galapagos archipelago unique, from those with green sand to islands fringed in powdery white, from colonies of sooty-toned iguanas to those fire-red, from finches that in one site crush their food with heavy beaks to those that, only a brief sail’s distance away, delicately tap their narrow bill on wood to grab a bite.

There are two Mary Anne 8 day/7 night itineraries to choose from. When combined, they create a 15 day/14 night comprehensive itinerary with no repeated landing sites. The Eastern Islands itinerary is listed in detail below. Click on the following links to view the alternate itinerary or go back to the Mary Anne home page. Please call our Galapagos cruise experts if you have any questions.

Western Islands Itinerary

Mary Anne Home Page

Day 1 - Baltra to Black Turtle Cove

Upon arrival at Baltra airport, board Mary Anne and navigate a short distance to Black Turtle Cove, a large mangrove lagoon on the north coast of Santa Cruz Island. Pelicans and herons roost on the branches, while marine dwellers such as Green Sea Turtle or Golden Ray may cruise right next to the panga as it makes its way through the mangroves.

Accommodations: Mary Anne
Included Meals: lunch and dinner

Day 2 - Genovesa Island

Travel to Genovesa Island and reach Darwin Bay (wet landing), a unique site lined with red mangrove and soft-haired prickly pear cacti where Red-footed Boobies and Great Frigatebirds perch tamely. Follow this to the Prince Philip Steps (dry landing), and climb the edge of a cliff where Frigatebirds, Nazca Boobies, and Red-footed Boobies nest. Seek out the impressive Red-billed Tropicbird amidst Galapagos Storm Petrels.

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

Day 3 - Contours of Sullivan Bay

Begin with a dry landing at Bartholomew to climb up the wooden steps and reach the summit of this spatter cone for a most breathtaking panorama of the islands well photographed Pinnacle Rock, views of neighboring Santiago and many other central islands in the distance. After, head across to Sullivan Bay (dry landing) in Santiago to walk over a recent lava flow, including very fresh pahoehoe lava formations, lava bubbles containing crystallized minerals, and pioneer plants. Along the shoreline, you may find Galapagos penguins and herons going after small fish.

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

Day 4 - Rábida & Cerro Dragon

Wet landing onto Rábida’s deep-red beaches to explore the red island’s fascinating interior and saltwater lagoon. Darwin's finches, Galapagos mockingbirds, and yellow warblers feed off the vegetation; given the right time of the year brown pelicans nesting on salt bushes that fringe the beach. After, head across to Cerro Dragón on Santa Cruz’s north-west shore (dry landing); to visit a saltwater lagoon, home to Greater Flamingos, Black-necked Stilts, and White-cheeked Pintails. Further inland explore a fantastic land iguana nesting site.

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

Day 5 - Mosquera Islet & Punta Carrión

Circumnavigate the tiny islet of Daphne where the longest ongoing evolutionary field research is being currently carried out. The cliffs teem with Nazca boobies and red-billed tropicbirds, and Darwin’s finches have been showing the scientific community how evolution works. Set sail for Mosquera Islet. After a leisure lunch, step ashore (wet landing) onto a beautiful white coralline beach, home to the largest Galapagos sea lion colony in the archipelago. End the day at Punta Carrión for introductory snorkeling in shallow waters.

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

Day 6 - Plaza Sur

Begin with a dry landing on one of the oldest docks of the Archipelago, colorful Plaza Sur is home to vibrant green prickly pears, deep red Sesuvium and coppery-orange land iguanas; impressive seaward cliffs are excellent for a variety of coastal birds. Later, arrive at Santa Fe (wet landing) to look for the endemic species of land iguana, larger and yellower than land iguanas on other islands. The largest prickly pear cacti in the Galapagos are also found here.

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

Day 7 - Punta Suárez & Gardner Bay

Make a dry landing at Punta Suárez for a spectacular walk into the intimacies of life at sea. See nesting sites of Blue-footed and Nazca Boobies, as well as the fascinating breeding rituals (April to December) of Waved Albatross. Lined with neon-colored marine iguanas (January) and lazy Galapagos sea lions, a walk leads to an amazing viewpoint of the famous blowhole. Spend the rest of the day in fantastic Española, starting with Gardner Bay (wet landing), an outstanding beach with sea lions, marine iguanas and the intrepid Española Mockingbird.

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

Day 8 - A Last Goodbye with the Tortoises

Visit the Fausto Llerena breeding station, located at the Charles Darwin Research Station, created in 1964. Here, see tortoises from different islands. This is the former home of "Lonesome George," the last of the Pinta Island tortoises. The animals are found in large semi natural pens for their protection, but also to ensure an easy view for the tourists. The pens are divided according to four different stages: eggs, neonates, juveniles (held here until they are mature enough to be "repatriated"), and adults. After this visit take a bus to Baltra airport for the flight to mainland Ecuador.

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: All accommodations aboard, Galapagos cruise including all meals and soft drinks while aboard, an experienced Galapagos Islands naturalist guide, use of snorkeling equipment and kayaks, and Quito or Guayaquil city tour (upon request).

Exclusions: All airfare and airport transfers; Galapagos National Park Entrance Fee (US $100 per adult, $50 for children under 12 years old. This can be paid directly onboard [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; alcoholic and bottled beverages; wetsuit rental fee ($25 per week); other personal expenses; medical services or insurance of any kind. A fuel surcharge may apply. Christmas and New Year’s holidays (from December 20th to January 3rd) have an additional 10% surcharge of the published rate.

Room Configurations: There is no single supplement for solo travelers (subject to availability).

Families & Children: The S/S Mary Anne features some rooms that can accommodate triples. An adult must accompany children under 18 years old. Children under 6 years of age are not recommended on this cruise. No child discount available.

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 two 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 per-person fees, based on number of days prior to departure:
121+ days - $250 fee
120 to 61 days - 30% penalty fee
60 days or less - 100% penalty fee

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) are available for free aboard Mary Anne. Wet suits are available for rent and are recommended from June to December. If interested, please advise your adventure coordinator upon booking.

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 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.


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