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Venture to the Galapagos’ far west, where astute dolphins, enormous whales and deep-sea creatures of all shape and form head to the wild seaward shores of these special islands, some of the youngest, most fascinating and best kept destinations in the world that evoke in their geology the beginning of time. Head to backwater lagoons to enjoy the flamingo’s courtship performances, watch flightless cormorants feeding their young at their nests, and swim with sea turtles, penguins, sea lions and hundreds of tropical fish.

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 Western Islands itinerary is listed in detail below. Click on the following links to view the alternate itinerary. Please call our Galapagos cruise experts if you have any questions.

Eastern Islands Itinerary

Mary Anne Home Page

Day 1 - Baltra to Cerro Mesa

Upon arrival at Baltra airport you are met by a local representative and transferred to Cerro Mesa, the first visit on the islands. Cerro Mesa is a private ecological reserve located in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island and dedicated to the conservation of the natural ecosystem. During this visit, have the opportunity to walk through the many forest paths, filled with endemic Galapagos vegetation, see the impressive and deep crater, watch the Galapagos ducks and rails, stilts and frigate birds usually present in the lagoon or closely follow the steps of the Galapagos tortoises, present most of the year (on certain months, the tortoises go down to the coast to lay their eggs). The reserve is also a great place for bird watching, as mockingbirds, flycatchers, warblers, Galapagos doves and Darwin finches are usually present in the area.

Accommodations: Mary Anne
Included Meals: lunch and dinner

Day 2 - The Baroness’ Domain

Spend the day on Floreana, legendary homestead of infamous Baroness Eloise Von Wagner de Bousquet. Wet landing onto the olivine beaches of Punta Cormorant to seek Greater Flamingos on the way to another special beach with the finest sand you’ll set your foot on, a sea turtle nesting ground where sharks and rays also visit regularly. End the outing on a short panga ride to Devil’s Crown, a key snorkeling site. After lunch, visit Post Office Bay (wet landing), where you can drop your postcards in the barrel as the whalers did centuries ago.

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

Day 3 - Volcanic Craters & Green Forests

Dry landing at Puerto Ayora in Santa Cruz Island. From here head to the highlands to see its many attractions, which include lava tunnels, the famous twin craters, impressive and deep, and the iconic Galapagos giant tortoises, which inhabit these forests seasonally. Who would have expected it to be so lush and green on these supposed arid islands?

From Puerto Ayora, walk approximately 45 minutes along a stone paved road which is surrounded by Galapagos coastal vegetation and its most eminent representatives: the prickly pear cactus and the holy stick tree. This road, which also presents a very good opportunity to watch birds, especially Darwin finches, will take us to a beautiful, white sand beach known as Tortuga Bay. From here it’s up to you to decide among the alternatives: swim or snorkel, watch marine iguanas and other wildlife, explore the coves surrounded by mangrove trees or simply lie back and relax while enjoying the magical landscape.

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

Day 4 - An Initiation to the Western Islands

Travel to Isabela, the largest island in the Galapagos. After breakfast, step ashore at Punta Moreno (dry landing) onto a superb pahoehoe lava flow surrounded by giant shield volcanoes, some still active! From here enjoy a short hike to a lagoon where flamingos are usually present. Later, enjoy a panga ride in and around Elizabeth Bay, a salt-water lagoon surrounded by the largest red mangroves of the Galapagos. Here, it is usual to see sea turtles come near the zodiac to greet you. Flightless cormorants and Galapagos penguins are also more abundant in this part of the archipelago.

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

Day 5 - Urbina Bay & Punta Espinosa

After an early breakfast, disembark at Urbina Bay (wet landing) onto a black sand beach, nesting site for green sea turtles. Take a brief hike inland in search of land iguanas and giant tortoises (seasonal) that migrate to and from the highlands. At the beach, admire the remains of a geological uplift exposing coral heads and marine fossils; if the sea conditions and time are on your side, snorkel in these waters. Afterward, cross Bolivar Channel to Fernandina Island, one of the world’s most unspoiled sites, and disembark (dry landing) at Punta Espinosa. Strolling along the shoreline, keep a look out for flightless cormorants, Galapagos sea lions, Galapagos penguins and hawks, sooty-colored marine iguanas and bright red-orange Sally Lightfoot crabs.

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

Day 6 - Pirate’s Abode

Start with dry landing near Tagus Cove, historic pirate hideaway where names of countless ships are recorded for posterity on the cliff face. Hike through beautiful Galapagos landscapes to Darwin Lake, a salt-water crater lagoon surrounded by tuff stone. Later, at Punta Vicente Roca take a panga ride around the beautiful coastline before jumping into the water to enjoy one of the best snorkelling sites of the Galapagos. The underwater cliffs found here are filled with enough colors and life to amaze everyone.

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

Day 7 - Espumilla & Puerto Egas

After three days exploring the fabulous western islands, head to central Santiago to disembark at Espumilla (wet landing), onto a sandy green sea turtle nesting site. A forest trail winds through some of the largest specimens of Palo Santo on the islands to observe yellow warblers, the unbelievably tame Galapagos flycatcher and the ever-intriguing Darwin’s finches. Follow this with a wet landing at Puerto Egas, to disembark on a dark sand volcanic beach with an interesting history of human settlement. Sleepy Galapagos fur seals lounge under arches of lava carved by the ocean and occasionally dip into the crystalline pools, also known as "grottos." Walk along the shore and observe the abundant marine life.

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

Day 8 - North Seymour & Baltra

Disembark on North Seymour (dry landing), a small uplifted island, to walk right up to bird nesting colonies of the two species of frigatebirds, blue-footed boobies and swallow-tailed gulls, and experience, depending on season, spectacular displays. After this visit the ship will sail to Baltra where passengers ending their trip will disembark and passengers beginning their cruise to the Eastern Islands will join us on board.

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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