7 night All Inclusive Cruise in the Galapagos Islands
8 days / 7 nights
From $3,071 per person, double occupancy for 2011

Sunday: Quito – San Cristobal (Chatham)
Arrival to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Transfer to your yacht and cabin assignation. Look from the deck for dolphins, whales, and perhaps a hammerhead shark as you set sail. Tiny Audubon’s shearwaters and playful sea lions are likely to escort your boat. A subtle introduction to these extraordinary islands will be done in Cerro Brujo, a beautiful white, powder-sand beach. You will cruise around Kicker Rock (a.k.a. Sleeping Lion) as the sun sets, observing blue footed and masked boobies plus magnificent frigate birds on its cliffs. Time permitting, stop by the Interpretation Center to gain a more complete understanding of the archipelago’s natural and human history. (L, D)

Monday: Genovesa (Tower)
This is considered one of the most spectacular islands in the group. Land on Darwin Bay, a coral sand beach where swallow-tailed and lava gulls gather near the tide pools. Enter a mangrove forest where colonies of great frigate birds nest. Males inflate their red-throated pouches to attract females as they fly overhead. After a swim, take a sea kayak ride along the jagged shoreline to spot the beautiful red-billed tropicbird. At Prince Philip’s Steps, find storm petrels and the elusive short-eared owl. Red footed boobies nest here in Palo Santo trees. (B, L, D)

Tuesday: Plaza Sur (South Plaza) – Seymour Norte (North Seymour)
South Plaza is a geological uplift with tall cliffs offering spectacular views. Trails lead through prickly pear cactus or opuntia and sesuvium. Here you will find the Galapagos land iguana feeding on cactus leaves. A colony of bachelor sea lions is toward the end of the cliff. You will also find swallow-tailed gulls, shearwaters and red-billed tropicbirds that build their nests along the cliffs. North Seymour is also a geological uplift. Follow a trail that leads to sea lions, swallow-tailed gulls and blue-footed boobies. Visit the largest colony of magnificent frigate birds in the Galapagos. (B, L, D)

Wednesday: Isabela (Albermarle) – Fernandina (Narborough)
Visit Tagus Cove in Isabela (Albermarle), located in the western part of the archipelago. Six volcanoes flowing together formed Isabela, the largest island of the group. Here, discover a salt water lagoon, a scenic overlook with a spectacular view of the ocean and the lava fields. Explore the cove by sea kayak and look for Galapagos penguins and other seabirds. Cross the Bolivar Channel to disembark in Punta Espinoza in Fernandina (Narborough), the youngest and most pristine of the Galapagos’ islands. Hundreds of marine iguanas, the largest concentration in the archipelago, bask in the sun along the rugged shoreline. Sea lions carefully guard their territories and harems, and flightless cormorants build their nests while Galapagos hawks fly overhead. Recent lava flows formed by an active volcano stretch their way around the coast. (B, L, D)

Thursday: Santiago (San Salvador or James) – Bartolome
Stroll along Puerto Egas’ shore in Santiago (James) looking for octopus, starfish, and other sea life caught in the tide pools. Catch a glimpse of marine iguanas feeding on exposed green algae at low tide. Watch for great blue, lava, oystercatcher, and yellow-crowned night herons. Fur sea lions are met in the grottos, deep pools of clear water. Bartolome will make you think you are walking on the moon. This young island is inhospitable to most plants and animals. Climb for half an hour to the summit of a once active volcano, admiring lava bombs, spatter, and cinder cones on your way up, and be rewarded with a panoramic view. There will be chances of snorkeling with schools of tropical fish. Galapagos penguins often swim near Pinnacle Rock, an eroded tuff cone. On the other side of the island, encounter sea turtles and white-tipped sharks. (B, L, D)

Friday: Santa Cruz (Indefatigable)
Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station. Scientists for all over the globe work here conducting biological research from anatomy to zoology. Observe old and young giant tortoises and learn about the captive-breeding program. After lunch on board, travel by bus to the island’s highlands. Scenery will change gradually covering all seven vegetation zones in the archipelago. From June to January, giant tortoises are found on a private farm. Visit Los Gemelos (The Twins), a pair of large pit craters which house bright red male vermilion flycatchers. Stop at the Tunnels, the largest lava tubes in the group. Stroll through Puerto Ayora, the largest town in the Galapagos. Buy souvenirs, mail postcards, and absorb local charm in the social heart of the islands. (B, L, D)

Saturday: Espanola (Hood)
Walk along seemingly endless stretches of sand at Gardner Bay, where you will find colonies of sea lions. Swim and snorkel with them while enjoying the colorful diversity of sea life near Gardner Islet. In Punta Suarez, witness the highest rate of endemism in the Galapagos, including sea lions and mockingbirds. The Waved Albatross is only found here, performing its wild mating rituals from April to November. Birds include blue-footed and masked boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, red-billed tropicbirds, Darwin’s finches, Galapagos doves, and Galapagos hawks. “Christmas” marine iguanas are identified with traces of red and green colorings. (B, L, D)

Sunday: San Cristobal (Chatham) – Quito
Drop anchor in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Travel by bus to the island’s interior and visit a new site known as Galapaguera de Cerro Colorado. Calandrinia is an endemic plant of the island found here. The national park established a breeding program for tortoises and set up an information center for visitors, allowing them to see these huge animals in their natural habitat and also learn about their origin, evolution and threats by introduced species. Head then to the airport for your flight back to the mainland. (B)

Not included in rate:
Flights Quito/Guayaquil - Galapagos - Guayaquil/Quito, Galapagos National Park entrance fee, hotels and services in Ecuador's mainland, tips.