The ultimate bucket-list holiday, this 14-night luxury expedition combines the very best of the east and west islands, for a comprehensive exploration of the magical Galapagos Islands.
Be prepared for superb wildlife opportunities on this epic voyage, from close encounters with large, golden-coloured land iguanas to beach gatherings of playful sea lions. In the east, you can see waved albatross, red-footed booby and Galapagos penguin, while in the west, sea turtle, blue-footed booby and flightless cormorant, are all possible sightings.
This comprehensive itinerary combines the delightful eastern islands, which are smaller and older than the western islands and boast lush vegetation, with the stark western islands, offering fantastic lava landscapes, wonderful beaches and giant uplifted coral beds, a result of shifting tectonic plates. This unique combination of east and west over 15 days allows you to fully appreciate the diversity of this remote archipelago and its incredible array of endemic wildlife.
On board, enjoy the ultimate luxury sanctuary of Aqua Mare, featuring just seven, spacious, individually designed guest suites, accommodating no more than 16 guests. Sophisticated and contemporary in style, the vessel features a sun deck with panoramic dining, outdoor barbecue area, 6-person hot tub, panoramic indoor lounge and dining area. With an expert expedition team and dedicated naturalist guides, each day offers a new adventure. Daily Zodiac excursions allow for excellent wildlife viewing, and guided adventure hikes provide excellent opportunities for superb panoramic views. For the more adventurous, why not try kayaking, paddleboarding or snorkelling - a wonderful way to experience the incredible marine biodiversity.
This voyage combines the east and west itineraries, however there is also the option to start with the west, followed by the east, should you prefer. Contact us for further details.
On arrival at Baltra airport, you're met and transferred to meet your expedition superyacht.
This afternoon, head out on your first excursion to the beautiful white beach of Bahia Borrero, on the northern part of Santa Cruz. You may be able to see Darwin’s finches, cactus finches, and small ground finches nestled in the coastal vegetation. This evening, indulge in a sumptuous dinner, marking the perfect start to your Galapagos adventure.
Accommodation: Aqua Mare, 14-nights
This morning, you wake up on the other side of the equator and head over to Bahia Darwin’s coralline beach for hiking and snorkelling.
After lunch, explore Genovesa Island with a tender ride along the volcanic rocks of El Barranco. Look out for fur seals resting inside rock crevices, and on an inland hike to the lava fields, you may see red-footed boobies, great frigatebirds and Galapagos storm petrels.
With an early morning anchor at Bartolomé Island, enjoy a mild climb up to the summit of a spatter cone, for a spectacular view of the island’s iconic Pinnacle Rock. Cool down afterwards with a snorkel, where you may encounter sea turtles and Galapagos penguins.
Your afternoon excursion takes you to Cerro Dragón or Dragon Hill, so named because in 1975 it was one of the few places in the Santa Cruz Island where scientists could still find a healthy population of land iguanas.
This morning, explore a Giant Tortoise Reserve to see these wild Galapagos Islands creatures up close in their natural habitat. The area is also a great place to observe Darwin’s finches, yellow warblers, flycatchers, cattle egrets, and with luck, Galapagos Rails.
This afternoon, visit Darwin Station and National Park headquarters to observe tortoises and enjoy some free time in Puerto Ayora.
Disembark in Punta Suárez for this morning’s excursion. This visitor site is one of the most interesting landing sites in Galapagos Islands, due to the high percentage of unique endemism in its fauna, such as Española mockingbirds, lava lizards, marine iguanas, and the unique waved albatross.
This afternoon, see playful sea lions and many different species of reef fish on a tender ride to a beautiful array of nearby islets. Later, you also visit Bahı́a Gardner, an outstanding coralline sand beach that boasts one of the biggest colonies of sea lions in the Galapagos Islands.
Santa Fe is one of the oldest islands in the Galapagos, at around 3.6 million years old. Here you can see land iguanas, lava lizards, mockingbirds, and Darwin’s finches.
This afternoon sail to Plaza Sur Island, a small, but diverse islet. Enjoy a two-hour hiking excursion led by your guide to discover unique landforms.
This morning, you're anchored in the southern part of the archipelago at Floreana Island. Visit a big brackish water lagoon to observe greater flamingo, lava heron, black-necked stilt and other shore birds. You may also spot stingrays and sharks swimming very close to the shore.
Back on board, enjoy lunch before returning to Floreana to pay tribute to an old island tradition at Bahı́a Post Office. After another delicious evening feast, you might like to visit the upper deck to admire the starlit skies of the northern and southern hemispheres.
After a night of sailing, this morning you anchor on the western side of Isabela Island. This morning, enjoy a hike at Punta Moreno, to see the mangroves and gas-rich basaltic lava rocks. You're likely to observe marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, and penguins, among other species.
This afternoon, you sail north to Bahı́a Urbina. Here you can see land iguana, marine iguana and on occasion, tortoise. End the day with an unforgettable view of Isabela’s five volcanoes, while dining beneath the stars.
Your next anchorage is Punta Espinoza, with its jet-black landscape resulting from numerous volcanic eruptions. Famous for its large colonies of marine iguanas, flightless cormorants and lizards, you may also see Galapagos penguin, Galapagos hawk, and possibly snake.
This afternoon, visit Caleta Tagus, historically a favourite anchorage for pirates and whalers. Return to the yacht for evening sundowners, and after dinner, there's the opportunity to visit the bridge and chat to the captain.
This morning, travel by Zodiac to Rábida Island, also known as the red island due to its deep-red coloured beach and cliffs. Enjoy observing the sea lions which have made their home on the beach, and admire the varied birdlife, from the remarkable Darwin's finches, to the unmistakable large brown pelicans.
Later this afternoon, explore Santa Cruz by Zodiac, visiting a mangrove estuary, home to sea turtles, black-tip and Galapagos sharks. End your day with another splendid evening meal.
This morning visit North Seymour Island, known for its healthy population of land iguanas, blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, and great frigatebirds.
After lunch, hop on to one of the Zodiacs to visit Mosquera Island, a hotspot for sea lions, and a perfect stop to admire the marine life and sea birds. Back on board, enjoy your final evening meal.
Please note: Exact itinerary and duration will depend on your chosen departure date and local conditions.
Santa Cruz is home to the Charles Darwin Research Station and Giant Tortoise Breeding Centre. The island’s rocky coastline and mangrove-lined inlets are good for marine life. The lush greenery of the highlands offers a welcome contrast, with its huge craters, lava tunnels and giant tortoises roaming freely. Find Out More about {acc:title}
Santa Fe (Barrington) is home to a picturesque small bay which provides a sheltered anchorage on the island’s northeast coast. The bay has two visitor trails: one leads to a scenic viewpoint at the top of a cliff, and the other crosses a small beach before leading into a forest of tall prickly pear (opuntia) cactus. Find Out More about {acc:title}
Santiago Island has a narrow, steep-sided point of land, which provides an extraordinarily beautiful landscape with cliffs and rocky pinnacles that create a nesting site for hundreds of marine birds. In the 17th and 18th centuries, pirates used this place to maintain their vessels and replenish their supplies. Find Out More about {acc:title}
Isla Genovesa is one of the best places for birdwatching – here you can find the lava gull, the rarest gull in the world. A lava field on the north shore provides the ideal nesting place for storm petrels in its cracks and tunnels. The marine iguana is the only reptile on the island, and are the smallest in the archipelago. Find Out More about {acc:title}
Home of the iconic Pinnacle Rock, Bartolomé consists of an extinct volcano (114 metres altitude) with a variety of red, orange, black and even green volcanic formations. The trail that leads to the summit offers one of the finest views in the islands, including the black lava flows on nearby James Island. Find Out More about {acc:title}
Española is the southernmost island, its remote location means that it has a large number of endemic species – the marine iguanas here are the only ones to change colour during the breeding season. It has large colonies of blue-footed boobies and is also the only breeding site of the magnificent waved albatross. Find Out More about {acc:title}
Studded with volcanic cones, Floreana is one of the oldest islands in the Galapagos – its volcano has long been extinct. It has a luxuriant vegetation, and nutrient rich soil, with diverse native and introduced flora. The submerged crater of Devil’s Crown is one of the best snorkelling sites in the Galapagos. Find Out More about {acc:title}
The volcanic slopes of the largest island in the archipelago are home to some 6,000 Galapagos tortoises. On the west coast the cold water currents produces an abundance of marine life and it is possible to snorkel with sealions. An uplifted coral reef provides brackish lagoons which are home to a variety of seabirds. Find Out More about {acc:title}
Fernandina is an active volcano with rugged slopes and unusual lava formations, which create some surreal landscapes. Its constant change of volcanic state and lack of plant life mean it is probably the least visited island.It is home to a huge population of marine iguanas, and penguins are commonly spotted. Find Out More about {acc:title}
This island – also known as Jervis – is one of the most colourful and varied islands in the archipelago, with several different types of lava. It is famed for its beach of maroon sand and stunning viewpoint. The island is a delight for birdwatchers, with some of the rarest bird species in abundance. Find Out More about {acc:title}
Magnificent frigatebirds, Galapagos sealions and blue-footed boobies are all numerous on North Seymour. The island was formed by a series of submarine lava flows containing layers of sediment that were uplifted by tectonic activity. There is a good walking trail crossing the island. Find Out More about {acc:title}
LUXURY VESSEL
This intimate and luxurious superyacht boasts custom-designed interiors, a sun deck with outdoor dining, a panoramic indoor lounge and a lower deck swim platform. With seven individually designed cabins and a timeless, yet contemporary, style throughout, Aqua Mare is a superb luxurious choice. Find Out More about Aqua Mare
British Travel Awards
Awarded Silver in Favourite Tour Operator for Nature & Wildlife 2024 & 2025
Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards
Awarded Bronze in Best Travel Company for Wildlife & Nature Holidays 2024
