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The Galaxy Galapagos Cruise
5-day itinerary
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Darwin Island
What to see
- Whale sharks (seasonal)
- Schooling hammerheads
- Pelagic dive site
Wildlife
- Whale shark Huge filter feeders best known from cooler-season visits to Darwin and Wolf.
- Hammerhead shark Schooling sharks at Darwin and Wolf, most reliable in cooler water.
- Manta ray Large rays that show up more often when plankton is rich.
What to see
- Hammerhead schools
- Whale sharks (cooler months)
- Advanced diving
Wildlife
- Whale shark Huge filter feeders best known from cooler-season visits to Darwin and Wolf.
- Hammerhead shark Schooling sharks at Darwin and Wolf, most reliable in cooler water.
Isabela
What to see
- Historic whaler graffiti
- Penguins & flightless cormorants
- Darwin Lake hike
Wildlife
- Galápagos penguin The world's northernmost penguin, mainly on Isabela and Fernandina.
- Marine iguana Shore reptiles that bask on lava and dive to graze algae.
Isabela
What to see
- Mola mola / sunfish
- Sea turtles
- Nutrient-rich walls
Wildlife
- Green sea turtle Common in the water year-round; beach nesting is strongest from December to June.
- Galápagos penguin The world's northernmost penguin, mainly on Isabela and Fernandina.
- Manta ray Large rays that show up more often when plankton is rich.
Isabela
What to see
- Mangrove panga ride
- Penguins & rays
- Sea turtles
Wildlife
- Galápagos penguin The world's northernmost penguin, mainly on Isabela and Fernandina.
- Green sea turtle Common in the water year-round; beach nesting is strongest from December to June.
- Manta ray Large rays that show up more often when plankton is rich.
Isabela
What to see
- Uplifted seabed (1954)
- Land iguanas
- Giant tortoises
Wildlife
- Giant tortoise Highland grazers. Nesting is strongest in the cool season; hatchlings appear later.
- Marine iguana Shore reptiles that bask on lava and dive to graze algae.
Isabela
What to see
- Lava tide pools
- Flamingos
- Coastal lagoon birds
Wildlife
- American flamingo Pink flocks in salt lagoons, especially on Floreana and Isabela.
- Green sea turtle Common in the water year-round; beach nesting is strongest from December to June.
Fernandina
What to see
- Marine iguana colonies
- Flightless cormorants
- Lava flows into the ocean
Wildlife
- Marine iguana Shore reptiles that bask on lava and dive to graze algae.
- Galápagos penguin The world's northernmost penguin, mainly on Isabela and Fernandina.
Santiago
What to see
- Pahoehoe lava field
- Dramatic volcanic walk
- Bartolomé views nearby
Wildlife
- Marine iguana Shore reptiles that bask on lava and dive to graze algae.
Santiago
What to see
- Cone-shaped islet
- Snorkel with penguins
- White-tip reef sharks
Wildlife
- Galápagos penguin The world's northernmost penguin, mainly on Isabela and Fernandina.
- Galápagos sea lion Curious beach and dock residents; pups are most noticeable late in the year.
Santiago
What to see
- Pinnacle Rock
- Iconic summit viewpoint
- Penguin snorkeling
Wildlife
- Galápagos penguin The world's northernmost penguin, mainly on Isabela and Fernandina.
- Green sea turtle Common in the water year-round; beach nesting is strongest from December to June.
Santiago
What to see
- Fur seals
- Coastal walks
- Tide pools
Wildlife
- Galápagos sea lion Curious beach and dock residents; pups are most noticeable late in the year.
- Marine iguana Shore reptiles that bask on lava and dive to graze algae.
Santa Cruz
What to see
- Mangrove nursery
- Sharks & rays by panga
- Quiet wildlife watching
Wildlife
- Green sea turtle Common in the water year-round; beach nesting is strongest from December to June.
- Manta ray Large rays that show up more often when plankton is rich.
Santa Cruz
Day 4 on this itinerary
What to see
- Sea turtle nesting beach
- Flamingo lagoons
- Soft white sand
Wildlife
- Green sea turtle Common in the water year-round; beach nesting is strongest from December to June.
- American flamingo Pink flocks in salt lagoons, especially on Floreana and Isabela.
Santa Cruz
What to see
- Land iguanas
- Brackish lagoon flamingos
- Dry-forest hike
Wildlife
- American flamingo Pink flocks in salt lagoons, especially on Floreana and Isabela.
- Marine iguana Shore reptiles that bask on lava and dive to graze algae.
Day 4 on this itinerary
What to see
- Giant tortoises in mist forest
- Lava tunnels
- Darwin Station / Puerto Ayora
Wildlife
- Giant tortoise Highland grazers. Nesting is strongest in the cool season; hatchlings appear later.
Floreana
What to see
- Historic barrel mail
- Baroness Lookout
- Floreana lore
Wildlife
- Galápagos sea lion Curious beach and dock residents; pups are most noticeable late in the year.
- Green sea turtle Common in the water year-round; beach nesting is strongest from December to June.
Floreana
What to see
- Olivine green beach
- Flamingo lagoon
- Sea turtle nesting (seasonal)
Wildlife
- American flamingo Pink flocks in salt lagoons, especially on Floreana and Isabela.
- Green sea turtle Common in the water year-round; beach nesting is strongest from December to June.
- Manta ray Large rays that show up more often when plankton is rich.
Floreana
What to see
- Snorkel inside a volcanic crater
- Dense tropical reef fish
- Rays, turtles & sharks in the current
Wildlife
- Green sea turtle Common in the water year-round; beach nesting is strongest from December to June.
- Manta ray Large rays that show up more often when plankton is rich.
- Galápagos sea lion Curious beach and dock residents; pups are most noticeable late in the year.
San Cristóbal
Day 5 on this itinerary
What to see
- Hammerheads in the channel
- Dramatic volcanic stack
- Premier snorkel / dive
Wildlife
- Hammerhead shark Schooling sharks at Darwin and Wolf, most reliable in cooler water.
- Green sea turtle Common in the water year-round; beach nesting is strongest from December to June.
- Galápagos sea lion Curious beach and dock residents; pups are most noticeable late in the year.
San Cristóbal
What to see
- Sea lion colony
- Blue-footed boobies
- Shallow snorkel
Wildlife
- Galápagos sea lion Curious beach and dock residents; pups are most noticeable late in the year.
- Blue-footed booby A landing favourite for its foot-lifting courtship dance.
San Cristóbal
What to see
- All three booby species
- Frigatebirds
- Red volcanic landscape
Wildlife
- Frigatebird Males inflate a bright red throat pouch when advertising for a mate.
- Blue-footed booby A landing favourite for its foot-lifting courtship dance.
Day 5 on this itinerary
What to see
- Eastern gateway port
- Sea lions on the malecón
- Interpretation Center
Wildlife
- Galápagos sea lion Curious beach and dock residents; pups are most noticeable late in the year.
- Frigatebird Males inflate a bright red throat pouch when advertising for a mate.
Española
What to see
- Waved albatross colony
- Blowhole cliffs
- Nazca boobies
Wildlife
- Waved albatross Nests only on Espanola, with courtship dances from about April to June.
- Marine iguana Shore reptiles that bask on lava and dive to graze algae.
- Blue-footed booby A landing favourite for its foot-lifting courtship dance.
Española
What to see
- Long white sand beach
- Playful sea lions
- Relaxed swimming/snorkeling
Wildlife
- Galápagos sea lion Curious beach and dock residents; pups are most noticeable late in the year.
- Green sea turtle Common in the water year-round; beach nesting is strongest from December to June.
Genovesa
Day 3 on this itinerary
What to see
- Red-footed boobies
- Frigatebirds
- Submerged crater beach
Wildlife
- Frigatebird Males inflate a bright red throat pouch when advertising for a mate.
- Blue-footed booby A landing favourite for its foot-lifting courtship dance.
Genovesa
Day 3 on this itinerary
What to see
- Nazca booby cliffs
- Short-eared owls
- Storm petrel fields
Wildlife
- Frigatebird Males inflate a bright red throat pouch when advertising for a mate.
- Blue-footed booby A landing favourite for its foot-lifting courtship dance.
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5-day itinerary day by day
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Day 1 · Wednesday
Baltra Arrival & North Seymour Island
You'll land at Baltra Airport, where your National Park naturalist guide is waiting to welcome you aboard. In the afternoon you'll head to North Seymour Island, a flat, wildlife-packed island home to a thriving population of blue-footed boobies and frigatebirds. The trail winds through low, bushy vegetation where you can watch the boobies' courtship dance, …
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Day 2 · Thursday
Santa Fe Island & South Plaza Island
Santa Fe greets you with towering prickly pear cacti set against rugged lava rock, and a turquoise bay lined with white sand where a sizeable sea lion colony lounges. Inland, keep an eye out for the endemic Santa Fe land iguana, and look up for Galápagos hawks perched on cacti scanning for prey, alongside Darwin …
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Day 3 · Friday
El Barranco & Darwin Bay
El Barranco, on the southern side of Darwin Bay, is a wildlife sanctuary where fragile lava cliffs shelter storm petrels and a strong population of short-eared owls. Red-footed and Nazca boobies nest along the trail, while Galápagos fur seals rest in the shade at the base of the cliffs. The water here is a great …
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Day 4 · Saturday
Highlands & Bachas Beach
The highlands of Santa Cruz offer a different side of the islands entirely, lush and green in contrast to the coast, home to a wide range of birds, giant tortoises roaming freely, and endemic trees and ferns. The winding paths bring you close to tortoises in a peaceful setting, with panoramic views over the island's …
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Day 5 · Sunday
Kicker Rock & Departure
A panga ride circles Kicker Rock, also known as León Dormido, just off San Cristóbal. Rising some 500 feet above the ocean, this ancient volcanic tuff cone has been eroded into two towering walls split by a narrow channel, one of the most recognisable landmarks in the Galápagos. The ride is a calm, scenic close …
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The Galaxy Galapagos Cruise
The Galaxy Galapagos Cruise offers you a fantastic exploration of the archipelago’s iconic landscapes and wildlife, blending adventure, education, and comfort in equal measure. Each day, you will join expert naturalist guides on excursions to remarkable sites. These range from volcanic cliffs and pristine beaches to coastal lagoons and mangrove forests. Activities include guided hikes, snorkeling…
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