Galapagos: Isabela II | 7 day Southeastern

From Baltra to Baltra
  • Ecuador
  • Galapagos Islands
  • Small Ship Cruising
  • Wildlife and Nature
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Tour Description

Explore seven different island during this seven day South-eastern Galapagos journey, witnessing an amazing array of wildlife along the way!

With a capacity of only 40 guests, yacht Isabela II offers a relaxed yet intimate atmosphere with several indoor and outdoor communal spaces, onboard bar, hot tub indoor or outdoor dining. Multiple guides onboard means that Yacht Isabela II’s guests have the added privilege of seeing the Galapagos in small groups,  around 11 guests per guide.

Explore the beautiful beach of Las Bachas, great for flamingos and swimming,  spend some time inland at Cerro Colorado and visit the tortoise breeding centre. Everyone is keen to see a Blue Footed Boobie  - keep your eyes peeled, you are bound to see one or more! Snorkel at Gardner Bay, visit Punta Suarez where you can see the largest bird of the Galapagos; the waved Galapagos albatross (Apr-Dec only).  On Floreana Island, Cormorant Point you can chose between a ride in the glass-bottom boat, a dinghy ride or snorkelling. Later on visit the historic Post Office Bay. On Isabella, walk across young lava formations. Later at  Fernandina Island where we explore the coast line,  keep an eye out for the Galapagos penguin, rays and sea turtles. Get ready for the last stop; North Seymour Island is one of the best places to see the majestic frigate birds nesting and the males display their balloon-like red sacs - these are such a fascinating bird to watch!

As you journey, you will be well looked after by the staff and crew of Isabela II; knowledgeable naturalist guides, onboard bar, great meals from top-quality ingredients. All diets are welcome! Come and be amazed by the Galapagos.

Viva's Best Bits...

The Isabela II offers great stability and great spaces to explore the Galapagos in relaxed comfort. With two 5-day and one 7-day itinerary options carefully designed to help maximize wildlife viewing opportunities!

With 3 guides onboard, they can offer multiple activities at the same time - Kayaking, Snorkelling, SUP, Glass bottom boats, hikes, swimming... means more choice and doing more of what you enjoy!

"This cruise visits seven islands in seven day and circumnavigates most of the Galapagos islands. It is a great option if you want to get to many islands". Pia, Team Viva

Tour Itinerary

Day 1
Baltra Santa Cruz

YACHT ISABELA II Southeastern Islands. 7 Days/6 Nights (Friday to Thursday)

*Galapagos excursions are subject to change without prior notice. Changes in plans may arise due to weather conditions, National Park regulations, or other unforeseen circumstances.

Baltra Airport and Santa Cruz Island
We land at Baltra Island by plane in the morning and transfer to the nearby dock to board Yacht Isabela II, where we receive a welcome introductory briefing, boat drill, and lunch.

Las Bachas (Santa Cruz Island)
This beautiful visitor site is located on the north shore of Santa Cruz Island, a glorious white beach with a couple of brackish lagoons only a few steps away from the sea. These lagoons are the feeding grounds of various wading birds, from stilts to flamingos. You may enjoy swimming at this beach, too. Back on the ship, we will settle in with a welcome cocktail, a briefing on the next day’s expedition plan, and a delicious dinner

Day 2
San Cristobal Island

Cerro Brujo (San Cristobal Island)
A dinghy ride along the shores of tuff-stone layers takes us to Cerro Brujo's expansive, white coral beach, great for walking, with rewarding bird-watching featuring seabirds and shore birds. Also, look out for Galapagos sea lions. These are the same shores that Charles Darwin walked upon, back in September 1835. You will love this white-coralline beach.

Cerro Colorado
We disembark at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno and drive 40 minutes to the island’s southern shore. At Cerro Colorado, we visit the breeding center for highly endangered giant tortoises in the midst of a fantastic deciduous forest, home to dozens of bird species, including the San Cristobal mockingbird, as well as the endemic San Cristobal lava lizard.

Day 3
Española Island

Gardner Bay (Española Island)
In the morning, we’ll set foot on this beautiful, white coral beach and go on a short walk to observe the sea lions, mockingbirds, finches or simply enjoy the beach. There is great snorkeling in this area. Kayaking, an inflatable dinghy-ride, or a ride on the glass-bottom boat are also offered.

Punta Suarez (Española Island)
Our afternoon outing at Punta Suarez explores the coastline where we’re bound to spot sealions playing in the waves and marine turtles surfacing. Along the dramatic volcanic cliffs, we can spot the island’s famous red-green-black marine iguanas and, if we are fortunate, waved albatrosses on the water or flying (seen from early April to early January), as well as boobies and swallow-tail gulls. We can take to our kayaks to explore the coastline further. Back on board for dinner.

Day 4
Floreana Island

Cormorant Point (Floreana Island)
We disembark in the morning at the curiously green-tinged, olivine-crystal beach that makes for an easy walk to a brackish water lagoon where bird species like American flamingos can be observed. Crossing over to the other side of the island, we come to a white-sand beach where sea turtles come out at night to nest. At Champion Islet, guests can choose between snorkeling, a panga ride, or a ride in our glass-bottom boat.

Post Office Bay & Baroness Cove (Floreana Island)
After lunch, we land at Post Office Bay to visit the historic barrel that has served as an informal post office in the archipelago for over two centuries. Snorkeling off the beach will be offered afterward.

Day 5
Isabela Island Fernandina Island

Punta Moreno (Isabela Island)
In the morning, following a meander through the mangroves in search of sea turtles, we disembark amid a landscape dominated by the giant volcanoes of southern Isabela Island, some still active. The rugged trail loops inland from the coast, giving us plenty of opportunity to enjoy unique lava formations, pioneer lava cactus, and interesting scalesia trees, as well as plenty of wildlife: Galapagos penguins, flightless cormorants, brown pelicans, herons, sea lions, marine iguanas, and dozens of Sally Lightfoot crabs. The inland lagoons are home to Bahama-pintail ducks, common stilts, Galapagos flamingos, and even Galapagos hawks and mockingbirds. Following our walk, we can take to our glass-bottom boats or deep-water snorkel.

Punta Mangle (Fernandina Island)
Venturing across to Fernandina Island, in the afternoon we board our pangas (inflatable dinghies) to explore the coastline of the archipelago’s youngest ecosystem, a virgin, pristine world of tiny bays, tall mangroves (mangle is Spanish for mangrove) and tranquil coves, home to diminutive Galapagos penguins and green-eyed flightless cormorants preening on the shore’s black rocks. Beneath the waves, rays and sea turtles might glide by. The nutrient-rich waters of the Bolivar Channel, which separates Fernandina and Isabela islands, attract dolphins and whales. With luck, we’ll be able to spot them. Depending on sea conditions, we end our visit with a glass-bottom boat ride or deep-water snorkel.

Day 6
Eden Islet Santa Cruz North Seymour Island

Eden Islet
A panga ride takes us to Eden Islet, located off the coast of Santa Cruz, where we can observe blue-footed boobies, reef sharks, and frigatebirds. There’s a chance to snorkel and, if weather conditions permit, to ride in the glass-bottom boat. The volcanic setting of this area is quite stunning.

North Seymour Island
We have saved one of the best visitor sites in the archipelago for last. In the afternoon, we disembark for a walk along the coast and the interior of this beautiful flat island, ambling between numerous nesting frigatebirds, some male frigatebirds displaying their balloon-like red gular sacs, as well as land iguanas and sea lion colonies along the coastline. We can explore the coast by dinghy, too, seeking out fur seals, and enjoying a fun, deep-water snorkel. Evening briefing, farewell cocktail, and dinner.

Day 7
Baltra Island Depart

Our journey ends at Baltra Island where we transfer to the airport to take the flight back to the mainland.

What’s Included

Accommodation
  • Included Copy 20 Cabin on board with ensuite
  • Included Copy 31 Cabin upgrades available
Food
  • Included Copy 20 All meals onboard
Fees & Services
  • Included Copy 20 Guided excursions with top Naturalist guides
  • Included Copy 20 Presentations and talks hosted by Galapagos National Park certified naturalist guides
  • Included Copy 20 Snorkeling gear
  • Included Copy 20 Transfers airport/yacht/airport in Galapagos
  • Included Copy 20 Carbon offsetting included
  • Included Copy 20 Onboard Medical Assistance*
  • Included Copy 20 Use of kayaks, glass bottom boat, dinghy rides
  • Included Copy 20 Internet in common areas*
  • Included Copy 7 Galapagos Islands National Park Entrance Fee & TCT USD$220 (Subject to change)
  • Included Copy 7 Return flights to the Galapagos Islands
  • Included Copy 31 Wetsuits (available for rent)
Transportation

Isabela II

40 Passengers

Activities

  • Included Swimming and snorkelling
  • Included Chances to see Galapagos penguins
  • Included Look out for three species of boobies; Blue footed, Red footed booby and Nazca Booby
  • Included Excursions by dinghy or glass-bottom boat
  • Included Photography opportunities – Punta Suarez take some shots of the Galapagos albatross
  • Included Post a postcard, or pick one up from the iconic Post office box on Floreana Island.
  • Included Walk, hike or kayaking in the Galapagos
  • Included Bird watching - flamingos, Frigate birds, Galapagos hawks and more
  • Included Visit the Giant Tortoise Breading centre at Cerro Colorado and learn more about their habitat.
Click here for dates & prices
Duration

7 days

Price from

$6,076 USD

Per person, sharing

Departs on select Fridays