Galapagos Adventure: Northern Islands (Grand Daphne)

Trip Type: Adventure Cruising|Wildlife|
Ecuador | 7 Days | 1 - 16 People
Starts From:

NZD 7,015.00 /Person

With almost 1000 kilometres of water lying between them and the South American mainland, the islands of the Galapagos were able to evolve largely u...

Galapagos Adventure: Northern Islands (Grand Daphne)

With almost 1000 kilometres of water lying between them and the South American mainland, the islands of the Galapagos were able to evolve largely undisturbed by humanity. Discover the rugged landscape of this wild place with a week-long adventure cruise, all with a local naturalist guide by your side to show you the way. Encounter sea lions, hike over hardened lava, spot diverse marine life with snorkelling opportunities and cool off in the aquamarine waters. With time to explore both on land and underwater, your adventure will show you some of the best of the northern islands – don't forget to watch the sunset from your motor yacht every night, too!

Bienvenidos! Welcome to Ecuador. Your adventure begins in Quito – Ecuador’s sprawling capital city. You’ll have a welcome meeting at 5 or 6 pm tonight to meet your local leader and small group of fellow travellers. If you arrive early, maybe check out the city at your own pace – head to the Old Town and pick one (or more) of the 30 churches to explore. After your meeting, you’ll head to a small, local restaurant for dinner with your group. Take in the aromas and fresh flavours of the traditional Ecuadorian cuisine – think locroc (traditional potato soup) or quinoa, pork and vegetable dishes cooked with herbs, lemongrass and rich sauces, all sourced from local farms.

You have a very early start this morning (maybe as early as 4 am, depending on flight times) as you head into the Galapagos. Transfer to Mariscal Sucre International Airport (Quito Airport), with a boxed breakfast on the way. When you arrive, you’ll meet your naturalist guide in the arrival hall. Then, head to the Grande Daphne and have lunch with your shipmates. Your first stop is the San Cristobal Interpretation Center, which brings the history and geography of the archipelago to life, from its volcanic origins to the present day. This afternoon, there will be an opportunity to travel to the highlands to see giant tortoises in a protected area.

Sea lions, iguanas and hawks – oh my! Isla Santa Fe is home to all three, plus Galapagos mockingbirds, marine turtles, frigate birds, Galapagos doves and lava lizards. This island boasts one of the most attractive coves in the whole archipelago. Take a hike along the coast into the opuntia forest, then cool off with a snorkel, looking out for schools of fish, rays and sea turtles. After, continue to Isla Plaza Sur. When you arrive on this small, gorgeous island, you’ll head out for another walk to get close to sea lions, passing one of the Galapagos’ largest land iguana populations on the way. The southern cliffs are great for spotting tropicbirds and swallow-tailed gulls, as well as ‘the Gentlemen’s Club’ – a gathering of male sea lions. Today, there may be an extra stop on the way to Plaza Sur to restock the boat’s provisions.

Explore Isla Genovesa – the archipelago's north-eastern outpost. The island’s varied landscapes are a twitcher's paradise, with all three kinds of boobies (including the rare red-footed booby) nesting here. Next, see Bahia Darwin (Darwin Beach) for another birding site with large breeding colonies of seabirds, frigates, lava herons, swallow-tailed gulls, mockingbirds and vampire finches. Head out for a hike to see tide pools, sea lions and diamond stingrays. The steep Prince Philip's Steps lead you to the heart of the seabird rookeries, with birds swirling overhead and nesting among the cliffs. Look out for storm petrels on the island’s rocky plains – Genovesa is the only place in the world where these birds can be seen flying during the day! After, maybe cool off with a snorkel, looking out for manta rays, sharks, turtles and moray eels, plus many species of fish.

On Santiago Island's eastern coast sits Bahia Sullivan. Take a walk along pahoehoe lava, which was created by an eruption that occurred here in 1897. With some luck, you might see some marine iguanas, Sally Lightfoot crabs, sea lions, finches, turtles, sharks and penguins. During your walk, as always, your naturalist guide will take you through the geological history of the island. Then, travel to Cerro Dragon (Dragon Hill) – one of the best places to see land iguanas. Walk to a brackish lagoon to see lagoon birds such as stilts, pintail ducks, sandpipers, sanderlings and flamingos. Further inland, the trail offers a beautiful view of the bay and the western area of the archipelago. This area is a nesting site for land iguanas, which is constantly monitored and assisted by the Charles Darwin Research Station. The arid-zone vegetation makes for an ideal place to see Darwin's finches, Galapagos mockingbirds, the endemic Galapagos flycatcher and yellow warblers.

Explore the red mangrove wetland of Caleta Tortuga Negra (Black Turtle Cove) today on your Zodiac. Cruise through this peaceful cove and look out for mating green turtles, golden cow-nose rays, eagle rays and Galapagos sharks. After, head to the airport in Isla Baltra for your flight back to Quito. You’ll arrive back in Quito at approximately 4 pm, where you’ll then transfer to your hotel for your last night.

There are no activities planned for today, and your adventure finishes after breakfast this morning. Of course, that doesn’t mean your adventure has to end! Why not stay on in Quito for a few days and discover the charms of the city. If you need help booking extra accommodation, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.

Meals
6 Breakfast(s), 4 Lunch(s), 5 Dinner(s)

Transport
Boat , Plane , Bus , Zodiac (Panga)

Accommodation
Hotel (2 nights), Overnight boat (4 nights)

Included Activities
  • Isla San Cristobal - Interpretation Center Visit (1 hour) - Dry Landing
  • San Cristobal - Leon Dormido (Kicker Rock)
  • Isla San Cristobal - Cerro Brujo - snorkel or beach walk (1 hour)
  • Isla Plaza Sur - Walk (2 hours) - Dry Landing
  • Isla Santa Fe - Walk (1.5 hours) - Wet Landing
  • Isla Santa Fe - Snorkel (1 hour)
  • Isla Genovesa - Bahia Darwin - Walk (2 hours) Wet Landing
  • Isla Genovesa - La Barranco - Snorkel (1 hour)
  • Isla Santiago - Sullivan Bay - Walk (1.5 hours) - Dry Landing
  • Isla Santiago - Sullivan Bay - Snorkelling (45 mins)
  • Isla Santa Cruz - Cerro Dragon - Walk (1.5 hours) - Dry Landing
  • Isla Santa Cruz - Cerro Dragon - Snorkelling or swimming (1 hour)
  • Isla Santa Cruz - Black Turtle Cove - Panga ride (1.5 hours)
  • Enjoy a short but sweet introduction to the famed archipelago – this trip makes for the perfect addition to any South American adventure – strikeing the perfect balance between excursion-packed days and relaxing evenings on the Grand Daphne – one of the newest motor yachts.
  • Hike, snorkel, sleep, repeat – this isn’t your average cruise! Get active in the rugged and isolated northern Galapagos Islands.
  • See sunbathing sea lions, colourful crabs, amazing birdlife and maybe even some giant tortoises that call these islands home.
  • Wander along the beautiful white sand beach at Bahia Borrero, then snorkel with reef sharks and manta rays.
  • Discover the otherworldly landscapes and creatures the islands are famous for, going deeper with a knowledgeable local naturalist guide who will accompany you on all your excursions.
  • This trip involves lots of active adventure and we ask that you read through the itinerary carefully to ensure that this trip is right for you. You’ll need to feel comfortable with the included activities and with moving about the boat. The cabins and communal areas of the boat are spread over three decks and the steps between the decks are steep. For getting to small islets, coves and prime snorkelling spots, it is sometimes necessary to use a Zodiac boat (panga). You will need to be comfortable climbing in and out of one during wet and dry landings. The waters of the Galapagos are generally calm and serene. However, there is always the possibility of choppy water at sea. Steady sea legs (and a sturdy stomach) will be needed when walking around the boat during bad weather. Rain or shine, your trusty crew will always be on hand to assist you. Things are never set in stone when you’re travelling on island time. A sense of humour and flexibility will ensure a fun, relaxing trip through this beautiful part of the world, no matter what happens. While the crew will do their best to follow the itinerary, variations may occur due to weather or under the direction of local authorities.

Departing

Finishing

Availability

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Price: NZD 7,620.00

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Price: NZD 7,620.00

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Price: NZD 7,620.00

Price: NZD 7,715.00

Price: NZD 7,715.00

Price: NZD 8,805.00

Price: NZD 8,380.00

Price: NZD 7,715.00

Price: NZD 7,715.00

Price: NZD 8,805.00

Price: NZD 7,715.00

Price: NZD 7,715.00

Price: NZD 8,805.00

Price: NZD 8,380.00

Price: NZD 7,715.00

Price: NZD 7,715.00

Price: NZD 8,805.00

Price: NZD 8,380.00

Price: NZD 7,715.00

Price: NZD 7,715.00

Price: NZD 8,805.00

Price: NZD 8,380.00

Price: NZD 7,715.00

Price: NZD 7,715.00

Price: NZD 8,805.00

Price: NZD 8,380.00

Price: NZD 7,715.00

Price: NZD 7,715.00

Price: NZD 8,805.00

Price: NZD 8,380.00

Price: NZD 7,715.00

Price: NZD 7,715.00

Price: NZD 8,805.00

Price: NZD 7,715.00

Price: NZD 7,715.00

Price: NZD 8,805.00

Price: NZD 8,380.00

Price: NZD 7,715.00

Price: NZD 7,715.00

Price: NZD 8,805.00

Price: NZD 8,380.00

Price: NZD 7,715.00

Price: NZD 7,715.00

Price: NZD 8,805.00

Price: NZD 8,380.00

Price: NZD 7,715.00

Price: NZD 7,715.00

Price: NZD 8,805.00

Price: NZD 8,380.00

Price: NZD 7,715.00

Price: NZD 7,715.00

Price: NZD 8,805.00

Price: NZD 8,380.00

Price: NZD 7,715.00

Price: NZD 7,715.00

Price: NZD 8,805.00

Price: NZD 8,380.00

Price: NZD 7,715.00

Price: NZD 7,715.00

Price: NZD 8,805.00

Price: NZD 8,380.00

Price: NZD 7,715.00

Price: NZD 7,715.00

Price: NZD 8,805.00

Price: NZD 8,380.00

Price: NZD 7,715.00

Price: NZD 7,715.00

Price: NZD 8,805.00

Price: NZD 8,380.00

Price: NZD 7,715.00

Price: NZD 7,715.00

Price: NZD 8,805.00

Price: NZD 8,380.00

Price: NZD 7,015.00

Price: NZD 8,380.00

Price: NZD 8,380.00

Price: NZD 7,620.00

Price: NZD 7,015.00
Provided by
Intrepid Travel
Reference Code:
GMDC
Trip Location
Trip Starts:
Quito, Ecuador
Trip Finishes:
Quito, Ecuador
Countries Visited:
Ecuador
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Destination Details
Ecuador | 7 Days | 1 - 16 People

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