Ultimate Galapagos: Central Islands
Departing between 1 October 2025 – 31 October 2026
9 Nights onboard Grand Daphne
Breakfast Daily, 7 Lunches, and 8 Dinners
Arrival transfer in Quito, Ecuador
Flights between Quito and Galapagos
1 Night pre-cruise in Quito, 7 Nights onboard Grand Daphner, and 1 Night post-cruise in Quito
A range of included activities
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Itinerary:
Day 1: Quito
- 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.
Accommodation: (1 night) Meals: DinnerSpecial informationWe recommend not engaging in any strenuous activity until you have time to gauge your reaction to the city’s high altitude. Some people experience mild symptoms of altitude sickness, like dizziness, shortness of breath and sleeplessness.It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.
As this trip spends very little time in Quito, we recommend you spend a few extra days before your trip to experience all the city has to offer.
Day 2: Quito - Isla Baltra - Las Bachas (Isla Santa Cruz)
- 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 be transferred to your boat – Le Grande Daphne. Meet the crew, settle in and have some lunch with your fellow travellers. Try on the snorkelling gear before your first snorkelling session, then sail to Las Bachas, where the soft sand made of decomposed coral is a nesting site for the Pacific green turtle. Marine iguanas are also commonly spotted along the beach. The rocks make for excellent snorkelling and are populated by Sally Lightfoot crabs. A saltwater lagoon just near the beach is home to flamingo and whimbrel and you might also see a great blue heron. Remnants of a floating pier, a testimony to the US presence in the Galapagos during World War II, can also be seen.
Accommodation: Grand Daphne (1 night) Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner.
Included activities: Isla Santa Cruz - Bachas Beach Walk (1 hour) - Wet Landing Isla Santa Cruz - Bachas Beach Snorkel (1 hour) - Wet Landing
Special information: Today is predominately a long travel day with an early morning start. Your first activity on the islands will not commence until after lunch. There are no snacks provided on the flights to and from the Galapagos Islands, so we recommend that you carry some snacks today. Please keep in mind that the Galapagos has strict quarantine regulations regarding bringing food onto the islands, with many fruits and vegetables being on the restricted list. There will be time after check-in and before departure to buy snacks at the airport. A USD 20 transit card is payable on departure at Quito Airport and a USD 200 national park entry fee is payable when you arrive on the islands. Credit cards are not accepted, so make sure you have cash on hand. Your travel time today will be approximately 4.5 hours. The flight will make a stop in Guayaquil to refuel and pick up other passengers.
Day 3: Isla Rabida - Punta Albermarle (Isla Isabella)
- Today, you’ll sail from Las Bachas to Isla Rabida, known for its spectacular red sand beaches, caused by the high content of iron in the sand which rusts to form the unusual shade. From the shore, follow today’s hiking trail to a lagoon that’s one of the best spots in the Galapagos to see flamingos. Keep an eye out for nesting pelicans, pintail ducks, marine iguanas and sea lions, too. Check out a vast opuntia cactus forest, hinting at the previous habitation of land iguanas, Galapagos hawks, mockingbirds, doves, finches and lava lizards. After, you can opt to go snorkelling to seek out the resident sea stars, damsels, gobbies and surgeon fish. In the afternoon, head to Albemarle on the northeast side of Isabela Island. Covered in mangroves, the bay is home to sea turtles, sea lions, penguins and flightless cormorants who feed on the algae and fish here. Another fantastic location for snorkelling, you may like to have a look beneath the water’s surface in search of sea turtles and flightless cormorants.Included activities: Isla Rabida - Walk and Snorkel from the beach (2 hours) - Wet Landing Isla Isabela - Punta Albermarle - Snorkelling (1 hour)- Dry LandingAccommodation: Grand Daphne (1 night) Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Special information: Your sailing time today will be approximately 3.5 hours (23 nautical miles) to Isla Rabida, then approximately 5 hours (56 nautical miles) to Punta Albermarle. If the snorkelling activity is not possible in Punta Albermarle due to sea conditions, a Panga boat ride (Zodiac) will be provided instead.
Day 4: Tagus Cove (Isla Isabela) - Bahia Urbina (Isla Isabela)
- Sail overnight from Punta Albermarle around to the western shores of Isla Isabela. Wake up near Tagus Cove, where pirates and whalers used to collect tortoises for their travels. Maybe go snorkelling here or check out the graffiti on the walls (the oldest of which is from 1836!). Look out for flightless cormorants, blue-footed boobies, a variety of waterfowl and the most northerly penguins in the world. You’ll then walk to a lookout point for a stunning view of the north of Isabela Island and Volcan Wolf (Wolf Volcano). Later, visit Bahia Urbina on the west of Isabela Island to see the bay’s diverse and colourful plant life, which attracts many different insects. The site also features a short hike inland, where giant tortoises can be spotted among the bushes. You may also see land iguanas, which often nest in the middle of the trail. Flycatchers, Darwin’s finches and mockingbirds are common on the ground and in the trees.
Accommodation: Grand Daphne (1 night) Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Included activities: Isla Isabela - Tagus Cove - Walk (1.45 hours) - Dry Landing Isla Isabela - Tagus Cove - Snorkel (1 hour) Isla Isabela - Urbina Bay - Snorkel (1 hour) Isla Isabela - Urbina Bay - Walk (1.5 hours) - Wet Landing
Special information: Your sailing time today will be approximately 3.5 hours (37 nautical miles) to Tagus Cove, then approximately 1.5 hours (15 nautical miles) to Bahia Urbina.
Day 5: Punta Espinosa (Isla Fernandina) - Punta Vicente Roca (Isla Isabela)
- Today, visit Punta Espinosa – a narrow ledge of lava and sand extending from the base of La Cumbre volcano. Walk around the peninsula to see the lava cacti, marine iguanas, barking sea lions, tiny penguins and Sally Lightfoot crabs. Keep an eye out for the Galapagos hawk, too, hunting in the treetops. Then, dive into the clear waters for snorkelling, looking out for the resident turtles and sea lions. In the afternoon, head to Punta Vicente Roca and take a Zodiac ride to see the abundant wildlife here. This spot is also one of the best snorkelling spots in the archipelago! The route takes you along the cliffs and allows you to explore two shallow underwater caves. The primitive and unaggressive bullhead shark, known locally as the Port Jackson shark, is often seen here sharing its space with red-lipped batfish, frogfish, Pacific seahorses, the endemic Camotillo, schools of barracuda and brown-stripped snappers.
Accommodation: M/Y Grand Daphne (1 night) Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Included activities: Isla Fernandina - Punta Vicente Roca Snorkelling (1 hour) Dry Landing Isla Fernandina - Punta Vicente Roca - Panga Ray boat tour (30 mins) Isla Fernandina - Punta Espinosa - Snorkel (1 hour) Isla Fernandina - Punta Espinosa - Walk (2 hours) - Dry Landing
Special information: Your sailing time today will be approximately 1.5 hours (16 nautical miles) to Punta Espinoza, then approximately 1.5 hours (16 nautical miles) to Punta Vicente Roca.
Day 6: Puerto Egas (Isla Santiago) - Caleta Buccanero (Isla Santiago)
- Sail to Puerto Egas – a black-sand beach on the west side of James Bay, northwest of Isla Santiago. Home to incredible volcanic tuff formations, you’ll stroll along the beach with the native marine iguanas, pelicans, finches, mockingbirds, oystercatchers, Galapagos sea lions and Galapagos fur seals. You can see the tidal pools, formed from ancient lava flow, providing a home for sponges, snails, hermit crabs, barnacles and fish. You might also end up snorkelling with a Galapagos fur seal – they’re always looking for a friend! In the afternoon, travel to the northwest side of Santiago Island where you’ll find Caleta Bucanero – named after the pirates and buccaneers who once found shelter in the bay. Here, you can go snorkelling and take a dinghy ride to look for blue-footed boobies, pelicans and nocturnal seagulls nesting in the cliffs.
Accommodation: M/Y Grand Daphne (1 night) Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Included activities: Isla Santiago - Puerto Egas - Snorkelling (1 hour) Isla Santiago - Puerto Egas - Walk (1.45 hours) - Wet Landing Isla Santiago - Caleta Buccanero - Panga boat tour (1 hour) Isla Santiago - Caleta Buccanero - Snorkelling (1 hour)
Special information: Your sailing time today will be approximately 5 hours (45 nautical miles) to Puerto Egas, then approximately 1 hour (9 nautical miles) to Calenta Bucanero.
Day 7: Isla Bartolome - Isla Sombrero Chino
- Wake up in Bartolome Island – a volcanic landscape full of spatter cones and lava flows, home to Galapagos penguins and lava lizards. Put on your walking shoes and climb up 360 wooden steps to the summit, where an amazing view of Pinnacle Rock awaits. This is one of the most photographed sights in the Galapagos! Hike to the top of a once-active volcano and enjoy the views across to Bahia Sullivan on nearby Isla Santiago. If you’re in luck, you might see the Galapagos hawk. There’s also the chance to go snorkelling among the colourful marine life. In the afternoon, travel to the small island of Sombrero Chino, found on the southeast side of Santiago Island. With sandy beaches and a volcanic landscape, this is a great spot to hike and look out for the sea lions and penguins that rest here. Or, you can snorkel in search of reef sharks and sea turtles.
Accommodation: M/Y Grand Daphne (1 night) Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner.
Included activities: Isla Bartolome - Snorkelling (1.5 hours) Isla Bartolome - Walk (1.5 hours) - Dry Landing Isla Sombrero Chino - Snorkelling (1.5 hours) Wet Landing Isla Sombrero chino - Walk (1.5 hours) Wet Landing
Special information: Your sailing time today will be approximately 2 hours (21 nautical miles) to Isla Bartolome, then approximately 1 hour (7 nautical miles) to Sombrero Chino.
Day 8: Isla North Seymour - Charles Darwin Research Station (Isla Santa Cruz)
- Wake up in North Seymour – one of the most visited islands of the Galapagos. Take a morning walk around the island to see blue-footed boobies and swallow-tailed gulls. Boobies and frigates have an interesting relationship, sharing the same nesting area on North Seymour. Blue-footed boobies nest on the ground while the frigate birds nest just above them in the saltbushes. As you walk, look out for land iguanas, marine iguanas, Galapagos sea lions and the endemic incense tree. After, cool off and go snorkelling to see the variety of fish and white-tipped reef sharks, rays and sea lions here. Later, travel to Isla Santa Cruz – the second largest island in the Galapagos. Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station – undertaking vital conservation work, the station also makes for interesting exploration and offers the best opportunities for close encounters with giant tortoises. You may also see baby tortoises!
Accommodation: M/Y Grand Daphne (1 night) Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Included activities: Isla North Seymour - Snorkelling (1 hours) Isla North Seymour - Walk (2 hours) - Dry Landing Isla Santa Cruz - Charles Darwin Research Station (1.5 hours) - Dry Landing
Special information: Your sailing time today will be approximately 1.5 hours (18 nautical miles) to Isla North Seymour, then approximately 3.5 hours (31 nautical miles) to the Charles Darwin Station.
Day 9: Puerto Ayora - Santa Cruz Highlands - Baltra - Quito
- Flights to the mainland depart mid-morning, so it’s an early start for your last morning on the islands today. You’ll visit the Santa Cruz Highlands first, travelling through the agricultural region and into the misty forests, where you can see the dome-shaped giant tortoises in the wild. Look out for different species of Darwin finches and the world-famous woodpecker and warbler finches. Then, it’s time to bid farewell to the archipelago and head to the airport for your mid-morning flight back to Quito for the last night of the trip. You'll arrive at about 4 pm, taking a transfer back to your hotel. You might want to head out with your fellow travellers for dinner tonight, toasting to an incredible, wildlife-filled adventure.
Accommodation: Hotel (1 night) Meals: Breakfast
Included activities: Isla Santa Cruz - Highlands Visit (1 hour) - Dry Landing
Special information: Your travel time today will be approximately 4.5 hours. Your flight will make a brief stop in Guayaquil to drop off or pick up other passengers. We recommend bringing your own snacks. As you’ll be leaving the boat this morning, please remember that if you have enjoyed the services provided by your guide and crew, a tip is considered appropriate. For logistical and cultural reasons, we treat this as an optional expense and do not incorporate it into your trip price. Suggested tipping amounts can be found under the Money Matters section in the Essential Trip Information.
Day 10: Quito
- 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: Breakfast
TERMS & CONDITIONS:
✅ Please refer to the cruise lines terms & conditions and cancellation policy.
✅ All prices are correct at the time issue. Pricing is dynamic and is subject to changes & fluctuations at any time without notice, subject to availability at the time of booking.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PASSENGERS
✅ Please read through the trip notes carefully to ensure that this trip is the right trip for you. This applies to the included activities and moving around the boat. You will also need to enter and exit a zodiac during wet and dry landings and when returning from snorkelling.
✅ This trip involves lots of active adventure. Please read through the itinerary carefully to ensure that it 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 Daphne are spread over 3 decks. The steps between the decks are steep, however there are hand railings to hold on to.
✅ A zodiac boat (panga) is sometimes necessary to reach small islets, coves, and prime snorkelling spots. You must be comfortable climbing in and out of one during wet and dry landings.
✅ All travellers, including infants, are required to present on check-in a valid passport with a minimum validity of 6 months beyond your return travel date to Australia.
✅ Visa and entry requirements vary by country and are subject to change without notice. It is your responsibility to obtain required visa and other documentation prior to travel for the countries you are travelling to and through. For the most up-to-date travel requirements, please visit: https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/
✅ For non-Australian passport holders, only the countries you plan to visit can provide up-to-date information about visa and entry requirements. Please contact the embassy or consulate of the countries you are visiting well in advance of travel. Please also ensure that you hold a valid re-entry visa or permit for Australia.
✅ We strongly recommend purchasing comprehensive travel insurance with cruise cover, that covers you for the duration of your holiday, to protect you from any possible cancellation charges, onboard or overseas medical costs, repatriation, loss of luggage, personal liability, or other expenses that may arise. You may be required to provide a copy of your certificate on embarkation. Travel Insurance may be mandatory for some cruise lines and destinations.
✅ When a minor (age 17 and under) travels without their legal guardian, an accompanying adult must present a notarized form signed by the child’s guardian. This ensures the child has the guardian’s consent to leave the country and participate in release-form activities onboard. The Minor Consent Form can be obtained from the cruise line.
✅ If your child has a different last name than you, you will need to bring an official supporting document to help explain why the names are different. The supporting document must be the original, or a notarized copy. Please refer to the cruise line’s website for examples of valid supporting documents.
✅ Whilst the cruise line will make all reasonable endeavours to provide a cruise in accordance with the published schedules and itineraries, your cruise itinerary is not guaranteed and does not form part of your contract. Many factors may affect the cruise line’s ability to provide an itinerary as scheduled. These could include weather, mechanical difficulties, civil unrest, or other unforeseen circumstances.
✅ Your cabin number may be assigned by the cruise line at any time until embarkation. Final cabin numbers may change at any time until day of departure. The cruise line will guarantee the same or higher cabin category.
✅ Due to security reasons, all passengers must be on board at least 2 hours before sailing on Day 1 of the cruise or you will not be permitted to sail. Please refer to your cruise documentation for your boarding time.
✅ Disembarkation usually begins 2 hours after docking on the final day of the cruise.
✅ Fuel Surcharges, Taxes, and Port Fees are subject to change without notice at any time whether or not you have a confirmed booking under deposit, or if you have made final payment.
CITY TOURIST TAXES AND RESORT FEES
✅ Any City Tourist Taxes, Resort Fees, or other taxes & charges imposed by the hotel or city and are not included in the hotel rate. These taxes may vary by season and location within a destination and cannot be prepaid. Any such charges are mandatory and must be paid directly to the hotel.