Galapagos Family Vacation Cruise

Please note that this is an optional full-day activity. Please check our conditions for pricing. 

Cacao: the magical ingredient that captivates the world just as it did many thousands of years ago, back when it was served only to the highest dignitaries in ancient American tribes during sacred rituals. The road to Hacienda La Danesa takes us through Ecuador’s fertile tropical coast as well as its rice, banana, and coffee fields that go on for miles. The social project at the Hacienda celebrates local culture, allowing guests to learn about local inhabitants’ history, discover the process they use to obtain the best cacao powder in the world, and provide you with a taste of their excellent cuisine.

At the end of the tour you’ll be taken back to your hotel. Overnight in Guayaquil.

On this morning, you’ll be transferred  to Guayaquil’s airport to board your flight to the Galapagos Islands!

Please note that the following Northern Galapagos Islands Itinerary aboard Yacht Isabela II is one of the many options you can choose for your Galapagos adventure. Ask our Destination Experts about our fleet and available itineraries.

Baltra Airport and Santa Cruz Island     

After landing at Baltra Airport, we drive to the Itabaca Channel to take a ferry across to Santa Cruz Island. A 30-minute bus ride takes us up to the fascinating, more humid Highlands of the island where we’ll learn about its unique ecosystems and biodiversity. Lunch is served at a local restaurant.

Highlands of Santa Cruz Island 

After lunch, we drive to a nearby reserve that is one of the best places in the archipelago to see giant tortoises in their natural habitat. The tortoises are easy to spot, lumbering around, munching on grass and leaves and wallowing in small pools. There are several lava tunnels to explore in the reserve, too. A short bus ride takes us down to Puerto Ayora to board Yacht Isabela II.

Puerto Egas (Santiago Island)

Following a wet landing on a black, sandy beach, our trail takes us to enjoy close-up encounters with recently reintroduced land iguanas, plus land and marine birds amid a landscape of tuff-stone layers, craggy rocks, and lava flows. At low tide, marine iguanas graze upon the algae beds. We can also observe a colony of fur seals, usually dozing in the shade of some rocks.

Chinese Hat Islet

This islet, formed only fairly recently, makes for a beautiful afternoon visit as we explore the wildlife along its 1,312 ft-long (400 m-long) trail, which begins at a crescent-shaped, white sandy beach. The cove offers excellent swimming and snorkeling opportunities amid white-tipped reef sharks and Galapagos penguins.

Punta Vicente Roca (Isabela Island)

This destination offers us the chance to observe the enigmatic flightless cormorant! Weather permitting, snorkeling alongside the cliffs offers a chance to see rich marine life.

Punta Espinoza (Fernandina Island)

In the afternoon, explore the archipelago’s youngest island, Fernandina. The complete absence of introduced animals is one of its biggest draws. Species such as iguanas, sea lions, Sally lightfoot crabs, hawks, penguins and flightless cormorants can be found here.

Santa Fe Island

We take the dinghy over to this idyllic sandy-white beach populated by colonies of sea lions. Galapagos hawks are often easily observed, perched atop salt bushes. The Santa Fe land iguana may be spotted during our exploration. Following the walk, we can snorkel and swim along a natural wave barrier or ride the glass-bottom boat.

South Plaza Island

Following lunch and a rest, we disembark (dry landing) in this channel, whose turquoise waters contrast brilliantly with the white sand and black lava of the shoreline. Beyond, a carpet of scarlet sesuvium succulents serves as groundcover for a grove of luminescent green prickly-pear cactus. Yellow-grey land iguanas sit beneath these, waiting patiently for pears to drop. Along the coastline we find sea lion colonies, while frigates, swallow-tailed gulls and shearwaters glide, playing with the thermals.

Baltra Island 

You will disembark at Baltra Island and take your transfer to the airport to catch your flight back to the city of Guayaquil.

Guayaquil

Once in Guayaquil, you’ll take your transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Guayaquil.

At the designated time, you will be picked up from your hotel to take your transfer to the airport. Safe travels!