Overview
Onboard the Endemic Catamaran you can enjoy elegant, open social areas including a main deck interior lounge and dining area with panoramic views where delicious cuisine is served whilst enjoying the stunning island views. Also on the main deck is a lecture room where briefings are held. On the upper deck are a sun terrace and secluded social area, perfect for relaxation and wildlife observation. Alfresco dining is available on the Sky Deck, along with an exterior lounge, BBQ station and sun lounging area. The perfect place to unwind in the evening whilst enjoying a drink.
Island you will visit:
- Bartolomé
- Floreana
- Santiago: Chinese Hat
- North Seymour
- Santa Cruz
- Genovesa
Itinerary
Your Itinerary
BALTRA ISLAND & BARTOLOMé ISLAND
BALTRA AIRPORT – BARTHOLOMEW ISLAND
Upon arrival, reception and assistance at the airport, transfer from Baltra Airport to the M/C Endemic.
After lunch, you will discover Bartholomew Island. Once here, you will ascend to admire the spectacular panorama of the Sullivan Bay and the famous Pinnacle Rock. The beaches at the foot of the Pinnacle Rock are excellent for snorkeling from which you can discover the marvelous underwater world, and with a little luck, you’ll get to snorkel with penguins.
Activities: dinghy ride, snorkeling & hiking (1.2 mi/2km)
Type of landing: Wet landing
Difficulty: Easy
(-, L, D)
FLOREANA ISLAND
FLOREANA ISLAND: Devil´s Crown /Cormorant Point - Baroness’ Lookout/ Post Office Bay In the morning, after breakfast, the first spot to be visited is Devil´s Crown that is an underwater volcanic crater, almost covered completely by Galapagos waters. Just a small portion of the rock formation can be seen from above and it looks like a crown.
The underwater world is very rich in coral reefs, abundant marine species. Birds are also part of this visitor point due to its location in open waters. Or visit Cormorant Point where you will land on a green olivine sand beach.
CHINESE HAT ISLET & NORTH SEYMOUR ISLAND
SANTIAGO ISLAND: Chinese Hat – NORTH SEYMOUR ISLAND In the morning, after breakfast you will visit Chinese Hat, which is a small islet off the south coast of Santiago, with a maximum elevation of 160 feet (52 meters). Though within easy reach of Santa Cruz, Chinese Hat is typically only visited by those aboard a Galapagos Cruise.
Activities: hiking, snorkeling, kayaking, dinghy ride. Type of landing: Wet landing Difficulty: Easy In the afternoon, North Seymour island will be discovered. It is located slightly to the north of Baltra. It is a low, flat island, formed by submarine lava formation uplift.
BACHAS BEACH & SANTA CRUZ ISLAND
SANTA CRUZ ISLAND: Black Turtle Cove – Las Bachas Beach After breakfast, enjoy the visit to Black Turtle Cove, which is located on the north shore of Santa Cruz. It is a living illustration of how mangroves alter the marine environment to create a rich and unique habitat. Three mangrove species crowd the area from the shore out into the lagoon, which reaches almost a mile inland.
As you drift through quiet waters in the zodiac, you are likely to see spotted eagle rays and diamond shaped mustard rays, which swim in a diamond formation.
GENOVESA ISLAND
GENOVESA ISLAND: Darwin Bay - El Barranco (Prince Philip’s Steps) In the morning, visit to Darwin Bay, which is the only sandy beach found in the caldera on Genovesa. Colonies of the Great Frigates are found along the beach. Male exhibit their red balloon pouch to females for hope of a match.
Red-footed boobies nest in the trees in contrast to the other two booby species which do so on the ground. Activities: Hiking (0.9 mi/ 1. 5 km), snorkeling, kayaking & dinghy ride.
BALTRA ISLAND & SANTA CRUZ ISLAND
SANTA CRUZ ISLAND: Twin Craters – BALTRA AIRPORT
Early in the morning, after breakfast, we will visit the Twin Craters. Located in the highlands of Santa Cruz, these scenic craters are approximately 30 meters deep. These two huge land depressions are surrounded by a Scalesia forest with abundant birds such as the yellow warbler and the Vermilion Flycatcher. Gorgeous views of the leafy green highlands forest are also part of the excursion.
Activities: Short hiking
Type of landing: Dry landing
Difficulty: Moderate
After this last visit, transfer to Baltra airport for your return flight to mainland Ecuador.
Assistance and farewell at the airport.
(B, -, -)
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Terms & Conditions
Payment Policy*:
- At the time of booking a deposit of 20% of the total tour price
- The remaining balance is due a minimum of 65 calendar days prior to departure date
To issue final confirmation Palace tours requires 60 days prior to departure (or at time of reservation for last minute bookings) the following information for all passengers:
- Complete passenger names
- Passport numbers (& passport copy in case of children)
- Nationality
- Date of birth
- Marital Status
- Dietary or medical restrictions
Failure to provide the above information on time may result in delays and possibly passengers missing the tour completely. Palace tours will not accept responsibility or provide refunds if the above information is not provided in its entirety and on time.
Cancellation Policy*
All cancellations must be done in writing. If a cancellation is received more than 125 days prior to tour departure date a Cancellation fee of 10% of the total price will be retained as cancellation fee.
If a cancellation is received between 124 days and 65 days prior to tour departure date, 20% of the total price will be forfeited.
In the case of a cancellation received less than 65 days prior to the boat departure the full amount will be retained.
*Specific Payment and Cancellation/Reschedule policies for Christmas and New Years´ Eve cruise dates
Inclusions & Exclusions
Rates Include:
- Transfers airport/yacht/airport in Galapagos
- Airport reception and assistance
- Double or single accommodation
- Guided expeditions according to the itinerary
- Top bilingual National Park guide (English / Spanish)
- Cruise Service Officer
- Activity daily briefing
- All meals and snacks
- Soft drinks and juices
- Captain’s welcome and farewell cocktail
- Use of sea kayaks and paddle-boards
- Expedition Gear
Not Included:
- Round trip to Galapagos
- Galapagos National Park Entrance fee ($100 - subject to change)
- Transit Control Card ($20 - subject to change)
- Alcoholic beverages
- Gratuities for guide and crew
- Travel and health insurance
- Micro SD Card Mask and snorkel (personal use)
Frequently Asked Questions & Tips
Galapagos is a place that can be visited at any time. There are two season, and the warmest is between December and May. It is the time of year when the sky is always clear, and the sun shines strongly. If you love to dive in amazing places, the best time to visit Galapagos is from June to November. During this season the weather is a little cooler, but it gives you the chance to enjoy the best from Galapagos' famous marine reserve.
Since the islands are situated very near the Equator, we recommend that you bring lightweight clothing and of course, don't forget your swimsuits, sun lotion, and good footwear.
It depends from where you depart. Flights to the Galapagos leave from Quito and Guayaquil. It takes about half an hour to get from Quito to Guayaquil and roughly one and a half hours from Guayaquil to the islands.
For the Galapagos Islands there are no required or recommended immunizations. If you, however, intend to spend more time in Ecuador, especially in the jungle, immunization is highly recommended. As this changes from time to time please check with your local health office (or the Institute for Tropical Diseases) a few weeks in advance of your trip.
Most of our cruises will assign double cabins to all passengers unless you want to pay the single supplement if traveling alone. Triple cabins can also be arranged on request, depending on availability and the vessel you choose.
The Galapagos Islands are 6 hours behind GMT (equivalent to USA Central Standard Time)
The equatorial line does pass through the Galapagos, just north of Isla Santiago. Please refer to our Itinerary page to see which itinerary passes through the equatorial line.
The Galapagos Islands waters have the Humboldt Current's influence that brings cold waters especially during the mist rainy season (cool weather) from July to December. The warm season is during the months of January to June. The southeast trade winds become weaker and the water from the Panama Basin remains warm. During this season there is more of a tropical climate with some occasional rains. "El Niño" current may cause a much greater flow of warm waters, making the surface warmer and rainfall increase.
Average water temperatures in Galapagos:
January - June: 70°F - 80°F (20°C - 26°C)
July - December: 65°F - 75°F (18°C- 23°C)
Snorkeling equipment is available on-board and is an activity on all of our Galapagos Cruises. All water sports convey a certain risk. Passengers participating in these activities do so under their own responsibility.
*Restrictions and fees might apply, please contact us for more information.
Passengers with special dietary needs are asked to request the latest menu offered and in such cases that stated menu does not meet their needs to clearly convey their specific dietary needs. It is the responsibility of passengers with specific dietary needs to addressed additional requirements at least 30 days prior to the start of the cruise. Those general and specific needs not clearly conveyed cannot be met. Every reasonable effort will be made to cater to such requests within reason, subject to availability of products in Ecuador retains the right to refuse to cater such special needs.
Route E is a 5-night cruise aboard the M/C Endemic catamaran, sailing Thursday to Tuesday. You are met at Baltra airport on Thursday and transferred to the boat, and on Tuesday morning, after a visit to the Twin Craters on Santa Cruz, you are transferred back to Baltra for your flight to mainland Ecuador.
- Thursday: Bartolome.
- Friday: Floreana, Devil's Crown or Cormorant Point, Baroness' Lookout and Post Office Bay.
- Saturday: Chinese Hat off Santiago and North Seymour.
- Sunday: Black Turtle Cove and Las Bachas Beach on Santa Cruz.
- Monday: Darwin Bay and Prince Philip's Steps on Genovesa.
- Tuesday: Twin Craters on Santa Cruz.
After lunch on board you land on Bartolome and climb for the famous panorama over Sullivan Bay and Pinnacle Rock. The walk is about 2 km and rated easy. The beaches at the foot of Pinnacle Rock are excellent for snorkelling, and with some luck you may swim with Galapagos penguins.
Genovesa is a seabird island. At Darwin Bay, the only sandy beach inside the caldera, great frigatebirds display their red throat pouches and red-footed boobies nest in the trees. In the afternoon, El Barranco (Prince Philip's Steps), a stairway carved into the rock, leads up to a wide plateau for more bird watching.
The main deck has a lounge and dining area with panoramic views plus a lecture room for briefings. The upper deck offers a sun terrace and a quiet social area for wildlife watching, and the sky deck has alfresco dining, an exterior lounge, a BBQ station and sun loungers. Two stern platforms make getting into the water or tenders easy.
The fare includes airport reception and transfers in the Galapagos, your Golden Suite, all guided expeditions with a bilingual National Park guide, a cruise service officer and daily briefings, all meals and snacks, soft drinks and juices, the captain's welcome and farewell, sea kayaks and paddle-boards, and expedition gear including wetsuits and snorkelling equipment.
The round-trip flight to the Galapagos, the Galapagos National Park entrance fee (100 dollars) and the Transit Control Card (20 dollars) are not included; both fees are subject to change. Gratuities for guides and crew, travel and health insurance, and personal items such as your own mask and snorkel are also extra.
A deposit of 20% reserves your suite and the balance is due 65 days before departure. Fares start from USD 7,850 per person in a double suite, with 14 Thursday departures on sale from 15 October 2026 through 25 May 2028; the exact fare for each is shown on this page.
The Thursday departures listed on this page are bookable directly online: pick your date and suite and follow the booking steps. For questions, email travel@palacetours.com, call 786-408-0610, or message us on WhatsApp at https://wa.me/17864080610, where a travel specialist or our AI assistant will reply.
Media Gallery
Endemic Dish
Endemic Exterior
Endemic Exterior Front
Endemic Terrace
Endemic Twin Cabin
Endemic King cabin
Endemic Jacuzzi
Endemic King Suite
Endemic Upper Deck Al fresco dining
Endemic Lower deck Al fresco Dining
Endemic Upper deck terrace
Endemic Upper Deck
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From $7,850 per person (double occupancy, USD) — live dates and rates are in the Book This Tour section above.
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