TOLL FREE: 800-724-5120

Natural Paradise Yacht: Route B (Tuesday-Tuesday)

8 Days (7 Nights)
Natural Paradise Yacht: Route B (Tuesday-Tuesday)

Overview

The Natural Paradise Luxury Yacht offers travelers a variety of accommodation options that suit everyone's needs, while always offering the best quality in the overall experience.

Travelers can pick from 9 different spacious and comfortable cabins that include suites with balconies overlooking the ocean, junior suites, and staterooms, all featuring large bathrooms, air-conditioning, and luxury amenities.

Islands you will visit:

  • Santa Cruz
  • Isabela
  • Fernandina
  • Chinese Hat
  • Mosquera
  • Floreana
  • Española
  • San Cristobal

Itinerary

Itinerary

DAY 1
BALTRA ISLAND / SANTA CRUZ ISLAND

Tuesday: Arrival to Baltra

  • AM: Arrival to Baltra Airport and Transfer to the boat.
  • PM: Eden Islet
  • Off the western coast of Santa Cruz Island, Eden Islet offers visitors a great chance to see a variety of Galapagos wildlife from the dinghy ride both on shore and under the water.
  • Highlights:
  • Endemic salemas, reef sharks, Nazca and blue footed boobies
  • Possible Activities:
  • Dinghy ride and snorkeling
  • Type of Landing:
  • No landing
  • Difficulty:
  • Easy
DAY 2
FERNANDINA ISLAND / ISABELA ISLAND

Wednesday: Isabela and Fernandina

  • AM: Vicente Roca Point
  • Located on the northwestern coast of the island and comprised of two separate coves, this site is a large bay with spectacular sea life. Seahorses, sea turtles, and the strange yet fascinating Mola mola (sunfish) may be spotted here. This bay is great for diving and snorkeling.
  •  
  • Highlights:
  • Penguins, blue-footed boobies, terns, Nazca boobies, sea lions; snorkeling: sea turtles, rays and puffer fish.
  • Possible Activities:
  • Snorkeling & dinghy ride
  • Type of Landing:
  • No landing
  • Difficulty:
  • Easy / moderate
  •  
  • PM: Espinoza Point
  • No foreign species have ever invaded Fernandina Island, and therefore it is one of the world's most pristine island ecosystems. The volcano “La Cumbre” dominates the landspace with lava fields reaching the ocean. The island's highlight features the flightless cormorant nesting site. This area provides a great opportunity to see the Galapagos hawk.
  •  
  • Highlights:
  • Flightless cormorant, marine iguanas, 'a'a lava, sea lions, penguins, active volcano “La Cumbre”
  • Possible Activities:
  • Hike (1.2 miles/2 km)
  • Type of Landing:
  • Dry and slippery at low tide
  • Difficulty:
  • Moderate
DAY 3
ISABELA ISLAND

Thursday: Isabela Island

  • AM: Urbina Bay
  • Urbina Bay is located at the base of Alcedo Volcano on the west coast between Tagus Cove and Elizabeth Bay. This area experienced a major uplift in 1954 causing the land to rise over 16 feet. The coast expanded half a mile out leaving marine life stranded on the new shore. This area is also a great place for snorkeling.
  • Highlights:
  • Land iguanas (the biggest in the Galapagos), hawks, coral reef, giant tortoises; snorkeling: turtles, rays, tropical fish
  • Possible Activities:
  • Snorkeling, dinghy ride & hike, 2 trails: short (0.6miles/1 km), long (1.9miles/3km)
  • Type of Landing:
  • Wet landing
  • Difficulty:
  • Easy / moderate
  •  
  • PM: Moreno Point
  • Moreno Point is located near Elizabeth Bay on the west coast of Isabela Island. The plethora of birds seen during a dinghy ride along the striking rocky shores or a hike along path through lava rock leading to tide pools and mangroves create a birdwatcher’s delight. In the tide pools, green sea turtles or white-tip sharks can be spotted.
  • Highlights:
  • Flamingos, gallinules, pintail ducks, turtles, white-tip reef sharks.
  • Possible Activities:
  • Snorkeling, dinghy ride & hike (1.2miles/2km)
  • Type of Landing:
  • Dry landing
  • Difficulty:
  • Moderate / difficult
DAY 4
ISABELA ISLAND

Friday: Isabela Island

  • AM: Sierra Negra Volcano
  • The Sierra Negra Volcano boasts the largest basaltic caldera in Galapagos at 9 x 10 km. The site offers impressive views and the opportunity to observe up to 7 species of finch and a rich display of vegetation. The north side of the caldera provides evidence of its most recent volcanic activity in 2005.
  • Highlights:
  • Basaltic caldera, stunning views, finches
  • Possible Activities:
  • Hiking, walking
  • Type of Landing:
  • Dry landing
  • Difficulty:
  • Moderate
  •  
  • PM: The Wetlands (Puerto Villamil)
  • The Wetlands of Isabela Island are located just outside of Puerto Villamil. The Wetlands consist of lagoons, swamps, and mangroves and are home to a variety of unique bird species such as common stilts, whimbrels, white-cheeked pintails, and gallinules. The Wetlands can be visited on foot via a path that winds through the swamps.
  • Highlights:
  • Giant mangroves, shore birds
  • Possible Activities:
  • Hiking
  • Type of Landing:
  • Dry landing
  • Difficulty:
  • Easy
  • Tortoise Breeding Station (Puerto Villamil)
  • This center was created to protect animals in their first years of life from the threats of foreign species such as pigs and donkeys. Giant tortoise eggs are collected and brought to the center where they are hatched and kept for five years before being released to their natural environment.
  • Highlights:
  • Two of the five subspecies of the giant tortoise
  • Possible Activities:
  • Walking
  • Type of Landing:
  • Dry landing
  • Difficulty:
  • Easy
  •  
DAY 5
CHINESE HAT ISLET / MOSQUERA ISLAND

Saturday: Chinese Hat and Mosquera

  • AM: Chinese Hat Islet
  • This small islet is located near the southeast coast of Santiago Island. Its name comes from the distinct shape of the islet's summit. This small islet is a great location to view many geological formations such as lava tubes and lava flows.
  • Possible Activities:
  • Hike & snorkeling (1,9 miles / 3 km)
  • Type of Landing:
  • Wet landing
  • Difficulty:
  • Easy / Moderate
  • PM: Mosquera Islet
  • Located between the islands of Baltra and North Seymour, this reef of rocks and coral (the result of an uprising) is only 160 meters across at its narrowest width. This island has one of the largest populations of sea lions and is home to many shorebirds. There have been occasional reports at this site of orcas feeding on sea lions.
  • Highlights:
  • Sea lions, shore birds
  • Possible Activities:
  • Dinghy ride, snorkeling
  • Type of Landing:
  • No landing
  • Difficulty:
  • Easy
  •  
DAY 6
FLOREANA ISLAND

Sunday: Floreana Island

  • AM: Post Office Bay
  • In the 18th century whalers passing through the islands placed a wooden barrel on Floreana Island for use as an unofficial mail box. The tradition continues today as visitors leave addressed postcards in the barrel and sort through left mail to deliver at home.
  • Highlights:
  • Post office barrel, nice sandy beach
  • Possible Activities:
  • Short hike (less than 0.6 miles/1 km) & snorkeling
  • Type of Landing:
  • Wet landing
  • Difficulty:
  • Easy
  • PM: Cormorant Point
  • This site hosts a large flamingo lagoon where other birds such as common stilts and white-cheeked pintails can also be seen. The beaches on this island are distinct: The “Green Beach” named so due to its green color, which comes from a high percentage of olivine crystals in the sand, and the “Four Sand Beach” composed of white coral.
  • Highlights:
  • Flamingos, green-colored beach
  • Possible Activities:
  • Dinghy ride & hike (1.2 miles /2 km)
  • Type of Landing:
  • Wet landing
  • Difficulty:
  • Easy
  • Champion Islet
  • The Champion Island, named after the whaler Andrew Champion, is a small island located just offshore Floreana Island in the southern part of the Archipelago, considered as one of the most beautiful places on Galapagos for all snorkeling and diving fans and an excellent opportunity for dolphin watching.
  • Highlights:
  • See lions, reef fish and Nasca boobies
  • Possible Activities:
  • Snoreling and dinghy ride
  • Type of Landing:
  • Wet landing
  • Difficulty:
  • Moderate / Difficult
  •  
  •  
DAY 7
ESPAñOLA ISLAND

Mondaly: Española Island

  • AM: Suarez Point
  • This area is great for spotting blue-footed boobies, albatrosses and Nazca boobies. A beautiful site on the ocean front, the large waved albatrosses use the cliff as a launching pad. The famous attraction is the magnificent blowhole, spurting water high into the air. This site presents wonderful photograph opportunities.
  • Highlights:
  • Hood mockingbirds, Nazca boobies, waved albatrosses, red-billed tropicbirds, lava lizards, Galapagos hawks, blue-footed boobies, blowhole, amazing landscape
  • Possible Activities:
  • Hike (1.9 miles/3 km)
  • Type of Landing:
  • Dry landing
  • Difficulty:
  • Difficult
  • PM: Gardner Bay
  • Gardner Bay, on the eastern side of the island, is the breeding site of nearly all of the world´s 12,000 pairs of waved albatrosses. It has an ample white sandy beach with a myriad of sea lions, perfect for relaxing. Its rocky shores make this site a great place for diving and snorkeling.
  • Highlights:
  • White sandy beach, sea lions, mockingbirds; snorkeling: colorful fish, sea lion nursery
  • Possible Activities:
  • Snorkeling, dinghy ride, kayaking, short hike of (0.6 miles/1 km)
  • Type of Landing:
  • Wet landing
  • Difficulty:
  • Easy
  •  
DAY 8
SAN CRISTOBAL

Tuesday: San Cristobal Island

  • AM: Lobos Island
  • The name of this island means "Sea Lion Island." This appropriately named island is ripe with noisy, frolicking, jolly sea lions who will welcome you to their home with open, well, fins. This island also offers great snorkeling opportunities as well as the chance to see blue-footed and Nazca boobies.
  • Highlights:
  • Snorkeling with sea lions, frigatebirds, blue-footed boobies
  • Possible Activities:
  • Short hike (less than 0.6 miles/1 km), dinghy ride and / or snorkeling.
  • Type of Landing:
  • Dry landing
  • Difficulty:
  • Easy / moderate
  • After this tour, transfer to San Cristobal Airport.
  •  

Book This Tour

Loading departure information...

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 copy
  • 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 125 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.

*Christmas & New Year: special conditions apply. Please contact us for details.

Inclusions & Exclusions

Rates Include

  • All meals throughout cruise
  • Transfers in the islands
  • All excursions
  • Bilingual national park guide
  • FREE airport assistance*
  • FREE hotel night (1) in Quito or Guayaquil the day before the cruise*
  • FREE airport transfer (1) for Galapagos flight*
*Restrictions Apply. Please contact us for more information

Not Included

  • Mainland-Galapagos-Mainland airfare
  • Alcoholic drinks
  • US$100 Galapagos National Park fee
  • US$20 Transit Control Card
  • Travel / medical insurance
  • Tips
  • Personal expenses

Frequently Asked Questions & Tips

1 When is the best time to visit Galapagos?

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.

2 What should we bring?

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.

3 How long is the flight from Ecuador to the Galapagos?

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.

4 Are there any immunizations required/recommended?

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.

5 Are single or triple suites available?

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.

6 What is the time zone of the Galapagos Islands?

The Galapagos Islands are 6 hours behind GMT (equivalent to USA Central Standard Time)

7 Does the equatorial line cross the Galapagos Islands?

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.

8 What are marine currents like the Galapagos?

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.

9 What is the water temperature in the Islands?

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)

10 Can you snorkel in the Galapagos?

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.

11 Special Diets:

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.

Media Gallery