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Monique Galapagos Luxury Cruise - 7 Nights, Itinerary A (Thursday to Thursday)

8 Days (7 Nights)
Monique Galapagos Luxury Cruise - 7 Nights, Itinerary A (Thursday to Thursday)

Overview

This 7-night Itinerary A sails Thursday to Thursday aboard the M/C Monique and visits Santa Cruz, Rabida, Santiago, Chinese Hat, Isabela, Fernandina, North Seymour and Mosquera. Fares start at US$8,290 per person in a double cabin, with departures listed below through 2028. The right choice for solo travellers and for guests who want a quieter hybrid boat at a lower fare.

The M/C Monique is a 16-guest catamaran with eight Golden Double Staterooms, four on the main deck and four on the upper deck, plus dedicated single staterooms that let solo travellers cruise without a supplement. Staterooms are furnished with a king bed or two twins, a private bathroom and large picture windows.

The main deck has a forward observation platform, an indoor dining room and a panoramic lounge. The upper deck offers a shaded terrace and a bow sun terrace, and the sky deck brings an outdoor lounge, al-fresco dining, a bar and a whirlpool. Monique runs on hybrid engines with solar panels and lithium batteries, so the boat is quieter at anchor than most of its generation.

The crew-to-guest ratio is close to one to one, with a Cruise Service Officer assigned to each cabin. Licensed Galapagos National Park naturalist guides lead the excursions in groups of eight; snorkelling equipment, wetsuits and kayaks are included.

Islands you will visit

  • Santa Cruz
  • Rabida
  • Santiago
  • Chinese Hat
  • Isabela
  • Fernandina
  • North Seymour
  • Mosquera

Itinerary

Itinerary

DAY 1
SANTA CRUZ ISLAND

Day 1 - Thursday: Baltra Airport / Las Bachas Beach, Santa Cruz Island / Daphne Major Islet

  • Morning: Baltra Airport
  • Upon landing, guests will be welcomed and assisted at the airport before being transferred to the M/C Monique.
  • Afternoon: Las Bachas Beach, Santa Cruz Island
  • In the afternoon, you'll explore Las Bachas, a stunning white-sand beach along the northern coast of Santa Cruz Island. It's a great spot for a relaxing walk or gentle snorkeling. This beach is a nesting site for sea turtles, and you may spot a rusted pontoon-an old-World War II remnant. The name "Bachas" is derived from a mispronunciation of "barges," referring to the two partially sunken vessels in the area.
  • Activities and Excursions: Walking, Snorkeling
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Afternoon: Daphne Major Islet
  • After visiting Las Bachas, the vessel will circumnavigate Daphne Major Islet, a treeless volcanic cone formed from compacted ash. This small yet significant islet serves as an important nesting site for Nazca boobies, red-billed tropicbirds, and blue-footed boobies. As you navigate its rugged perimeter, you'll witness a landscape that has inspired remarkable studies on natural selection and evolution.
  • Activities and Excursions: Circumnavigation
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Meals on board: lunch, dinner
DAY 2
RáBIDA ISLAND

Day 2 - Friday: Rabida Island / Chinese Hat (off Santiago Island)

  • Morning: Rabida Island
  • This morning's visit takes you to Rabida Island, which is renowned for its unique red sand beach. The island is home to striking cactus groves and dramatic rocky landscapes, along with native dry-zone vegetation and endemic species. A walk along the beach might reveal brown pelican nests and occasionally flamingos in a nearby saltwater lagoon.
  • Activities and Excursions: Walking, Snorkeling, Kayaking/Stand-up paddleboarding,
  • Dinghy ride.
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Afternoon: Chinese Hat (off Santiago Island)
  • In the afternoon, you will visit Chinese Hat, 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 and Excursions: Walking, Snorkeling, Kayaking/Stand-up paddleboarding,
  • Dinghy ride.
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Meals on board: breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 3
ISABELA ISLAND

Day 3 - Saturday: Vicente Roca Point (Isabela Island) / Espinoza Point (Fernandina Island)

  • Morning: Vicente Roca Point (Isabela Island)
  • Only accessible by dinghy, this expansive bay on Isabela's northwest coast features two coves that attract a variety of nesting birds, including blue-footed and Nazca boobies, storm petrels, and Brown Noddies. The nutrient-rich waters make this a premier snorkeling spot, where whales, dolphins, sea lions, and marine birds can often be seen feeding.
  • Activities and Excursions: Snorkeling, Dinghy ride
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Afternoon: Espinoza Point (Fernandina Island)
  • As one of the most pristine islands in the archipelago, Fernandina has never had a foreign species invade. It is also the most active island and farthest west. Espinoza point is the only visitor site on the entire island. Here you can see marine iguanas, Galapagos hawks and enjoy a walking and snorkeling activity at one of the most natural, unspoiled sites in the entire world.
  • Activities: Walking, Snorkeling, Dinghy ride
  • Difficulty: Easy / Moderate
  • Meals on board: breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 4
ISABELA ISLAND

Day 4 - Sunday: Moreno Point (Isabela Island) / Elizabeth Bay (Isabela Island)

  • Morning: Moreno Point (Isabela Island)
  • Moreno point is located on the west coast of Isabela Island and although it appears a barren lava flow at first, a walk along one of the trails soon reveals a multitude of beautiful green lagoons and mangroves and is a fantastic place to see penguins, blue herons and flamingos. Meanwhile, a dinghy ride or snorkel along the rocky shoreline is a wonderful way to spot green sea turtles and white-tip sharks.
  • Activities and Excursions: Walking, Snorkeling, Dinghy Ride
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Afternoon: Elizabeth Bay (Isabela Island)
  • This visitor site is visited by dinghy only as the park authorities have no authorized
  • landing in order to protect the island. While in the dinghy you can appreciate a large abundance of marine life that can be seen in the clear waters.
  • Activities and Excursions: Kayaking/Stand-up paddleboarding, Dinghy Ride
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Meals on board: breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 5
ISABELA ISLAND

Day 5 - Monday: Urbina Bay (Isabela Island) / Tagus Cove (Isabela Island)

  • Morning: Urbina Bay (Isabela Island)
  • Millions of years ago, Urbina Bay was once laying on the ocean floor. Volcanic uplifts caused it to rise and now it is occupied by sea lions, land iguanas and flightless cormorants. It is a great place to enjoy some free time on the beach or the guide may suggest a walk.
  • Activities and Excursions: Walking, Snorkeling
  • Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
  • Afternoon: Tagus Cove (Isabela Island)
  • If you like historic remnants, then you will enjoy finding what was left behind by pirates and sailors in the 1800s. This site was one of their preferred pit stops while traveling the seas. The walking here will provide incredible views of the cove and on the other side the mangrove forest where the last 35 pairs of Mangrove finches thrive.
  • Activities and Excursions: Walking, Snorkeling, Kayaking/Stand-up paddleboarding,
  • Dinghy ride
  • Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
  • Meals on board: breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 6
SANTIAGO ISLAND

Day 6 - Tuesday: Espumilla Beach (Santiago Island) / Buccaneer Cove (Santiago Island)

  • Morning: Espumilla Beach (Santiago Island)
  • Espumilla Beach, located on the northern coast of Santiago Island, is an exquisite white sand beach whose name refers to the meringue -like trails of foam left by the lapping of the waves and is a popular place for marine iguanas. Sally Lightfoot crabs are abundant here, attracting predatory birds such as hawks, herons, and pelicans. With an abundance of marine life including octopi, moray eel, and shark, snorkeling is recommended and available.
  • Activities and Excursions: Walking, Snorkeling, Kayaking/Stand-up paddleboarding,
  • Dinghy ride
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Afternoon: Buccaneer Cove (Santiago Island)
  • Located just north of James Bay, Buccaneer Cove was once a safe haven for sailors, buccaneers, and whalers during the 17th and 18th centuries, who anchored their vessels here to stash loot, collect fresh water, and capture giant tortoises for food. Today, this dramatic site of red cliffs and eroded rock formations attracts wildlife rather than ships. The cove's steep walls provide nesting ledges for blue -footed and Nazca boobies, pelicans, and gulls, while sea lions and fur seals rest along the shore. It is also an important nesting site for sea turtles. A dinghy ride offers close -up views of the impressive coastline and abundant birdlife, while snorkeling, kayaking, or paddleboarding reveal a rich variety of marine species beneath the surface.
  • Activities and Excursions: Snorkeling, Dinghy Ride, Kayaking / paddleboarding
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Meals on board: breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 7
NORTH SEYMOUR ISLAND

Day 7 - Wednesday: North Seymour Island / Mosquera Islet

  • Morning: North Seymour Island
  • Named after British naval officer Lord Hugh Seymour, this small island is covered in low- lying vegetation and teems with birdlife. You'll encounter blue-footed boobies, swallow -tailed gulls, and a substantial colony of magnificent frigatebirds, with males displaying their vibrant red throat pouches to attract mates.
  • Activities and Excursions: Walking, Snorkeling, Dinghy Ride
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Afternoon: Mosquera Islet
  • Positioned between Baltra and North Seymour, Mosquera is a flat, sandy islet without a designated trail, allowing for free exploration. It's known for its thriving sea lion colony, shorebirds, and colorful Sally Lightfoot crabs. The surrounding reefs make for excellent snorkeling, with chances to spot rays, turtles, and reef sharks.
  • Activities and Excursions: Walking, Snorkeling
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Meals on board: breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 8
SANTA CRUZ ISLAND

Day 8 - Thursday: Charles Darwin Research Station

  • Morning: Charles Darwin Research Station
  • Visit the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center, also known as the Charles Darwin Research Station. The center hosts an interpretation center, museum, library, and tortoise breeding facility, home to various tortoise subspecies being prepared for reintroduction.
  • Activities and Excursions: Walking
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Meals on board: breakfast
  • After your last visit, you will be transferred to the Baltra airport for your return flight to mainland Ecuador. Assistance and farewell at the airport.

Book This Tour

Monique Galapagos Luxury Cruise - 7 Nights, Itinerary A (Thursday to Thursday)
Choose Departure and Occupancy
Prices per person
Date
Golden Stateroom
2026 Departures
Thu
24Sep
2026
Golden Stateroom
Per person
US$ 8,290.00
Golden Stateroom
Thu
22Oct
2026
Golden Stateroom
Per person
US$ 8,290.00
Golden Stateroom
Thu
19Nov
2026
Golden Stateroom
Per person
US$ 8,290.00
Golden Stateroom
Thu
3Dec
2026
Golden Stateroom
Per person
US$ 8,290.00
Golden Stateroom
2027 Departures
Thu
3Jun
2027
Golden Stateroom
Per person
US$ 8,690.00
Golden Stateroom
Thu
15Jul
2027
Golden Stateroom
Per person
US$ 8,690.00
Golden Stateroom
Thu
29Jul
2027
Golden Stateroom
Per person
US$ 8,690.00
Golden Stateroom
Thu
12Aug
2027
Golden Stateroom
Per person
US$ 8,690.00
Golden Stateroom
Thu
26Aug
2027
Golden Stateroom
Per person
US$ 8,690.00
Golden Stateroom
Thu
9Sep
2027
Golden Stateroom
Per person
US$ 8,690.00
Golden Stateroom
Thu
23Sep
2027
Golden Stateroom
Per person
US$ 8,690.00
Golden Stateroom
Thu
7Oct
2027
Golden Stateroom
Per person
US$ 8,690.00
Golden Stateroom
Thu
4Nov
2027
Golden Stateroom
Per person
US$ 8,690.00
Golden Stateroom
Thu
18Nov
2027
Golden Stateroom
Per person
US$ 8,690.00
Golden Stateroom
Thu
2Dec
2027
Golden Stateroom
Per person
US$ 8,690.00
Golden Stateroom
Thu
16Dec
2027
Golden Stateroom
Per person
US$ 8,690.00
Golden Stateroom
2028 Departures
Thu
13Jan
2028
Golden Stateroom
Per person
US$ 9,190.00
Golden Stateroom
Thu
27Jan
2028
Golden Stateroom
Per person
US$ 9,190.00
Golden Stateroom
Thu
10Feb
2028
Golden Stateroom
Per person
US$ 9,190.00
Golden Stateroom
Thu
24Feb
2028
Golden Stateroom
Per person
US$ 9,190.00
Golden Stateroom
Thu
9Mar
2028
Golden Stateroom
Per person
US$ 9,190.00
Golden Stateroom
Thu
23Mar
2028
Golden Stateroom
Per person
US$ 9,190.00
Golden Stateroom
Thu
6Apr
2028
Golden Stateroom
Per person
US$ 9,190.00
Golden Stateroom
Thu
4May
2028
Golden Stateroom
Per person
US$ 9,190.00
Golden Stateroom
Thu
18May
2028
Golden Stateroom
Per person
US$ 9,190.00
Golden Stateroom
Thu
1Jun
2028
Golden Stateroom
Per person
US$ 9,190.00
Golden Stateroom
Thu
15Jun
2028
Golden Stateroom
Per person
US$ 9,190.00
Golden Stateroom
Thu
29Jun
2028
Golden Stateroom
Per person
US$ 9,190.00
Golden Stateroom

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

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.

12 Which islands does the Monique Itinerary A visit?

The 7-night Itinerary A visits Santa Cruz, Rabida, Santiago, Chinese Hat, Isabela, Fernandina, North Seymour and Mosquera, sailing Thursday to Thursday. See the day-by-day tab for the landing sites and activities on each day.

13 What is included in the M/C Monique fare?

Accommodation in your suite, all meals and snacks on board, soft drinks, guided excursions with licensed National Park naturalists, snorkelling equipment and wetsuits, kayaks and paddle boards, Galapagos airport transfers and a welcome and farewell cocktail. Flights to the islands, the Galapagos National Park fee and transit card, alcoholic drinks and gratuities are extra.

14 Are the Monique rates shown the current published rates?

Yes. The dates and per-person double-occupancy fares on this page are refreshed from the vessel's live inventory. Seasonal promotions on individual departures are applied when you enquire, so ask us for the best current fare on your preferred date.

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