Discover the extraordinary islands and endemic wildlife of the Galápagos on an intimate 15-day voyage.
Few wildlife journeys can match the Galápagos Islands, a remote Pacific archipelago and UNESCO site renowned for unparalleled biodiversity and otherworldly volcanic landscapes, where endemic species thrive in splendid isolation. Over 15 days aboard the Beluga — a boutique live-aboard yacht carrying only a small number of guests — this cruise explores both the eastern and western islands, from Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal, Española, Floreana and Genovesa to Isabela, Fernandina, Santiago and North Seymour. Guided by certified naturalists, you will encounter wildlife found nowhere else on Earth and snorkel in one of the world’s largest and most biodiverse marine reserves.
As the yacht travels overnight, each day begins in a new location, maximising your time ashore and in the water. Highlights range from giant tortoises at the Charles Darwin Station and the highland tortoise reserves, to the seabird nesting grounds of Genovesa, the Waved Albatross of Española and the flightless cormorants and marine iguanas of Fernandina, along with snorkelling among sea lions, penguins, rays and sea turtles. With walking, hiking, snorkelling and kayaking across inhabited and uninhabited islands of the National Park, this is an intimate, immersive voyage into the heart of the Galápagos.
| Starts in Baltra Island | Ends in Baltra Island | Duration: 15 Days | Next departure: May 2028 |
Highlights:
Charles Darwin Station & highland tortoise reserves (Santa Cruz): Giant tortoises in their natural highland environment and a tortoise breeding programme, with tortoises at various stages of life.
Kicker Rock (San Cristóbal): An iconic landmark circumnavigated by the yacht, with striking views, near the highlands’ El Junco crater lake and La Galapaguera tortoise site.
Punta Suárez, Española: Dramatic cliffs and a natural Blowhole, with Nazca and Blue-footed Boobies, marine iguanas, and Waved Albatross courtship from April to December.
Devil’s Crown, Floreana: A submerged volcanic crater and one of the top snorkelling spots in the Galápagos, teeming with marine life.
Genovesa (Tower) Island: Darwin Bay and Prince Philip’s Steps — vibrant seabird nesting grounds with Red-footed Boobies, frigatebirds, storm petrels and Short-eared Owls.
Sierra Negra sulphur mines (Isabela): A hike into one of the Galápagos’s most active volcanoes, with steaming fumaroles releasing sulphur-rich gases.
Punta Espinoza, Fernandina: Large marine iguana colonies, flightless cormorants and Galápagos Hawks on the youngest and most westerly island.
Bartolomé Island: The iconic Pinnacle Rock and panoramic views, with snorkelling among penguins, rays and tropical fish.
Top Wildlife & Marine Life – Galápagos Giant Tortoise, Galápagos Land Iguana, Galápagos Marine Iguana, Lava Lizard, Galápagos Sea Lion, Galápagos Fur Seal, Green Sea Turtle, White-tipped Reef Shark, Galápagos Shark, Scalloped Hammerhead Shark, Golden (Cownose) Ray, Spotted Eagle Ray, Stingray, Manta Ray, Pacific Seahorse, Moray Eel, Tropical reef fish (parrotfish, wrasses, surgeonfish)
Top birds – Waved Albatross, Blue-footed Booby, Nazca Booby, Red-footed Booby, Flightless Cormorant, Galápagos Penguin, Galápagos Hawk, Short-eared Owl, Swallow-tailed Gull, Lava Gull, Red-billed Tropicbird, Magnificent Frigatebird, Great Frigatebird, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Vermilion Flycatcher
Day to day summary:
| Day 1 | Arrival, Tortoise Reserve & Charles Darwin Station |
| Day 2 | South Plazas & Santa Fe Island |
| Day 3 | San Cristóbal |
| Day 4 | Española Island – Gardner Bay & Punta Suárez |
| Day 5 | Floreana Island |
| Day 6 | Santa Cruz & Santiago Island |
| Day 7 | Genovesa (Tower) Island |
| Day 8 | Santa Cruz |
| Day 9 | Sombrero Chino & Rábida |
| Day 10 | Isabela Island & the Sulphur Mines |
| Day 11 | Western Isabela – Punta Moreno & Elizabeth Bay |
| Day 12 | Urbina Bay & Tagus Cove |
| Day 13 | Fernandina Island |
| Day 14 | Santiago Island & Bartolomé Island |
| Day 15 | North Seymour & Departure |
Day to Day Itinerary
DAY 1: Arrival, Tortoise Reserve & Charles Darwin Station
On arrival at Baltra Airport, you are met by your guide and taken by bus to the canal, where a ferry crosses to Santa Cruz Island. A scenic drive brings us to Los Gemelos, a pair of sunken craters with breathtaking views, before we visit a highland Tortoise Reserve to observe giant tortoises in their natural environment and enjoy lunch. Afterwards we explore the Charles Darwin Station to learn about the tortoise breeding programme and see tortoises at various stages of life, and, if time allows, take a stroll through the streets of Puerto Ayora. We then board a dinghy to the yacht, where the crew welcomes us aboard for dinner as the vessel begins motoring to its first destination. Wildlife to look for includes giant tortoises, endemic birds, sea lions, marine iguanas and lava lizards.
DAY 2: South Plazas & Santa Fe Island
We wake to the views of South Plazas Island and, after breakfast, take a dinghy ashore where sea lions greet us. A scenic trail of around 1.5 hours, scattered with Red-billed Tropicbirds, Swallow-tailed Gulls and land iguanas, leads to a cliff lookout with sweeping views and bachelor sea lions. We return to the yacht for lunch as it motors to Santa Fe Island, where we take our first snorkel in the celebrated Galápagos Marine Park, with the chance to swim alongside sea lions and other marine life. In the afternoon we land on a beach dotted with sea lions and walk uphill among towering opuntia cacti and vibrant yellow land iguanas, before returning aboard for dinner and a debrief. Wildlife to look for includes sea lions, endemic birds, land and marine iguanas, lava lizards, sharks, rays and sea turtles.
DAY 3: San Cristóbal
San Cristóbal is the easternmost and oldest island of the archipelago. After breakfast we visit Cerro Brujo, near the historic spot where Charles Darwin first arrived in the Galápagos; a short dinghy ride brings us to a white-sand beach for a scenic walk along the shore to a nearby lagoon (around 1.5 hours), followed by a snorkel in the coastal waters. As we continue toward Kicker Rock we take in striking views while circumnavigating this iconic landmark, then head to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno and up into the highlands. Here we explore El Junco, the only freshwater crater lake in the Galápagos, visit the tortoise breeding centre, and continue to La Galapaguera to see tortoises roaming in their natural habitat. Wildlife to look for includes giant tortoises, sea lions, endemic birds, marine iguanas and lava lizards.
DAY 4: Española Island – Gardner Bay & Punta Suárez
We wake to the landscapes of Española Island. After breakfast, a wet landing on the white sands of Gardner Bay brings us among lounging sea lions, with hawks gliding overhead and curious mockingbirds that may join the walk. We return to the yacht to snorkel among colourful fish, sea turtles and sea lions before lunch aboard. In the afternoon we travel to Punta Suárez, landing at a pier for a scenic hike along dramatic cliffs, taking in the natural Blowhole and wildlife including Nazca Boobies, Blue-footed Boobies and marine iguanas. From April to December we may witness the courtship rituals of the Waved Albatross. We end the day with dinner and a debrief as the yacht sails overnight to Floreana Island. Wildlife to look for includes sea lions, endemic birds, marine iguanas, boobies, Waved Albatross (April–December), mockingbirds, sharks, rays and sea turtles..
DAY 5: Floreana Island
Floreana is known for its colourful history of pirates, whalers, convicts and early settlers, and is home to a small community of fewer than 200 people. We begin with a dinghy ride to Punta Cormorant, exploring a trail that connects two beaches and passes a large lagoon frequented by flamingos. We then snorkel at the renowned Devil’s Crown, a submerged volcanic crater just off Punta Cormorant and one of the top snorkelling spots in the Galápagos, teeming with marine life. After lunch aboard, the yacht makes the short journey to Post Office Bay, where a brief walk leads to the historic wooden mail barrel — where visitors can leave letters or postcards for future travellers to carry onward — as well as the remnants of an old Norwegian tuna-canning site. Wildlife to look for includes sea lions, endemic birds, flamingos, marine iguanas, tropical fish, sharks, rays, eels and sea turtles.
DAY 6: Santa Cruz & Santiago Island
The day starts on the scenic north coast of Santa Cruz Island with an excursion to Dragon Hill (Cerro Dragón). After a dry landing, a 1.5-hour guided walk begins past a lagoon where flamingos and pintail ducks often gather, continuing inland to a habitat for land iguanas and up the hill for a panoramic view. We return to the yacht for lunch as it cruises to Sullivan Bay on Santiago Island, where we walk across rugged, 100-year-old pahoehoe lava flows dotted with lava cacti, then snorkel in the bay — and, with luck, may spot a Galápagos Penguin. We then sail on toward Genovesa (Tower) Island. Wildlife to look for includes penguins, sea lions, endemic birds, land iguanas, tropical fish and sea turtles.
DAY 7: Genovesa (Tower) Island
We begin the morning anchored inside the caldera of Genovesa Island. After breakfast we head to Darwin Bay by dinghy, where a short beach walk brings us into a vibrant nesting ground for Red-footed Boobies, frigatebirds, Lava Gulls, tropicbirds, doves, storm petrels and Yellow-crowned Night Herons. We return to snorkel in the caldera’s deep waters, and later kayak or snorkel with the chance to spot shy Scalloped Hammerhead sharks. In the afternoon we visit Prince Philip’s Steps, where fur seals may greet us at the landing before we ascend to the island’s outer edge along trails lined with fragrant palo santo trees, keeping an eye out for Short-eared Owls and nesting boobies. Wildlife to look for includes Scalloped Hammerheads, sea lions, boobies, doves, Lava Gull, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, storm petrels, tropicbirds, Short-eared Owl, endemic birds and fur seals.
DAY 8: Santa Cruz
The morning begins at the peaceful Black Turtle Cove on Santa Cruz Island, with a scenic dinghy ride through a serene red-mangrove lagoon whose calm waters shelter an abundance of marine life — keep watch for green sea turtles gliding beneath the surface, along with rays and juvenile sharks. After exploring the lagoon we return to the yacht for breakfast as it navigates back toward Baltra Island. From here you may join newly arriving guests for another visit to the Giant Tortoise Reserve and the Charles Darwin Research Station, spend time exploring the town of Puerto Ayora, or opt for a personalised excursion arranged in advance (available at additional cost). Wildlife to look for includes sea turtles, rays, sharks and endemic birds.
DAY 9: Sombrero Chino & Rábida
The day opens with views of Sombrero Chino (“Chinese Hat”), a small volcanic island near the south-eastern tip of Santiago. After a wet landing on its white-sand beach, a guided 1.5-hour walk introduces the island’s wildlife, followed by a snorkel in the canal where we may encounter sea lions, reef sharks, penguins, rays and a vibrant array of tropical fish. After lunch aboard, the yacht cruises to Rábida Island, renowned for its striking red beaches, where a 1.5-hour guided walk offers flamingos, nesting pelicans, marine iguanas and a bachelor colony of sea lions, capped by a snorkel along Rábida’s colourful coast. Wildlife to look for includes sea lions, endemic birds, marine iguanas, lava lizards, sharks, rays, sea turtles, penguins and flamingos.
DAY 10:Isabela Island & the Sulphur Mines
We wake to the southern tip of Isabela Island and the charming town of Puerto Villamil. After breakfast, a dinghy ride to the main dock is followed by a scenic bus journey to a trailhead, from where we hike to the sulphur mines — part of the network of Sierra Negra, one of the Galápagos’s most active volcanoes. The landscape gradually transforms as steaming fumaroles release sulphur-rich gases from deep within the Earth, offering a fascinating glimpse into the island’s volcanic heart. After lunch aboard we return to Villamil to visit the tortoise breeding centre, stroll around the flamingo lagoon and enjoy free time in this coastal town. Wildlife to look for includes sea lions, endemic birds, marine iguanas, Vermilion Flycatcher, flamingos, penguins, rays and reef sharks.
DAY 11: Western Isabela – Punta Moreno & Elizabeth Bay
After breakfast we set out on a scenic dinghy ride around the rocks and islets of Western Isabela, home to an array of wildlife including cormorants, sea lions and Galápagos Penguins. We then explore Punta Moreno on a 1.5-hour guided walk across striking black lava fields, with views of the surrounding volcanoes and unique geological features, before gearing up for a snorkel where we might encounter sea turtles, seahorses, rays, sharks and colourful tropical fish. After lunch aboard we continue to Elizabeth Bay, where a peaceful dinghy ride threads through a lush mangrove lagoon that shelters sea turtles, rays, penguins and other marine life. Wildlife to look for includes giant tortoises, sea lions, endemic birds, marine iguanas, lava lizards, sea turtles, penguins, rays and reef sharks.
DAY 12: Urbina Bay & Tagus Cove
We wake to Urbina Bay, a fascinating site that emerged from the ocean floor in 1954, leaving remnants of the seabed visible to this day. A guided walk along the trail brings us among giant tortoises and vibrant land iguanas in their natural habitat, followed by a snorkel directly from the beach. After lunch aboard we continue to Tagus Cove, a historic harbour once favoured by whalers and pirates, who carved their names into the cliffs and rocks. Here we hike to Darwin’s Crater, a striking saltwater lake surrounded by volcanic landscapes (about a one-hour walk), then enjoy a dinghy ride or snorkel in the cove’s tranquil waters. Wildlife to look for includes sea lions, giant tortoises, land and marine iguanas and endemic birds.
DAY 13: Fernandina Island
Overnight we motor to Fernandina Island, the youngest and most westerly of the Galápagos Islands, renowned for its active volcanoes. After breakfast we take a dinghy to Punta Espinoza, home to large colonies of marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, Galápagos Hawks and the non-venomous Galápagos Snake, and enjoy a leisurely guided walk along flat trails followed by a snorkel in the bay. After lunch aboard, the journey continues back to Isabela Island and Punta Vicente Roca, known for its towering cliffs, breathtaking vistas and a hidden cave; here we snorkel along the cliffs and cave mouth toward a calm bay where we may encounter resting sea turtles, flightless cormorants and a variety of marine life, followed by a scenic circumnavigation of the cliffs. The day ends with a celebration of crossing the Equator and dinner aboard. Wildlife to look for includes sea lions, Galápagos Hawk, marine iguanas, Galápagos Snake, sea turtles, flightless cormorants and penguins.
DAY 14: Santiago Island & Bartolomé Island
We wake to the views of Santiago Island. After breakfast, a dinghy takes us to Puerto Egas for a coastal walk along rugged lava formations leading to some of the Galápagos’s most vibrant tide pools, home to fur seals lounging in grottos, oystercatchers foraging along the shore and marine iguanas basking on the volcanic rock; in the distance stand the Sugar Loaf Volcano and the remnants of an old salt mine. We return aboard for lunch, then journey to Bartolomé Island, renowned for its iconic Pinnacle Rock and breathtaking views. We ascend the stairs to marvel at the panorama and snorkel around Pinnacle Rock, where we might encounter penguins, rays, sharks and vibrant tropical fish, before sailing overnight to North Seymour. Wildlife to look for includes penguins, sea lions, fur seals and endemic birds such as pintail ducks and Swallow-tailed Gulls, along with tropical fish, rays and sea turtles.
DAY 15: North Seymour & Departure
On our final morning, before breakfast, a dinghy ride brings us to North Seymour, a flat island uplifted thousands of years ago that offers a fascinating glimpse into the Galápagos’s geological history. A 1.5-hour guided walk takes us among thriving wildlife, including colonies of Blue-footed Boobies, Swallow-tailed Gulls, Magnificent and Great Frigatebirds and sea lions, with the chance to spot reef sharks along the shoreline. We return to the yacht for breakfast as it cruises toward Baltra Island, where the itinerary comes to an end and you are transferred to the airport for your departing flight or onward travels. Wildlife to look for includes sea turtles, rays, sharks, endemic birds, Great and Magnificent Frigatebirds and Blue-footed Boobies.
Optional extension
Guests wishing to extend their stay can enjoy discounted add-ons at a lodge in the tranquil highlands of Santa Cruz Island — an ideal place to relax after the cruise.
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