Discover the Galápagos archipelago, a fascinating living laboratory of Darwin’s breakthrough theory of evolution. Here, you can snorkel with playful sea lions and quirky penguins, sit among a colorful band of marine iguanas, gaze into the old eyes of a giant tortoise, and walk alongside a blue-footed booby.
For the July 7 and July 14 departures, the expedition ship M.S. Polaris will be your base for exploring the most diverse of the Galápagos Islands. The July 1 and 8 departures will be aboard the M.S. Islander, and the islands will be visited in a slightly different order. On all departures, our National Geographic expert will be joined by a team of local naturalists and a family coordinator, who will organize hands-on activities for kids.
Day 1 Miami/Guayaquil, Ecuador
Depart Miami for Guayaquil, Ecuador. Upon arrival, transfer to our hotel.
Hotel Hilton Colón
Day 2 Guayaquil/Galápagos/Embark Polaris
This morning, fly to the Galápagos Islands and board the comfortable 80-passenger expedition ship Polaris. During lunch we sail to Santa Cruz Island for a magnificent introduction to the varied wildlife. Spend the afternoon exploring the shoreline of Cerro Dragon, looking for land iguanas, sea lions, a variety of birds, and schools of golden rays.
Polaris
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Day 3 Isla Española
A paradise for bird lovers, Isla Española is home to Darwin's finches, Hood mockingbirds, blue-footed boobies, and waved albatrosses. You'll also see Española marine iguanas, which develop particularly vivid coloration. This afternoon, snorkel along or stroll one of the Galápagos' best white-sand beaches.
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Day 4 Isla Floreana/Isla Isabela
Early risers can take a Zodiac ride to Post Office Bay. If you see a letter addressed to someone who lives near you, the tradition is to deliver it to them by hand. Afterwards, snorkel among sea lions or take a glass-bottom boat cruise and perhaps see a hammerhead shark, and visit a flamingo-filled lagoon. Later, sail for Isabela. Walk the streets of the small town of Puerto Villamil and visit the nearby salt water lagoons, home to flamingos and many shore birds, or simply stroll along a beautiful beach.
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Day 5 Isla Fernandina/Isla Isabela
This morning, explore Punta Espinoza on Isla Fernandina—the youngest, most pristine, and most volcanically active island in the Galápagos. Through a grove of white mangroves lies the largest colony of marine iguanas in the Galápagos. Sea lions play along the coast, and flightless cormorants hunt from their nesting site at the end of the point, while Isla Isabela’s volcanoes create a dramatic backdrop. In the afternoon, explore Isabela’s caves and shoreline, and search the waters for dolphins, whales, sea turtles, and the astonishing ocean sunfish—the mola-mola.
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Day 6 Isla Santa Cruz
On Santa Cruz Island, visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, a research and breeding station for endangered native species. Join a staff member for an introduction to the Darwin Foundation’s pioneering ecological studies and giant Galápagos tortoise breeding program. Later, travel into the highlands and roam the moss-draped landscape where wild tortoises often forage. In the evening, members of the research station or the national park headquarters join us for a talk.
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Day 7 Isla Genovesa
Genovesa, a collapsed volcanic caldera, is one of the most isolated islands, making it the perfect starting and stopping point for many flocks of migratory birds. Along trails through the saltbushes you may spot red-footed and masked (Nazca) boobies, as well as frigatebirds, storm petrels, yellow-crowned night herons, or lava gulls.
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Day 8 Isla Bartolomé/Isla Santiago
Bartolomé's landscape is an enchanting convergence of lava flows, mangroves, and beautiful white-sand beaches. After a short walk, relax on the beach or snorkel—you may have the opportunity to swim with Galápagos penguins. Later, cruise to Santiago in search of Galápagos fur seals, sea lions, Sally Lightfoot crabs, and other endemic species along a path following a series of pools and underwater caverns offering some of the best “tide pooling” in the islands.
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Day 9 Galápagos/Quito
After breakfast, disembark Polaris and fly back to Quito. The evening is at your leisure.
Hotel Hilton Colón
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Day 10 Quito/Miami
Depart Quito for Miami this morning, arriving in the early afternoon.
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The Islander accommodates 47 guests in 24 cabins facing outward, with private facilities and climate control. The ship features Zodiacs, snorkeling gear, wet suits, video microscope, hydrophone, Splash-Cam, a doctor’s office, gift shop, e-mail station, library, lounge, and dining room.
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