Galapagos Islands Small Yacht Cruise

This is one of four different Galápagos itineraries, each exploring a unique combination of islands. While daily routes vary, this overview gives you a great sense of what to expect in terms of wildlife encounters, activities, and the overall expedition experience no matter which islands you visit.

Days 1–2: Touch Down in Ecuador

When you arrive in Quito, Ecuador’s high altitude capital, you’ll find a warm welcome and comfortable hotel to set the tone for the adventure ahead. After settling in, you step back in time on a guided walk through Quito’s beautifully preserved Old Town with gold filled churches, cobblestone streets, and centuries of history layered into one unforgettable introduction to the country.

Days 3–4: Arrive to the Galápagos

An early flight carries you west to the Galápagos Islands, where your expedition yacht awaits. After boarding, you head straight into the wild, exploring the lush highlands of Santa Cruz among giant tortoises and endemic birds. The next day plunges you into the raw western islands, with deep water snorkeling at Vicente Roca Point and close encounters with marine iguanas, penguins, and flightless cormorants on pristine Fernandina Island.

Days 5–6: Volcanoes, Wildlife & Wild Water

The next couple of days showcase the Galápagos at its most dramatic. You hike across uplifted coral reefs and volcanic landscapes at Urbina Bay, snorkel with sea turtles and sea lions, and cruise Tagus Cove beneath towering lava cliffs. On Santiago Island, you walk black sand beaches once visited by Darwin, explore surreal lava fields, and swim in crystal clear waters filled with marine life.

Days 7–8: Conservation & Iconic Encounters

It’s time to slow the pace slightly while diving deeper into the heart of the islands. Wander Bachas Beach, a key nesting site for sea turtles, then visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn about giant tortoise conservation. Sea lions steal the show at Mosquera Islet, while North Seymour delivers one of the Galápagos’ greatest spectacles; nesting blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, and nonstop wildlife action.

Days 9–10: Eastern Islands & the Grand Finale

The adventure continues on Santa Fe and South Plaza, where white-sand beaches, cactus forests, and brilliantly colored land iguanas dominate the landscape. Take a dingy ride to circle the dramatic sea stacks of Kicker Rock before visiting a giant tortoise breeding center on San Cristóbal. By afternoon, you’re airborne once more, returning to Quito with a camera full of memories and a head spinning from one of the world’s most extraordinary wildlife journeys.

Day 11: Onward or Extend the Adventure

Depart for home or continue exploring Ecuador with a custom extension, carrying the magic of the Galápagos long after the journey ends.