Nat Geo Islander II

Arrive in Ecuador Mainland the day before embarkation. One night of accommodation is included.

AM: Fly this morning to Galápagos. You are welcomed by our naturalist staff at the Baltra Airport and embark the National Geographic Islander II by Zodiac. Part of the magic of any Galápagos voyage is the varied nature of the terrain, wildlife and experiences that each island offers, with each departure offering a well-considered balance. Welcome aboard! 

PM: You will have time for lunch, briefings and to settle into your cabins before joining a Zodiac cruise of Caleta Tortuga Negra, a spectacular mangrove-lined cove teaming with marine life on Santa Cruz Island. Look for green turtles, sharks, and schools of golden and eagle rays.

AM: Call at Puerto Ayora, the largest town, and headquarters of both the Galápagos National Park and Charles Darwin Research Station. Tour the giant tortoise breeding corrals, a pioneering effort and visit the Station before continuing to town.

PM: Head to the lush, green highlands to see giant tortoises roaming in the wild, where we have lunch at a local ranch dedicated to conservation.

AM: On this wildlife-rich small island, follow trails past coastal groups of Galápagos sea lions and marine iguanas inland through a silvery forest of Palo Santo to colonies of magnificent and great frigatebirds, blue-footed boobies, and other seabirds. See land iguanas clambering over rocks in search of cactus and other flowers. Look for swallow-tailed gulls, noddy terns, red-billed tropic birds and Galápagos fur seals on the rocky walls of this small island (like neighboring Baltra), created by not by lava flows geologic uplift. An excellent introduction to the archipelago!

PM: Land on a red sand beach on this volcanically varied island, where we explore inland. We may see flamingos feeding in a brackish lagoon and clownish brown pelicans entertain from their nests. Here is your chance to snorkel or explore by kayak or paddleboard.

AM: Awaken in the remote western archipelago, haunt of whalers and pirates of yore. Board the Zodiacs for a cruise along the wildly eroded volcanic shores of Isabela, a towering island formed of six great shield volcanoes that make up 2/3 of the land area in Galápagos. Snorkel and Zodiac along the coast, where we might see green turtles, fur seals and even penguins. Keep an eye out for whales and dolphins—the waters here in the west are rich. 

PM: Hike over impressive lava past tide pools where young sea lions play and the strange flightless cormorant nests. One of the most active oceanic volcanoes in the world, Fernandina is the youngest, and most pristine island in Galápagos. Later back aboard, join fellow travelers on deck to celebrate crossing the Equator. 

AM: Explore a dense coastal forest filled with mangroves, home to Galápagos hawks and other land AM, at Playa Espumilla, or stroll along the wide beach early this morning. After breakfast, swim, snorkel, kayak, and paddleboard along the spectacular coast of Buccaneer’s Cove, a secluded atelier where pirates once careened their ships. Darwin camped here during his time on the islands. 

PM: After lunch, explore tide pools and look for fur seals sheltered in quiet grottos of black basalt at Puerto Egas, where you see evidence of an old salt mine and other human history. Swim and snorkel from the beach, which is frequented by sea lions and marine iguanas.

AM: Disembark after breakfast and transfer to Baltra for the flight back to the mainland. Upon arrival, transfer to your selected hotel.

PM: The afternoon and evening are at your leisure. Overnight in Quito or Guayaquil is included, next day transfer to the airport for your flight back home.

Arrive in Ecuador Mainland the day before embarkation. One night of accommodation is included.

AM: Fly this morning to Galápagos. You are welcomed by our naturalist staff at the Baltra Airport and embark the National Geographic Islander II by Zodiac. Part of the magic of any Galápagos voyage is the varied nature of the terrain, wildlife and experiences that each island offers, with each departure offering a well-considered balance. Welcome aboard! 

PM: Join fellow guests on deck as we circumnavigate Daphne Major, a small volcanic island off the coast of Santa Cruz Island where Peter and Rosemary Grant have conducted ground-breaking research into Natural Selection among Darwin’s finches for decades.

AM: Climb the steps to the 360-foot summit of Bartolomé, a volcanic wonderland of spatter and scoria cones and tuff formations. Enjoy a stunning view of wind- and water-sculpted Pinnacle Rock and the surrounding vista of land and sea. Admire stark lava flows across the way on Santiago, the most recent eruption dating from 1897. Comb the golden sand beach or immerse yourself among schools of multicolored reef fish. This is a spot where lucky snorkelers might encounter Galápagos penguins, one of the world’s rarest penguins—incongruous in this equatorial setting.

PM: Land on the beach for a hike through giant cactus and incense tree forests to reach Dragon Hill, habitat of the colorful Santa Cruz land iguanas brought back from the brink of extinction.

AM: Join the 19th-century tradition of leaving and taking letters from the barrel for hand delivery at Post Office Bay. Paddleboard and kayak along the coast at Baroness Lookout, named after the early settler and eccentric Eloise Bosquet de Wagner. Snorkel among sea lions and abundant fish-life, or cruise along the shore by Zodiac. Keep an eye out for the endangered Floreana mockingbird, now found only on these offshore islets. 

PM: See swallow-tailed gulls, Española mockingbirds, Nazca boobies and, seasonally, the world’s only population of waved albatross at Punta Suarez, where we walk among vividly colored marine iguanas, and breeding colonies of sea lions. Optional trails lead inland across iron-laden pillow basalt to the blowhole and seabird cliffs. 

AM: Explore the expanse of bright white sand at quiet Gardner Bay, where sea lions rest and play. Swim from the beach, snorkel along the offshore islets, kayak, or paddleboard. 

PM: See swallow-tailed gulls, Española mockingbirds, Nazca boobies and, seasonally, the world’s only population of waved albatross at Punta Suarez, where we walk among vividly colored marine iguanas, and breeding colonies of sea lions.

AM: Land on a small, sparkling beach at Punta Pitt for a hike up to a plateau where masked-, blue- and red-footed boobies all nest and look for endemic Cristóbal mockingbirds, lava lizards and other wildlife. 

PM: Relax at the celebrated expanse of powdery white sand at Cerro Brujo, one of the most beautiful beaches in Galapagos. Join fellow guests on deck for a farewell cocktail. 

AM: Disembark early this morning for an excursion into the highlands to see Galapagos tortoises in the wild at a local ranch, dedicated to conservation. Continue to Baltra for the flight back to Ecuador Mainland.

PM: The afternoon and evening are at your leisure. Overnight in Quito or Guayaquil is included, next day transfer to the airport for your flight back home.

Arrive in Ecuador Mainland the day before embarkation. One night of accommodation is included.

AM: This morning, fly to Galápagos. You are welcomed by our naturalist staff at the Baltra Airport and will embark the National Geographic Islander II by Zodiac. Part of the magic of any Galápagos voyage is the varied nature of the terrain, wildlife, and experiences that each island offers, with each departure providing a well-considered balance. Welcome aboard!

PM: Join fellow guests on deck as we circumnavigate Daphne Major, a small volcanic island off the coast of Santa Cruz Island where Peter and Rosemary Grant have conducted ground-breaking research into natural selection among Darwin’s finches for decades.

AM: Climb the steps to the 360-foot summit of Bartolomé, a volcanic wonderland of spatter and scoria cones and tuff formations. Enjoy a stunning view of wind- and water-sculpted Pinnacle Rock and the surrounding vista of land and sea. Admire stark lava flows across the way on Santiago, the most recent eruption dating from 1897. Comb the golden-sand beach or immerse yourself among schools of multicolored reef fish. This is a spot where lucky snorkelers might encounter Galápagos penguins, one of the world’s rarest penguins—incongruous in this equatorial setting.

PM: Land on the beach for a hike through giant cactus and incense tree forests to reach Dragon Hill, habitat of the colorful Santa Cruz land iguanas, recently brought back from the brink of extinction.

AM: Join the 19th-century tradition of leaving and taking letters from the barrel for hand delivery at Post Office Bay. Paddleboard and kayak along the coast at Baroness Lookout, named after the early settler and eccentric Eloise Bosquet de Wagner. Snorkel among sea lions and abundant fish, or cruise along the shore by Zodiac. Keep an eye out for the endangered Floreana mockingbird, now found only on these offshore islets.

PM: See swallow-tailed gulls, Española mockingbirds, Nazca boobies and, seasonally, the world’s only population of waved albatross at Punta Suarez, where we walk among vividly colored marine iguanas and breeding colonies of sea lions. Optional trails lead inland across iron-laden pillow basalt to the blowhole and seabird cliffs.

AM: Explore the expanse of bright white sand at quiet Gardner Bay, where sea lions rest and play. Swim from the beach, snorkel along the offshore islets, kayak, or paddleboard. 

PM: See swallow-tailed gulls, Española mockingbirds, Nazca boobies and, seasonally, the world’s only population of waved albatross at Punta Suarez, where we walk among vividly colored marine iguanas and breeding colonies of sea lions.

AM: Land on a small, sparkling beach at Punta Pitt for a hike up to a plateau where masked-, blue- and red-footed footed boobies all nest, and look for endemic Cristóbal mockingbirds, lava lizards, and other wildlife 

PM: Relax at the celebrated expanse of powdery white sand at Cerro Brujo, one of the most beautiful beaches in Galápagos. Join fellow guests on deck for a farewell cocktail. 

AM: After breakfast this morning, join a private guided tour with other guests who are staying aboard for the next voyage. This is your opportunity to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and town of Puerto Ayora. 

PM: Rejoin the ship. Land on a beautiful beach of fine white sand to explore the lagoon on swimming and snorkeling excursions. Meet guests who have just arrived this evening at the welcome cocktail reception.

AM: Sea lions greet us at South Plaza, an uplifted block carpeted in salt-loving succulents and teeming with wildlife, including a noisy group of bachelor sea lions and a population of land iguanas. Thread your way across the island through an impressive forest of cactus trees, and thrill at aerial displays of the nocturnal, cliff-nesting swallowtail gulls and red-tailed tropicbirds. This is a beautiful place to sit and take in the view.

PM: Snorkel, paddleboard, and kayak in the secluded cove at Barrington Bay. On shore, a trail leads us through the largest cactus trees in Galápagos. The Santa Fe land iguana is found only on this island, where Galápagos hawks are also thriving once again.

AM: Visit Sombrero Chino, one of a group of distinctively shaped small islets off Santiago. Keep a keen eye out for the Galápagos penguin, sometimes spotted along the coast. 

PM: Hike over the smooth pahoehoe lava and admire spatter cones, little miniature hornitos, and the wild riot of black lava at Sullivan Bay, the result an eruption recorded by passing buccaneers in 1897.

AM: Sail north across the Equator to the remote northern realm of the Galápagos, bathed in warmer tropical waters and home to the red-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, great frigates birds, and other nesting seabirds. Red-footed boobies and frigate birds of two species often perch in the low-lying shrubs behind the coral-strewn beach at Darwin Bay. 

PM: Kayak, paddleboard, snorkel, and cruise along the caldera walls, where we may see shy Galápagos fur seals. At Prince Phillip’s Steps, follow a trail inland, where more seabirds nest— and where we might see short-eared owls hunt for storm petrels, which nest in astounding numbers in the field of broken lava.

AM: Disembark after breakfast. Journey by coach to the lush, green highlands, where we see giant Galápagos tortoises roaming wild at a local ranch. 

PM: The afternoon and evening are at your leisure. Overnight in Quito or Guayaquil is included, next day transfer to the airport for your flight back home.