Galápagos Islands: Wildlife Cruise by Private Yacht

Location: South America
Duration: 9 Days
Price: From $6,595
Activity Level: Active

Galápagos Islands: Wildlife Cruise by Private Yacht

Location: South America
Duration: 9 Days
Price: From $6,595
Activity Level: Active

Overview

Cruise the Galápagos Islands by private yacht for an unforgettable wildlife experience. Marvel at giant land tortoises, marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, and Darwin’s finches. Your adventure begins in Guayaquil, then you’ll board the Coral II yacht in Baltra. Visit the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center, hike Dragon Hill, and snorkel at Pinnacle Rock. An expert naturalist guide will accompany you throughout. Explore Rábida Island’s red sands and flamingo habitat, Turtle Cove, and Santiago Island’s highlands. On Isabela Island, enjoy deep-water snorkeling and spot white-tipped sharks and flightless cormorants. Fernandina Island’s marine iguanas and Santiago’s twisted lava flows highlight the volcanic origins of the archipelago. Conclude with a festive farewell dinner, toasting to your personal triumphs and the pristine beauty of the Galápagos.

Main Attractions

Private Yacht

Cruise to five distinct Galápagos Islands aboard the intimate Coral II, enjoying hospitable services and fresh meals on the outdoor deck and in the cozy dining area.

Volcanic Landscapes

Explore starkly beautiful volcanic landscapes, climb to island peaks, and walk through ghostly forests and lush highlands.

Snorkeling & Wildlife

Swim and snorkel viewing sea turtles, rays, Galápagos penguins, sea lions, sharks, and colorful reef inhabitants, while observing giant tortoises, land iguanas, and many of the 56 resident bird species with the help of an expert naturalist guide.

Map illustrating travel routes in the Galapagos Islands, highlighting destinations such as Santa Cruz and Santiago, with icons for transportation methods. Inset shows location relative to Ecuador and Peru.
A sea turtle swims surrounded by a school of red fish over a coral reef in clear blue water.
A school of fish swims above rocky, grassy seabed under clear blue water.
Two people pose behind a large tortoise on grass in a lush, green setting.
Three women standing on a boat deck, smiling with an ocean and cloudy sky in the background.
People hiking up a rocky staircase by the ocean, with clear blue water and rocks in the background.
Three women sitting together on a boat, enjoying drinks at sunset with the ocean in the background.
A pelican stands on a dark rock in the water, with green shrubs and distant landscape in the background.
A group of six women pose happily in front of a cathedral with gothic architecture, surrounded by trees and an ornate iron gate.
Two women wearing orange life vests sit on a boat on a calm body of water. One wears a sun hat and sunglasses, with a camera around her neck. Vegetation and a clouded sky are in the background.
A blue-footed booby stands on a rocky ledge against a textured rock wall.
A seal sits on a sandy beach with its eyes closed, facing forward. The sand is reddish-brown and appears damp.

Itinerary

Sign for Parque Nacional Galápagos in Ecuador, surrounded by trees and vegetation.

Welcome to Ecuador!

Arrive in Guayaquil and take the hotel shuttle to the Wyndham Guayaquil, Puerto Santa Ana. Settle in and prepare for an unforgettable adventure exploring the precious ecosystems of the Galápagos Islands, a crucial location in the history of biology. Throughout your journey, you’ll get to know your expert Galápagos naturalist guide, who will offer onshore and onboard talks about the islands, the surrounding sea, and their resident wildlife. Enjoy dinner at the lovely hotel restaurant this evening as you get ready for the days ahead.

A person in a blue jacket poses playfully in front of a large white boat named "Coral II," with people standing on the deck.

From Guayaquil to the Galápagos Islands: Your Adventure Begins

Meet your group early in the morning (be packed and ready to go!) and head to the airport for your flight to the Galápagos Islands, where you’ll be greeted by your guide and transferred to the dock to board your yacht. After getting acquainted with the yacht, your home for the next week, and settling into your cabin before lunch, you’ll venture to the entry of the Itabaca Channel. Here, in a lagoon with turquoise water, you’ll observe sharks, blue-footed boobies, and various fish, marking the start of an unforgettable adventure.

Meals breakfast, lunch, dinner
Four people wearing red life jackets sit on a boat near a rocky cliff, with one person pointing towards the sky.

Discover Genovesa Island: A Birdwatcher’s Paradise

This morning, visit Genovesa Island and marvel at the diverse sea life sheltering in the lava cliffs’ crevices. Begin your exploration at a steep stairway leading through a vibrant seabird colony teeming with Nazca and Red-footed Boobies. As you reach the plateau, the trail continues inland through a thin Palo Santo forest, offering glimpses of more nesting booby colonies and Wedge-rumped Storm Petrels darting over a rocky lava plain. Later, disembark onto a small sand and coral beach and follow a trail west along a tidal lagoon, then up a rocky hill to a viewpoint overlooking the cliffs and Darwin Bay. Along the way, spot Swallow-tailed and Lava Gulls, Yellow-crowned and Lava Herons, and wander through Palo Santo trees home to hundreds of thousands of Red-footed Boobies.

Meals breakfast, lunch, dinner
Seven people in wetsuits and yellow vests pose on a beach with snorkeling gear, against a backdrop of water and distant hills.

Explore the Rich Landscapes and Marine Life of the Galápagos Islands

This island offers a stunning variety of landscapes and marine life. Begin your adventure with a 90-minute trail walk or a dinghy ride along the shoreline to spot fur seals, pelicans, blue-footed boobies, and Nazca boobies. Enjoy swimming and snorkeling in waters teeming with white-tipped sharks, rays, and sea lions. In the afternoon, you’ll have two landing options: a dock and a beach. The dock features a wooden staircase of 372 steps leading to the island’s summit, where you’ll find the iconic Pinnacle Rock. The summit’s altitude reveals a lack of vegetation, but you’ll see pioneer plants, the first to root on new ground. The coralline beach near Pinnacle Rock is perfect for a wet landing, allowing you to snorkel among tropical fish, sea lions, and penguins, who sometimes rest on the lava in the intertidal zone before taking a dip.

Meals breakfast, lunch, dinner
A group of people stand outdoors holding a banner that reads "adventure women" near a large tortoise on the grass.

Discover the Wonders of Santa Cruz Island

Land on Santa Cruz Island and drive about 45 minutes into the highlands, where a 90-minute walk awaits, offering sights of tree and ground finches, vermillion flycatchers, paint-billed crakes, yellow warblers, and cattle egrets perched on tortoise shells. The journey showcases the Galápagos’ diverse ecosystems, transitioning from coastal areas through agricultural zones to dense humid forests, with Galápagos Giant Tortoises often seen wandering through pastures. Next, visit the Charles Darwin Station and Fausto Llerena Breeding Center, where the Galápagos giant tortoise breeding program operates. Explore the prickly-pear cactus forest, spot various Darwin’s finches and other land birds, and learn about efforts to preserve the fragile environment. In the afternoon, meet local female artisans who will demonstrate their handmade crafts. Enjoy lunch on the yacht before boarding a dinghy to visit Black Turtle Cove, a designated Turtle Sanctuary, for turtle viewing.

Meals breakfast, lunch, dinner
Numerous marine iguanas are gathered on a rocky shore, with some resting on a log.

Dive into the Wonders of Vicente Roca Point and Fernandina Island

Start your day with a dinghy ride along the coast at Vicente Roca Point, where you can observe a diverse array of sea and coastal birds amidst the chill of cold water currents. Spend an hour snorkeling in these rich waters, discovering the vibrant marine life. Next, embark on a three-hour walk on Fernandina Island, one of the most pristine places on Earth with no introduced species. At Espinosa Point on the island’s northwestern edge, explore the striking, flat jet-black lava landscape, home to the largest colony of endemic marine iguanas. Cap off the experience with another hour of snorkeling in this remarkable area, immersing yourself in the untouched beauty of Fernandina.

Meals breakfast, lunch, dinner
Two blue-footed boobies stand on rocky ground, with green foliage in the background.

Discover Urbina Bay and Tagus Cove

Start at Urbina Bay on Isabela Island’s west side, enjoying a 90-minute hike with views of Alcedo Volcano and sightings of land iguanas, mockingbirds, finches, and giant tortoises. At the beach, see the largest marine iguanas and snorkel among flightless cormorants, penguins, sea turtles, and colorful fish. Then, explore Tagus Cove, a historic site visited by Darwin, with its ancient graffiti. Hike for two hours spotting blue-footed boobies, brown noddies, terns, flightless cormorants, and Galápagos penguins. Finish with a 40-minute dinghy ride and an hour of deep-water snorkeling.

Meals breakfast, lunch, dinner
Five people relaxing in a small pool on a boat, holding drinks, with a life preserver in the background and a coastal landscape visible.

Explore Egas Port and Sullivan Bay

Start your day at Egas Port, a prime spot for observing hunting herons like Great Blue Herons, Yellow-crowned Night Herons, and Lava Herons, along with oystercatchers. Watch marine iguanas grazing on algae beds at low tide, sharing the area with crabs and wading birds. Enjoy a 90-minute walk and an hour of snorkeling. In the southeastern part of Santiago Island, explore the extensive lava flows at Sullivan Bay, formed in the late 19th century. Marvel at the unique Pahoehoe lava, common in the Galápagos and Hawaii. After a 90-minute walk through this volcanic landscape, swim and snorkel with playful sea lions off two small coralline beaches. Cap off your adventure with a farewell dinner, toasting to an unforgettable journey.

Meals breakfast, lunch, dinner
A vibrant orange sunset over the ocean with the sun partially hidden by clouds and a rippling water surface in the foreground.

Farewell to the Galápagos Islands

Spend your final hours at Bachas Beach, soaking up the last of the Galápagos sun. Depart from Guayaquil (GYE) after 8:00 PM or stay overnight at your hotel and leave the next day. Enjoy the convenience of the hotel shuttle to get you to the airport for your flight home.

Meals breakfast
A sea lion sits on a sandy beach with the ocean and an island in the background.

Accommodations

Please note that all amenities were current when written and are subject to change at any time.

Night view of a modern building with a "Wyndham" logo, illuminated alongside palm trees and streetlights, adjacent to waterfront.

Wyndham Puerto Santa Ana, Guayaquil

Situated just steps from the historic Santa Ana Hill and its famous Lighthouse, and minutes to the vibrant Malecon 2000, the Wyndham Guayaquil hotel offers an ideal location near Guayaquil’s many attractions.

AMENITIES: complimentary toiletries, hair dryer, free Wi-Fi

A large white yacht named "Coral I" is anchored on a calm blue sea under a clear sky.

M/Y Coral II

The Coral II is a gorgeous yacht offering charming social areas distributed on multiple decks, with outdoor and interior spaces. The vessel offers open-deck areas with a Jacuzzi to make the best of your relaxing time while cruising the islands.

AMENITIES: En suite bathrooms with complimentary toiletries, hair dryer, free Wi-Fi

Curved glass-fronted Wyndham hotel beside a calm waterfront, with a paved walkway and distant view of land under a clear sky.

Wyndham Puerto Santa Ana, Guayaquil

Situated just steps from the historic Santa Ana Hill and its famous Lighthouse, and minutes to the vibrant Malecon 2000, the Wyndham Guayaquil hotel offers an ideal location near Guayaquil’s many attractions.

AMENITIES: complimentary toiletries, hair dryer, free Wi-Fi

What People Are Saying

Just when I thought I could not be amazed anymore, something even more amazing and awe-inspiring happened. Being buzzed by sea lions, walking in the rain among the carpet of land iguanas and turning to see the rainbow, waking at 2am to see the volcano glowing in the distance. Every day was something more awesome than the last.

What People Are Saying

It was an amazing experience, very well planned out. The education and knowledge provided about the Galapagos and the amazing sights! Snorkeling was fantastic.

What People Are Saying

An unforgettable journey through the Galápagos Islands! The expert guides and seamless logistics made this adventure truly exceptional. Highly recommend for anyone seeking a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

Dates & Pricing

Start Date End Date Availability Pricing Booking Link
Mar 18 Mar 26
Space Available
$6,595*
Standard Room, Single
$7,795 total, $800 deposit
Standard Room, Double
$6,595 total, $800 deposit
Junior Suite, Single
$9,095 total, $800 deposit
Junior Suite, Double
$7,395 total, $800 deposit
May 31 Jun 8
Space Available
$6,595*
Standard Room, Single
$7,795 total, $800 deposit
Standard Room, Double
$6,595 total, $800 deposit
Junior Suite, Single
$9,095 total, $800 deposit
Junior Suite, Double
$7,395 total, $800 deposit
Jul 12 Jul 20
Space Available
$6,595*
Standard Room, Single
$7,795 total, $800 deposit
Standard Room, Double
$6,595 total, $800 deposit
Junior Suite, Single
$9,095 total, $800 deposit
Junior Suite, Double
$7,395 total, $800 deposit

*Additional Pricing Information: 2025 Optional Single Accommodation: $1,200

Arrival: Arrive in Guayaquil, Ecuador (GYE) on Day 1 any time

Departure: Depart Guayaquil, Ecuador (GYE) on Day 9 after 8 PM or the following day at any time (an extra night at the Wyndham Santa Ana in Guayaquil is included)

What's Included

  • Accommodations as per itinerary based on double occupancy
  • Activities as indicated in the itinerary
  • All meals as listed in the itinerary
  • All transportation throughout the trip
  • Round-trip flights from Guayaquil to the Galápagos Islands as indicated in the itinerary (priced separately from the main trip) ~ please note that, for those who of you who purchased the Amazon Extension, the return flight will fly directly into Quito.
  • Entrance fees and Galápagos entry card
  • English-speaking, naturalist guide in the Galápagos Islands
  • English-speaking guide throughout the Amazon extension (extension only)

What's Not Included

  • International airfare to and from Ecuador
  • Optional activities
  • Meals not specified in the itinerary
  • Alcoholic beverages (unless otherwise specified)
  • Fees for passport, visas, immunizations, or travel insurance
  • Cost of hospitalization or evacuation
  • Items of a personal nature
  • Gratuities

FAQs

Absolutely! We happily welcome all women regardless of race, creed, or sexual preference, as long as you are physically capable of doing the activities on your chosen trip. Our guests range from 18-85+! It is important to us to talk to each guest to make sure each woman chooses the right trip for her physical ability and interest.

You can process your registration on our online booking system or over the phone. Most deposits are $800. In many cases, and unless otherwise indicated, your deposit is transferable if you notify us in writing 120 before your trip departs.

Be sure to check the ‘What’s Included’ section of the trip you are interested in. Once you get to the departure city and meet the group, we often include most meals, all accommodations, all activities (although there might be an optional activity at an additional cost), transportation while on the adventure, qualified local guide(s) and some trips also include an AdventureWomen Ambassador. Our trips do not include airfare to/from the arrival and departure cities. However, internal flights are included in some itineraries so please read the itinerary carefully.

Absolutely! In fact, we encourage it! Many of the women who travel with AdventureWomen come solo. For those that do not choose a single supplement, we pair you with a roommate. Usually, when we change accommodations on a trip, we will change roommates if we can, so you get a chance to know others in our group. A limited number of single supplements may be available for an additional charge.

That depends entirely on the trip! AdventureWomen adventure travel trips are rated according to the physical fitness level demanded by the included activities.

  • Moderate: These adventures exercise your mind more than your body and are designed for women who prefer a leisurely, less rigorous experience. For example, you could walk up to 2 miles per day through cities and villages, stand in museums for a few hours, relax on a boat, or view wildlife from a vehicle.
  • Active: Adventures that get you on your feet! You should be in good physical condition where you are comfortable walking on uneven surfaces, such as cobblestone streets, biking manicured nature trails or kayaking calm waters.
  • High Energy: These adventures are designed for women who enjoy a physical challenge and crave being on the go! You should be prepared for itineraries that include (but are not limited to): a full day of biking on a rolling terrain, hiking 5-8 miles on moderate to steep trails, being active at high altitudes, whitewater rafting, or skiing.
  • Challenging: Adventures that get your heart rate pumping, these are demanding yet deeply rewarding and designed for seasoned outdoor enthusiasts. You should be in excellent physical condition, and be able to hike up to 10 miles, in steeper, more rugged terrain.