Free Catalog
Contact Us
(800) 804-8686
All Trips
A snorkeler swims close to a sea turtle underwater in clear, blue ocean water.

Galápagos Islands: Wildlife Cruise by Private Yacht – Signature Route

Location: South America
Duration: 9 Days
Price: From $6,995
Activity Level:
Book Now
Sample Itinerary

Galápagos Islands: Wildlife Cruise by Private Yacht – Signature Route

Location: South America
Duration: 9 Days
Price: From $6,995
Activity Level:
Book Now
Sample Itinerary

Call us with questions

1.800.804.8686

Level 2 – Moderate

For women who enjoy staying active, balanced with some downtime, our Moderate trips offer a blend of movement and relaxation, perfect for those eager to explore while trying something new.

On a Moderate trip, you might:

  • Enjoy walks or hikes along flat or gently rolling trails that are well-maintained for up to 3-5 hours some days
  • Experience a variety of uneven surfaces, with terrain that may include forest paths, flat meadows, or short muddy sections
  • Participate in moderate daily activity while still having time to relax each day

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. Note: This is our iconic Galapagos route, filled with unforgettable experiences. For even more adventure, check out our updated itinerary that provides an alternate journey of diverse and stunning wonders of the Galapagos!

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.
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 sea turtle swims surrounded by a school of red fish over a coral reef in 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 sea turtle swims surrounded by a school of red fish over a coral reef in clear blue water.

Itinerary

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

Welcome to the Galápagos!

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

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

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.

Laurie A.

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.

Cheryl M.

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!

Brenda B.

Dates & Pricing

Start Date End Date Availability Starting At Booking Link
Jul 11, 2026 Jul 19, 2026
Waitlist
$6,995
Start Date End Date Availability Starting At Booking Link
Mar 6, 2027 Mar 14, 2027
Space Available
$7,995
Select Room
Standard Double
$7,995 total, $800 deposit
Standard Single | Waitlist
$9,495 total, $800 deposit
Junior Cabin Double
$9,295 total, $800 deposit
Junior Cabin Single | Only 1 left
$11,195 total, $800 deposit
Jun 12, 2027 Jun 20, 2027
Space Available
$7,795
Select Room
Standard Double | Waitlist
$7,795 total, $800 deposit
Standard Single | Only 2 left
$9,295 total, $800 deposit
Junior Cabin Double
$8,995 total, $800 deposit
Junior Cabin Single | Waitlist
$10,895 total, $800 deposit

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

Departure: Depart from Guayaquil, Ecuador (GYE) on Day 9 after 8:00 PM or the following day at any time (an extra night at the Wyndham Puerto 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 Guayaquil – Galápagos Islands as indicated in the itinerary. Back to Quito for extension only.
  • Entrance fees and Galápagos entry card
  • English-speaking, naturalist guide in the Galápagos Islands
  • English-speaking guide throughout the Amazon trip (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
Trip Extensions

Amazon Exploration

The Ecuadorian Amazon is a region of unparalleled biodiversity and natural beauty, and home to an incredible array of wildlife. Following your Galápagos adventure, spend a peaceful evening in Quito before descending into a world of lush greenery and vibrant wildlife. In the Amazon, immerse yourself in the wonders of the rainforest—learn how chocolate is made from cacao beans, explore jungle trails, and encounter native wildlife at the amaZOOnico rescue center. Drift peacefully down the Arajuno River on an inner tube and visit with a local Kichwa family. With every step, you’ll uncover the deep connection between the people, plants, and animals of this extraordinary region.

Contact Us for More Information
Aerial view of a winding river flowing through a lush green valley with hills in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

FAQs

Absolutely! You belong here. AdventureWomen welcomes all women and individuals who identify as part of the women’s community. We celebrate all races, backgrounds, orientations, abilities, and ages. Our adventures reflect the vibrant diversity of our travelers.

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. Internal flights are included.

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.

  • Level One: Easy Pace Our Easy Pace trips are thoughtfully designed for women who enjoy gentle activity, cultural immersion, and plenty of time to savor the scenery. They feature light walking, easy terrain like cobblestone streets or flat nature trails, and optional activities such as city tours, wildlife safaris, and scenic boat rides. This level offers a relaxed pace with flexible itineraries and minimal physical exertion.
  • Level Two: Moderate For women who enjoy staying active, balanced with some downtime, our Moderate trips offer a blend of movement and relaxation. Activities may include walking on gently rolling trails, with occasional uneven terrain like forest paths or shallow creek crossings. With activities like beginner kayaking or short e-bike excursions, this level is perfect for those eager to explore while trying something new.
  • Level Three: Dynamic Designed for adventurous women ready for a challenge, our Dynamic trips feature regular activity on varied terrain with moderate elevation gains. Expect natural obstacles such as rocky paths and shallow creek crossings. From glacier walks and whitewater rafting to ziplining and kayaking in calm to lightly-choppy waters, this level is perfect for those with hiking and outdoor experience and a sense of adventure.
  • Level Four: High Energy Our High Energy adventures are designed for women who crave being on the go! You should be prepared for full days of hiking across rugged, moderate-altitude terrain. With some steeper inclines and rocky paths, these trips often feature back-to-back adrenaline-fueled activities like canyoneering, multi-day treks, and Class IV whitewater rafting—perfect for experienced adventurers and hikers with good stamina and a passion for pushing their limits.
  • Level Five: Challenging Our Challenging trips are crafted for seasoned adventurers ready to take on remote, high-altitude terrain, and full-day treks. These trips 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 14 miles per day with steep ascents, rugged trails, and elevations reaching 19,500 feet. These are strenuous trips that require endurance and a commitment to training before departure.

A trip extension is an optional add-on to your main AdventureWomen itinerary. Extensions allow you to explore a destination more deeply, visit nearby regions, or enjoy additional activities before or after your scheduled trip. You can request an extension by contacting your Trip Manager. We’ll confirm availability with our local partners and send you the details, pricing, and next steps. For more information about AdventureWomen extensions, please visit our FAQs.

Women Who Looked At This Trip Also Looked At…

Explore All Trips
New Adventure

Galápagos Islands: Wildlife Cruise by Private Yacht – A New Look

Level 2 – Moderate
From $6,995
New Adventure

Ecuador: From Quito to the Heart of the Amazon Rainforest

Level 2 – Moderate
From $4,995

Indonesia: Culture, Beaches, Orangutans, & Dragons

Level 2 – Moderate
From $9,400

Thailand & Laos: Exploring Culture, Elephants, and Beaches

Level 2 – Moderate
From $7,995
New Adventure

Galápagos Islands: Wildlife Cruise by Private Yacht – A New Look

Level 2 – Moderate
From $6,995
New Adventure

Ecuador: From Quito to the Heart of the Amazon Rainforest

Level 2 – Moderate
From $4,995

Indonesia: Culture, Beaches, Orangutans, & Dragons

Level 2 – Moderate
From $9,400

Thailand & Laos: Exploring Culture, Elephants, and Beaches

Level 2 – Moderate
From $7,995
Mountain range with layered peaks and valleys silhouetted against a misty sky at dawn or dusk.