Discover the wonders of the Galápagos Islands aboard our luxurious 16-guest yachts, offering an unparalleled experience amidst breathtaking natural beauty. Immerse yourself in comfort and elegance on our modern ships, equipped with top-notch amenities and First Class service. Our meticulously crafted 8-day / 7-night itinerary is designed to enchant you with a variety of activities, including snorkeling in pristine waters, invigorating hikes across unique terrains, exhilarating panga rides, and intimate encounters with the mesmerizing wildlife of the Galápagos.

Your journey will be expertly guided by certified bilingual Level 3 Naturalist Guides, ensuring insightful explorations and meaningful connections with the island's ecosystem. With kayaks, wetsuits, and snorkel gear at your disposal, you’ll have every opportunity to delve into the underwater marvels and witness the enchanting wildlife up close.

Indulge in comfort at every turn! After each exhilarating excursion, retreat to your ship and unwind in the air-conditioned lounge with a refreshing drink, socialize with fellow travelers on the sun deck, or relax in the Jacuzzi. Supported by a dedicated crew, our ship is designed for safe and efficient island-hopping, ensuring seamless transitions between destinations.

One example of Mariah Travel's luxury cruising yachts 

Each berth is elegantly appointed with a queen bed or two twins, offering a cozy sanctuary to rejuvenate after days of exploration. Enjoy modern amenities such as air-conditioning, private baths with hot and cold water, and ample space to relax and unwind. Get ready to fall in love with this exceptional yacht experience!

A trip to the Galápagos Islands will be the journey of a lifetime. Located 600 miles from the Ecuadorian mainland, the archipelago consists of 13 major islands, five of which are inhabited. The islands' fascinating volcanic history and rich flora and fauna have been admired and studied by numerous travelers, scientists, and nature lovers. Scientists still face the mystery of how such a large diversity of species could develop in a remote location like the Galápagos Islands. It’s an amazing ecosystem!

The Galápagos Islands are blessed with pleasant weather year-round, meaning there is no "perfect" time to visit these precious islands. However, you might consider factors like High Season vs. Low Season or the climate when planning your trip. The Galápagos Islands will leave a lasting impression on you. Traveling to the islands offers the journey of a lifetime. You’ll be in awe amidst playful seals, elegant albatrosses, fiery-red Sally Lightfoot crabs, and sneaky frigate birds.

Dates

• Your Adventure Awaits, All Year Long!

Cost:

• Starting at $4,299 per person (double occupancy).

• Special charter pricing for groups (16-person max).

Sample Itinerary: 8 Days / 7 Nights Cruise

DAY 1: ARRIVE IN GALAPAGOS NATIONAL PARK

• AM: A Mariah Travel guide will take you to the Quito airport in time for your flight to Galapagos, which typically departs in the morning and arrives before noon. Transfer to your luxury yacht.

• Begin your 7-night cruise through Darwin’s “Enchanted Islands.” Accommodations will be in eight cabins (double occupancy). All cabins are spacious and feature a private bath/shower and air-conditioning. All meals, lectures, and shore excursions are included.

• All excursions and cultural programs are led by a Level 3 Naturalist Guide with years of experience in the Galapagos Islands.

• PM: Punta Carrion Point

  • Your first stop in the afternoon will be Punta Carrion, located in northeastern Santa Cruz. This is a shallow and protected cove, ideal for your first snorkel and swim in the Galapagos!

  • Wildlife is plentiful; keep your eyes peeled for blue-footed boobies, Galapagos herons, great blue herons, and underwater swim among rays and white-tipped reef sharks.

• Meals Included: Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), Dinner (D).

  
  

DAY 2: TINTORERAS – VOLCAN CHICO / SIERRA NEGRA – ISABELA ISLAND

• AM: Tintoreras

  • Las Tintoreras is one of the most well-known places on Isabela Island. This small islet receives its name from the reef sharks, also known as white-tip sharks, that can be seen swimming along with fish and sea lions in the channels when the tide is low. The islet is mainly formed by lava rocks.

• PM: Volcan Chico / Sierra Negra

  • Our adventure starts with a journey from Puerto Villamil to the beginning of the trail. Arrive and start your walk through the relatively young woods, which suffer from constant geological changes.

  • Observe Darwin’s finches, flycatchers, mockingbirds, and occasionally, the Galapagos Gavilan.

  • Later, arrive at the edge of the Sierra Negra Volcano’s crater. This volcano is still active, and its last eruption was in June 2018, which deposited a new layer of lava in this already inhospitable landscape.

• Meals Included: Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), Dinner (D).

  
  

DAY 3: DEVIL’S CROWN & POST OFFICE BAY – FLOREANA ISLAND

• AM: Devil’s Crown & Post Office Bay

  • The Devil’s Crown is an outstanding snorkeling spot, perhaps the most remarkable in the entire archipelago, full of sea lions and colorful fish.

  • Floreana is also home to Post Office Bay, where 18th-century whalers used a barrel as an unofficial mail drop. This practice continues to this day with visitors to the Galapagos – post one of your own!

• PM: Cormorant Point

  • Land and go ashore at Punta Cormorant, where the sand is made up of fine olivine crystals, a glassy volcanic mineral, giving the beach an olive-green color. It is a perfect location for Galapagos sea lions.

  • Today offers an opportunity to see pink flamingos and other water birds wading in the lagoons, including pintails and stilts.

  • Just offshore, the Devil’s Crown is an eroded volcanic cone and a popular roosting site for seabirds such as boobies, pelicans, and frigates. Red-billed tropicbirds can also be seen nesting in the rocky crevices.

• Meals Included: Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), Dinner (D).

  
  

DAY 4: HIGHLANDS OF SANTA CRUZ ISLAND

• AM: Highlands of Santa Cruz

  • Morning visit to Santa Cruz, the second-largest island in the Galapagos. Head into the highlands for a total change of scenery.

  • Travel across Santa Cruz through the agricultural region and into the misty forests. This is a lush humid zone containing miconia bushes, scalesia, and inactive volcanic cones.

  • Santa Cruz has more endemic plants than any of the other islands, and you are likely to see Galapagos giant tortoises in their natural habitat and perhaps even the bright red feathers of a vermillion flycatcher!

• PM: Charles Darwin Station and Puerto Ayora

  • Visit the Charles Darwin Station to learn about the conservation efforts in the Galapagos.

  • Explore Puerto Ayora, the largest town in the Galapagos, and enjoy some free time to shop or relax.

• Meals Included: Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), Dinner (D).

  
  

DAY 5: SANTA FE ISLAND & SOUTH PLAZAS ISLAND

• AM: Santa Fe Island

  • Santa Fe is home to sea lions, and these native characters are very eager for swimming partners! It’s a lovely place to take a swim, and the landscape on the inland trails is also beautiful, with cacti forests home to a unique sub-species of land iguanas.

• PM: South Plazas Island

  • A small island, Plaza Sur is nonetheless a place of great beauty, where you will get close to sea lions and trails that pass one of the Galapagos’ largest land iguana populations, resting amid cacti and volcanic landscapes colored bright red and green by sesuvium.

  • The island’s rugged southern cliffs are an excellent place to spot tropicbirds and swallow-tailed gulls, as well as "the gentlemen’s club," a gathering of male sea lions either too young or too old to be beach masters!

• Meals Included: Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), Dinner (D).

  
  

DAY 6: PUNTA SUAREZ & GARDNER BAY – ESPANOLA ISLAND

• AM: Punta Suarez

  • Visit Punta Suarez, one of the most attractive locations in the Galapagos and home to a large and varied wildlife population. Walk along a trail to a cliff-top viewpoint for a magical panorama.

  • Boobies line the rocky shoreline beneath you, while frigate birds may be seen overhead; nearby, enormous male sea lions can be seen lounging, and albatross use the cliffs as their "runway," helping them become airborne by the southeast winds that blow across this part of the island.

• PM: Gardner Bay

  • Because of its remote location, this island has a large population of endemic fauna. It is the breeding site for nearly all of the world’s 12,000 pairs of waved albatrosses and also home to colonies of blue-footed and masked boobies.

  • Trails from the golden beaches, where sea lions bathe and marine iguanas make their way towards the water, will lead right through the middle of booby colonies. Galapagos doves and mockingbirds are also often seen.

  • Visit the beautiful white sandy beaches at Bahia Gardner, which are great places for swimming and relaxing. The rocks off the coast provide excellent snorkeling opportunities, with reef sharks, turtles, and many species of tropical fish, where surgeon and angel fish are often seen.

• Meals Included: Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), Dinner (D)

  
  

DAY 7: PUNTA PITT & LEON DORMIDO – SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND

• AM: Punta Pitt

  • Visit Punta Pitt on the eastern end of Isla San Cristobal. Enjoy a walk to the top of the volcanic hill for expansive views of the sparsely vegetated area. A variety of seabirds nest here, including blue-footed boobies and frigates.

• PM: Leon Dormido

  • Cruise past Leon Dormido (Kicker Rock), a magnificent rock in the middle of the sea, resembling a sleeping lion. The rock rises 150 meters above the surface and is divided into two parts by a narrow channel.

  • Also visit Isla Lobos, a tiny island almost touching Isla San Cristobal. This is the perfect time to witness the always-friendly sea lions as they play in the calm shallow waters here.

• Meals Included: Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), Dinner (D).

  
  

DAY 8: FLIGHT BACK TO QUITO AND HOME

• AM: Interpretation Centre

  • Visit the Interpretation Centre in the morning. The center brings the history and geography of the archipelago to life, from its volcanic origins to the present day.

  • The human history exhibit offers an insight into the discovery and colonization of the Galapagos, and the reality of the problems the islands face today is also explored.

• PM: Arrive in Quito

  • Connect with your international flight or take an extension to other amazing parts of Ecuador. From the Highlands to the Rainforest, many adventures are waiting!

• Meals Included: Breakfast (B).

  
  

Additional Notes to Consider

• The exact route and program may vary according to weather and ocean conditions as well as the wildlife encountered. It is also subject to change without prior notice due to readjustments of the National Park policies and regulations.

• Dry Landing: Guests step from the dinghy onto rocks or a dock.

• Wet Landing: As the dinghy edges onto a sandy beach, guests step into around 8 inches of water and wade ashore.

• COVID-19: All crew and staff on the yacht have been fully vaccinated, and safety precautions, including sanitation procedures, are followed daily. Safety is our main concern.

  
  

Extensions

• Extensions to Otavalo, the Highlands, and other locations outside Quito, including Machu Picchu, are available. Inquire with Mariah Travel.

  
  

Included During the Cruise

• Accommodation in 8 cabins onboard.

• All meals, starting with lunch on the first day and ending with breakfast on the last day.

• Soft beverages such as sodas, water, coffee, and tea.

• INGALA immigration card.

• Transfers in Galapagos (airport to yacht to airport).

• Daily excursions, including daily updates on the next day’s activities.

• English-speaking Naturalist Guide (Category III - PhD equivalent).

• Use of kayaks, snorkeling gear, and wetsuits.

• Assistance in Quito or Guayaquil airport with check-in procedures.

• Admission to the VIP lounge at the Galapagos airport.

  
  

Not Included in Cost

• Air ticket Quito or Guayaquil to Galapagos (approx. $540.00 per person).

• Entrance fee to the National Park ($200.00 per person USD).

• Other soft drinks and alcoholic beverages.

• Gratuities onboard the yacht.

• Personal expenses.

• Medical or travel insurance. We recommend USI Affinity Travel Insurance Services: https://www.mariahtravel.com/travel-insurance.

For more information or to book your trip, contact Mariah Travel today!

Book Your Adventure

For more information or to reserve your spot, contact us at:

📞 1-406-222-5660

📧 info@mariahtravel.com

🌐 www.mariahtravel.com

Dates available year-round. All itineraries are subject to change based on weather, bird locations, and local conditions.

Experience the magic of Cuba with Mariah Travel—where culture, nature, and birding come together for an unforgettable journey!