Step aboard the Isabela II as you discover the Southeastern Islands of the Galapagos archipelago with it's magnificent islands and endemic wildlife. Encounter giant tortoises at Cerro Colorado, visit an array of different booby species at Punta Pitt, come face to face with marine iguanas and stop by the historic Post Office Bay, just a select few highlights of what is sure to be an unforgettable journey.
Galapagos
Natural Selection Journey
7 Days aboard Isabela II . From AUD $9,392pp.
Small Ship Expeditions
Details
Overview
Itinerary Highlights
- Encounter the famous giant tortoises at Cerro Colorado on San Cristobal Island.
- Come face-to-face with magnificent wildlife on Espanola Island include mockingbirds and colourful marine iguanas.
- Walk across young lava formations at Punta Moreno.
- Visit the historic Post Office Bay and send a post card off to a loved one.
Itinerary in Brief
- Day 1: Baltra Airport - Las Bachas
- Day 2: Punta Pitt - Cerro Colorado
- Day 3: Gardner Bay - Punta Suarez
- Day 4: Punta Cormorant - Post Office Bay
- Day 5: Punta Moreno - Punta Mangle
- Day 6: Eden Islet - North Seymour
- Day 7: Baltra Airport
Travelling with Eclipse
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- Eclipse Travel is Australian owned and run, and an ATAS accredited travel agent.
- 24/7 emergency numbers and local contacts provided for support while you’re abroad.
- We provide all the information you need to organise your visas and vaccinations, making travel preparation stress-free.
- No currency surcharges. Once your deposit is paid, your price is guaranteed.
Specialists
- Our consultants are true destination experts, with firsthand experience and extensive travel in the regions we offer.
- Expect quick, professional responses and dedicated service from our knowledgeable team.
- We conduct regular checks on destinations, hotels, and services to ensure quality for every trip.
Authentic Travel
- Tailor-made itineraries designed around your unique requirements.
- Freedom to select your preferred style and standard of accommodation.
- Unique itineraries that take you beyond the major highlights, immersing you in each location.
- Committed to responsible travel: we reinvest in the environment and local communities across our destinations.
Day 1: Baltra Airport - Las Bachas
We land at Baltra Island by plane in the morning and transfer to the nearby dock to board Yacht Isabela II, where we receive a welcome introductory briefing, boat drill, and lunch.
This beautiful visitor site is located on the north shore of Santa Cruz Island, a glorious white beach with a couple of brackish lagoons only a few steps away from the sea. These lagoons are the feeding grounds of various wading birds, from stilts to flamingos. You may enjoy swimming at this beach, too. Back on the ship, we will settle in with a welcome cocktail, a briefing on the next day’s expedition plan, and a delicious dinner.
Lunch and Dinner included.
Day 2: Punta Pitt - Cerro Colorado
We land on the eastern tip of the island. The trail that ascends from the beach provides spectacular views of the shoreline and is the only site in the Galapagos where the 3 species of boobies can be found together, as well as the two frigatebird species, plus a colony of bachelor sea lions. If conditions are favorable, there is a chance to swim, kayak, or snorkel from the beach or take an inflatable dinghy ride.
We disembark at Puerto Baquerizo Moreno and drive 40 minutes to the island’s southern shore. At Cerro Colorado, we visit the breeding center for highly endangered giant tortoises amid a fantastic deciduous forest, home to dozens of bird species, including the San Cristobal mockingbird, as well as the endemic San Cristobal lava lizard.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 3: Gardner Bay - Punta Suarez
In the morning, we’ll set foot on this beautiful, white coral beach and go on a short walk to observe the sea lions, mockingbirds, finches, or enjoy the beach. There is excellent snorkeling in this area. Kayaking, an inflatable dinghy-ride, or a ride on the glass-bottom boat are also offered.
Following lunch on board, our afternoon outing at Punta Suarez takes us on an exciting trail across lava/boulder terrain. Along the way, we can enjoy unique sea bird colonies, including the beautiful waved albatrosses, boobies, swallow-tail gulls, and the famous “blowhole”. This island is also renowned for its colorful and sizable marine iguanas. All in all, a wonderful visit.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 4: Punta Cormorant - Post Office Bay
We disembark in the morning at the curiously green-tinged, olivine-crystal beach that makes for an easy walk to a brackish water lagoon where bird species like American flamingos can be observed. Crossing over to the other side of the island, we come to a white-sand beach where sea turtles come out at night to nest. At Champion Islet, guests can choose between snorkeling, a panga ride, or a ride in our glass-bottom boat.
After lunch, we land at Post Office Bay to visit the historic barrel that has served as an informal post office in the archipelago for over two centuries. Snorkeling off the beach will be offered afterward.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 5: Punta Moreno - Punta Mangle
In the morning, following a meander through the mangroves in search of sea turtles, we disembark amid a landscape dominated by the giant volcanoes of southern Isabela Island, some still active. The rugged trail loops inland from the coast, giving us plenty of opportunity to enjoy unique lava formations, pioneer lava cactus, and exotic scalesia trees, as well as plenty of wildlife: Galapagos penguins, flightless cormorants, brown pelicans, herons, sea lions, marine iguanas, and dozens of Sally Lightfoot crabs. The inland lagoons are home to Bahama-pintail ducks, common stilts, Galapagos flamingos, and even Galapagos hawks and mockingbirds. Following our walk, we can take to our glass-bottom boats or deep-water snorkel.
In the afternoon, we’ll explore Fernandina’s coastline aboard our pangas (inflatable dinghies). The archipelago’s youngest ecosystem is home to small Galapagos penguins and green-eyed flightless cormorants that rest on the shore’s black rocks. Beneath the waves, rays and sea turtles might glide by. The nutrient-rich waters of the Bolivar Channel, which separates Fernandina and Isabela islands, attract dolphins and whales. With luck, we’ll be able to spot them. Depending on sea conditions, we end our visit with a glass-bottom boat ride or deep-water snorkel.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 6: Eden Islet - North Seymour
A panga ride takes us to Eden Islet, located off the coast of Santa Cruz, where we can observe blue-footed boobies, reef sharks, and frigates. There’s a chance to snorkel and, if weather conditions permit, to ride in the glass-bottom boat. The volcanic setting of this area is quite stunning.
We have saved one of the best visitor sites in the archipelago for last. In the afternoon, we disembark for a walk along the coast and the interior of this beautiful flat island. We’ll be able to see numerous nesting frigatebirds as well as land iguanas and sea lion colonies along the coastline. We can explore the coast by dinghy, too, seeking out fur seals, and enjoying a fun, deep-water snorkel. Evening briefing, farewell cocktail, and dinner.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 7: Baltra Airport
Our journey ends at Baltra Island where we transfer to the airport to take the flight back to the mainland.
Breakfast included.
Next Departure Date: 30 May 2025
| Dates | Cabin | From | Special Offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 May 2025 - 05 Jun 2025 | AUD$9392pp | ||
| Standard Cabin | AUD$9392pp | Contact us | |
| Classic Family Cabin | AUD$9961pp | Contact us | |
| Classic Cabin | AUD$9961pp | Contact us | |
| Owner's Cabin | AUD$10431pp | Contact us | |
| 13 Jun 2025 - 19 Jun 2025 | AUD$9392pp | ||
| 08 Aug 2025 - 14 Aug 2025 | AUD$9392pp | ||
| 22 Aug 2025 - 28 Aug 2025 | AUD$9392pp | ||
| 05 Sep 2025 - 11 Sep 2025 | AUD$9392pp | ||
| 31 Oct 2025 - 06 Nov 2025 | AUD$9392pp | ||
| 14 Nov 2025 - 20 Nov 2025 | AUD$9392pp | ||
| 28 Nov 2025 - 04 Dec 2025 | AUD$9392pp | ||
| 26 Dec 2025 - 01 Jan 2026 | AUD$9392pp |
Alternative itinerary options:
**Prices are per person based on twin / shared accommodation.
**Single supplements may apply
Cabin Details
Standard Cabin
128 sqft / 12.05sqm, located on cabin deck, one bed, private en-suite, desk and view window.
Classic Cabin
139sqft / 12.8sqm, located on cabin deck, two beds, private en-suite, small sofa bed, desk and view window.
Classic Family Cabin
139sqft / 12.8sqm, located on cabin deck, private en-suite, desk and view window. Recommended for two adults and one child under 12 years of age.
Owner's Cabin
170sqft / 18.9sqm, located on main deck, one bed, private en-suite, television, seating area, desk and view window.
Isabela II Deckplan
Specifications
- Construction: 1979
- Renovation: 2014
- Category: Deluxe
- Gross Tonnage: 1,025 tons.
- Type of Vessel: Expedition Yacht
- Capacity: 40 guests / 20 cabins
- Length: 55.94 m (183 ft)
- Beam: 11.58 m (38 ft)
- Speed: 10 knots
- Electricity: 110 – 220 V / 60 Hz
- Engines: 2 CUMMINS, KTA-38-M1, 1000 HP
- Navigation Equipment: Radar ARPA, Radar, Satellite Compass, Magnetic Compass, Automatic Pilot, Echo-sonar, 2 GPS, AIS
- Fire Detector: Installed throughout the ship
- Life Jackets: In each cabin
- Lifeboats: 2 semi-enclosed units / capacity for 27 persons each
- Life Rafts: Two 25-man, one 20-man
- Owner: ETICA / Metropolitan Touring
- Decks: 3 (Boat deck, Cabin deck, Main deck)
- Naturalist Guides: 3 (includes Expedition Leader)
- Crew: 26
- Passenger/Crew Ratio: 3:2
- Medical Officer: Permanently on board
- Safety Certificates: SOLAS 74, ISM, ISPS, MARPOL
What’s included?
- Accommodation
- All meals
- Island sightseeing
- Naturalist guides and lecture services in English/Spanish only
- Snorkeling gear
- Internet / Wi-Fi *
- Luggage handling
- Medical care on board (not including the cost of medication)
- Taxes
- Transfers in the islands
- Shared transfers from main hotels in Quito (Casa Gangotena, Hilton Colon, Sheraton, Marriott, Dann Carlton) and in Guayaquil (Hilton Colon, Oro Verde, Sheraton) to the airport for flights to/from Galapagos are included in these rates. To coordinate these transfers, we must have guests’ hotel contact information.
What’s not included?
- Wet suits available for rent, NET rate US$ 30 + VAT per guest for 7-day expeditions
- Air transportation to/from Galapagos and airport taxes (subject to change without previous notice)
- Galápagos National Park fee: US$200 per person
- Transit control card: US$20 per person
- Carbon Footprint
- Fuel surcharge
- Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
- Gratuities
- Gifts and additional items
- Travel insurance
Notes
Special Notes * Internet connections onboard consist in computer stations and wifi in the vessel’s social areas; due to the Galapagos’ remote location, internet connections are intermittent and low-bandwidth.
** At your request, we can include the Galapagos National Park entrance fee of US$100 and migration control card fee of US$20 (subject to change). However, please note that, due to administrative and operational reasons, these fees can only be included when guests travel on the operation departure date. This service does not apply for guests who travel before a departure date (even if the departure is with us).
*** Please note, we charge guests who wish to bring bottles of wine and/or spirits aboard our vessels a corkage fee of $25+taxes.
Early Bird Promotion (2025)
- In 2025, soft drinks and wetsuits will be offered in our early bird promotion, excluding the peak season. Promotion ends August 31, 2024.
- The peak season dates are: Dec 22, 2025 to Jan 01, 2026
Price Assurance
At Eclipse Travel, our expert destination knowledge and decades of travel planning experience come at no extra cost to you. While many think booking through a tour operator is more expensive than planning a trip independently, that’s not the case. We’re paid by our travel partners—such as hotels, activity operators, and cruise providers—via commissions, not by our clients.
Our team negotiates the best rates for you and ensures you receive unbiased advice, with no preference for any particular supplier. In fact, where we secure higher commissions, we often pass the savings on to you, giving us a competitive price edge.
Additionally, we lock in exchange rates at the time of your deposit, ensuring no surprise costs when it’s time for final payment. You can rest easy knowing we’ll handle the details with our suppliers. The only exceptions are national park fee increases or fuel surcharges imposed after your booking, though these are rare.
Take advantage of our team’s expertise and let us help you plan the perfect holiday—hassle-free!
Destination: Galapagos
This once in a lifetime destination is a nature lovers dream. Watch the famous Galapagos tortoises and blue footed boobies in the morning and snorkel with sea lions in the afternoon, then relax on your cruise to the next destination tomorrow!
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