Experience the magnificent scenery and abundant wildlife the Galapagos has to offer during this unique 5 day cruise. The islands you will visit include Santa Cruz, Genovesa, Santiago, Bartolome, Chinese Hat and Mosquera.
Galapagos
Diving into the Wildlife Wonders and Marine Magic of the Galapagos (Itinerary A)
5 Days aboard M/C Alya. From AUD $7,000pp.
Details
Overview
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Itinerary Highlights:
- Discover the abundant Galapagos wildlife, including marine turtles, reef sharks and rays.
- Participate in activities including snorkelling, swimming, paddle boating and kayaking.
- Observe the unique lava tubes and formations at Chinese Hat Islet.
- Experience up-close encounters with turtles and iguanas at the breeding centre on Santa Cruz Island.
Itinerary in Brief:
- Day 1: Santa Cruz
- Day 2: Genovesa
- Day 3: Santiago & Bartolome
- Day 4: Chinese Hat & Mosquera
- Day 5: Santa Cruz
Travelling with Eclipse
Peace of Mind
- 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: Santa Cruz
After arriving at Baltra Airport, you will hop on board the Alya Catamaran where you will be welcomed with drinks and lunch. After lunch our first visit is to Black Turtle Cove which is situated in the northern region of Santa Cruz. This bay is surrounded by mangroves and is accessible by dinghy only. The shallow cove is a safe refuge for marine life. Black-tip reef sharks, marine turtles, and a variety of rays are often spotted here.
Day 2: Genovesa Island
Darwin Bay is the first stop this morning, and is great for short walks, photography, swimming and snorkelling. Near the beach is a mangrove swamp where we will find a colony of frigates, marine iguanas, red-footed boobies and mask boobies, the great terrestrial finch, seagulls, herons, and cactus finch.
Next, we will head to Barranco, also known as Prince Phillip’s stairs. Here, we will go for a walk on the Barranco path. On our journey we will observe tropical birds, petrels, common frigate, red-foot boobies, mask boobies, doves, and finches.
Day 3: Santiago Island
Arrive in the morning at Sullivan Bay, where virtually uneroded lava flows cover an extensive area of this island. Lava pahoehoe (basaltic lava that has a smooth, billowy, undulating or ropy surface), hornitos, and mollugo (a lava colonizer) can be seen.
In the afternoon we will visit Bartolome Island, where there are plenty of activities including walking, swimming, snorkelling and photography. We will follow a path to the top (114m) where we can see pioneering plants such as tiquilia, chamaesyce, and scalesia. The island has been formed by cones, lava pipes where lava once flowed. Following the wet landing at the beach, we will follow a path through mangrove swamps and sand dune vegetation to the south beach. From the top of Bartolome, we will be able to see the islands of Santiago, Rabida, and Isabela, as well as penguins at Pinnacle Rock.
Day 4: Chinese Hat Islet & Mosquera Islet
In the morning visit Chinese Hat Islet located near the south-east coast of Santiago. It’s shaped like a Chinese hat when seen from afar. It is an island consisting of a cone type “Splatter” (lava ejected as drops which fall close to where they came from, which form an inclined cone) that forms the summit and many lava tubes that go down to the coast.
On the west side you can see pillow-type lava formations, which are an indicator that the flows were formed under the sea and have been raised upward, which is why coral heads are found on the lava. This visit provides an excellent opportunity for the interpretation of geological features such as lava tubes and lava flows. The trail is 700 m (round trip) and the minimum time it takes for this trek is 30 minutes.
Mosquera Islet is located between Baltra Island and North Seymour. Here, we find the biggest sea lion colony; it is also possible to observe several species of birds. Enjoy the white sand beach before returning to the boat for dinner.
Day 5: Santa Cruz
After breakfast, we will visit Charles Darwin Station which is located in the main port on Santa Cruz Island. We will take a private bus to the entrance of the breeding centre, where we will see tortoises and land iguanas in captivity. Thanks to the dedicated work of several institutions, some species have been saved. Here lived Lonesome George, the famous last survivor of the giant tortoise species found on Pinta Island.
Following this, transfer to the airport for departure.
Next Departure Date: 13 Feb 2025
| Dates | Cabin | From | Special Offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Feb 2025 - 17 Feb 2025 | AUD$7000pp | ||
| Standard Cabin | AUD$7000pp | Contact us | |
| 27 Feb 2025 - 03 Mar 2025 | AUD$7000pp | ||
| 10 Apr 2025 - 14 Apr 2025 | AUD$7000pp | ||
| 24 Apr 2025 - 28 Apr 2025 | AUD$7000pp | ||
| 08 May 2025 - 12 May 2025 | AUD$7000pp | ||
| 05 Jun 2025 - 09 Jun 2025 | AUD$7000pp | ||
| 19 Jun 2025 - 23 Jun 2025 | AUD$7000pp | ||
| 03 Jul 2025 - 07 Jul 2025 | AUD$7000pp | ||
| 17 Jul 2025 - 21 Jul 2025 | AUD$7000pp | ||
| 31 Jul 2025 - 04 Aug 2025 | AUD$7000pp | ||
| 14 Aug 2025 - 18 Aug 2025 | AUD$7000pp | ||
| 28 Aug 2025 - 01 Sep 2025 | AUD$7000pp | ||
| 23 Oct 2025 - 27 Oct 2025 | AUD$7000pp | ||
| 06 Nov 2025 - 10 Nov 2025 | AUD$7000pp | ||
| 20 Nov 2025 - 24 Nov 2025 | AUD$7000pp | ||
| 18 Dec 2025 - 22 Dec 2025 | AUD$7000pp |
**Prices are per person based on twin / shared accommodation.
**Single supplements may apply
Cabin Details
Standard Cabin
8 cabins located on the main deck or upper deck, 2 single beds or 1 double bed, private bathroom, air conditioning, hair dryer, telephone for internal communication & safety deposit box.
M/C Alya Deckplan
Specifications
- Year of construction: 2017
- Type: Luxury Motor Catamaran
- Length: 105 feet / 32 metres
- Beam: 43 feet / 13 metres
- Draft: 5.6 feet / 1.7 metres
- Cruising speed: 12 knots
- Passengers: 16
- Crew: 9 crew members + 1 cruise director + 1 bilingual guide
- Engines: 2 Cummins Motors 350 HP
- Water capacity: 2,500 gallons
- Diesel capacity: 2,500 gallons
- Electric power: 110V and 220V
- Decks: 2 (main and upper)
- Safety & navigation: Life vests, GPS, sonar, naval radars and fire detection and prevention systems (all equipment meets/exceeds the international safety standards)
Whats included?
- Airport assistance
- Transfers in Galapagos
- Accommodation in double cabin
- All meals during the cruise
- Naturalist Bilingual Guide
- All visits & excursions according to the itinerary
- Snorkel Gear (mask, tube and fins)
- Kayaks, paddle boards
- Unlimited purified water, coffee and tea
- Wetsuits, soft drinks, beach towels
What’s not included?
- Local flight to/from Galapagos
- Galápagos National Park fee: US$200 per person
- Transit control card: US$20 per person
- Alcoholic drinks
- Tips
- Local Taxes
- Travel Insurance
- Service do not specified
Notes
- Christmas and New Year supplement 50%.
- We accept children from 6 years old.
- Single Supplement 50% from the rate.
- Rates are subject to change; we guarantee rate with previous deposit only.
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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