We’re delighted to have you on board for this journey of discovery to some of the most beautiful islands in the Galapagos. Our itinerary together begins on Santa Cruz Island, the most populous of the archipelago, where we meet giant tortoises in the wild and then venture to the shores of Eden Islet. The entire crew aboard La Pinta will do our utmost to ensure your Galapagos experience is truly deeply moving and memorable.
Details
Overview
Itinerary Highlights
- Enjoy the Galapagos Islands in 5 star luxury.
- Learn from some of the highest quality guides on the Islands.
- Get up close with Sea lions, Iguana's and the other various species of wildlife on the Galapagos Islands.
- La Pinta is the ideal yacht for families travelling together, with many connecting cabins, and beds that can be joined or separated, depending on guests’ wishes.
Itinerary in Brief
- Day 1: Baltra Airport - Giant Tortoise Reserve
- Day 2: Eden Islet - Chinese Hat Islet
- Day 3: Bartolome Island - Sullivan Bay
- Day 4: Darwin Bay - Prince Philip Steps
- Day 5: Baltra Airport
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: Arrive Baltra - Santa Cruz highlands
Following our morning arrival at Baltra Airport, we transfer to the Itabaca Channel, taking a small ferry across the channel to the north shore of Santa Cruz Island. We board our bus to the highlands, where we’ll learn about Santa Cruz’s unique ecosystems and biodiversity. Lunch is served at a local restaurant.
After lunch, we continue by bus to reach a reserve that is one of the best places in the archipelago to see giant tortoises in their natural habitat. The tortoises are easy to spot, lumbering around, eating grass and leaves and wallowing in the small pools. There are several lava tunnels in the reserve, too. A short bus ride takes us down to Puerto Ayora to board Yacht La Pinta.
Lunch and Dinner included.
Day 2: Eden Islet - Sombrero Chino Islet
After breakfast, a panga ride takes us to Eden Islet, located off the coast of Santa Cruz, where we can observe blue-footed boobies diving into the water, 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 due to its variety of volcanic debris, including cinder cones, tuff cones, and semi-eroded lava flows.
The tiny island of Sombrero Chino gets its name from its appearance, reminiscent of a Chinese hat. This islet, formed only fairly recently, makes a beautiful visit as one explores the wildlife along its 400-metre long trail, which begins at a crescent-shaped white sandy beach. The cove offers excellent swimming and snorkeling opportunities amid white-tipped reef sharks and Galapagos penguins.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 3: Bartolomé Island - Sullivan Bay
This morning, a Galapagos icon awaits: Bartolome Island. A great way to start the day, with a steep climb up a wooden staircase: the view from the top is worth the effort! Following the walk, we take to the dinghies for a ride around colossal Pinnacle Rock, followed by time to enjoy the beach and some snorkeling. We can also ride in the glass-bottom boat for great views of the underwater world.
After lunch, we board the pangas to land at Sullivan Bay on the east coast of Santiago, a white coral sand beach great for swimming and snorkeling, and with a trail over a lava field that flowed here less than 100 years ago. This is the perfect place to see and feel the volcanic origin of Galapagos while observing its wildlife.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 4 - Darwin Bay & Prince Phillip's Steps
In the morning, we begin our exploration of this island with an easy stroll to observe marine and land birds. There is an optional walk over sharp lava and uneven terrain for dramatic views, or else we can return to the beach to enjoy swimming and snorkeling at this beautiful natural harbor. The more adventurous can snorkel along the cliffs or paddle sea kayaks.
The afternoon starts with a very interesting panga ride along the cliffs before we disembark for a short but steep climb up a wooden staircase. Once at the top, the land is flat, allowing for a captivating walk of about a mile to the other side of this small island, observing large colonies of Nazca boobies, frigate birds and storm petrels, and the elusive short-eared owl.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 5 - Baltra Island airport
Our journey ends at Baltra Island, where we transfer to the airport to take the flight back to the mainland. Baltra’s flat substrate (due to its uplifted origin) is the reason why the island was chosen back in the 1940s as the location for building an airport.
Breakfast included.
Next Departure Date: 24 Feb 2025
| Dates | Cabin | From | Special Offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Feb 2025 - 28 Feb 2025 | AUD$9623pp | ||
| Luxury Cabin | AUD$9623pp | Contact us | |
| Luxury Plus Cabin | AUD$9623pp | Contact us | |
| 10 Mar 2025 - 14 Mar 2025 | AUD$9623pp | ||
| 07 Apr 2025 - 11 Apr 2025 | AUD$9623pp | ||
| 21 Apr 2025 - 25 Apr 2025 | AUD$9623pp | ||
| 05 May 2025 - 09 May 2025 | AUD$9623pp | ||
| 19 May 2025 - 23 May 2025 | AUD$9623pp | ||
| 02 Jun 2025 - 06 Jun 2025 | AUD$9623pp | ||
| 16 Jun 2025 - 20 Jun 2025 | AUD$9623pp | ||
| 30 Jun 2025 - 04 Jul 2025 | AUD$9623pp | ||
| 14 Jul 2025 - 18 Jul 2025 | AUD$9623pp | ||
| 28 Jul 2025 - 01 Aug 2025 | AUD$9623pp | ||
| 11 Aug 2025 - 15 Aug 2025 | AUD$9623pp | ||
| 25 Aug 2025 - 29 Aug 2025 | AUD$9623pp | ||
| 08 Sep 2025 - 12 Sep 2025 | AUD$9623pp | ||
| 22 Sep 2025 - 26 Sep 2025 | AUD$9623pp | ||
| 06 Oct 2025 - 10 Oct 2025 | AUD$9623pp | ||
| 20 Oct 2025 - 24 Oct 2025 | AUD$9623pp | ||
| 03 Nov 2025 - 07 Nov 2025 | AUD$9623pp | ||
| 17 Nov 2025 - 21 Nov 2025 | AUD$9623pp | ||
| 01 Dec 2025 - 05 Dec 2025 | AUD$9623pp | ||
| 15 Dec 2025 - 19 Dec 2025 | AUD$9623pp | ||
| 29 Dec 2025 - 02 Jan 2026 | AUD$9623pp |
Alternative itinerary options:
**Prices are per person based on twin / shared accommodation.
**Single supplements may apply
Cabin Details
Luxury Cabin
17.6m², 2 single beds or 1 king bed, private bathroom, floor-to-ceiling glass window, A/C, storage space, sitting area, desk.
Luxury Plus Cabin
23.04m², 2 single beds or 1 queen bed, sofa bed, private bathroom, floor-to-ceiling glass window, A/C, storage space, sitting area, desk.
La Pinta Deckplan
Specifications
- Type of Vessel: Motor Yacht
- Engines: 2 DEUTZ model SBA 8M 1275 HP
- Length: 63 meters (207 feet)
- Beam: 12 meters (39.37 feet)
- Gross Tonnage: 1541
- Speed: 12 knots
- Electricity: 110-220 Volts 50Hz
- Navigation Equipment: Gyrocompass, Automatic Pilot, radar, and GPS
- Safety Certificates: (SOLAS, STCW, MARPOL, ISM COD 12)
- Fire Detector: Automatic with control from the bridge
- Lif Jackets: In each cabin
- Inflatable life raft 2 x 50 persons and 6 x 50 persons
- Landing Craft: 3 Pumar inflatable landing craft + glass bottom boat
- Capacity: 48 guests
- Cabins: 24 outside cabins, in the same deck with twin or queen-size beds (twin beds pushed together).
- Double Cabin size: 16 square meters (175 square feet).
- Triple Cabin size: 22 square meters (236 square feet) with sofa bed.
- Decks: Sundeck, Cabin deck, Main deck (three public decks include an ample bar-salon, dining room, natural history library, sky bar and sundeck.
- Wellness: Jacuzzi and exercise room
- Crew: 24
- Naturalists: 4
- Medical Officer: Permanently on board
What’s included?
- Accommodation
- All meals
- Soft drinks *
- Island sightseeing
- Naturalist guides and lecture services in English/Spanish only
- Wetsuit rental and snorkeling gear
- Internet *
- Taxes and transfers in the islands. Transfer from main hotels in Quito (Casa Gangotena, Hilton Colón, Swissôtel, Marriott, Dann Carlton) and in Guayaquil (Hilton Colón, Oro Verde, Sheraton, Wyndham) to the airport for flights to / from Galapagos are included in these rates. To coordinate these transfers we must have guest’s hotel contact.
* Please note: Soft drinks include juices and carbonated drinks, not “virgin” cocktails.
** Wi-Fi is available in the yacht’s social areas; due to the Galapagos’ remote location, internet connections are intermittent and low-bandwidth.
What’s not included?
- Airfare to/from Galapagos
- Galápagos National Park fee: US$200 per person
- Transit control card: US$20 per person
- Carbon Footprint
- Fuel Surcharge
- Alcoholic drinks
- Tips
- Gifts and additional items
Notes
Important Notes
Please remember that the exact route and program may vary according to weather and ocean conditions and the wildlife we encounter. It’s also subject to change without previous notice due mainly to readjustment of the National Park policies and regulations.
- Dry landing: guests step from the panga (dinghy) onto rocks or a dock.
- Wet landing: as the dinghy edges onto a sandy beach, guests step into around 20 cm (8 inches) of water and wade ashore.
**At your request, we can include the Galapagos National Park entrance fee of US$ 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 US$ 25+taxes.
**** Wifi is available in the vessel’s social areas; due to the Galapagos’ remote location, internet connections are intermittent and low-bandwidth.
Early Bird Promotion (2025)
- Until August 31, 2024, we're offering an early bird promotion for 2025 reservations on La Pinta cruises. This includes the Wine and Beer Package and VIP Lounge access at Galapagos Airport, excluding Peak Season.
- The peak season dates are: Dec 19, 2025 to Jan 02, 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!
Downloadable travel guide
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