Embark on a breathtaking journey through the pristine landscapes of the Galapagos Western Islands. Witness majestic sea lions basking in the sun on pristine white sand beaches. Explore unique volcanic formations and discover the diverse wildlife that calls this region home. Immerse yourself in the natural beauty of this remote paradise on this unforgettable cruise experience.
Galapagos
Galapagos Western Islands Cruise (C)
7 Days aboard M/C Seaman Journey. From NZD $9,767pp.
Details
Overview
Itinerary Highlights
- Sea turtles, black-tip, white-tip, and Galapagos sharks, spotted rays, egrets, and herons contribute to the diverse wildlife.
- Visitors can observe land iguanas, red and blue lobsters, and various vegetation, including Darwin’s cotton flowers.
Itinerary in Brief
- Day 1: Santa Cruz Island: Highlands & Twin Craters
- Day 2: Isabela Island: Moreno Point & Fernandina Island: Mangle Point
- Day 3: Isabela Island: Urbina Bay & Tagus Cove
- Day 4: Fernandina Island: Espinoza Point & Isabela Island: Vicente Roca Point
- Day 5: Santiago Island: Espumilla Beach & Puerto Egas
- Day 6: Rabida Island & Chinese Hat
- Day 7: Santa Cruz Island: Black Turtle Cove
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 Island: Highlands & Twin Craters
AM: Flight to Galapagos
Today, you will fly to the Galapagos Islands. Due to the Galapagos Government’s regulations, a fee of 20 USD must be paid for the migration control card.
Once in Santa Cruz, passengers must go through an inspection point at the airport to ensure that no foreign plants or animals are being introduced to the archipelago. Additionally, this inspection point is where passengers have to pay for the entrance to the Galapagos National Park under the following parameters:
As of September 2024, foreign passengers $200 and children $100 (under 12 years old).
Our guide will pick you up and carry your luggage to the bus that transports tourists to the ferries to cross the Itabaca Channel. After this, you will be taken by another bus for the first visit to Ranch Manzanillo where visitors must wear comfortable walking shoes, light clothing, a waterproof jacket, sunblock lotion, and carry a camera and repellent for the first activity. The visit to Ranch Manzanillo includes a picnic lunch and a short walk before boarding the Motor Catamaran. It is important to follow these instructions in order to accomplish this itinerary properly. Please be aware that passengers’ luggage will be sent directly to the Seaman Journey yacht.
Santa Cruz offers excellent opportunities to observe the wild Galapagos Tortoises. Tracking tortoises is not the only exciting activity to be found in the highlands. There are also plenty of lava tubes, sinkholes, and craters ready to be explored. After this visit, they moved to the M/C Seaman Journey.
Day 2: Isabela Island: Moreno Point & Fernandina Island: Mangle Point
AM: Moreno Point, Isabela Island
Punta Moreno is located on the north coast of Isabela Island, between the Sierra Negra volcano and Cerro Azul volcano.
The trail runs along a Pahoehoe lava flow (solidified lava in the form of corrugated or an accordion) into a complex of coastal lagoons. Several species of birds can be found around these lakes and mangroves.
PM: Fernandina Island, Mangle Point
Off the eastern coast of Fernandina, Mangle Point can be found. It is a superior snorkelling site and a beautiful location for riding in a panga or zodiac through a grove of mangrove trees. A hike of about 1/2 mile is possible. While you are on your ride, you are likely to see sea lions, tortoises, pelicans, rays, and too many birds to name them all.
Day 3: Isabela Island: Urbina Bay & Tagus Cove
AM: Isabela Island, Urbina Bay
Urbina Bay is located at the base of Alcedo Volcano on the west coast, between Tagus Cove and Elizabeth Bay. This area experienced a major uplift in 1954, which caused the land to rise over 16 feet. The coast expanded half a mile out, leaving marine life stranded on the new shore. This area is also a great place to snorkel. Urbina Bay is a path that starts off with a wet landing. The course is approximately 3200m, and is made up of sand, pumice, lava, coral and vegetation where one can observe iguana burrows. It is an ideal place to see red and blue lobsters!
In Urbina Bay, you can see Darwin’s finches. Its main attraction is the land iguanas, which are larger than those in places like South Plaza Island and Galapagos. Tortoises also live in the wild; sometimes, even out of season, they are on the bottom of the islands. A large amount of vegetation can be observed such as chamomile and Rosewood, but among all these plants, the beautiful flowers of Darwin’s cotton, endemic to the Galapagos Islands, stand out.
PM: Isabela Island, Tagus Cove
Tagus Cove is located west of Darwin Volcano on Isabela Island. This was a favourite spot for pirates and whalers, and it was they who started the following tradition: the inscription of the names of boats. At the beginning of the trail, you will see a small cave where you will find inscriptions dating back to the 1800s.
Its name originated from a British warship that passed through the islands in 1814 looking for Galapagos Tortoises for food. Due to former eruptions, the substrate has a large amount of volcanic rocks of different sizes, among the most common are little balls of nearly spherical shape known as “lapilli” or petrified rain.
Day 4: Fernandina Island: Espinoza Point & Isabela Island: Vicente Roca Point
AM: Fernandina Island, Espinoza Point
Espinoza Point is a renowned location recognized for its extensive colonies of marine iguanas and as the habitat of unique species such as the flightless cormorant, Galapagos penguin, Galapagos hawk, and Galapagos snake.
PM: Vicente Roca Point
One of the most impressive and spectacular places in the enchanted Galapagos Islands, with high cliffs and tuffstone, ash, and lava formations giving this area a majestic touch, is Punta Vicente Roca. Located on the northwestern coast of the island, it comprises two distinct islets. This large bay boasts spectacular marine life.
Here, you can see seahorses, sea turtles, and the strange yet fascinating Mola-mola or sunfish. This bay is a great place for practicing Panga Rides and Snorkeling.
You can also find penguins, blue-footed boobies, terns, boobies, and sea lions. Additionally, you can snorkel and observe sea turtles, stingrays, and pufferfishes.
Day 5: Santiago Island: Espumilla Beach & Puerto Egas
AM: Santiago Island, Espumilla Beach
Espumilla Beach is located on the northern coast of Santiago Island in James Bay. During the last occurrence of the El Niño phenomenon, one of the two lagoons at this site underwent a process of sedimentation, thus causing the disappearance of a representative colony of flamingos. The main attractions are the palo santo forest and the nesting of baby turtles.
PM: Puerto Egas, Santiago Island
Its black beach is located on the west side of the island and is the main attraction of the island. Its volcanic tuff deposits have favoured the formation of this special black sand beach.
This site is called Puerto Egas, because there was an attempt to start the exploitation of salt, which failed because the price of salt on the continent was very low, and did not justify its exploitation in Galapagos. The project and the infrastructure were left abandoned.
Day 6: Rabida Island & Chinese Hat
AM: Rabida Island
Rábida Island is unique due to the red colour that colours all rocks and sand. The volcanic material on this island is very porous and external factors such as rain, salty water, and sea breeze have acted as oxidising agents.
A short walk along a trail leads you to a coastal lagoon behind the beach, which allows you to observe land birds such as finches, doves, yellow warblers, and mockingbirds. At the lagoon, there is a colony of flamingos.
PM: Chinese Hat – Sombrero Chino
This is a small islet located just off the southeastern tip of Santiago Island. It is a recent volcanic cone, shaped like a Chinese hat when seen from the north. On the west, you can see lava formations, formed under the sea and raised upwards, which is why coral heads are found on the lava.
This is an excellent visit for interpretation of geological features such as lava tubes and lava flows. The landscape is covered by sea lion colonies, marine iguanas, and Galapagos penguins.
Day 7: Santa Cruz Island: Black Turtle Cove
AM: Black Turtle Cove, Santa Cruz Island
A dinghy ride to Black Turtle Cove, located on the north coast of Santa Cruz, just west of Baltra, offers a window into a quiet hideaway of the Galapagos.
Once in the cove, the boat continues with the engines off and begins to explore the mangrove-protected cove.
Sea turtles feed and mate in the calm waters, and three species of sharks are found here: the black-tip shark, the white-tip shark, and the Galapagos shark.
Groups of spotted rays are also often seen, as well as egrets and herons.
After the visit, you will be transferred to the Baltra airport in time for your flight back to the mainland.
Next Departure Date: 31 Jan 2025
| Dates | Cabin | From | Special Offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Jan 2025 - 06 Feb 2025 | NZD$9767pp | ||
| Twin Cabin | NZD$9767pp | Contact us | |
| Matrimonial Suite | NZD$10500pp | Contact us | |
| 14 Feb 2025 - 20 Feb 2025 | NZD$9767pp | ||
| 28 Feb 2025 - 06 Mar 2025 | NZD$9767pp | ||
| 14 Mar 2025 - 20 Mar 2025 | NZD$9767pp | ||
| 28 Mar 2025 - 03 Apr 2025 | NZD$9767pp | ||
| 11 Apr 2025 - 17 Apr 2025 | NZD$9767pp | ||
| 25 Apr 2025 - 01 May 2025 | NZD$9767pp | ||
| 09 May 2025 - 15 May 2025 | NZD$9767pp | ||
| 23 May 2025 - 29 May 2025 | NZD$9767pp | ||
| 06 Jun 2025 - 12 Jun 2025 | NZD$9767pp | ||
| 20 Jun 2025 - 26 Jun 2025 | NZD$9767pp | ||
| 04 Jul 2025 - 10 Jul 2025 | NZD$9767pp | ||
| 18 Jul 2025 - 24 Jul 2025 | NZD$9767pp | ||
| 01 Aug 2025 - 07 Aug 2025 | NZD$9767pp | ||
| 15 Aug 2025 - 21 Aug 2025 | NZD$9767pp | ||
| 29 Aug 2025 - 04 Sep 2025 | NZD$9767pp | ||
| 12 Sep 2025 - 18 Sep 2025 | NZD$9767pp | ||
| 26 Sep 2025 - 02 Oct 2025 | NZD$9767pp | ||
| 10 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025 | NZD$9767pp | ||
| 24 Oct 2025 - 30 Oct 2025 | NZD$9767pp | ||
| 07 Nov 2025 - 13 Nov 2025 | NZD$9767pp | ||
| 21 Nov 2025 - 27 Nov 2025 | NZD$9767pp | ||
| 05 Dec 2025 - 11 Dec 2025 | NZD$9767pp | ||
| 19 Dec 2025 - 25 Dec 2025 | NZD$9767pp |
**Prices are per person based on twin / shared accommodation.
**Single supplements may apply
Cabin Details
Matrimonial Suite
Panoramic windows to enjoy the wonderful landscapes of the islands, Private bathroom, hot/cold water, hair dryer, Queen beds, Safe box in all cabins for
personal belongings, Air conditioning with independent controls.
Twin Cabin
Panoramic windows to enjoy the wonderful landscapes of the islands, Private bathroom, hot/cold water, hair dryer, Safe box in all cabins for
personal belongings, Twin beds, Air conditioning with independent controls
M/C Seaman Journey Deckplan
Specifications
- Type: Motor Catamaran
- Electric system: 2x 50 kw IMO
- Category: Boutique Yacht Naturalist Liveaboard
- Electric power: 110v and 220v AC/DC
- Material construction: Fiberglass
- Cruising Speed: 10 knots
- Length: 90 feet (27.6 meters)
- Water capacity: 3000 gallons
- Beam: 36.08 feet (11 meters)
- Diesel capacity: 2500 gallons
- Draft: 4.75 feet (1.45 meters)
- Passengers: maximum 16
- Year build: 2007
- Crew: 9 members
- Main engines: 2x Cummins 350 hp IMO
Whats included?
- Transfers in Galapagos
- Accommodation on board in double cabin
- All meals during the cruise
- Naturalist Bilingual Guide level III
- All visits and excursions according to the itinerary
- Snorkel Gear(mask, tube and fins)
- Kayaks
- Unlimited purified water, coffee and tea
What’s not included?
- Round trip flight to/from Galapagos
- Galápagos National Park fee: US$200 per person
- Transit control card: US$20 per person
- Tips
- Local Taxes
- Travel Insurance
- Meals and services not mentioned above
- Alcoholic drinks and soft drinks
- Extras and personal expenses
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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