Photo: Heidi Bruce ↗THE JOURNEY IN DETAIL
Darwin’s islands from a catamaran deck.
In the Galápagos you cannot cruise the islands on a private yacht: visits are regulated by the national park and each route is assigned to a licensed vessel with a naturalist guide. We take a small sailing catamaran with crew through the southern islands: Santa Fe, San Cristóbal, Española and Floreana. Night passages under sail, morning landings among marine iguanas, albatrosses and giant tortoises.
- Waved albatrosses on Española (April — December)
- Snorkelling with sea lions and turtles at Kicker Rock
- Post Office Bay on Floreana and the flamingo lagoon
- Overnight passages under sail between islands
With old friends or new ones
Join a group or arrange a separate departure for your own team. Before travelling, we get to know each other, discuss everyone's experience and find suitable dates. You can also prepare together.
DAY BY DAY
Your daily itinerary.
A provisional itinerary. Weather, group readiness and local conditions may change the order and length of the stages.
- DAY 1 · 8 nautical miles
Baltra and North Seymour
Fly into Baltra and board the catamaran. Afternoon landing on North Seymour among nesting frigatebirds and blue-footed boobies. Evening passage towards Santa Fe.
Overnight: Yacht, off North Seymour - DAY 2 · 65 nautical miles
Santa Fe and on to San Cristóbal
A morning 20 miles to Santa Fe: giant prickly pears, land iguanas and a sea lion colony on the beach. Snorkel in the bay, then a 45-mile overnight passage east.
Overnight: Yacht, night passage - DAY 3 · 25 nautical miles
San Cristóbal and Kicker Rock
Landing at Punta Pitt with all three booby species, then snorkelling at Kicker Rock, a split pinnacle patrolled by hammerheads. Evening in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.
Overnight: Yacht, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno - DAY 4 · 50 nautical miles
Española: Punta Suárez
A 50-mile overnight passage south to the oldest island in the group. The Punta Suárez trail: waved albatrosses, red marine iguanas, hawks and a blowhole in the cliffs.
Overnight: Yacht, Gardner Bay - DAY 5 · 45 nautical miles
Gardner Bay and on to Floreana
A morning on Gardner’s white beach among sea lions and a snorkel at Gardner islet. After lunch, 45 miles west to Floreana.
Overnight: Yacht, off Floreana - DAY 6 · 40 nautical miles
Floreana: Post Office Bay and Punta Cormorant
The 18th-century whalers’ post barrel, a flamingo lagoon and an olivine-green beach. Snorkel at Devil’s Crown, a drowned crater. Evening passage to Santa Cruz.
Overnight: Yacht, Puerto Ayora - DAY 7 · Landings and walks
Santa Cruz: tortoises and the Darwin Station
The Santa Cruz highlands with wild giant tortoises and lava tunnels. The Charles Darwin Station in Puerto Ayora and a farewell dinner on board.
Overnight: Yacht, Puerto Ayora - DAY 8 · 12 nautical miles
To Baltra and departure
An early 12 miles north through the Itabaca channel and transfer to Baltra airport.
Overnight: —
Included in the estimated price
Double cabin on a crewed sailing catamaran
Licensed national park naturalist guide
Full board on board
All landings, pangas and snorkelling kit
Baltra airport — yacht transfers
Wetsuits
Not included in the price
Flights to the meeting point
Personal travel insurance and visas
Personal equipment
Single-room supplements and personal expenses
Galápagos National Park fee and transit control card
Flight Quito or Guayaquil — Baltra
Drinks on board
YOUR PREPARATION
Arrive ready for the route.
Physical demands are light: landings, short walks over lava and snorkelling. Ivan explains the park rules in advance and helps with connections via Quito or Guayaquil.
Prepare with IvanROUTE QUESTIONS
BEFORE WE MEET ON THE TRAIL
What to prepare in advance
- A soft bag rather than a hard suitcase
- Shoes with clean, non-slip soles
- Sun and wind protection, and a light rain layer
- Personal essentials suited to your experience at sea
Once we choose a date, we agree on the equipment list, meeting point and transfer time. Please wait until the programme is confirmed before booking flights.