7 Day Galápagos 6 Island Cruise

• You get rides and help in the Galápagos, both on land and in small boats. You also get rides to and from the airport. (This is not given if you booked a last-minute deal, a cheap deal, or if the cruise did not book your flight.)
• A trained guide comes with you on every trip. The guide speaks English and Spanish. A full team of workers is on the boat too.
• You sleep in a room on the yacht. The room has its own bathroom, air conditioning, and a hair dryer.
• All your food on the boat is included. You pick what you want from a big table of food (buffet). You also get snacks every day, plus soda, drinking water, coffee, tea, and fresh fruit juice.
• You can use snorkel gear, wetsuits, and two-person kayaks. The boat also has internet from a satellite.

• The plane ticket to and from the Galápagos is extra. You fly from Quito or Guayaquil. The price per person is listed, and you add it to the cruise price. If you do not book the flight through the cruise, you pay US$90 per person. (Sometimes there are exceptions.)
• You must pay to enter the Galápagos National Park. It costs US$200 for each adult and US$100 for each child. You pay with cash when you land at the airport in the islands.
• You must pay US$20 for the Galápagos travel card. You pay with cash in Quito or Guayaquil, before you check in for your flight.
• Drinks with alcohol on the boat are not included. Your own shopping, extra things you buy, and tips for the guide and crew are also not included.
• Insurance is not included. This means travel insurance, health insurance, and insurance in case you cancel your trip.

Tuesday | Welcome to the Galápagos

You land at Baltra Airport and a guide takes you to your boat. In the afternoon you visit Dragon Hill, a dry trail with cactus trees. Here you can look for big yellow land iguanas and pink flamingos.

Wednesday | Santiago Island

In the morning you sail into Buccaneer Cove (Caleta Bucanero in Spanish), where old pirate ships used to hide. You see tall red cliffs and strange rocks that look like animals. In the afternoon you walk at Puerto Egas and rest on the golden sand of Espumilla Beach.

Thursday | Lava and Giant Tortoises

In the morning you step onto Fernandina, one of the youngest islands in the world. Black lava covers the ground and hundreds of marine iguanas lie in the sun. In the afternoon you walk at Urbina Bay, where you can meet giant tortoises and land iguanas.

Friday | Quiet Bays of Isabela

In the morning you ride a small boat through the mangrove trees of Elizabeth Bay. Look for sea turtles, rays, and tiny Galápagos penguins in the calm water. In the afternoon you walk over old lava at Punta Moreno and find hidden ponds with flamingos.

Saturday | Volcano Day

In the morning you visit Tintoreras, where white-tip sharks rest in a narrow channel, or you hike up Sierra Negra Volcano. From the top you look down into a huge crater. In the afternoon you meet baby tortoises at the Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center.

Sunday | Santa Cruz Island

In the morning you visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and learn how people help the tortoises. You see tortoises of every size, from tiny babies to old giants. In the afternoon you relax at Tortuga Bay, a long white beach with soft sand.

Monday | Sea Lions and Goodbye

In the morning you visit Lobos Island, the home of playful sea lions. You can watch blue-footed boobies dance on the rocks. After that you go to the airport on San Cristobal and your cruise ends.

Which islands does the 7-day Galapagos Islands cruise reach?

Santa Cruz, Santiago, Fernandina, Isabela and San Cristobal — including the remote western islands and a hike on the active Sierra Negra volcano.

Is the 7-day cruise more active than island-hopping?

Yes, it suits adventure seekers who still want cruise comfort (AC cabins, private baths, kayaks and wetsuits).

Island-hopping or cruise: which Viaaza Galapagos tour is right for me?

Island-hopping is hotel-based. This type of tours is more flexible and reaches central day-trip islands. A cruise is the only way to reach the remote western and northern islands (Fernandina, Genovesa, Espanola's albatross). See the full comparison in the Galapagos guide.

Are the Galapagos park fee and transit card included in the tour price?

No. The $200 national-park fee (adult; $100 child, cash on arrival) and the ~$20 INGALA Transit Control Card are paid separately. Flights to the islands from the mainland are also paid separately.

Can I customize a tour or build a private itinerary?

Yes, every tour is customizable, and Viaaza will design a private, tailor-made Ecuador itinerary around your dates, pace and interests.