Southern Galapagos 4-day Cruise

Embark on a memorable 4-day cruise through the Southern Galápagos, a region characterized by its stunning volcanic formations. The journey will take you to the islands of San Cristóbal, Santa Fe, North Seymour, Santiago, and Santa Cruz.

4-Day Southern Galapagos Voyage

Day 1: Arrival at San Cristóbal Island

Your adventure begins with a warm welcome as we pick you up from San Cristóbal Airport, whisking you off to board the Archipel I cruise ship for your exploration of the Southern Galápagos over the next four days.

After settling in and enjoying a delicious lunch, we’ll embark on our first exploration of San Cristóbal. Our first stop is the Puerto Baquerizo Moreno Interpretation Center, where intriguing exhibits will enlighten us on the island’s unique heritage.

Following this, we will hike up a scenic trail to the Cerro Tijeretas lookout point, offering breathtaking views of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Here, you’ll have the chance to see the statue of Charles Darwin, commemorating his historic visit aboard the HMS Beagle.

We will culminate our first day with a delightful dinner back on the cruise ship.

Day 2: Discovering Santa Fe Island

On the second day, we set sail westward to Santa Fe Island, centrally located in the Galápagos archipelago. This island’s name is derived from the Santa Fe Capitulations, which awarded Christopher Columbus with senior naval and viceroy titles.

Santa Fe boasts unique wildlife, including the Galápagos hawk, Galápagos snake, and the distinctive Santa Fe land iguana. We’ll disembark to explore the trails adorned with flora, featuring salt bushes and giant nopales thriving in the island’s volcanic soil.

As evening approaches, we will sail towards Santa Cruz, where despite its smaller dimensions, you can look forward to observing fascinating species like hybrid iguanas and various birds, including the swallow-tailed gull and brown pelican.

Our day will conclude with dinner onboard.

Day 3: North Seymour and Santiago Islands

The third day begins as we cruise to the rocky shores of North Seymour Island, where you can witness avian life such as the frigatebirds and blue-footed boobies performing their courting displays in the open terrain.

Following this, our journey continues to Santiago Island, passing by the iconic Sombrero Chino Island, which is home to a colony of Galápagos penguins nesting atop its 52-meter volcanic cone.

Nearing Santiago, we will uncover the story behind its name and delve into the fascinating world of volcanoes and lava tunnels. Once we arrive, we’ll relax on pristine beaches made of white coral and observe the playful Galápagos sea lions alongside marine iguanas.

Our evening wraps up with dinner and leisure time on the ship.

Day 4: Santa Cruz to Baltra Island

On the final day, we conclude our Galápagos adventure on Santa Cruz Island, starting with a visit to Los Gemelos, two dormant craters that lie adjacent to the road leading to Puerto Ayora. Here, we will learn about the impressive geological formations, surrounded by a thriving scalesia forest, a distinctive tree native to the archipelago.

Next, we’ll venture to the El Chato giant tortoise reserve, a habitat where we can observe these remarkable reptiles in their natural environment, particularly fond of the swampy terrain.

After completing our final activities, we will escort you to Baltra Airport for your departure.

Accommodation Details

Throughout this tour, enjoy 3 nights of lodging with full board aboard the Archipel I. You may select either a double or triple cabin when booking. For those interested in a quadruple cabin, please contact us for pricing and availability.

Flight Information

To join this cruise, please arrange your return flights as follows:

From Quito

• Departure Flight: AVIANCA AV1630. Leaves Quito at 9:30 AM, arriving in San Cristóbal at 12:06 PM.
• Return Flight: AVIANCA AV1633. Departs Baltra at 11:38 AM, with arrival in Quito at 4:15 PM.

From Guayaquil

• Departure Flight: AVIANCA AV1630. Leaves Guayaquil at 11:19 AM, reaching San Cristóbal at 12:06 PM.
• Return Flight: AVIANCA AV1633. Departs Baltra at 11:38 AM, arriving in Guayaquil at 2:29 PM.