Sorry! There are no remaining departures for "Galápagos — West & Central Islands aboard the Evolution" (SEV10EB), but here are some similar trips.
Galápagos — West & Central Islands aboard the Evolution
10 days, Quito to Quito
Itinerary
Day 1Quito
Arrive at any time.
Catch an included arrival transfer to the hotel. There are no planned activities, so check into the hotel and enjoy the city. A G Adventures representative will greet you at the hotel and brief the group on the various aspects of the tour.
If you are not able to attend the welcome meeting, the representative will leave all important information at the hotel’s reception indicating what time to be ready on Day 2 of the trip. If there is any confusion on arrival, please do not hesitate to call the contact number listed in this dossier.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
Day 2Quito/Puerto Ayora
Take a morning flight to the Galápagos. Land in Baltra and meet the Galápagos CEO to board the Evolution.
Transfer early to the airport for the flight to the Galápagos Islands. Upon arrival, meet the naturalist guide, who will assist with the transfer to the Evolution.
The Galápagos National Park authorities have implemented a system of Transit Control Cards at a fee of USD10 per person. This card is to be purchased in CASH at a counter in the Quito airport before boarding the flight to the Galápagos. Please retain this card along with your passport as you will be required to present these upon arrival to the Galápagos Islands. Please note that this applies to all tourists entering the Galápagos Islands and is a supplement to the existing entry fee to the National Park and is not controlled by tour operators or travel agencies. It is the first of a number of initiatives to track, control, and maintain the sustainable tourism targets set out by the Galápagos National Park and the Ecuadorian government in an attempt to preserve the fragile environment of the archipelago.
The Ecuadorian government currently levies a Galápagos Islands Park entry fee of USD100 per person. This is payable at the airport upon arrival in the park. It is not included in the cost of the tour, and must be paid in CASH. This fee funds park maintenance and supervision in Galápagos as well as ecological study, conservation, and infrastructure development in Ecuador's other National Parks. Entry fees and the funds they generate for the National Park System are among measures taken by the Ecuadorian government to protect its natural heritage.
Private Vehicle
Early morning transfer to the airport to catch the flight to the Galápagos.
Plane
Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
Flights from Quito to Baltra depart between 6:40am and 9:40am depending on the day of the week. These will arrive into the Galápagos between 9:30am and 12:30pm with a short refuelling stop in Guayaquil (you will not disembark the plane). You will generally arrive onto the boat in time for lunch on Day 2 before the afternoon activity.
Evolution
The Evolution comes with all the features you'd expect from a luxury cruise liner, without the cruise liner part. Sharp-looking and roomy with tons of outdoor space, you'll be amazed at how we can fit 32 passengers, sea kayaks, a cruise director and two (yes, two) naturalist guides into a ship that never feels too big.
Whaler's Bay Landing
Land at Whaler’s Bay on Santa Cruz’s west coast to explore a stretch of white sand beach, which was once a settlement for whaling ships during the mid-19th century. Discover the remnants of past life as well as a local population of tortoises that currently inhabit the area.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 3Punta Vicente Roca/Punta Espinoza
In the morning, visit Punta Vicente Roca on Isabela Island – a great site for swimming and snorkelling with spectacular sea life. In the afternoon, visit Punta Espinoza on Fernandina Island, the youngest of the Galápagos Islands. Witness the largest colony of marine iguanas in the Galápagos and a variety of bird life.
Evolution
The Evolution comes with all the features you'd expect from a luxury cruise liner, without the cruise liner part. Sharp-looking and roomy with tons of outdoor space, you'll be amazed at how we can fit 32 passengers, sea kayaks, a cruise director and two (yes, two) naturalist guides into a ship that never feels too big.
Panga Ride
Tour the most northern edge of Isabela by panga to see nesting sea birds, including masked and blue-footed boobies perched on the cliffs. Home to a large colony of sea lions, Punta Vicente Roca’s shielded bay is host to a massive variety of marine life.
Punta Espinoza Visit
Tour a number of different trails at this not-to-be-missed landing site that’s home to some of the largest colonies of marine iguanas and sea birds. Follow the path along the beach and across lava flows for a unique opportunity to explore one of the least-visited areas of the Galápagos. Here, you will also have a chance to snorkel.
Evolution
The Evolution comes with all the features you'd expect from a luxury cruise liner, without the cruise liner part. Sharp-looking and roomy with tons of outdoor space, you'll be amazed at how we can fit 32 passengers, sea kayaks, a cruise director and two (yes, two) naturalist guides into a ship that never feels too big.
Snorkelling (Punta Vicente Roca)
Snorkel at one of the Galápagos’ most desirable snorkelling sites. Enjoy the protection of nearby coves while discovering the rich array of marine life that is attracted to the upwelling of cold water currents near Punta Vicente Roca. Keep an eye out for penguins, blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, sea lions. sea turtles, rays and puffer fish.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 4Urbina Bay/Tagus Cove
In the morning, make an easy wet landing at Urbina Bay. Walk along the coast or go snorkelling among the marine life. In the afternoon, visit Tagus Cove to follow a trail along Lake Darwin. Trek up to a ridge high enough to see amazing views.
Urbina Bay Visit
Visit Urbina Bay for a unique walk among a massive marine reef that was raised out of the water in 1950 during an uplift. See “sculptures” of dried coral and other ocean formations while touring the area on foot. Urbina Bay also offers great opportunities to snorkel, as well as to see land iguanas that have astonishingly yellow skin, flightless cormorants, land tortoises, marine turtles, and rays.
Evolution
The Evolution comes with all the features you'd expect from a luxury cruise liner, without the cruise liner part. Sharp-looking and roomy with tons of outdoor space, you'll be amazed at how we can fit 32 passengers, sea kayaks, a cruise director and two (yes, two) naturalist guides into a ship that never feels too big.
Tagus Cove Visit
Visit Tagus Cove, an Isabela Island anchorage site that was popular among whalers and pirates. Tour the area on foot for spectacular views of Darwin Lake (a spherical saltwater crater), the bay, and Darwin and Wolf volcanoes. Upon landing, take the wooden stairway to the trail entrance, and follow the trail through a dry vegetation zone. Opt to continue on an ascent to a promontory made up of spatter cones (small volcanic cones) or explore the area by dinghy.
Evolution
The Evolution comes with all the features you'd expect from a luxury cruise liner, without the cruise liner part. Sharp-looking and roomy with tons of outdoor space, you'll be amazed at how we can fit 32 passengers, sea kayaks, a cruise director and two (yes, two) naturalist guides into a ship that never feels too big.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 5Bartolomé Island/Santiago Island
Visit Bartolomé Island for a guided tour to see its dramatic volcanic features before hiking to a panoramic viewpoint. Continue to Sullivan Bay on Santiago Island to witness giant lava formations contrasting the white-coral-sand beach.
Bartolomé Island Visit
Hike to Bartolomé's summit for a stronger perspective of the islands' not-too-distant volcanic origins, and enjoy a panoramic view – it’s one of the best among the islands! See other Galápagos Islands in the distance as well as Pinnacle Rock, the island’s famous towering landmark.
Evolution
The Evolution comes with all the features you'd expect from a luxury cruise liner, without the cruise liner part. Sharp-looking and roomy with tons of outdoor space, you'll be amazed at how we can fit 32 passengers, sea kayaks, a cruise director and two (yes, two) naturalist guides into a ship that never feels too big.
Sullivan Bay Visit
Visit Sullivan Bay on Santiago Island to see one of its star natural attractions – striking and fascinating giant lava formations. Very few plants have managed to survive on this island due to its harsh environment and relatively new lava flow. Enjoy a walk along the lava formations before coming to a white-coral sand beach, where abundant Sally Lightfoot crabs and sea lions gather on shore.
Evolution
The Evolution comes with all the features you'd expect from a luxury cruise liner, without the cruise liner part. Sharp-looking and roomy with tons of outdoor space, you'll be amazed at how we can fit 32 passengers, sea kayaks, a cruise director and two (yes, two) naturalist guides into a ship that never feels too big.
Snorkelling at Bartolomé
Enjoy great snorkelling on Bartolomé. Explore the marine life among submerged volcanic rock around the base of Pinnacle Rock. Another site is just a short hike away to the beach on the opposite side. Look for sharks in these shallow waters. Marine turtles also nest here from January through March.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 6Bachas Beach/Cerro Dragón
Morning excursion to Bachas Beach for walks to observe birds and wildlife as well as free time for swimming and snorkelling. Continue to Cerro Dragón on the west coast of Santa Cruz Island to observe land iguanas and a saltwater lagoon frequented by flamingos and other species of birds.
Bachas Beach Visit
Head to Bachas Beach where the sand is made of decomposed coral, making it soft and white, and a favourite site for nesting sea turtles. Spot abundant Sally Lightfoot crabs on the lava rocks along the water's edge -- these crabs will eat anything they can get their claws on! Trek to see a wide range of wildlife, including flamingos, hermit crabs, black necked stilts, and marine iguanas. You will also have the opportunity to snorkel here.
Evolution
The Evolution comes with all the features you'd expect from a luxury cruise liner, without the cruise liner part. Sharp-looking and roomy with tons of outdoor space, you'll be amazed at how we can fit 32 passengers, sea kayaks, a cruise director and two (yes, two) naturalist guides into a ship that never feels too big.
Cerro Dragón Visit
Visit Cerro Dragón (Dragon Hill) for some prime birdwatching. Take a short walk from the beach to a hypersalinic (saltier than the ocean) lagoon frequented by pink flamingos, common stilts, pintail ducks, and other species of birds. Pass through a Palo Santo tree forest; endemic to the area, there are only 400 specimens of Scalesia trees left in the world.
Evolution
The Evolution comes with all the features you'd expect from a luxury cruise liner, without the cruise liner part. Sharp-looking and roomy with tons of outdoor space, you'll be amazed at how we can fit 32 passengers, sea kayaks, a cruise director and two (yes, two) naturalist guides into a ship that never feels too big.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 7Puerto Ayora
Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to see the giant Galápagos tortoises and take an excursion to the Santa Cruz Highlands. In the afternoon, visit the tortoise reserve to get the chance to see various wildlife. Walk through lava tunnels and see the pit craters.
Fausto Llerena Breeding Center & Charles Darwin Research Station Visit
Visit Fausto Llerena Breeding Center a great place to observe many species of tortoises. Brought back from the brink of extinction, see the famous Galápagos tortoise up close – a corral houses adult tortoises, and a nursery cares for the young until around age three when their shells have hardened.
This area also houses the Charles Darwin Research Station, a scientific organization initiated in 1964, which works to preserve the Galápagos' ecosystem through the conservation efforts of scientists, researchers, and volunteers. While the offices themselves are not open to visitors, the research station provides a study location for international scientists and environmental education for the local community.
Highlands Giant Tortoises Visit
Head to Santa Cruz’s verdant highlands. This is a perfect place to hike through the grounds and see giant tortoises in their natural environment, before savouring an included lunch.
Evolution
The Evolution comes with all the features you'd expect from a luxury cruise liner, without the cruise liner part. Sharp-looking and roomy with tons of outdoor space, you'll be amazed at how we can fit 32 passengers, sea kayaks, a cruise director and two (yes, two) naturalist guides into a ship that never feels too big.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 8Punta Suárez/Bahía Gardner
Visit Punta Suárez and Gardner Bay on Española Island. Guided walks to observe wildlife and free time for swimming or snorkelling.
Punta Suarez Excursion
Head to Punta Suárez on Española Island, the southernmost island in the Galápagos archipelago and home to several wildlife species. Hike to the top of the cliff for spectacular photo opportunities, and explore the island's untamed natural beauty.
Gardner Bay Visit
Visit Gardner Bay's magnificent white sandy beach and spectacular landscapes. This incredible place is home to sea lions, hood mockingbirds, Nazca boobies, waved albatross, red-billed tropic birds, lava lizards, Galapagos hawks, and blue-footed boobies. Be sure to explore the beautiful turquoise water and its incredible sea life.
Evolution
The Evolution comes with all the features you'd expect from a luxury cruise liner, without the cruise liner part. Sharp-looking and roomy with tons of outdoor space, you'll be amazed at how we can fit 32 passengers, sea kayaks, a cruise director and two (yes, two) naturalist guides into a ship that never feels too big.
Evolution
The Evolution comes with all the features you'd expect from a luxury cruise liner, without the cruise liner part. Sharp-looking and roomy with tons of outdoor space, you'll be amazed at how we can fit 32 passengers, sea kayaks, a cruise director and two (yes, two) naturalist guides into a ship that never feels too big.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 9Puerto Baquerizo Moreno/Quito
Visit the Interpretation Centre on San Cristóbal Island before flying back to Quito in the late morning.
Reach San Cristóbal in the morning and visit El Junco Lagoon to see the diverse vegetation surrounding the largest freshwater lagoon in the Galápagos Islands.
Disembark after breakfast, visit the Interpretation Centre, and transfer to the airport for the flight to Quito. Transfer to the group hotel upon arrival, and enjoy one last night on the town.
San Cristóbal Interpretation Center Visit
Pay a visit to the Interpretation Centre to learn everything you wanted to know about the Galápagos from the islands' natural history to their ecosystems and flora and fauna.
Plane
Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 10Quito
Depart any time.
Departure Day
Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.