Galapagos Island Cruises
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Galapagos Cruises and Tours with AWR
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Our Galapagos experts can help you pick the best boat and itinerary for you. Galapagos cruises fill up quickly, but if we know what you prefer, we can give you options and availability around your travel dates.
As an alternative to a Galapagos cruise, there are a number of wonderful hotels on Santa Cruz Island. From there, you can do daily tours to the neighboring islands or go hiking, horseback riding, or snorkeling.
We recommend a few days on the Ecuador mainland or a week in Peru to top off your Galapagos visit.
Overview
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Cruising the Galapagos Islands is a very special and unique experience. As you hike the island trails you'll admire blue footed boobies and giant tortoises in addition to other mysterious creatures like the armies of marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, equatorial penguins, and numerous other species that are endemic to this remote island paradise. The rich marine life is fascinating for those who enjoy snorkeling in a world as wonderful as the one above the water's surface, rich with colorful schools of fish, manta rays, sea turtles, hammer head sharks, whale sharks and magnificent reefs.
The Galapagos Archipelago is situated 800 kilometers (600 miles) west of the Ecuadorian coastline, and lies directly on the equator. The Archipelago consists of 125 islands of which 97% of the total land area is dedicated National Park, with only 3% open to visitors.
The volcanic Galapagos island platform was formed less than 15 million years ago and the oldest island is less than 2.4 million years old. Volcanic eruptions have occurred on the islands within the past 10 years on Isla Fernandina and in the Sierra Negra volcano on Isla Isabela.
The Galapagos Archipelago is home to some of the highest levels of endemism (species found nowhere else on earth) on the planet. About 80% of the land birds, 97% of the reptiles and land mammals, and more than 30% of the plants are endemic. In addition, more than 20% of the marine species in the Galapagos are endemic. The most well-known endemic species include the giant Galapagos tortoise, marine iguana, flightless cormorant, and the Galapagos penguin—the only penguin species found in the Northern Hemisphere.
itinerary
When you arrive at the Baltra Airport, from Quito or Guayaquil, crew members and guides will check your documents and transfer you from the airport to the dock. From there you will take a zodiac to the ship. Your luggage will be transported directly to the cruise ship for you. Immediately aboard the ship you will enjoy a delicious buffet lunch, and you will be assigned a specific table and waiter for the entire trip.
Each day you will meet with your guide to learn about the island you are visiting including the animals, vegetation and landforms you will see, and what you should bring with you on the excursion.
During the dry landing you will enjoy impressive island views with landscapes formed by volcanic activity. You will learn more about the lava terrain while crossing the now-dormant fields. Also during the hike, you will have the opportunity to see flightless cormorants, Galapagos hawks, large colonies of sea lions, hooded mocking birds, red billed tropical birds, marine iguanas, land iguanas, lava lizards, colorful sally light-foot crabs, nesting colonies of blue-footed and red-footed boobies, and colonies of frigates.
While making wet landings you will be refreshed by clear waters on the most beautiful beaches in the Galapagos. Here you will encounter a variety of sea birds, marine iguanas, penguins, sea turtles and white tipped sharks (from a safe distance). You will have an opportunity to swim and snorkel off these white sand beaches, and in some cases, dark-red volcanic sand beaches.
One day of your adventure will be spent exploring the Charles Darwin Research Station in Puerto Ayora which is staffed with international scientists who are conducting biological research and conservation projects; or, at the Interpretation Center in Puerto Baquerizo, where you will learn about the natural and cultural history of the islands. Afterwards, you will have some free time to walk around town and shop for souvenirs.
On another outing, you will have the opportunity to cross the highlands of Santa Cruz where you will visit Cerro El Chato. Here, you’ll observe the famous giant tortoises that gave their name to the Islands. Additionally, you will have the chance to get, literally, into the Galapagos by walking through dormant lava tubes.
At the end of your cruise you will be transported to the dock and taken back to the Baltra Airport for your flight to Quito or Guayaquil.
meals
All meals are provided on aboard your cruise ship. With Ecuador's rich and varied geography, all meals will have an appetite-whetting array of fresh fruit, vegetables, meats and seafood. The meals prepared by first-class chefs and assistants will be culinary wonders on your table every day of your cruise.
The day begins with a delicious breakfast buffet that includes fresh bread, jams, eggs, sausage, cheese, yogurt, cereal, fruit, pancakes, exotic Ecuadorian tropical fruit juices, and more. After the morning island excursion a lunch buffet of delicious dishes from home and abroad is served. This buffet includes an outstanding selection of salads, two choices of meat, rice, pasta and other side dishes. Dinner is "a la carte" and includes an appetizer, two choices of soup and two choices of entrees. All this, along with a selection of fine wines served by our attentive waiters, is completed with a variety of delicious desserts.
Vegetarian and other special diets can be accommodated if you let us know ahead of time.