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Itineraries - Explorer II

Cruise Itineraries - Choose From 3, 4 & 7 Night Programs

Visit the Galapagos Islands, a one-of-a-kind year round Galapagos cruise destination!

The Galapagos Islands are located on the Equator, 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, in the Pacific Ocean. Cold waters brought southward by the Humboldt Current relatively surround the Galapagos Islands and the temperatures are determined almost entirely by the ocean currents.

The Galapagos Archipelago has two seasons, each of which has an effect on the flora and fauna. The warm and wet season is from January to June and the cooler and dry “garúa” (mist) season, from July to December. Most birds and other species nest year-round, so you can see courtship, mating, chicks hatching and rearing almost any time of the year.

Galapagos Explorer II, Cruise “A”

3 Nights, Wednesday – Saturday


Day 1 WED

AM Jet from Quito or Guayaquil to the San Cristobal Island Airport. Meeting of the crew and board the M/V GALAPAGOS EXPLORER II.

PM: Visit to Cerro Brujo, San Cristobal Island. After a wet landing, venture towards the beach to swim and snorkel in the unspoiled turquoise waters of the Galapagos. Cerro Brujo is one of the finest beaches in all of the Galapagos with its extremely pure, unspoiled white sand. The expansive pristine beach is home to a colony of playful Galapagos sea lions as well as blue footed boobies, Darwin’s finches, egrets and yellow warblers.

Day 2 THU

AM: Visit to Punta Suarez, Espanola Island. This rocky point of land sustains one of the most impressive colonies of sea birds in the Galapagos. Along its southern shore, high cliffs rise up from the sea giving the visitor awe-inspiring views of soaring birds and the blow hole, where water spouts 50 to 75 feet into the air depending on the intensity of the Galapagos surf that day1

PM: Visit to Bahia Gardner, Espanola Island. Located on the north-eastern coast of Espanola Island, Gardner Bay provides an excellent beach for swimming, relaxing and an opportunity to observe sea lions, as well as sharks on the crystal clear waters of the Galapagos Islands.

Day 3 FRI

AM: Visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station, Santa Cruz Island. Although the great majority of Galapagos visitors come here to observe and appreciate natural wonders, it is also interesting to learn how the protection and conservation of the islands are carried out at the Charles Darwin Station. One of the principal attractions is the Galapagos National Park information center, Van Staelen Exhibition Hall, Breeding and Rearing Center for young tortoises, the world renowned “Lonesome George” (tortoise from Pinta) and other adult Galapagos tortoises in captivity.

PM: Visit to Rabida, Jervis Island. Jervis Island, is located just south of Santiago Island. After a wet landing, you can view Pelicans nesting in this area, as well as many playful sea lions. This small island is commonly known as the geographic center of the Galapagos. A lagoon near the beach offers an opportunity to see white-cheeked pintails and many snorkeling opportunities.

Day 4 SAT

AM: Visit to Bachas Beach, Santa Cruz Island. Walk down the immaculate, white-sand beaches of Las Bachas, where you will get an up-close look at the Galapagos sea turtle nesting areas. Bachas Beach also features a special lake populated with pink flamingos and various other migratory birds.

Galapagos Explorer II, Cruise “B”

4 Nights, Saturday – WednesdayDay 1 SAT AM


Day 1 SAT

AM Jet from Quito or Guayaquil to the Baltra Island Airport. Board the Galapagos Explorer II.

PM: Visit to Cerro Dragon, Santa Cruz Island. After a wet landing, visitors will take a stroll to a lagoon behind the beach. Once there, you will have fantastic photo opportunities with the considerable amount of pink flamingos. Afterwards, venture further down the trail to Dragon Hill, which offers a mesmerizing view of the bay. Dragon Hill is a nesting site for a substantial number of Land Iguanas that were reintroduced back into the wild, thanks to the Charles Darwin Research Station.

Day 2 SUN

AM: Visit to Bartolome Island. Make a dry landing and enjoy a stroll to the top of the this rocky island. Later, return to the panga (zodiac raft) for a ride around the Tower to observe the Galapagos penguins. Afterwards, there will be opportunities who would like to swim and snorkel with the Galapagos penguins!

PM: Visit to Puerto Egas, Santiago Island. Follow a footpath across the island, admiring the native marine iguanas, Darwin finches, rainbowed lava lizards, and endemic Galapagos hawks. A special sight on Santiago Island is the endangered Galapagos fur seals, cooling off in the shade of the seashore grottos.

DAY 3 MON

AM: Visit to Punta Espinoza, Fernandina Island. Fernandina Island has the youngest and most active volcano in the Galapagos, with eruptions taking place every few years. The flat lava of Punta Espinosa offers a stark and barren landscape, but here flightless cormorants build their nests on the point, sea lions sprawl on the beach or play in the tide pools and marine iguanas prosper in the sand.

PM: Visit to Punta Vicente Roca, Isabela Island. Today, visit the largest of the Galapagos Islands. Isabela Island is shaped like a sea horse facing westward. Punta Vicente Roca is located at the “mouth” of the sea horse, making up the northern part of the island. Half of the Ecuador volcano on which this eye-catching location site sits has slid into the ocean, leaving an impressive view of the caldera. Remnants of the archaic volcano form two gorgeous coves, with a bay well protected from the ocean. You will see blue footed and masked boobies perch alongside the cliffs, as well as flightless cormorants along the shore. The protected nature of the cove make Punta Vicente Roca one of the archipelago’s most sought after snorkeling spots.

DAY 4 TUE

AM: Visit to North Seymour Island. Disembark via a dry landing on one of the few elevated islands in Galapagos Archipelago, North Seymour Island. Venture down a trail that will lead visitors to explore colonies of blue footed boobies, elegant frigate birds, and swallow-tail gulls. The sandy shore is alive with Galapagos sea lions and marine iguanas. The flora is made up of Palo Santo trees, cacti and Salt Bushes.

PM: Visit to the Highlands, Lava Tunnels and wild giant tortoises, Santa Cruz Island. An afternoon excursion will take guests to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island for an extraordinary opportunity to view the islands most famous reptile in its wild habitat, the Galapagos giant tortoise. Also, don’t miss out on the spectacle of Los Gemelos, Spanish for "The Twins", a pair of large pit craters where the stunning red male vermilion flycatcher dwells. Afterwards, stop at the lava tunnels, the largest lava tubes found in Galapagos and continue to Puerto Ayora, the largest town in the Galapagos. Buy souvenirs, mail postcards back home or even surf the web at an internet cafe in this social hub of the Galapagos.

DAY 5 WED

AM: Visit to the interpretation Center, San Cristobal Island. Head to the Interpretation Center located in the capital of the Galapagos, in the outskirts of the quaint city of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. It was built with the cooperation of the Spanish Science Centre and offers lots of information to the Galapagos Islands, its marine and land life, fauna and flora.

PM Transfer to the San Cristobal Airport. Jet back to Guayaquil or Quito.

Galapagos Explorer II, Cruise “C”

7 Nights, Cruise “A” + Cruise “B” or

7 Nights, Cruise “B” + Cruise “A”

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AN OPTIONAL DIVING PROGRAM AVAILABLE FOR GALAPAGOS EXPLORER II PASSENGERS

Combine cruise “A” and cruise “B” or cruise “B” and cruise “A” from above for a complete 7-night adventure aboard the Galapagos Explorer II.The Galapagos Islands are a group of 13 major islands, and some 45 islets, all volcanic in origin, and all bathed by ocean currents as diverse as the wildlife that inhabits this Natural Heritage for mankind.

The Galapagos Islands are famous for its encounters with the big animals. Many well-respected industry magazines list the islands as the “World’s Best Diving”. Fortunately, not many divers come here, and thus, diving is not geared for crowds, it is very selective and quite personal. This adds a unique value to the overall adventure.

For passenger cruising on the Galapagos Explorer 2, sub-aqua, a Galapagos Diving Operator is providing diving services during the days that the ship is close to Santa Cruz Island. Per our current cruise itinerary these days are Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. PADI license and insurance for diving will be required.

A minimum of 4 passengers per cruise is required. Reservations and prepayment must be made in advance. For additional details regarding diving sites and schedules, please click on the link “ADDITIONAL DIVING INFORMATION.”