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Epic Galápagos Photography Expedition

Overview
Highlights (Bullets)
- Explore the Galápagos archipelago and undersea in great depth with hikes and Zodiac cruises
- Tour paced for photo ops and timed to take advantage of the best light.
- Shoot with and learn from top National Geographic photographers and the Lindblad-National Geographic Director of Expedition Photography
- Go on daily photo assignments to help build your personal portfolio with wildlife legendary for uniqueness and lack of fear of humans - allowing for up-close and magical photo opportunities with blue-footed boobies, sea lions, giant tortoises, marine iguanas, and more.
- Enjoy a mid-voyage photo seminar with our expert photographers and a special photography tour of the Charles Darwin Research Station.
Short Description
Join a team of top National Geographic photographers in one of the planet’s most photogenic places for an in-depth exploration over two weeks. Whether you’re a published pro or a rookie looking to build a portfolio, you’ll learn new shooting skills in the field and editing and gear tips during on-board sessions. Enjoy daily excursions including snorkeling, hiking, Zodiac tours, and kayaking, and experience up-close photography opportunities with the unique wildlife of the Galápagos.
Destinations
EcuadorActivities & Interests
Bird watching Hiking Independent Kayaking Nature Photography Sailing Short Cruise Snorkeling Wildlife viewingItinerary
Day 1: U.S. / Guayaquil, Ecuador
Depart the U.S. and arrive in Guayaquil by late evening; it’s a short drive to the Hotel Hilton Colon, where we spend the night.
Day 2: Guayaquil/ Galápagos Islands
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After a short flight to the Galápagos, we’ll board the National Geographic Endeavour and begin to explore the Galápagos with a landing at the beautiful Las Bachas beaches, lined with endemic coastal plants and protected saltwater lagoons.
Day 3: North Seymour Island and Rabida Island
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
North Seymour Island is an uplifted piece of seafloor, home to land iguanas, sea lion colonies, blue-footed boobies and frigate bird nesting colonies. We will spend the morning observing and photographing the rich wildlife of this islet as we hike the rocky trail. The afternoon will be the first of many great snorkeling opportunities. You can also opt to kayak along the picturesque volcanic coast. Later you’ll land on the bright red sand of a charming beach and take a hike into the island to search for hawks and other land birds to photograph.
Day 4: Fernandina Island
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Fernandina Island is the youngest and most pristine island in Galápagos. The stark black lava flows are home to some of the largest marine iguana colonies in the archipelago, and the peculiar-looking flightless cormorants nest along the coast. Bright red Sally Lightfoot crabs scamper among the black rocks, and sea lions play along the coast against the dramatic backdrop of volcanoes. Later today, sail across the channel to Punta Vicente Roca on Isabela Island. Snorkel in a sea turtle feeding area and then take Zodiac rides along the coast to look for Galápagos fur seals and penguins. Late afternoon, gather on the outer decks to get a look inside the huge collapsed caldera of a volcano while crossing the Equator at sunset.
Day 5: Isabela Island
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Land on a turtle nesting beach of black sand, and choose from various hiking options to look for the wildlife of the area including a large land iguana nesting colony and occasional giant tortoise sightings. In the afternoon the ship repositions to the historical Tagus Cove, a sheltered bay that has been a popular anchorage for centuries of visitors, including Charles Darwin on the HMS Beagle. Activities you can choose here include a scenic hike overlooking a volcanic crater, Zodiac and kayaking excursions to look for penguins, flightless cormorants, and shorebirds, and even some deep water snorkeling.
Day 6: Santiago
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hike up into a coastal forest behind one of the largest turtle nesting beaches in Galápagos, explore the spectacular Buccaneer Cove by Zodiac and kayak, and enjoy snorkeling among the dense schools of reef fish that find refuge in the indented shoreline. Afternoon hikes at Puerto Egas lead you through a fascinating geological landscape of mixed ash and lava flows, tidal pools and grottoes. Inhabiting the area you will find both Galápagos sea lions and fur seals, marine iguanas, land and shore birds, and brilliant Sally Lightfoot crabs.
Day 7: Santa Cruz
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Santa Cruz is home to the Charles Darwin Research Station and Galápagos National Park Service. You’ll learn about the science and conservation work undertaken in the islands, and meet some of the key players in the local conservation world. This afternoon, our photo team will be hosting a Photo Seminar on-board the ship, followed by a late-afternoon photographic outing in town.
Days 8 & 9: San Cristobal
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Visit Punta Pitt with its fascinating geology, also the only site where all three booby species that occur in the Galápagos nest together. Take hikes up to the plateau for wonderful views, and Zodiac cruises along the base of the cliffs to look for red-footed, Nazca and blue-footed boobies, and possibly even snorkel and kayak among young sea lions. Snorkel around the famed Leon Dormido or “Kicker Rock” among graceful sharks, sea turtles, and other larger marine species. Then travel to the highlands of San Cristobal, drive up to a freshwater lake in an old volcanic crater, visit a semi-captive tortoise population, and spend time among the large sea lion colony that inhabits the picturesque waterfront of the town. Also land on Cerro Brujo (Wizard Hill), where we will take Zodiac rides and kayaking options along the spectacular cliffs, before landing on the beach for swimming and nature walks.
Day 10: Española
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The morning will be spent at the spectacular Gardner Bay, home to a pristine white sand beach inhabited by extensive sea lion colonies. Activities here include exploring the beach, deep-water snorkeling, and kayaking. The afternoon will be spent hiking among the sea bird colonies at Punta Suarez.
Day 11: Floreana
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
During an early morning hike at Punta Cormorant you’ll observe flamingos and shore birds, a turtle nesting beach, and fascinating vegetation. Later, while at Champion Islet, you’ll spend time looking for the endangered Charles mockingbird from our Zodiacs, then don your gear to snorkel among sea lions in clear waters. During the afternoon, you’ll explore the historical Post Office Bay by Zodiac and kayak, then land on one of the same beaches Charles Darwin set foot on, and check the barrel originally set up by 18th century whalers for mail.
Day 12: Santa Cruz
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
You’ll leave the ship early and head into the lush highlands where giant tortoises forage. Visit a charming sugar cane mill located in the highlands called El Trapiche, then continue to the coast to spend the rest of the afternoon at the picturesque El Garrapatero beach.
Day 13: Dragon Hill and Guy Fawkes/El Eden and Daphne Major
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today you will hike through giant cactus and incense tree forests to reach Dragon Hill, the habitat of the colorful Santa Cruz land iguanas that have been brought back from the brink of extinction. Later you will have the opportunity to snorkel along the steep, invertebrate-coated walls of the islets of Guy Fawkes.
Day 14: Bartolome and Sombrero Chino
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning you will visit Bartolomé, an enchanting landscape where lava, mangroves, and golden sand converge. You will have the opportunity for an early morning hike to the summit of the cone, with stunning views of the famous Pinnacle Rock and the surrounding volcanic landscape. Later in the morning, enjoy snorkeling from the beach, where you might encounter sea lions, small reef sharks, and even Galápagos penguins. In the afternoon you will continue to explore some of the small islets just off the coast of Santiago Island, including a small volcano called “Sombrero Chino”. The stark lava flows form tubes and caves that are an important nesting area for Galápagos penguins, and the waters bathing the shore are rich in fish life.
Day 15: Genovesa
Sail into the caldera of Genovesa, known as “bird island”, where you’ll enjoy hikes among nesting colonies of swallow-tailed gulls, frigate birds, red-footed and Nazca boobies, all while keeping a look out for hunting short-eared owls. Ride Zodiacs and kayak along the base of the caldera wall, and snorkel among large schools of parrot fish and other tropical species.
Day 16: Galápagos / Disembark/Guayaquil
Meals: Breakfast
Disembark and fly to Guayaquil. The afternoon and evening are at yours at the Hotel Hilton Colon.
Day 17: Guayaquil/U.S.
Meals: Breakfast
Depart Guayaquil this morning, arriving home the same day.
Availability
29 National Geographic Expeditions Travel Reviews & Ratings
Epic Galápagos Photography Expedition
Company Reviews
How to Ruin a Trip to Norway
TOO MUCH TOO FAST
We arrived in Luxor, were taken to the hotel, deposited our luggage (the room wasn’t ready), had breakfast, and then met our tour guide at 10:00 AM for our first tour. We were exhausted, but mustered our energy for the occasion.
Is there a good reason why Cairo wasn’t the first city on our tour? In retrospect, it should have been for many reasons, not the least of which was the logistics described above.
All right, so now we’re in Luxor, and by afternoon we’re ensconced in a luxurious hotel with a magnificent view of the Nile River. There’s a swimming pool that we’re looking forward to relaxing by the next day during some much needed down time during the free time described in the itinerary; exactly what we expected from National Geographic. But instead, that evening we were told by our guide that we needed to have our luggage ready to check out of the hotel the next morning to relocate to the Nile River ship Minerva (coincidentally, owned by the same company as the hotel). We obliged, and in the morning we were taken on a tour with the luggage in the car, and then brought to the ship in the early afternoon. Our four suitcases were put in a room that was barely large enough to contain the bed, but the view of the river from our room was good enough to overlook this inconvenience, at least for the moment. I looked forward to resting in our cabin in the afternoon because I was exhausted. In fact, I was so tired that I have little recollection of that morning’s tour until I look at the photos to affirm that I was actually where the itinerary said I would be.
We went to lunch in the ship’s dining room and returned to our cabin to find that our view of the Nile was obliterated by a ship that had tied up alongside our own. This is now our view (see photo) and the blackout drapes that were drawn to hide it made the small cabin a crowded, dark dungeon.
Furthermore, that ship’s bunker oil fumes were now in the air conditioning system of our ship and flowing freely into our cabin making me nauseous and giving me a headache. I complained but there was nothing to do about it.
And if this wasn’t bad enough, the sound of the neighboring ship that accompanied the smell was intolerable.
Other issues I had with our cabin on the ship included;
- The bypass closet door wouldn’t stay shut
- There was a leak under the bathroom sink
- The carpet in the area near the bathroom was wet
- The toilet seat lid came off repeatedly
- Wifi on board the ship was only in the main lobby area, and was poor at best
I talked to the ship’s desk clerk, and he assured me that things would be taken care of shortly. They never were.
This doesn’t take into consideration that the buffet style food served on board was repetitive if you didn’t take the offered main course, which was usually meat (I don’t eat meat).
Oh, and I didn’t yet mention that our ship wouldn’t be leaving its mooring until the next day! We had traded a luxurious hotel for this!
With that said, it begs the question of why we were taken out of a luxurious hotel 24 hours in advance of the ship sailing away from Luxor? No pool to sit by, no view of the sunset over the banks of the Nile, no quiet room in which to sleep, and no dinner of delicious food. Certainly not what we expected from a Nat Geo Private Tour for which we had paid a premium price!
Unrelated to these issues, NatGeo’s survey asked if we felt that our health was well-protected. “No” is the short answer. A fuller reply is that we both got Covid on this trip; my husband first, then inevitably, myself three days later. We had avoided catching it for more than 2.6 years, and now we had it. I realize that one takes risks when going out in the world, and I certainly don’t blame NatGeo for our getting sick. But their people weren’t wearing masks until I asked them to, mostly to protect themselves from us. One agent who met us at the airport when we arrived back in Cairo from Aswan, now openly sick with Covid, disappeared for 10 minutes to purchase a mask when I told him in no uncertain terms that he needed to wear one around us.
Overall, NatGeo profited from our illness as we were too unwell to utilize the dining allowance at the Cairo Ritz Carlton or to go to out for most meals offered with our guide. The one restaurant I was taken to for dinner without my husband was a touristy place with fake grapes leaves hanging from fake arbors. When a 35 person tour group trouped in past us it told me all I needed to know. My bowl of pasta with a tomato sauce not much thicker than tomato juice certainly couldn’t have cost more than $10, if that much. Then, the next day I was too sick to go out at all, my husband, who was feeling better by then, went out alone with the tour guide for the day, but it’s my understanding that they skipped all meals.
All in all, there were many aspects of the trip that were memorable for all the right reasons, but also memorable for the above mentioned wrong reasons. For us to have paid as much as we did begs the question, “Was it worth the expense for this private tour experience?” As seasoned world travelers, I’m hard pressed to reply in the affirmative.
Best Part of Trip was Cancelled
Cancel my trip but no refund
DO NOT BOOK WITH NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC - LOST MY TRIP MONEY
They have not refunded any portion of my money. They said the airfare was non-refundable and that I couldn't even have a flight credit. But they are the ones that canceled the trip. However Delta told me that a refund check was sent to the agency. Then they said they would refund the other portion of the trip expense, but it may take 6 months. It is completely unacceptable. The entire 100% of the trip should be refunded and should have been refunded the day they canceled the trip.
The business is not responsive to this. I filed a complaint with the BBB and they did not respond. I sent a 30 day demand letter in preparation of filing in court against them. So far no resolution.
I expect a 100% refund AND I share this story to strongly advise against anyone ever booking a national geographic trip of any kind.
I will be posting this review online in every spot I can find.
Highly recommend! It was a trip of a lifetime!
Details
Ship Name
National Geographic Endeavour
Ship Description
The National Geographic Endeavour is a premier expedition ship that accommodates 96 guests in 56 outside cabins. Single cabins in Category 1 are highlighted in bright blue and include cabins 219, 222, 309-312, 314-316, and 318. Single cabins in Category 2 are highlighted in bright pink and include cabins 124, 126, 127, and 205.
The ship is fully stabilized, allowing for smooth passage from one island to the next. It carries snorkeling gear, wet suits, kayaks, a fleet of Zodiacs, and a glass-bottom boat. Public areas include a lounge and bar, a library, a gift shop, a fitness center, a sauna, and a swimming pool. Services include a full-time doctor and a wellness specialist, Internet access, and laundry.
Deck & Cabin Plans

Flight & Transport Inclusions
All internal ground transport
Group Size
Standard Group - 25 + people
Trip ID#:
epigalnat
What's excluded
- The “Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner” notations apply to the period during the expedition only and do no any meals on flights to/from the Trip.
- International airfare
- Optional gratuities
- Personal items
Meals Included
15 Breakfasts, 13 Lunches and 13 Dinners
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