Cruising the Galapagos Islands 2024

9 days
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4.4/5 Great
100+ reviews  
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USTOA

Small Ship Cruise
Discover amazing wildlife such as blue-footed boobies, sea lions, iguanas, penguins and more as you explore the remote Galápagos Islands with expert naturalists on a Galápagos cruise aboard the expeditionary-style yacht Isabela II.
From$8,890
See departure dates

Overview

Trip type
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate

Highlights

    • Join us on a Galápagos cruise that is enriching and informative
    • adventurous and in-depth. Throughout the archipelago
    • your Galápagos cruise takes you past breathtaking scenery and a plethora of exotic animals unique to only this part of the worldEnjoy a six-night Galápagoscruise aboard one of the finest expeditionary-style yachts in the archipelago
    • Isabela II – with no more than 40 Tauck guests – and experienceamazing wildlife viewing and an opportunity to get up-close to creatures such as blue-footed boobies
    • sea lions
    • iguanas and penguins. Our Galápagoscruise itinerary is flexible
    • allowing the ship to access many remote islands
    • choosing beaches that are full of wildlife for shore excursions with our expert naturalists. Landings are made in a panga
    • a Zodiac-style raft. Dry landings mean stepping from the panga onto rocks or a dock – with the helpful hand of a Tauck naturalist; wet landings require stepping into knee-deep water from the panga
    • then wading ashore onto a sandy beach.

What's this trip about?

    Discover amazing wildlife such as blue-footed boobies, sea lions, iguanas, penguins and more as you explore the remote Galápagos Islands with expert naturalists on a Galápagos cruise aboard the expeditionary-style yacht Isabela II.

Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start City Guayaquil, Ecuador
End CityBaltra Island Galapagos

Travel Themes

  • Small Ship Cruise

Destinations

Attractions

  • Guayaquil

Activities

  • Culture

Trip includes

    • Private Tauck Shore Excursions in the Galápagos Islands with expert naturalist guides – averaging two daily – for an up-close experience with some of the most unusual and intriguing species in the world All gratuities to Tauck Director, guides, naturalists and ship staff Exclusive 6-night Galápagos Cruise aboard the expedition ship, Isabela II – with no more than 40 Tauck guests Two nights at Wyndham Guayaquil, gateway to the Galápagos Islands

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Arrive Guayaquil

Tour begins: Wyndham Guayaquil.
A transfer is included from José Joaquin de Olmedo International Airport to Wyndham Guayaquil, located just steps away from the city's historic Santa Ana Hill and overlooking the Babhayo and Guayas rivers. Most international flights arrive late in the day.

LODGING : Wyndham Guayaquil Hotel

PORTOFCALL : Santa Cruz Ecuador

Day 2 Fly to Baltra / Embark Isabela II

From Guayaquil, fly to Baltra Island, 600 miles off the Ecuadorian coast and home to wildlife found nowhere else in the world – the starting point of your 6-night Galápagos cruise aboard Tauck's comfortable expeditionary-style yacht...

Day 3 Tortoises & San Cristobal

San Cristóbal, created by the fusing of multiple volcanoes, is known for its giant tortoise habitat. On an early morning, wet landing on Punta Pitt, you'll have a chance to see all three species of boobies – Nazca, blue-footed, and ...

Day 4 Wonders of Espanola Island

Climb aboard a panga this morning to explore Gardner Bay on Espanola Island; lined with beaches the color of white coral, enjoy a short walk as you observe the local wildlife including sea lions, mockingbirds and finches or, if you ...

Day 5 Flamingos & Mail on Floreana

Today Isabela II makes her way to Floreana Island, the southernmost island within the Galapagos. Board a panga for a wet landing on Punta Cormorant and its radiant green beach, caused by the drifting of Olivine crystals from nearby ...

Day 6 Checking out volcanic Urbina Bay on Isabela

In the 1950s, geological activity on Isabela Island caused a mass of land to lift up some 15 ft., leaving the coastline pushed further out to sea and the underwater marine life stranded ashore. After a wet landing at Punta Moreno, j...

Day 7 Exploring Santa Cruz Island

This morning, board a panga for a wet landing on Eden Islet. Located off the coast of Santa Cruz Island, this small island (less than 2,000 square feet) is perfect to observe blue-footed boobies, reef sharks and frigates that inhabi...

Day 8 Disembark & Fly to Guayaquil

Your Galápagos cruise ends today as you disembark Isabela II in Baltra for your return flight to Guayaquil and another night at the Wyndham Guayaquil; spend some free time at your hotel. Tonight, we invite you to share favorite expe...

Day 9 Journey home

Tour ends: Guayaquil.
A transfer is included from the Wyndham Guayaquil to José Joaquin de Olmedo International Airport; allow 3 hours for flight check-in.

MEALS : B

PORTOFCALL : Baltra Island Galapagos

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Dates & Availability

Price From $8,890
Price per day$988
Last Updated: 11/13/2024
Departure Date
Finish Date
Double Standard
Single Standard
Double Luxury
Availability
28 Nov 2024
07 Dec 2024
$8,890
$13,632
$9,190

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Tauck.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Tauck Reviews & Ratings

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Other Tauck Reviews

K

Kurlyk40

May 2024

Written on

Great Scenery but Accommodations Lacking for cost

My husband and I booked the Yellowstone tour with Tauck expecting so much more with the accommodations, food, and tour director based on the price point. We were sa...

S

Susan

Jun 2023

Written on

Nine Tours and Done

Sad to see a once good tour company stumble and fall into mediocrity. That’s Tauck post-Covid. My May 2023 tour of Normandy, Brittany and the Loire Valley was done o...

C

Cougess

Jan 2023

Written on

Skip this cruise - not worth it

My husband and I went on the Treasures of the Mediterranean Isles Trip jn October 2022. This was our third Tauck cruise with Ponnant but our first post covid and the...

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Tour Operator

Tauck

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It's easy to see the world's sights. To stand in long lines, push through the crowds, and generally have the same standard-issue vacation as everyone else. But that's not good enough for us, and it's not good enough for you. We believe that travel should be easy. It should be fun. It should be worth your time and the price you paid. It should re-energize and transform. And above all else, it should be beyond the ordinary. Because how you see the world matters.

In 1882, Herman Tauck arrived in New York City from Germany in search of the American dream. His determination and values were passed on to his son, Arthur Tauck, who would realize that dream. With ingenuity and an innovative spirit, Arthur started Tauck Motor Tours, a travel company that would give birth to a new industry. The first tour, through the back roads of New England, was created by this 27-year-old in 1925. It embodied the same successful formula used by Tauck today: do the right thing. Craft a life-enriching travel experience; provide it at a single all-inclusive price; ensure there is great value for money; and rely on recommendations of satisfied customers to build a following and grow the business.

Two elements that did change over the next 90+ years – and three generations of Taucks – were the scope of destinations served and the variety of modes of travel used. Today Tauck delivers life-enriching travel experiences to every corner of the globe, incorporating small cruise ships, premium riverboats, trains, helicopters and more. What started as a New England motor coach tour company has truly evolved into an extraordinary global travel company. The fourth generation of Taucks is now involved in the company. While remarkable in any business, this seamless continuity across generations speaks to shared vision and values.

Throughout its history, the concept of “family” at Tauck has gone far beyond those sharing the surname to include hundreds of valued employees, and hundreds of thousands of loyal guests. The story of Tauck is the story of a unique American family company celebrating a passion for travel – a story that will continue to inspire generations to come.

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What they’re known for
Fun group tours and cruises that are culturally-focused and great for families and seniors on vacation.

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Logistics

Accommodation

Ship & cabin information
ISABELA II
ISABELA II An expeditionary-style yacht, the sleek Isabela II carries just 40 Tauck guests in the Galápagos Islands. This recently renovated, fully air-conditioned vessel offers many of the amenities of much larger ships, including a library, boutique, lounge and comfortable dining room in which a combination of Continental and Ecuadorian cuisine is served. She boasts an atmosphere both relaxed and comfortable. The casual atmosphere of Tauck's expeditionary vessels offers an ideal setting for the art of 'conversation' that is conducive to the very nature of exploratory cruising, providing a special camaraderie with fellow explorers. Expedition vessels are designed to navigate coastal waterways, island channels, and narrow inlets with graceful ease, exploring some of nature's most impressive habitats. They are designed to take you on adventures in off-the-beaten-path destinations, where landings on many days will be aboard Zodiac-style rafts that necessitate a 'wet landing' to reach the shore. Expedition and naturalist guides aboard the vessels share their knowledge with guests and enrich their travels with perspectives on everything from botony to geology.
Ship Specifications Built: 1979 Refurbished: 2000 Length: 166 ft. Draft: 12 ft. Beam: 38 ft. Tonnage: 1,025 tons Cruising Speed: 10 knots Air Conditioned: Yes Elevator: No Number of Guests: 40 Crew Members: 24 Registry: Ecuador Crew Nationality: Ecuadorian Double Bed Cabins: 11, 12, 14, Master Suite Internet: Send / Receive / Surf
ISABELA II
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
ALL_AGES
Additional Information
Trip ID
tauck-ED2024

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