7 Day Galapagos Adventure: Northern Islands - Grand Daphne
This tour is categorised as 3 out of 5
Balanced exploration with walking tours: Our most popular style, this tour offers a good mix of planned activities and free time. Expect moderate daily walking tours, so pack comfortable shoes.
As a general requirement across all of our trips, you may be required to walk up and down stairs, get on and off transportation, handle your own luggage, and participate in all scheduled sightseeing that may be conducted on uneven ground and terrain. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability and where required, supporting documentation may be requested to ensure that we are comfortable that you will enjoy your trip.
For the true explorer, expedition small-ship cruising is the best way to get off the beaten track.This experience is not just about the ship’s creature comforts but very much the destination, its nature and wildlife. Daily shore excursions by Zodiac inflatable boats allow you to step onshore and explore. A world-class, expert expedition team will help you discover each exciting destination. Onboard you’ll enjoy informative and educational lectures. These trips will be a mix of fully guided or self-guided depending on your chosen package. There’s a land touring component with shared sightseeing and transfers.
✓ Travel with Intrepid Travel
✓ With almost 1000 kilometres of water lying
✓ Encounter sassy sea lions, hike over hardened lava
✓ Cool off with multiple snorkels in aquamarine waters
✓ This cruise is perfect for those who like their adventures active and action-packed
✓ 6 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners
Travel with the experts for a carefully curated, value-packed discovery of the world's most iconic destinations. Our tours are bursting with must-see sights, rich experiences and quality inclusions, all at an unbeatable price. Bucket list dreams are ticked off on these all-encompassing journeys.
The adventure gets underway in Quito, Ecuador’s sprawling but refined capital city. A welcome meeting will be held this evening at either 5 pm or 6 pm so that you can meet your fellow travellers, but aside from that you are free to check out the city on your own today. If you arrive with time to spare, perhaps head to Quito’s Old Town and pick one (or more) of the 30 churches to explore.
Special Information:
Rise and shine! An early start is necessary this morning to make it to the Galapagos with time to play today. This could mean leaving as early as 4.30 am, and an Intrepid representative will confirm the exact departure time during the welcome meeting on day 1. Transfer to Mariscal Sucre International Airport (aka Quito Airport), enjoying a boxed breakfast en route.
On arrival in the Galapagos, meet your local naturalist guide in the arrival hall and transfer to Le Grande Daphne. Climb aboard and settle into your assigned cabin, meet the crew and listen to a safety drill. With the formalities out of the way, sit down to lunch and get to know your shipmates a little better.
The first stop today is the San Cristobal Interpretation Center. The centre brings the history and geography of the archipelago to life, from its volcanic origins to the present day. Get a complete overview of the Galapagos, the perfect way to start your adventure.
This afternoon, there will be an opportunity to travel to the highlands in order to view Giant Tortoises in a protected area. Please note that this will be your only opportunity on this trip to see these magnificent creatures, but the price is not included in your trip price. This optional excursion will take approximately 2 hours with a shared cost around US 120, though individual cost will vary depending on how many of your group choose to partake.
Included Activities:
Special Information:
Take a walk on Isla Santa Fe, home to a collection of the most spectacular wildlife in the Galapagos. You can expect to see sea lions, Galapagos hawks, land iguanas, a variety of finches, Galapagos mockingbirds, marine turtles, frigatebirds, Galapagos doves and lava lizards. Phew. The approximately 1.5-hour hike takes you along the coast and through a forest of opuntia (prickly pear cacti). The trail can be a little rocky, so mind your step and wear solid walking shoes.
Afterwards, continue to Isla Plaza Sur, a small, picturesque island. Take a walk (approximately 1.5 hours), getting close to sea lions and passing one of the Galapagos’ largest land iguana populations which rest among cacti. The southern cliffs of Plaza Sur are great for spotting tropicbirds and swallow-tailed gulls, as well as ‘the Gentlemen’s Club’ – a gathering of male sea lions. Today there may be an extra stop along the way to Plaza Sur to restock the provisions for the boat. Later tonight, set sail for Isla Genovesa.
Estimated travel time/distance:
Isla San Cristobal to Isla Santa Fe: 3.5 hours (26 nautical miles)
Isla Santa Fe to Isla Plaza Sur: 2 hours (16 nautical miles)
Isla Plaza Sur to Bahia Darwin (Isla Genovesa): 7.5 hours (59 nautical miles)
Included Activities:
After an overnight sail, reach Isla Genovesa, the archipelago's north-eastern outpost. It’s undeniably worth the voyage. Dolphins are often spotted in the waters here, so keep your eyes peeled. These varied landscapes are a twitcher's paradise, with all three kinds of boobies, including the rare red-footed booby, making their home here. Next up is Bahia Darwin (Darwin Beach), another superb site with large breeding colonies of seabirds and frigates and other birds such as lava herons, swallow-tailed gulls, mockingbirds and, hopefully, vampire finches.
Enjoy a moderate walk (approximately 2.5 hours) that passes tide pools, sea lions and diamond stingrays. This walk involves sand and some rocky sections. The steep Prince Philip's Steps lead you to the heart of the seabird rookeries, with birds overhead and nesting among the cliffs. Look out for storm petrels on the island’s rocky plains; Genovesa is the only place in the world where these birds can be seen flying during the day. Afterwards, perhaps cool off with a snorkel. The island's magnificent marine life makes for spectacular snorkelling – you might encounter manta rays, sharks, turtles and moray eels, plus many species of fish.
Later tonight, depart Isla Genovesa for Isla Santiago.
Estimated travel time/distance:
Prince Philip's Steps to Bahia Sullivan (Isla Santiago): 8 hours (48 miles)
Included Activities:
On Santiago Island's eastern coast sits Bahia Sullivan, also known as James Island. Here you’ll take a walk along pahoehoe lava (approximately 1 hour), which was created by an eruption that occurred in 1897, and witness the plants that have grown on the site since that last eruption. With some luck you might see some marine iguanas, Sally Lightfoot crabs, sea lions, finches, turtles, sharks and penguins. During your walk, your guide will recount the geological history of the islands.
Then it’s on to Isla Rabida, known for its gorgeous red sandy beach (coloured that way due to rusting iron). This is one of the most striking islands of the archipelago. Starting at the shore, follow a walking trail (approximately 45 minutes) through to what is one of the finest lagoons in the Galapagos for viewing flamingos. Rabida is also a wonderful place to spot nesting pelicans. Elsewhere, pintail ducks, marine iguanas and sea lions are present. Here you will find Opuntia cactus forest, which suggests previous existence of land iguanas and possibly Galapagos hawks, mockingbirds, doves, finches and lava lizards. You’ll have the chance to snorkel among sea stars, damsels, gobies and surgeon fish, and take a panga ride in search of wildlife.
Estimated travel time/distance:
Sullivan Bay to Isla Rabida: 2 hours (16 nautical miles)
Isla Rabida to Black Turtle Cove (Isla Santa Cruz) 2 hours (16 nautical miles)
Included Activities:
Take a walk along pahoehoe lava on Bahia Sullivan (approximately 1 hour), which was created by an eruption that occurred in 1897. With some luck you might see some marine iguanas, Sally Lightfoot crabs, sea lions, finches, turtles, sharks and penguins. Then it’s on to Isla Rabida, known for its gorgeous red sandy beach (coloured that way due to rusting iron). This is one of the most striking islands of the archipelago. Starting at the shore, follow a walking trail (approximately 45 minutes) through to what is one of the finest lagoons in the Galapagos for viewing flamingos. Rabida is also a wonderful place to spot nesting pelicans. You’ll have the chance to snorkel among sea stars, damsels, gobbies and surgeon fish, and take a Zodiac ride in search of wildlife.
Estimated travel time/distance:
Bahia Sullivan to Isla Rabida: 2 hours (16 nautical miles)
Isla Rabida to Black Turtle Cove (Isla Santa Cruz) 2 hours (16 nautical miles)
Included Activities:
Special Information:
There are no activities planned for the final day after breakfast. There are many fascinating things to do in and around Quito, so consider staying for a few days to explore. If you are planning to spend more time in this charming city, consider booking an Urban Adventure. These day tours are the perfect crash course in the city. Find out more at urbanadventures.com/destination/Quito-tours.
Special Information:
Cabin Bedding and Upgrades
Bedding on board the cruise is restricted to the following configurations. If you wish to upgrade your cabin, amounts are payable in addition to the package price prior to travel.
Lower Deck Twin
4 Twin cabins, Porthole windows, Located on the lower deck, Air conditioning, Ensuite Bathroom.
Please request your cabin upgrade in the 'special requests' field. Availability and price will then be confirmed and added to your invoice upon acceptance.
Grand Daphne is a brand new ship that will hit the water mid-2020, making it one of the newest boats on the market.
With indoor and outdoor dining areas and bars, plus a sundeck with lounges, there will be plenty of places to relax and enjoy time with your fellow travellers. All meals are included in the Grand Daphne. The lower deck cabins have portholes, while the main deck and upper deck cabins have large windows. Please note, all images are artist impressions
To know more about your ship, please click HERE.
Onboard Features
Deposit & Payments
Booking Process
Booking On Request
COVID-19
Due to COVID there maybe disruptions to standard operating schedules of particular components of this itinerary. Should a component be effected a substitute will be confirmed prior to departure.
Fitness Requirements
While the tour itinerary should give you some guidance and overview to the expected requirements, to determine if this tour is right for you we categorise each of our tours in terms of their intensity. These guidelines are to ensure that each tour group is conducted as expected and to ensure the overall satisfaction of all Inspiring Vacations customers.
As a general rule, porterage is not included, therefore at all times you are expected to handle your own luggage where help may not be available.
Pricing
Before checking in for the flight from Quito to the Galapagos, there is a USAUD $20 transit fee that needs to be paid. On arrival in the islands you must pay the USAUD $100 national park fee to enter Galapagos National Park.
Accommodation
Advertised price is per adult in a lower deck double room. Solo travellers who choose to book a twin, triple or quad room will be paired with other travellers of the same gender. Solo travellers who'd like to book a double room will need to pay an additional compulsory single supplement to use the room on a single occupancy basis, as a double bed cannot be shared.
Single Travellers
This trip is designed for shared accommodation and doesn't involve a compulsory single supplement. Single travellers share with people of the same gender in accommodation ranging from twin to multishare. This only applies to accommodation during the tour - pre-trip and post-trip accommodation will be booked on a single room basis.
Single Supplement
Please follow the 'book now' prompts and select 1 passenger to view the single supplement cost.
Triple Share
Not Available
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is required to protect yourself against the unexpected.
Tour Documentation
Final documentation including, e-tickets and hotel details, will be provided approximately 30 days prior to travel.
Group Size
Group size varies from package to package. Depending on the services provided, the group size might range from private 2 person experiences up to coaches of 50 people depending on your selected holiday.
Children
Children must share a room with parents at all times and are charged the same price as adults.
The Galápagos Islands offer one of the most spectacular and immersive wildlife experiences on the planet. Whether you’re snorkelling with sea lions, birdwatching for blue-footed boobies, or trekking volcanic terrain, unparalleled opportunities for wildlife enthusiasts to connect with nature—on land and sea—can be found...
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