Jonathan Aguas, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
We're a winner of Conde Nast Traveler's 2022 Readers Choice Awards
Best Cruise Line in the Galápagos (Expedition Category)
Sail the iconic archipelago with the pioneers of modern expedition travel
Lindblad Expeditions pioneered expedition travel to the remarkable Galápagos Islands more than 50 years ago. Today, we lead expeditions year-round to this magical archipelago famed for its vibrant wildlife. Encounter giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, playful penguins, and charismatic sea lions in their natural habitats, unfazed by your presence. Enjoy multiple adventures each day on land and undersea, including walks and hikes, kayaking, paddleboarding, and snorkeling, in the company of local expert guides.
In Galápagos, one thing is certain: expect the unexpected! Surrounded by wildlife on land and at sea, you never know what might happen. And that’s been the draw since Darwin landed in 1835.
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A new ship for the Galápagos
Lindblad Expeditions is delighted to welcome the newest member to our Galápagos fleet. National Geographic Islander II, a best-in-class expedition ship, is expertly refitted to facilitate the active exploration at the heart of the Lindblad experience. Guests will enjoy more space and amenities while exploring the Galápagos Islands.
Book by June 30, 2023, for Free Air from Miami—or from $249 and $349 from popular home cities—on select 2022-23 departures. Business class upgrade starting at $750.
Offer on American Airlines only, economy class. Upgrade to Business Class flights starting at $750, subject to availability. Free air offer includes internal flights between mainland Ecuador and Galápagos. All offers are valid for new bookings only, must be ticketed by Lindblad Expeditions and are subject to availability at time of booking. In the case that offered Miami flights are no longer available, Lindblad reserves the right to issue a credit. Baggage fees may be additional.
GALÁPAGOS 2023 FAMILY SAVINGS
On select 2023 departures of Galápagos Aboard National Geographic Endeavour ll, every two full-paying adults are welcome to bring a guest aged 22 and under at 50% off and a second guest aged 22 and under for FREE. Offer applicable only on bookings of two double-occupancy cabins, and second cabin must be in same category or lower as first cabin. An individual full-paying adult is welcome to bring a guest aged 22 and under at 50% off and a second guest 22 and under for free when booking a single double- or triple-occupancy cabin, pending availability. Valid on cabin fare only, not valid on extensions or airfare. Please call for details.
Book by June 30, 2023, for Free Air from Miami—or from $249 and $349 from select U.S. cities—on select 2023 departures and Free Air from Miami, New York, Houston, Dallas, and Los Angeles—or from $249 and $349 from select U.S. cities—on select 2024 departures. All offers are valid for new bookings only, must be ticketed by Lindblad Expeditions and are subject to availability at time of booking.
Remain into the late afternoon at fabled Machu Picchu, introduced to the world by Hiram Bingham in the April 1913 issue of National Geographic magazine
Soak in the scenery and culture of the Sacred Valley of the Inca
Journey between Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu by Inca Rail
Voyage aboard the 48-guest National Geographic Islander II with a team of naturalists
Maximize your time in Galápagos with options to hike, Zodiac cruise, and snorkel every day
Free Round-Trip Air from Miami—or from select U.S. cities from $249/pp or $349/pp—to Galápagos on select Wild Galápagos Escape and Wild Galápagos and Peru Escape 2023 departures. Upgrade to business class from $750/pp. Book by June 30, 2023. New bookings and subject to availability.
FREE AIR IN 2024
Free Round-Trip Air from Miami, New York, Houston, Dallas, and Los Angeles—or from select U.S. cities from $249/pp or $349/pp—to Galápagos on all Wild Galápagos and Peru Escape 2024 departures. Upgrade to business class from $750/pp. Book by June 30, 2023. New bookings and subject to availability.
Free Round-Trip Air from Miami—or from select U.S. cities from $249/pp or $349/pp—to Galápagos on select Wild Galápagos Escape and Wild Galápagos and Peru Escape 2023 departures. Upgrade to business class from $750/pp. Book by June 30, 2023. New bookings and subject to availability.
FREE AIR IN 2024
Free Round-Trip Air from Miami, New York, Houston, Dallas, and Los Angeles—or from select U.S. cities from $249/pp or $349/pp—to Galápagos on all Wild Galápagos and Peru Escape 2024 departures. Upgrade to business class from $750/pp. Book by June 30, 2023. New bookings and subject to availability.
Dive in and experience Galápagos with all your senses. Choose how you want to explore—hike, paddleboard, kayak, snorkel, or arrange to dive (on select departures). Take a long hike or just relax on the beach. Our generous staff-to-guest ratio means you can always find a naturalist whose interests and approach you share whether you want to focus on birding, human history, photography, the undersea, or more. Since the first international tourist expedition cruise to the Galápagos Islands in July 1967 with Lars-Eric Lindblad, we’ve introduced generations of guests to these strange and wonderful islands, the world’s first UNESCO World Heritage site.
Henry David Thoreau called it the “tonic of wildness.” It’s what a cruise to Galápagos, with its beauty and wildness, gives you—a spirit lift. To compound this healthful effect, we provide a quality of shipboard life and a philosophy of wellness to relax and rejuvenate body, mind, and spirit.
National Geographic Global Explorers Program
One of the most rewarding sights on expedition is witnessing the gleam of discovery in a child’s eyes, whether they’re walking alongside a grazing giant tortoise or watching blue-footed boobies perform an elaborate courtship dance. Moments like these are abundant in the Galápagos—and they’re especially meaningful when complemented with the learning opportunities offered through our exclusive National Geographic Global Explorers Program.
See, do and learn more by going with engaging experts who have been exploring this region for decades.
Expedition Leader
Veteran expedition leaders are the orchestrators of your experience. Many have advanced degrees and have conducted research or taught for years. They have achieved expedition leader status because they possess the skills, experience, and the depth of knowledge necessary to continually craft the best expedition possible for our guests.
Our naturalists, passionate about the islands where most of them were raised, illuminate each facet of natural and human history here through their enthusiasm and knowledge. Our guests consistently cite the expertise and engaging company of our staff as key reasons to repeatedly travel with us.
See what lies beneath the waves—even if you choose to stay dry with the help of your undersea specialist. These pros snorkel or dive to shoot footage of sea life and share it in the lounge. They lead snorkeling outings and glass-bottom boat excursions, offering voiceover on all you see.
Every expedition aboard a ship in our National Geographic-flagged fleet offers an exclusive service—a Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic certified photo instructor. This naturalist is specially trained to offer assistance with camera settings and the basics of composition, and to help you become a better, more confident photographer.
Visit itinerary dates to view additional staff and guests
Rich Reid
Award-winning photographer and filmmaker Rich Reid has specialized in environmental and adventure photography for over two decades. North American Nature Photography Association elected Rich as a Fellow for his significant contributions to the nature photography industry, and he was a finalist for the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year for his time-lapse video documenting forest fire ecology.
Underwater photographers David Doubilet and Jennifer Hayes are married partners who work together as a team to produce National Geographic stories from equatorial coral reefs to beneath the polar ice. David estimates he has spent nearly half his life in the sea since taking his first underwater photograph at the age of 12 with a Brownie Hawkeye camera sealed in a bag.
National Geographic Islander II: Take a Virtual Tour
Take a virtual tour of the newest member of our Galápagos Fleet, the all-suite National Geographic Islander ll.
National Geographic Islander II's Maiden Voyage
Enjoy this glimpse of the new, all-suite National Geographic Islander ll welcoming the first guests aboard the August 18, 2022, maiden voyage sailing the Galápagos. She is purposely outfitted to reduce impact, build community on board, and foster authentic connection to the people and culture of Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands.
Embark on a sweeping adventure that encapsulates all the wildness of Galápagos balanced with the cultural and historic experiences of Machu Picchu & Peru's Land of the Inca. Explore Galápagos in depth aboard either of our ships, then discover the culture and history of Peru and the iconic ruins of Machu Picchu.
National Geographic Islander II: A Truly Ecuadorian Ship
Our new ship for the Galápagos Islands, the National Geographic Islander II, celebrates the cultures of Ecuador and the islands themselves. Join Vice President of Hotel Operations Ana Esteves as she finds inspiration around the country—meeting acclaimed local artisans, chefs, and artists who showcase the beauty and wonder of Ecuador.
‘Good Morning America’ Reports Live from National Geographic Endeavour II
In February 2022, Good Morning America's Amy Robach joined Lindblad Expeditions in the Galápagos, where GMA became the first U.S. television show to broadcast live from the islands. View clips from the show, see our daily photo diaries, and explore even more.
A true gem in the crown of conservation and sustainability, the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) has worked for six decades to protect the Galápagos and ensure that its pristine ecosystems and incredible biodiversity will continue to thrive for generations to come.
Lindblad Expeditions supports stewardship efforts in the places we explore, and one way we do that is through the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic (LEX-NG) Fund. Traveler contributions to the LEX-NG Fund in Galápagos currently support our regional partners—the Charles Darwin Foundation, Galápagos National Park Directorate, Island Conservation, and the Scalesia Foundation—in their efforts to research and conserve the unique wildlife of the islands and promote education in the region.
Today, National Geographic Islander II anchored in the bay at Genovesa Island, located in the northeastern corner of the archipelago. Our excursion in the morning was to Darwin Bay Beach, and we found big colonies of nesting red-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, and swallow-tailed gulls. After visiting this beautiful bay, we returned to the ship to prepare for snorkeling activities. Some of the guests decided to go kayaking, and others relaxed on the beach. My group snorkeled from a Zodiac by the cliffs of this island. We found hammerhead sharks, various species of reef fish, golden cow rays, turtles, and other great wildlife. This was definitely a wonderful way to finish our time in the water here in the Galapagos. Later in the afternoon, we took a nature walk inland. We found more nesting boobies and mockingbirds. We observed great frigatebird males with their gular pouches inflated to court females. During the second part of the walk, the highlight was a short-eared owl flying around before it seemed to pose for pictures. During sunset, our captain raised a toast to our great time on board together.
Today we enjoyed kayaking and tours in Zodiacs and the glass-bottom boat. We kayaked along the shores of Santiago and Chinese Hat, two volcanic places that are very rich in wildlife. Snorkeling here is majestic. Sharks swim alongside penguins and abundant fish. Sullivan Bay was just formed in 1897. The fresh lava shows us the genesis of life on the Galapagos Islands when the first plants and animals struggled to survive with limited resources. Today was a great day to learn from nature.
It’s the beginning of our expedition aboard National Geographic Islander II , and today we visited two central islands of this archipelago, Plazas and Santa Fe. These two islands have one of the largest colonies of sea lions and land iguanas. In the morning, we observed a beautiful sunrise while hiking. In the afternoon, the ship moved to Santa Fe. We had an incredible snorkel and then explored the island. We enjoyed amazing encounters with the unique wildlife of the Galapagos Islands.
Española is the oldest island in the archipelago. It is also one of the most diverse, for it is home to several species that are only found here. Visitors are captivated by the amazing white coral beach where sea lions rest before and after fishing. Guests enjoyed snorkeling, kayaking, and hiking today; all were equally beautiful and fascinating.
On our expedition aboard National Geographic Islander II , we visited Floreana Island this morning. Our first stop was Post Office Bay. We kayaked along the canals of the bay and enjoyed amazing encounters with sea lions and marine iguanas. Then we went to drop off and pick up letters at the post office the barrel. After breakfast, we snorkeled in Champion Islet. In the afternoon, we changed locations to Punta Cormorant, where we walked along a green sand beach. The sand gets its color from an abundance of olivine. We finished the day with an amazing sunset.
It will never leave you if you go to the Galápagos islands. You will have stories for the rest of your life—I can promise you.
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