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Blue-footed boobies nesting on the hiking trails, staring quizzically as you walk past. Mockingbirds landing on camera lenses and peering at their reflections. Sea lions hopping off rocks as you hop out of your Zodiac, eager to look at you, or swim with you. Galápagos is a rare and magical place and the most welcoming place to be after the year our species has had. We know—we’ve been leading expeditions here for more than 50 years. Don’t miss out on Galápagos this fall—choose our Wild Escape for a quick getaway, or stay longer.
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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Galápagos
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Length
10 days
From
$7,560
Prices are per person
Galápagos
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Galápagos
Peru
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Length
16 days
From
$13,760
Prices are per person
Galápagos
Peru
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Galápagos
Peru
Wild Escapes
Special Offers
Length
10 days
From
$7,330
Prices are per person
Galápagos
Peru
Wild Escapes
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Galápagos
Wild Escapes
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Length
7 days
From
$5,900
Prices are per person
Galápagos
Wild Escapes
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Travel to the Galápagos is on! Here are some things you might be wondering if you're considering a trip to the world's most interesting islands.
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.
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The morning adventure continued with a deep-water snorkel at Champion Islet. Little did we know it was going to be one of the best snorkeling experiences of our lives. A pod of playful and curious dolphins approached us and started swimming in circles around us!
Gianna Haro, Naturalist (Photo by Joshua Vela, Video Chronicler)
more daily expedition reportsFrom climate conditions, to water temperature, to packing the right footwear. Find answers to the questions our Expedition Specialists get most often.
Read moreHenry 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.
This is the best trip we have ever taken. We have been all over the world and nothing else compares.
Barry Z.
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.
10/20/2021
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National Geographic Endeavour II
At sunrise, a clear sky greeted us next to Santa Cruz Island. We started our morning visiting the western side of the island, one of the oldest in Galapagos. The exploration began on a rocky shore, where the low tide created several pools that were full of life. Right by the shore, we saw marine iguanas eating algae straight from the rocks and sea turtles resting in the shallow waters. The trail then took us inland, passing by several brackish ponds and an opuntia cactus forest. Finally, we arrived at the nesting site of the land iguanas, where burrows had been dug both for nesting and hiding from the heat. Immediately we found land iguanas in the middle of the trail. Most were still sun basking on the cleared areas formed by the trails, and others had started making their way into the bush as they had reached the body temperature they needed for their activities. As the dry season continues, the forest has almost no food for land animals but for the few leaves of endemic species and a couple of flowers from the opuntia cactus. We found one iguana climbing up a thin bush to get to the leaves. The morning ended with a spectacular snorkel near Guy Fawkes islets. In the afternoon, we visited a sheltered mangrove area called Borrero Bay. Here some groups went kayaking as the rest of us explored the area on Zodiacs. We got very close to the mangroves, and we could see nesting pelicans and herons, as well as the baby sharks. The day ended with a beautiful sunset, which we enjoyed while the National Geographic Endeavour II circumnavigated Daphne Major islet.
10/19/2021
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National Geographic Endeavour II
Santa Cruz is the second largest island in the Galapagos archipelago and one of the few places where it is possible to see giant tortoises in the wild. After landing, we boarded private buses to reach the highlands where they live. But first, we stopped in a cloud forest to examine the impressive geology of the Los Gemelos area. Several sink holes, or pit craters, are surrounded by many scalesia trees and other native vegetation. A short distance later, we entered giant tortoise territory. We saw so many of these iconic creatures that gave the Galapagos its name. Afterward, we headed to Las Bachas just a few miles away to enjoy the beautiful white sand beach where turtles lay their eggs. All day long, we were captivated by the beauty and wildlife of this very special place.
10/18/2021
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National Geographic Endeavour II
Today we woke up anchored next to Floreana Island. What a view! We want to make the most of the morning so before breakfast we land on Floreana, an island with a very interesting human history as well as natural history, so we walk around to explore this place.
10/17/2021
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National Geographic Endeavour II
Española is the oldest of the Galapagos Islands, as it sits on the southeastern end of the archipelago. The islands are of volcanic origin and are formed because of geological activity of a ¨hot spot¨ in the region. As the Nazca Plate slides to the southeast over the volcano-producing area, new islands develop. This means that the islands towards the northwest are the youngest and the ones on the opposite end are the oldest.
10/14/2021
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National Geographic Endeavour II
We are close to the end our trip, but the highlights keep coming. Many guests had been eagerly awaiting this day. Finally, we are exploring the highlands of Santa Cruz, home of the most iconic creature of Galapagos, the giant tortoises. The territory is full of lush vegetation, where many freshwater ponds are formed here and there. The giant tortoises need this water to survive, and the grass and fruits to eat. In the past, pirates and early colonists slaughtered many of them for food, almost to point of extinction. Their populations are slowly bouncing back through conservation efforts. On our way to see the giant tortoises, we stopped at Los Gemelos to explore volcanic formations called pit craters. Up here all the scenery is green. The atmosphere was overcast and foggy. In this cloud forest, one can find up to nine varieties of finches, plus mockingbirds, gallinules, crakes, warbles, doves, and flycatchers. Then it was time to visit the migration paths of the Galapagos giant tortoises and marvel at these astonishing prehistoric reptiles. Even as we sat down to lunch at an outdoor restaurant located in the preserve, we were surrounded by hundreds of tortoises feeding on grass. In the afternoon, we returned to the National Geographic Endeavour II and headed immediately to Bowditch Point. There is a white sandy beach, a preferred nesting site for marine turtles. Some of us went for a swim while others walked along the beach, looking for a place to rest and contemplate their surroundings. Later our Wellness Specialist Roxana led a relaxing stretching routine during a spectacular sunset. At six o’clock, we returned to our ship. Every day in the Galapagos is exceptional, a tonic of wildness to all of us!
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.
Sven-Olof Lindblad
