Galápagos
Special Offers
Length
10 days
From
$7,710
Prices are per person
Galápagos
Special Offers
Galápagos
Peru
Special Offers
Length
16 days
From
$13,910
Prices are per person
Galápagos
Peru
Special Offers
Galápagos
Peru
Wild Escapes
Special Offers
Length
10 days
From
$7,330
Prices are per person
Galápagos
Peru
Wild Escapes
Special Offers
Galápagos
Wild Escapes
Special Offers
Length
7 days
From
$6,020
Prices are per person
Galápagos
Wild Escapes
Special Offers
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We're proud to be awarded the #1 small ship cruise line by the 2021 Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards! |
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 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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We offer four distinct itineraries: spend a week or 10 days exploring the islands’ lush highlands and pristine beaches or combine Galápagos with Machu Picchu and Peru’s Sacred Valley for an adventure that blends the beauty and wonder of the natural world with a discovery of one of the world’s greatest civilizations.
In August, Lindblad Expeditions will welcome a new member of our fleet. The National Geographic Islander II will replace the National Geographic Islander, elevating the guest experience in the Galápagos Islands to an entirely new level. The National Geographic Islander II, a best-in-class expedition ship, expertly refitted to facilitate the active exploration at the heart of the Lindblad experience, has the spirit and soul of a private yacht. Accommodating just 48 guests, she is a spacious all-suite vessel with a 1:1 guest-to-crew ratio and five expedition staff. Guests will enjoy more space than ever before while exploring the Galápagos Islands.
Join us in the world’s most interesting islands for a one-of-a-kind experience that will stay with you forever.
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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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.
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 the 96-guest National Geographic Endeavour II, then discover the culture and history of Peru and the iconic ruins of Machu Picchu.
Anahi Concari, Naturalist, January 23, 2022
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 moreThis 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.
5/19/2022
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National Geographic Islander
We started the day by visiting South Plaza Island, one of the small islands around Santa Cruz Island. We found sea lions to welcome us as well as a few pairs of swallow-tailed gulls nesting on the ground. Galapagos land iguanas were very abundant along the trail, mainly where prickly pear cactuses offered ripe fruit to the reptiles. We also observed a few of the iconic seabirds found on these islands, such as blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds, and Galapagos shearwaters. In the afternoon, we went snorkeling along the coast of Santa Fe Island. Guests were excited to observe many species of colorful fish, such as parrotfish, king angelfish, razor surgeonfish, and whitetip reef sharks. Right after snorkeling, we disembarked to visit Santa Fe. Our main goal was to find Santa Fe land iguanas, a species endemic to this island only. After accomplishing our goal, we went to see a large sea lion colony basking on the sandy beach at Santa Fe.
5/19/2022
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National Geographic Endeavour II
Early in the morning, we came ashore to explore Bartolome Island, one of the most iconic places in the Galapagos. In the afternoon, we visited Chinese Hat, a very old scoria crater located at the foot of Santiago, not far from Bartolome Island. Our intrepid guests onboard National Geographic Endeavour II explored the terrestrial and marine worlds of Bartolome and Sombrero Chino. Our day began with an invigorating early morning hike to the summit of Bartolome. We climbed 376 steps to enjoy a breathtaking view from different angles. It was well worth the effort to get to the top! During the Zodiac ride to the disembarkation site, we observed a few seabirds hunting over the ocean, including boobies, pelicans, and noddy terns. Bartolome Island offers a diversity of geological formations, including volcanic ash and a plethora of spatter cones. Guests learned about some of the pioneer plants of the Galapagos, including the endemic lava cactus. Afterward, they explored the marine world surrounding Bartolome, coming face to face with whitetip reef sharks, penguins, rays, and a variety of tropical fish. In the afternoon, guests snorkeled around the coastline of the peculiarly shaped islet, Sombrero Chino. They swam with Galapagos penguins, tropical fish, and reef sharks. We concluded the day’s activities with a peaceful Zodiac ride along Sombrero Chino as we discussed the geology of the Galapagos and the unique wildlife found in the area. Photographers: Christian Saa and Walter Perez
5/18/2022
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National Geographic Endeavour II
Early in the morning, we disembarked onto a rocky landing to explore a colorful visitor site known as Dragon Hill. We walked into the island to explore the natural habitat of the Galapagos land iguanas. We were lucky to encounter around twenty golden reptiles, some of them eating prickly pear cacti, while others rested under the shade of green vegetation. We also spotted several ground birds like small and medium ground finches, a couple of common cactus finches, and Galapagos mockingbirds. After passing through an incense tree forest, we arrived to the natural habitat of the land iguanas. These reptiles are endemic to the Galapagos, found on six different islands of the archipelago. Throughout the season, we can find several flowering plants covering the area where the land iguanas nest. After our morning hike, we got ready to go deep water snorkeling. We encountered several species of fish, a couple playful sea lions, and a large variety of marine invertebrates along the vertical walls. Soon after, we came back to the ship to enjoy a traditional Ecuadorian lunch. Our hotel manager introduced us to everything on the menu. After lunch, we went on a Zodiac ride along the coast of Bahia Borrero; this incredible mangrove inlet is home to an amazing amount of wildlife. As soon as we arrived, we encountered nearly two hundred golden cownose rays. Watching this giant school of rays was definitely one of the highlights of our trip. We also spotted a few baby whitetip reef sharks, as well as nesting brown pelicans and a couple great blue herons. Some of us had the opportunity to go kayaking around the coastline of Borrero Bay, where we paddled among golden rays and baby blacktip reef sharks. During the afternoon, we had a delightful time up on the sundeck as we circumnavigated Daphne Islet. We learned about the science that took place on the small islet, relative to the evolution of Darwin’s finches in the Galapagos Archipelago.
5/17/2022
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National Geographic Islander
San Cristobal is the administrative capital of the Galapagos Islands. The island has a human population of around 8,000. People live in different regions, from the coast to the transitional forests to the evergreen highlands with farms and cattle ranches. This prosperous island’s economy is based on tourism and agriculture. We started our day by anchoring off Punta Pitt on the north side of San Cristobal Island. Here, we spent the morning exploring the hills and nesting sites of red-footed boobies. This region is geologically interesting and full of contrasts. Old and eroded mountains show an amazing stratification produced by the volcanic eruptions in the early stages of formation. We had the opportunity to explore the trail that leads to the hills and a colony of red-footed boobies. Some of us explored the shore and cliff formations, spotting frigatebirds, Nazca boobies, and tropicbirds, just to name a few! We also had the opportunity to explore the snorkeling site, and we enjoyed swimming with sea lions and different types of fish. It was an amazing morning! In the afternoon, we navigated towards the southwestern side until we reached Cerro Brujo. We anchored there and spent the afternoon exploring the white sandy beach that is home to Galapagos sea lions and marine iguanas. This is a magical place due to the landscape and the turquoise waters surrounding the coast. We returned to the ship at sunset to explore an iconic rock called Leon Dormido off the coast of San Cristobal. We navigated around the rock, birdwatching and enjoying the sunset with snacks and a glass of wine in hand! I think this is the best way to end an expedition in this remote archipelago. Cheers for the Galapagos.
5/17/2022
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National Geographic Endeavour II
This morning, we started our day in an unusual way. Santa Cruz has the largest human population in the Galapagos, with about 20,000 people. After breakfast, we boarded our Zodiac and headed to the main pier of Puerto Ayora, where all the citizens had already started their day. Buses took us to the Charles Darwin Research Station and National Park Breeding Center facilities. Our guests were eager to learn more about the breeding program for giant tortoises, and they were all enthusiastic to see the specimen of a very famous tortoise: Lonesome George. Naturalists shared a small glimpse into the activities taking place at the fishing dock, where fresh catches were sold. Pelicans and a playful sea lion made the moment extra special as we watched the skills of people busy cleaning the fresh fish. On our way to lunch, we made a quick stop at Don Adriano’s farm to learn about the sugarcane, chocolate, and moonshine that are locally produced. This was definitely a highlight of the day. Guests enjoyed learning about what local communities do to subsist in the Galapagos, in addition to tourism. It was now time for a wonderful lunch at Manzanillo Ranch. Our guests enjoyed the local coffee and the ample space with a wonderful view of very lush land. Afterwards, we took a relaxed and educational walk among giant tortoises, baby white-cheeked pintail ducks, different species of Darwin’s finches, and cattle mooing in the background. What a combo! It was finally time to go back to our floating home, National Geographic Endeavour II . After a very entertaining evening with recaps and cocktails, guests enjoyed the wonders of the local cuisine at dinner. Photo caption: Giant tortoise grazing in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island. Photo by Christian Saa
Sven-Olof Lindblad
With Free Air
