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—Galápagos always provides the tonic of wildness the human spirit needs. Traveling with us will make the most of your time, intelligence, curiosity and genuine need for laugh-out-loud fun. Don’t miss out on Galápagos this summer or 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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The Daily Expedition Reports coming in from Galápagos tell all—our guests are having amazing experiences and our expedition team is delighted to be sharing Galápagos again. See for yourself what their remarkable days down on the equator are like.
Galápagos is naturally socially distanced. Located 600 miles from the Ecuadorian coastline (the closest land mass), Galápagos is one of the world's most isolated oceanic archipelagos. The archipelago is 97% National Park and World Heritage site, so all visitors follow common sense rules: stay six feet from wildlife. So, social distancing is the norm here!
Isolated by time and ocean, the wildlife of Galápagos has never developed an instinctive fear of humans. Blue-footed boobies nest on hiking trails, oblivious to humans walking past. Mockingbirds land on camera lenses and peer at their reflections. Sea lions hop off rocks as you hop out of your Zodiac, eager to get a look at you under the water. Galápagos is a rare and magical place. We know—we’ve been leading expeditions here for more than 50 years. No other company has the depth of connection to the place, its wildlife, its human population and its conservation that we do. This is not a boast on our part but rather a reason: Our tenure here is your assurance that traveling with us will make the most of your time, intelligence, and curiosity.
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
Special Offers
Galápagos
Peru
Wild Escapes
Special Offers
Length
10 days
From
$7,190
Prices are per person
Galápagos
Peru
Wild Escapes
Special Offers
Galápagos
Wild Escapes
Special Offers
Length
7 days
From
$5,900
Prices are per person
Galápagos
Wild Escapes
Special Offers
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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When you explore the Galápagos Islands aboard an expedition ship, you won't just see the beautiful landscapes and unique wildlife, you'll also get hands-on learning in “the best classroom in the world.”
This is the best trip we have ever taken. We have been all over the world and nothing else compares.
Barry Z.
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.
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.
Jun 21
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National Geographic Endeavour II
After an overnight navigation from the western part of the archipelago, this morning the National Geographic Endeavour II dropped anchor at Espumilla Beach to visit one of the most important nesting grounds for Pacific green sea turtles. This morning we were very lucky. A few babies were just heading into the ocean just minutes after sunrise. At the same time, blue-footed boobies were plunge diving for fish, alongside brown pelicans and brown noddy terns. It was an incredible sight, and all before breakfast. Later, we headed for Buccaneer’s Cove for deep-water snorkeling, glass-bottom boat exploration, kayaking, and paddle boarding. After lunch, it was more deep-water snorkeling at Egas Port, where some guests opted for a coastline hike to round up a joyous day.
Jun 21
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National Geographic Endeavour II
We started our morning with an exciting hike in Urbina Bay. This place is always special because of the large number of land Iguanas all over the place, and today was no exception. Following this hike, jumping into the cool water was the best option for some of our guests. Back onboard National Geographic Endeavour II , naturalist Cristian Saa gave an interesting talk about human history on Galapagos, followed by an amazing Ecuadorian lunch! After a deserved siesta, it was time to go kayaking or snorkeling along Tagus Cove, where Galapagos penguins, sharks, rays, marine iguanas, sea turtles, flightless cormorants accompanied us. Galapagos animals are so calm that we could take all the pictures we wanted. Our wonderful day ended with a beautiful sunset with purple hues. More adventures await us tomorrow.
Jun 21
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National Geographic Endeavour II
We are now in the western part of Galapagos, where very active volcanoes are located and where the water is cold and full of nutrients that attract wildlife. This means we are more likely to encounter large animals, such as whales, as well as endemic creatures like the Galapagos penguin or flightless cormorants. Early in the morning, the National Geographic Endeavour II dropped anchor off the coast of Fernandina, the youngest island in the archipelago. The black lava fields were impressive and so were their inhabitants! At Punta Espinoza, thousands of marine iguanas basked under the equatorial sun. After diving into cold water to feed on green algae, they must warm up their bodies to digest their meal. On the trail, we also came across Sally Lightfoot crabs and lava herons feeding on all the organic material left behind from the low tide. Snorkeling also offered many highlights. Guests encountered Pacific green sea turtles feeding on green algae, sea lions, marine iguanas, octopus, and many fish species. We even had a couple of Galapagos penguins chasing a school of sardines right next to us. At Punta Vicente Roca on the northern part of Isabela Island, we explored the coast on Zodiacs to spot fur seals, flightless cormorants, blue-footed boobies, and Galapagos penguins. We ended the marvelous day with winetasting on the sun deck as our ship crossed the equator at sunset.
Jun 21
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National Geographic Endeavour II
This was a special day. We visited North Seymour Island, the only place where magnificent frigatebirds and blue-footed boobies both live, and it was breeding season! We got to see male frigatebirds showing off their red gular pouches to attract mates, and blue-footed boobies doing their sky-pointing courtship dance! We also saw land iguanas basking in the early morning sun and looking for food. Some guarded their cactus trees, waiting for a prickly pear to fall off the tree. Cactuses are vital in this ecosystem, and they are the main source of food for the iguanas. In the afternoon, we landed on Rábida Island, located in the center of the Galápagos archipelago. Here, we had the opportunity to explore the marine world and its awesome inhabitants, such as sea turtles, sea lions, marine iguanas, and brown pelicans. Later on, we walked along the red sand beach, a chance to photograph Galapagos sea lions and mockingbirds in a stunning landscape.
Jun 21
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National Geographic Endeavour II
Our last full day of adventure began with a wet landing on a white coralline beach inside Darwin Bay, named by a celebrity visitor, William Beebe, to honor the great naturalist who redirected human thought, Charles Darwin. One guest spotted some marine iguanas that were smaller and darker than the ones on the southern hemisphere islands. Each island has its own ecology, like a petri dish with different results. On a walk at low tide, we were surrounded by birds of all kinds, some with chicks. We observed their active parenting behavior, imparting lessons so their offspring can fend for themselves one day. When we reached our turning point, the tidal water had reached our knees. This slow flowing current brought baby stingrays, pufferfish, sea lions, and many other creatures to what was our walking trail a few minutes earlier. We got much closer to these sea creatures during our snorkeling session later that morning. After an active morning, it was time for a delicious lunch on the ship, now anchored inside the Genovesa caldera. Afterward, we took the kayaks out for a last outing before landing at Prince Philip’s Steps. Here, we were surrounded by Nazca and red-footed boobies. We saw male magnificent frigatebirds displaying their inflated red gular pouches, eager to be selected as mates by females. One guest was the first to spot the elusive short-eared owl, and we were all rewarded a glimpse of the well-camouflaged diurnal raptor. Surrounded by lava formations and wildlife that had no fear of humans, we felt transported to prehistoric times. That evening, over cocktails, we looked back on the amazing experiences of our week. United by the magic of the Galapagos, we have bonded like a family on this journey, creating memories that will stay with us for a lifetime. Adiós amigos.
From climate conditions, to water temperature, to packing the right footwear. Find answers to the questions our Expedition Specialists get most often.
Read moreIt 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
