Galápagos, Wild Escapes
Pack a ton of adventure into one action-packed week aboard the 48-guest National Geographic Islander. With multiple adventures each day on land and undersea—including options for walks and hikes, kayaking, paddleboarding, and snorkeling—you’ll be assured of the full Galápagos experience, but in less time. Get close to the iconic wildlife that has no instinct to flee human presence, making for magical encounters. Snorkel with sea lions, hike the highlands among giant tortoises, and see blue-footed boobies and other seabirds up close. As with the classic, 10-day expeditions, honed over the last 50 years, each voyage is crafted to offer you a diverse experience of the archipelago.
Experience all Galápagos offers in just one week, with departures on Saturday and Thursday
Add a two-night post-expedition extension in Quito, Ecuador
Snorkel and kayak in rich waters among shimmering fish, sea turtles, penguins, and playful sea lions
Walk among colonies of wildlife and seabirds unfazed by your presence
Maximize your time in the islands with options for exploration every day including hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, and more
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Duration
7 Days
Price
From $5,900 per person
Dates
Year Round
Next departure
8/5/2021
Special offers
BRINGING THE KIDS
COMBINING OFFERS
BACK-TO-BACK SAVINGS
TRAVELING AS A GROUP
FREE AIRFARE ON SELECT DATES
GET THE GROUP ON BOARD! SAVE 10%
SOLO PREMIUM WAIVED ON SELECT 2021 DATES
EARLY BOOKING SAVINGS
Galápagos, Wild Escapes
Embark
Guayaquil (Quito), Ecuador
Disembark
Guayaquil (Quito), Ecuador
Special Offers
Feb 20
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National Geographic Islander
Today we woke up by the coast off San Cristobal, one of the oldest islands of the Galapagos. After breakfast, we had a Zodiac ride along the shore and then disembarked to visit the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center in the highlands. In the afternoon, we hiked Tijeretas Hill and spotted the San Cristobal mockingbird, one of four species of mockingbirds found in the Galapagos. We also talked about the ecology of dry forests and the adaptations made by different species of trees in order to survive the dry months. At the top of Tijeretas Hill we enjoyed a spectacular coastal view of San Cristobal Island. We ended our day with an amazing performance by local artists on board National Geographic Islander , as guests enjoyed traditional dance and music from Ecuador.
Feb 20
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National Geographic Islander
Our first full day in the Galapagos Islands! It was a brilliant beginning yesterday on the island of Santa Cruz, not to mention the Galapagos giant tortoises! Then today we woke up approaching San Cristobal, one of the oldest islands of the archipelago, and the very first seen by Charles Darwin when he arrived on H.M.S Beagle in 1835. The morning was spent hiking, on Zodiacs, snorkeling, and overall settling into the rhythm of an expedition. The afternoon was spent learning about cultural aspects of traveling in Ecuador, as well as absorbing the essence of a long, white beach with time for yourself; as an alternative, one group went kayaking along the tall cliffs of Cerro Brujo!
Feb 20
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National Geographic Islander
Santiago has had many different names in the past due to the various visitors that arrived at the island, particularly English buccaneers and privateers. They were the first to draft a raw map of the islands, and had a preference of what they then called “Duke of York” island and then “James”, after their king. The island provided them with safe anchorages, some fresh water, and tortoise meat. Today, this past is long gone, and the Galapagos National Park Service has carried out major conservation and restoration projects, which make this one of the most beautiful islands of the archipelago. Feral goats and pigs used to roam freely in the island, today eradicated in order to protect this delicate environment. In the early morning we visited Espumilla Beach, one of the five most important sea turtle nesting sites of the Galápagos. The activity of the native “ghost” crabs feeding on the wet sand is striking, and the nearby structures that extend all the way to Buccaneers Cove is quite scenic. There we would have a good opportunity for a final kayaking session. After breakfast we relocated to Buccaneers Cove, where once young naturalist Charles Darwin disembarked back in 1835. This was the island where he spent most of his days ashore during the visit of HMS Beagle . We explored the area by Zodiac looking for marine birds, and at the same time admiring the beautiful coastline. Others chose to snorkel for a last undersea exploration. In the afternoon, we moved to our new anchorage: Puerto Egas, named after the Ecuadorian gentleman who temporarily owned salt extraction business from a mine in a crater. His business was unsuccessful, and this small territory became part of the natural areas of the Galápagos National Park, therefore the whole island is uninhabited. We landed at the lovely black beach of Puerto Egas for a nature hike, exploring and admiring its beautiful coastline full of Galápagos creatures: marine iguanas, sea lions and fur seals. Sally lightfoot crabs covered the length of the shore; in a recent effort of restoration by the Park Service, it is nowadays possible to have encounters with land iguanas in an island where they were extinct for about 140 years. These are the examples of the many great efforts of conservation and restoration of ecosystems throughout this marvelous archipelago…May the Galápagos remain as “The Enchanted” for many more decades to come.
Feb 20
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National Geographic Islander
We started our day with a wet landing on a black sand beach where turtles come to lay eggs throughout the year. Just a few steps from us, we had our first encounter of the day – giant tortoises that gladly posed for our cameras with grace, one even walked up to us. A great beginning! As we continued our walk, we spotted Darwin’s finches and the beautiful male land iguana warming up and reenergizing right along the path. It may have also been in search food. These and many more were great subjects for photo opportunities. The morning came to an end with some of us taking a quick refreshing dip in the ocean. The afternoon offered various activities like kayaking along the coast of Tagus Cove and wildlife watching. Later, we prepared to snorkel and were eager to swim amongst the always marvelous penguins, graceful sea turtles, surprising cormorants, playful sea lions and an endless number of other marine creatures commonly seen in the area. After, an invigorating fast-paced hike to a nearby ash cone offered a fantastic view of the lake locked into it. With the terrain’s colors and picturesque palo santo trees, the scenery was magnificent. For those wanting a more relaxing activity, wildlife spotting on Zodiacs was offered. It’s been a great fun filled day.
Feb 20
Watch
National Geographic Islander
We began the day with our expedition leader, Gaby, making an exciting wake-up call: “Dolphins on the starboard side.” What a treat! With cups of coffee or cameras in hand, our guests eagerly watched the show. Later we had breakfast and then headed to the bridge as we were crossing the equator. The morning was spent in Punta Vicente Roca located in the northwest region of this magical archipelago. Here we had the opportunity to snorkel with fur seals, sea turtles, flightless cormorants, and penguins. The afternoon was spent with a large colony of marine iguanas in Fernandina followed by wine tasting on the sun deck! Another wonderful day in the Galapagos Islands.
