Galapagos Adventure: Northern Islands (Grand Daphne)

Intrepid Travel · 7 days

4.4

9 Reviews

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Duration

7 days

Tour Type

Group Tour

Accommodations

Comfortable

Physical Rating

Average

Guide Language

English

Experience Overview

With almost 1000 kilometres of water lying between them and the South American mainland, the islands of the Galapagos were able to evolve largely undisturbed by humanity.

Highlights

Enjoy a short but sweet introduction to the famed archipelago – this trip makes for the perfect addition to any South American adventure – strikeing the perfect balance between excursion-packed days and relaxing evenings on the Grand Daphne – one of the newest motor yachts.
Hike, snorkel, sleep, repeat – this isn’t your average cruise! Get active in the rugged and isolated northern Galapagos Islands.
See sunbathing sea lions, colourful crabs, amazing birdlife and maybe even some giant tortoises that call these islands home.
Wander along the beautiful white sand beach at Bahia Borrero, then snorkel with reef sharks and manta rays.
Discover the otherworldly landscapes and creatures the islands are famous for, going deeper with a knowledgeable local naturalist guide who will accompany you on all your excursions.

Trip Details

Duration

7 days

Transportation

Boat,Plane,Bus,Zodiac (Panga)

Tour Type

Group Tour

Guide Language

English

Starts

Quito, Ecuador

Finishes

Quito, Ecuador

Accommodations

Comfortable

Travel Style

Physical Rating

Average

Itinerary

Day 1: Quito

Bienvenidos! Welcome to Ecuador. Your adventure begins in Quito – Ecuador’s sprawling capital city. You’ll have a welcome meeting at 5 or 6 pm tonight to meet your local leader and small group of fellow travellers. If you arrive early, maybe check out the city at your own pace – head to the Old Town and pick one (or more) of the 30 churches to explore. After your meeting, you’ll head to a small, local restaurant for dinner with your group. Take in the aromas and fresh flavours of the traditional Ecuadorian cuisine – think locroc (traditional potato soup) or quinoa, pork and vegetable dishes cooked with herbs, lemongrass and rich sauces, all sourced from local farms.

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 2: Quito/Isla San Cristobal

You have a very early start this morning (maybe as early as 4 am, depending on flight times) as you head into the Galapagos. Transfer to Mariscal Sucre International Airport (Quito Airport), with a boxed breakfast on the way. When you arrive, you’ll meet your naturalist guide in the arrival hall. Then, head to the Grande Daphne and have lunch with your shipmates. Your first stop is the San Cristobal Interpretation Center, which brings the history and geography of the archipelago to life, from its volcanic origins to the present day. This afternoon, there will be an opportunity to travel to the highlands to see giant tortoises in a protected area.

Included Activities:

Isla San Cristobal - Interpretation Center Visit (1 hour) - Dry Landing

Accommodation:

M/Y Grand Daphne (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 3: Isla Santa Fe/Isla Plaza Sur

Sea lions, iguanas and hawks – oh my! Isla Santa Fe is home to all three, plus Galapagos mockingbirds, marine turtles, frigate birds, Galapagos doves and lava lizards. This island boasts one of the most attractive coves in the whole archipelago. Take a hike along the coast into the opuntia forest, then cool off with a snorkel, looking out for schools of fish, rays and sea turtles. After, continue to Isla Plaza Sur. When you arrive on this small, gorgeous island, you’ll head out for another walk to get close to sea lions, passing one of the Galapagos’ largest land iguana populations on the way. The southern cliffs are great for spotting tropicbirds and swallow-tailed gulls, as well as ‘the Gentlemen’s Club’ – a gathering of male sea lions. Today, there may be an extra stop on the way to Plaza Sur to restock the boat’s provisions.

Included Activities:

Isla Plaza Sur - Walk (2 hours) - Dry Landing
Isla Santa Fe - Walk (1.5 hours) - Wet Landing
Isla Santa Fe - Snorkel (1 hour)

Accommodation:

M/Y Grand Daphne (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 4: Isla Genovesa

Explore Isla Genovesa – the archipelago's north-eastern outpost. The island’s varied landscapes are a twitcher's paradise, with all three kinds of boobies (including the rare red-footed booby) nesting here. Next, see Bahia Darwin (Darwin Beach) for another birding site with large breeding colonies of seabirds, frigates, lava herons, swallow-tailed gulls, mockingbirds and vampire finches. Head out for a hike to see tide pools, sea lions and diamond stingrays. The steep Prince Philip's Steps lead you to the heart of the seabird rookeries, with birds swirling overhead and nesting among the cliffs. Look out for storm petrels on the island’s rocky plains – Genovesa is the only place in the world where these birds can be seen flying during the day! After, maybe cool off with a snorkel, looking out for manta rays, sharks, turtles and moray eels, plus many species of fish.

Included Activities:

Isla Genovesa - Bahia Darwin - Walk (2 hours) Wet Landing
Isla Genovesa - La Barranco - Snorkel (1 hour)

Accommodation:

M/Y Grand Daphne (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 5: Isla Santiago/Isla Santa Cruz

On Santiago Island's eastern coast sits Bahia Sullivan. Take a walk along pahoehoe lava, which was created by an eruption that occurred here in 1897. With some luck, you might see some marine iguanas, Sally Lightfoot crabs, sea lions, finches, turtles, sharks and penguins. During your walk, as always, your naturalist guide will take you through the geological history of the island. Then, travel to Cerro Dragon (Dragon Hill) – one of the best places to see land iguanas. Walk to a brackish lagoon to see lagoon birds such as stilts, pintail ducks, sandpipers, sanderlings and flamingos. Further inland, the trail offers a beautiful view of the bay and the western area of the archipelago. This area is a nesting site for land iguanas, which is constantly monitored and assisted by the Charles Darwin Research Station. The arid-zone vegetation makes for an ideal place to see Darwin's finches, Galapagos mockingbirds, the endemic Galapagos flycatcher and yellow warblers.

Included Activities:

Isla Santiago - Sullivan Bay - Walk (1.5 hours) - Dry Landing
Isla Santiago - Sullivan Bay - Snorkelling (45 mins)
Isla Santa Cruz - Cerro Dragon - Walk (1.5 hours) - Dry Landing
Isla Santa Cruz - Cerro Dragon - Snorkelling or swimming (1 hour)

Accommodation:

M/Y Grand Daphne (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 6: Isla Santa Cruz/Quito

Explore the red mangrove wetland of Caleta Tortuga Negra (Black Turtle Cove) today on your Zodiac. Cruise through this peaceful cove and look out for mating green turtles, golden cow-nose rays, eagle rays and Galapagos sharks. After, head to the airport in Isla Baltra for your flight back to Quito. You’ll arrive back in Quito at approximately 4 pm, where you’ll then transfer to your hotel for your last night.

Included Activities:

Isla Santa Cruz - Black Turtle Cove - Panga ride (1.5 hours)

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 7: Quito

There are no activities planned for today, and your adventure finishes after breakfast this morning. Of course, that doesn’t mean your adventure has to end! Why not stay on in Quito for a few days and discover the charms of the city. If you need help booking extra accommodation, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.

Exclusions

Flights to and from origin and destinations
Airport transfers (arrival and departure)
Anything else not explicitly listed in tour inclusions
Recommended gratuities/tipping
Optional activities/tours
Personal expenses
Travel insurance
Visas, meals and beverages not stated in the list of inclusions.

Important Information

Meals

When meals are not included, your tour leader (where available) will be happy to help with restaurant recommendations, bookings, and directions. Please let us know if you have any dietary needs or preferences. We willdo our best to accommodate these, though we cannot guarantee that every request can be met.

Luggage

You are responsible for your personal belongings throughout the tour. You will need to carry your own bags between the vehicle and your hotel room. Drivers will assist with loading and unloading luggage from the vehicle.

Mobility

Travellers requiring wheelchair access should contact our sales and service team, who can make enquiries on your behalf.

Fitness Level

This tour requires an Average level of fitness. Activities are paced gently and include leisure time. You may be expected to join guided walks of up to one hour, navigate short stairways and mild inclines, and manage your own luggage. You should also be able to board and exit all transport without assistance.

Travellers are expected to be self-sufficient and capable of handling all aspects of their journey. Please discuss your circumstances and support needs with your booking agent to confirm this trip is suitable.

If you are unsure, we recommend consulting your doctor before booking or travelling. (Note: I assume each tour has a different description depending on level of fitness required).

Sightseeing

If a planned site visit is unavailable due to changes in operating hours or holiday closures, the itinerary may be altered, or a comparable activity will be substituted where possible and subject to availability.

Visas

Visa conditions can change. Once you receive your travel documents, check with the relevant embassy, consulate, or immigration office of your destination for the latest information.

It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct and valid travel documents and to comply with all entry requirements.
Non-Australian citizens must also confirm visa and identification requirements with the appropriate consulate or visa agency.
Certain occupations (for example, journalists, government officials, or those working in charities) may face additional restrictions when applying for visas, which could affect the type of application required.

Departure Dates & Surcharges: See checkout for live dates and availability.

From
AUD $6395

AUD $4,476

(Tour only)

Offer ends 18 Sep, 2025 Per Person Twin Share

Duration: 7 days

Trip Type: Group Tour

Activity Level: Average

With almost 1000 kilometres of water lying between them and the South American mainland, the islands of the Galapagos were able to evolve largely undisturbed by humanity.

Check Availability Brochure

Price based on per person in Double Room for departure 03 Oct 2025

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Customer Reviews

Overall Rating

Excellent

4.5

Guide

Excellent

4.5

Itinerary

Excellent

4.5

Accommodations

Excellent

4.5

Transportation

Excellent

4.5

Tour Operator

Excellent

4.5

Food

Excellent

4.5

Jeremy

Traveled, March 2024

04/01/2024

This trip was a once in a lifetime experience, the crew, and especially the guide were wonderful, knowledgeable, and paid very careful attention to our safety and our enjoyment. I would travel with this group again without question.

4.0

Mina

Traveled, January 2024

02/05/2024

Absolutely marvelous vacation. The crew members took care of us every step of the way. Meals were well-prepared and with consideration of allergies and preferences. I’m missing this vacation already!

Tour Operator

Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.

In Business Since 1989

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