fbpx

Peregrine Travel Centre

Galapagos Adventure: Northern Islands (Grand Daphne)

Galapagos Adventure: Northern Islands (Grand Daphne)

From $ 6,728 AUD

Book Now Request a callback
Email Us Print
,

Description

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. Discover the rugged landscape of this wild place with a week-long adventure cruise, all with a local naturalist guide by your side to show you the way. Encounter sea lions, hike over hardened lava, spot diverse marine life with snorkelling opportunities and cool off in the aquamarine waters. With time to explore both on land and underwater, your adventure will show you some of the best of the northern islands – don’t forget to watch the sunset from your motor yacht every night, too!

Trip Name
Galapagos Adventure: Northern Islands (Grand Daphne)
Last Updated
2024-08-07
Days
7
Capacity
16
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.

Itinerary

ITINERARY CHANGES Our itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year based on customer feedback and to reflect the current situation in each destination. The information included in this Essential Trip Information may therefore differ from when you first booked your trip. It's important that you review this information prior to travel so that you have the latest updates. Due to weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays, political unrest or other factors, further changes may be necessary to your itinerary once in-country. Your group leader or local representative will keep you up to date with any such changes once your trip is underway and has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if deemed necessary due to safety concerns. The maritime component of this trip is operated by a fully licensed Ecuadorian shipping operator. The Captain of the vessel will do all that is possible to adhere to the outlined itinerary however it may be changed without notice due inclement weather or changes to the Galapagos National Park's regulations. We ask you for your patience and understanding with any changes outside our control. Any changes to the itinerary will be undertaken with your safety and comfort in mind. There may be some early starts to the day for the scheduled activities to be conducted as per the itinerary due to specific visiting hours for some sites. All travel distances/times and durations for the activities listed in the trip notes are a guide only and are subject to change. FAMILIES TRAVELLING WITH CHILDREN Families can travel with children who are 12 years and above on our Galapagos islands cruising trips. There are multiple snorkelling activities on this trip, so we recommend everyone has a good level of swimming ability if they wish to participate in the snorkelling activities. The snorkelling can start at the beach or straight from the zodiacs in deep open water. Life jackets are always available if you prefer to wear one while snorkelling. Children must be accompanied, by their guardian throughout the trip, both on and off the boat which includes during the snorkelling activities. Please discuss cabin options with your sales consultant at time of booking if you are travelling with children. We do not have interconnecting rooms available onboard so if your family requires multiple cabins, please note these may not be available next to each other. Your sales consultant will be able to provide you with the available cabin options and where they are located on the boat at time of booking. We can provide twin and double bed cabins – there are no triple share cabins on this boat. If your family consists of 2 adults and one child, the child must share with one of the adults and the other adult has the option to be paired up with another solo adult of the same gender or pay a single supplement to have their own cabin.

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
08-08-202514-08-2025AUD $ 6,728-
08-08-202514-08-2025AUD $ 6,728-
08-08-202514-08-2025AUD $ 7,628-
08-08-202514-08-2025AUD $ 7,278-
22-08-202528-08-2025AUD $ 6,728-
22-08-202528-08-2025AUD $ 6,728-
22-08-202528-08-2025AUD $ 7,628-
22-08-202528-08-2025AUD $ 7,278-
03-10-202509-10-2025AUD $ 7,628-
03-10-202509-10-2025AUD $ 7,278-
03-10-202509-10-2025AUD $ 6,728-
03-10-202509-10-2025AUD $ 6,728-
31-10-202506-11-2025AUD $ 6,728-
31-10-202506-11-2025AUD $ 6,728-
31-10-202506-11-2025AUD $ 7,628-
31-10-202506-11-2025AUD $ 7,278-
14-11-202520-11-2025AUD $ 6,728-
14-11-202520-11-2025AUD $ 6,728-
14-11-202520-11-2025AUD $ 7,628-
14-11-202520-11-2025AUD $ 7,278-
28-11-202504-12-2025AUD $ 6,728-
28-11-202504-12-2025AUD $ 6,728-
28-11-202504-12-2025AUD $ 7,628-
28-11-202504-12-2025AUD $ 7,278-
12-12-202518-12-2025AUD $ 6,728-
12-12-202518-12-2025AUD $ 6,728-
12-12-202518-12-2025AUD $ 7,628-
12-12-202518-12-2025AUD $ 7,278-
09-01-202615-01-2026AUD $ 7,368-
09-01-202615-01-2026AUD $ 7,368-
09-01-202615-01-2026AUD $ 8,358-
09-01-202615-01-2026AUD $ 7,973-
23-01-202629-01-2026AUD $ 7,368-
23-01-202629-01-2026AUD $ 7,368-
23-01-202629-01-2026AUD $ 8,358-
23-01-202629-01-2026AUD $ 7,973-
06-02-202612-02-2026AUD $ 7,368-
06-02-202612-02-2026AUD $ 7,368-
06-02-202612-02-2026AUD $ 8,358-
06-02-202612-02-2026AUD $ 7,973-
20-02-202626-02-2026AUD $ 7,368-
20-02-202626-02-2026AUD $ 7,368-
20-02-202626-02-2026AUD $ 8,358-
20-02-202626-02-2026AUD $ 7,973-
06-03-202612-03-2026AUD $ 7,368-
06-03-202612-03-2026AUD $ 7,368-
06-03-202612-03-2026AUD $ 8,358-
06-03-202612-03-2026AUD $ 7,973-
20-03-202626-03-2026AUD $ 7,368-
20-03-202626-03-2026AUD $ 7,368-
20-03-202626-03-2026AUD $ 8,358-
20-03-202626-03-2026AUD $ 7,973-
01-05-202607-05-2026AUD $ 7,368-
01-05-202607-05-2026AUD $ 7,368-
01-05-202607-05-2026AUD $ 8,358-
01-05-202607-05-2026AUD $ 7,973-
15-05-202621-05-2026AUD $ 7,368-
15-05-202621-05-2026AUD $ 7,368-
15-05-202621-05-2026AUD $ 8,358-
15-05-202621-05-2026AUD $ 7,973-
12-06-202618-06-2026AUD $ 7,368-
12-06-202618-06-2026AUD $ 7,368-
12-06-202618-06-2026AUD $ 8,358-
12-06-202618-06-2026AUD $ 7,973-
26-06-202602-07-2026AUD $ 7,368-
26-06-202602-07-2026AUD $ 7,368-
26-06-202602-07-2026AUD $ 8,358-
26-06-202602-07-2026AUD $ 7,973-
24-07-202630-07-2026AUD $ 7,368-
24-07-202630-07-2026AUD $ 7,368-
24-07-202630-07-2026AUD $ 8,358-
24-07-202630-07-2026AUD $ 7,973-
07-08-202613-08-2026AUD $ 7,368-
07-08-202613-08-2026AUD $ 7,368-
07-08-202613-08-2026AUD $ 8,358-
07-08-202613-08-2026AUD $ 7,973-
21-08-202627-08-2026AUD $ 7,368-
21-08-202627-08-2026AUD $ 7,368-
21-08-202627-08-2026AUD $ 8,358-
21-08-202627-08-2026AUD $ 7,973-
04-09-202610-09-2026AUD $ 7,368-
04-09-202610-09-2026AUD $ 7,368-
04-09-202610-09-2026AUD $ 8,358-
04-09-202610-09-2026AUD $ 7,973-
18-09-202624-09-2026AUD $ 7,368-
18-09-202624-09-2026AUD $ 7,368-
18-09-202624-09-2026AUD $ 8,358-
18-09-202624-09-2026AUD $ 7,973-
02-10-202608-10-2026AUD $ 7,368-
02-10-202608-10-2026AUD $ 7,368-
02-10-202608-10-2026AUD $ 8,358-
02-10-202608-10-2026AUD $ 7,973-
11-12-202617-12-2026AUD $ 7,368-
11-12-202617-12-2026AUD $ 7,368-
11-12-202617-12-2026AUD $ 8,358-
11-12-202617-12-2026AUD $ 7,973-
25-12-202631-12-2026AUD $ 7,368-
25-12-202631-12-2026AUD $ 7,368-
25-12-202631-12-2026AUD $ 8,358-
25-12-202631-12-2026AUD $ 7,973-

Accommodation

Hotel (2 nights),Overnight boat (4 nights)

Transport

Boat,Plane,Bus,Zodiac (Panga)

Map

Related products

Recent Blog Posts

Browse Trips in

Ecuador Intrepid
More of activity:
Adventure Cruises