Explore the Galápagos Islands aboard the spacious Yolita and enjoy the beaches, history, and unique wildlife of the central and southern islands. When you want to spend some time underwater, make sure to check out Devil’s Crown in Floreana, a snorkeller’s paradise and home to some of the most impressive marine life in the Galápagos. Bird lovers will be pleased with stops at some notable bird-watching spots on Cerro Dragón. When you’re done connecting with wildlife, head over to Post Office Bay to learn about its history and, of course, to drop off a postcard.
Itinerary Highlights
- Enjoy an amazing snorkeling experience at Devil's Crown.
- Visit Post Office Bay and continue the tradition of sending postcards like the early whaling vessels did centuries ago.
- Indulge in an excellent bird watching experience at Cerro Dragon.
Itinerary in Brief
- Day 1: Arrive in Quito for your overnight stay
- Day 2: Fly to Baltra and check in to your hotel on Santa Cruz island
- Day 3: Charles Darwin Station - El Chato Reserve
- Day 4: Devil's Crown - Post Office Bay
- Day 5: Chinese Hat - Cerro Dragon
- Day 6: Black turtle cove - Fly to Quito for your overnight stay
- Day 7: Depart Quito
Travelling with Eclipse
Peace of Mind
- Eclipse Travel is Australian owned and run, and an ATAS accredited travel agent.
- 24/7 emergency numbers and local contacts provided for support while you’re abroad.
- We provide all the information you need to organise your visas and vaccinations, making travel preparation stress-free.
- No currency surcharges. Once your deposit is paid, your price is guaranteed.
Specialists
- Our consultants are true destination experts, with firsthand experience and extensive travel in the regions we offer.
- Expect quick, professional responses and dedicated service from our knowledgeable team.
- We conduct regular checks on destinations, hotels, and services to ensure quality for every trip.
Authentic Travel
- Tailor-made itineraries designed around your unique requirements.
- Freedom to select your preferred style and standard of accommodation.
- Unique itineraries that take you beyond the major highlights, immersing you in each location.
- Committed to responsible travel: we reinvest in the environment and local communities across our destinations.
Day 1: Quito
On arrival, check into your hotel and feel free to explore the culturally and historically vibrant capital city of Ecuador. Quito is lined with a variety of shops, churches occupied by fine art, overflowing market stands, hat makers, diverse food and nightlife displays. This city is well known for its ‘Old Town’, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprising stunning colonial monuments, sculptures and architecture.
Day 2: Fly to Baltra and check in to your hotel on Santa Cruz island
Board a morning flight from Quito to the Galapagos Islands then check into your hotel on Santa Cruz island.
Enjoy a short walk to the beautiful white beach of Tortuga Bay. Relax on the beach, walk along the mangroves looking for marine iguanas and birdlife, or rent a kayak and explore this marine wonderland. Look for Tintoreras sharks, sea turtles, and manta rays in the water's shallow areas.
Tonight you will stay in a hotel on Santa Cruz.
Day 3: Charles Darwin Station - El Chato Reserve
Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, a scientific organisation initiated in 1964, which works to preserve the Galápagos' ecosystem through the conservation efforts of scientists, researchers, and volunteers. The research station provides a study location for international scientists and environmental education for the local community.
Board the Yolita to begin your sail towards El Chato Reserve, a perfect place to see giant tortoises in their natural environment. Explore the reserve’s lagoon and lava tunnels, keeping an eye out for owls that often roost in the tunnels’ entrances.
Day 4: Devil's Crown - Post Office Bay, Floreana Island
In the morning dive into an incredible snorkelling experience at Corona del Diablo known as 'Devil's Crown' to gaze upon tropical fish, rays, reef sharks and sea turtles. Finally you will visit Punta Cormorant and discover two contrasting beaches. The first beach has green sand consisting of olivine crystals and the other consists of purely white sand suitably named Flour Beach. Continue the trip by observing flamingos and other shore birds feeding in a lagoon and locate penguins and marine iguanas at the water's edge.
Enjoy the afternoon at Mirador de la Baronesa on Floreana Island to visit Post office Bay which is historically known as the place where English whaling vessels placed a barrel to be used as a post office. It is maintained today by tourists who send a postcard from the famous destination and help deliver any letters that are close to an address back home.
Day 5: Chinese Hat & Cerro Dragon
Spend the morning at a small island named Chinese Hat named by its hat-shaped land mass. Here you will visit the white coral sand beach, then indulge in a snorkelling session with playful sea lions and penguins. There are swimming opportunities in the cove for the more adventurous.
After a delicious lunch, visit Cerro Dragon for some prime bird watching opportunities. Take a short walk from the beach to a hypersalinic (saltier than the ocean) lagoon filled with pink flamingos, common stilts, pintail ducks, and other species of birds. Later trek through a Scalesia tree forest which is endemic to the area, with only 400 specimens left in the world.
Day 6: Black turtle cove - Fly to Quito for your overnight stay
In the morning you will explore the mangrove lagoon at Black Turtle Cove. Explore the mangroves by a thrilling panga (dinghy) ride to find rich marine wildlife between the fresh and salt waters. Keep any eye out for manta rays and sea turtles in this tranquil ecosystem. Mighty whitetip reef sharks can also be seen gliding by.
In the afternoon, transfer for a flight back to Quito for one last night on the town. In the afternoon fly back to Quito and enjoy the evening.
Day 7: Depart Quito
Feel free to explore enchanting Quito for the last time before you depart back home.
- Day 1: Quito
- Day 2: Fly to Baltra and check in to your hotel on Santa Cruz island
- Day 3: Charles Darwin Station - El Chato Reserve
- Day 4: Devil's Crown - Post Office Bay, Floreana Island
- Day 5: Chinese Hat & Cerro Dragon
- Day 6: Black turtle cove - Fly to Quito for your overnight stay
- Day 7: Depart Quito
Dates | Cabin | From | Special Offer |
---|---|---|---|
21 Jan 2025 - 27 Jan 2025 | USD$4149pp | ||
Main Deck Cabin | USD$4149pp | Contact us | |
Upper Deck Cabin | USD$4299pp | Contact us | |
04 Feb 2025 - 10 Feb 2025 | USD$4149pp | ||
18 Feb 2025 - 24 Feb 2025 | USD$4149pp | ||
04 Mar 2025 - 10 Mar 2025 | USD$4049pp | ||
18 Mar 2025 - 24 Mar 2025 | USD$4149pp | ||
01 Apr 2025 - 07 Apr 2025 | USD$4249pp | ||
15 Apr 2025 - 21 Apr 2025 | USD$4149pp | ||
13 May 2025 - 19 May 2025 | USD$4249pp | ||
27 May 2025 - 02 Jun 2025 | USD$4249pp | ||
10 Jun 2025 - 16 Jun 2025 | USD$4049pp | ||
24 Jun 2025 - 30 Jun 2025 | USD$4149pp | ||
22 Jul 2025 - 28 Jul 2025 | USD$4149pp | ||
02 Sep 2025 - 08 Sep 2025 | USD$4049pp | ||
16 Sep 2025 - 22 Sep 2025 | USD$4049pp | ||
25 Nov 2025 - 01 Dec 2025 | USD$4149pp | ||
09 Dec 2025 - 15 Dec 2025 | USD$4149pp | ||
23 Dec 2025 - 29 Dec 2025 | USD$4249pp |
**Prices are per person based on twin / shared accommodation.
**Single supplements may apply
Cabin Details
Main Deck Cabin
2 single beds or convertible queen bed upon request, private bathroom, air conditioning & large window.
Upper Deck Cabin
2 single beds or convertible queen bed upon request, private bathroom, air conditioning, large window & chair.
Whats included?
- Arrival transfer
- Certified Galápagos National Park Service Guide
- Cruise the Galápagos Islands aboard the Yolita (3 nts)
- All meals aboard the Yolita
- Overnight on Santa Cruz Island
- Tortuga Bay hike and kayak (Santa Cruz Island)
- Excursion to see giant tortoises in the wild (Santa Cruz Island)
- Visit to Post Office Bay (Floreana Island)
- Snorkelling at Corona del Diablo
- Onboard snorkelling equipment and wetsuits while aboard the Yolita
- Internal flights
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
What’s not included?
- International airfares
- Arrival/departure taxes or reciprocity fees, visa fees where applicable
- Departure transfer on the last day
- Galápagos National Park fee: US$200 per person
- Transit control card: US$20 per person
- Gratuities
- Any items not mentioned as included
Price Assurance
At Eclipse Travel, our expert destination knowledge and decades of travel planning experience come at no extra cost to you. While many think booking through a tour operator is more expensive than planning a trip independently, that’s not the case. We’re paid by our travel partners—such as hotels, activity operators, and cruise providers—via commissions, not by our clients.
Our team negotiates the best rates for you and ensures you receive unbiased advice, with no preference for any particular supplier. In fact, where we secure higher commissions, we often pass the savings on to you, giving us a competitive price edge.
Additionally, we lock in exchange rates at the time of your deposit, ensuring no surprise costs when it’s time for final payment. You can rest easy knowing we’ll handle the details with our suppliers. The only exceptions are national park fee increases or fuel surcharges imposed after your booking, though these are rare.
Take advantage of our team’s expertise and let us help you plan the perfect holiday—hassle-free!
Destination: Galapagos
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