Itineraries - Explorer 2

Cruise Itineraries - Choose from 3, 4, and 7-Night Programs

Visit the Galapagos Islands, a one-of-a-kind year round Galapagos Cruise destination!

The Galalapagos Islands are located on the Equator, 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, in the Pacific Ocean. Cold waters brought southward by the Humboldt Current relatively surround the Galapagos Islands and the temperatures are determined almost entirely by the ocean currents.

The Galapagos Archipelago has two seasons, each of which has an effect on the flora and fauna. The warm and wet season is from January to June and the cooler and dry "garua" (mist) season, from July to December. Most birds and other species nest year-round, so you can see courtship, mating, chicks hatching, and rearing almost any time of the year.

Galapagos Explorer 2, Cruise "A" 3 Nights, Wednesday-Saturday

Day 1 WED

AM Fly from Quito or Guayaquil to the San cristobal Isalnd Airport. Meet with the crew and board the M/V Galapagos Explorer 2.

PM: Visit Verro Brujo on San Cristobal Island. Explore the beach swimming and snokeling in the beautiful waters and one of the finest beach in all of the Galapagos. Sea lions roam the shoreline, as well as blue footed boobies.

Day 2 THU

AM: Sail to Punta Suarex on Espanola Island. The rocky landscape is home to hundreds of colonies of various sea birds that live in the Galapagos. High cliffs tower above the southern shore, giving visitors inpiring views of the soaring birds, and the Blow Hole, which spouts water 50 to 70 ft into the air.

PM: Travel to Bahia Gardner, Espanola Island. The bay is an excellent place to swim, relax, and enjoy watching the sea lions playing in the surf.

Day 3 FRI

AM: Go see the Charles Darwin Research Station, on Santa Cruz Island. Most visitors come to observe and appreciate natural wonders, it is fascinating to learn how the protection and conservation of the islands are carried out. The Van Staelen Exhibition Hall is one of the most exciting attractions at the park, breeding and reaing young tortoises, and other adult Galapagos tortoises in captivity.

PM: Rabida, Jervis Island is located just south of Santiago Island. View the Pelicans nesting in this area, as well as many playful sea lions. This small island is commonly known as the geographic center of the Galapagos. A lagoon near the beach offers an opportunity to see white-cheeked pintails and many snorkeling opportunities.

Day 4 SAT

AM: Walk the while-sand beaches of Las Bachas, where you will get a close look at the Galapagos sea turtle nesting areas. Bachas Beach also features a special lake populated with pink flamingos and various other migratory birds.

Galapagos Explorer 2, Cruise "B" 4 Nights, Saturday-Wednesday

Day 1 SAT

AM Fly from Quito or Guayaquil to the Baltra Island Airport. Board the Galapagos Explorer 2.

PM: Sail to Cerro Dragon, Santa Cruz Island. After landing, passengers can walk the lagoon behind the beach. Considerable amounts of flamingos. Journey to Dragon Hill, where you will get a breath taking view of the bay.

Day 2 SUN

AM: Make a Dry landing on Bartolome Island. Take a walk to the top of the rocky cliffs, enjoying the beauty of the Galapagos. Afterwards, return to the pange (zodia raft) for a ride around the Tower to observe the Galapagos penguins. If you'd like, you'll have opportunities to swim and snorkel with them later in the day.

PM: Explore Puerto Egas on Santiago Island. Follow a footpath across the island, admiring the native marine iguanas, Darwin finches, rainbowed lava lizards, and endemic Galapagos Hawks. Santiago Island is also a special place to see the endangered Galapagos fur seals, cooling off in the shade of the seashore grottos.

DAY 3 MON

AM: Take a trip to Punta Espinoza on Fernandina Island, where the youngest and most active volcano in the Galapagos in seen to erupt every few years. The landscape is stark and barren in Punta Espinosa, but flightless cormorants build their nests on the point while sea lions sprawl on the beach or play in the tide pools and marine iguanas prosper in the sand.

PM: Visit Punta Vicente Roca, on Isabela Island, the largest in the Galapagos. A volcano makes its home on the island, half of which sits in the ocean. Remnants of the archaic volcano forms two gorgeous coves, with a bay well protected from the ocean. You will see blue footed and masked boobies perched alongside the cliffs, as well as flightless cormorants along the shore. The cove that makes up Punta Vicente Roca in one of the archipelago's most sought after snorkeling spots.

DAY 4 TUE

AM: Disembark via dry landing on North Seymour Island, one of the few elevated islands in the Galapagos. Explore various trails that reveal colonies of blue footed boobies, elegant frigate birds, and swallow-tail gulls. The shore is teeming with Galapagos life, including Galapagos sea lions and marine iguanas.

PM: Travel to the Highlands, Lave Tunnels, and wild giant tortoises on Santa Cruz Island. Guests will hike to the highlands of the Santa Crus for an extraordinary opportunity to view the islands most famous reptiles in its wild habitat, the Galapagos giant tortoise. While you're there, don't miss out the spectacle of Los Gemelos, Spanish for "The Twins," a pair of large pit craters where the stunning red male vermillion flycatcher dwells. Then see the lava tunnels, the largest found in Galapagos and continue to Puerto Ayora, the largest town in the Galapagos Islands. Buy souveneirs, mail postcards, or even surf the web at a local internet cafe.

DAY 5 WED

AM: Visit the interpretation Center on San Cristobal Island, located in the capital of the Galapagos, on the outskirts of the quaint city of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.

PM Transfer to the San Cristobal Airport. Jet back to Guayaquil or Quito.

Galapagos Explorer 2, Cruise "C" 7 Nights, Cruise "A" + Cruise "B" or 7 Nights, Cruise "B" + Cruise "A"

Take Advantage of an Optional Diving Program Available for Galapagos Explorer 2 Passengers

Combine cruise “A” and cruise “B” or cruise “B” and cruise “A” from above for a complete 7-night adventure aboard the Galapagos Explorer II.The Galapagos Islands are a group of 13 major islands, and some 45 islets, all volcanic in origin, and all bathed by ocean currents as diverse as the wildlife that inhabits this Natural Heritage for mankind.

The Galapagos Islands are famous for its encounters with the big animals. Many well-respected industry magazines list the islands as the “World’s Best Diving”. Fortunately, not many divers come here, and thus, diving is not geared for crowds, it is very selective and quite personal. This adds a unique value to the overall adventure.

For passenger cruising on the Galapagos Explorer 2, sub-aqua, a Galapagos Diving Operator is providing diving services during the days that the ship is close to Santa Cruz Island. Per our current cruise itinerary these days are Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. PADI license and insurance for diving will be required.

A minimum of 4 passengers per cruise is required. Reservations and prepayment must be made in advance. Please see the Diving link for more details.