Galapagos Islands Cruise: 8-Day Cruise Aboard the 'Archipel I'

Galapagos Islands Cruise: 8-Day Cruise Aboard the 'Archipel I'

Experience a journey aboard the catamaran ‘Archipel I’, a comfortable motor yacht, as you sail around the UNESCO-listed Galapagos Islands on this 8-day cruise. 

Accommodating no more than 16 passengers, this tour takes you to encounter land iguanas, giant tortoises and Darwin’s famous finches on nature walks, and listen to nightly briefings from a naturalist guide on-board. Sleep comfortably in your twin cabin equipped with sea-view windows. You will visit a variety of places from Santa Fe to Las Tintoreras, Elizabeth Bay to Punta Suarez and The Highlands to Tagus Cove.

You will return home with stunning pictures and unforgettable memories that will last forever!

This 8-day comfortable and cosy cruise takes you either to the eastern or to the western section of the Galapagos Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage site made up of 19 islands located in the Pacific Ocean, 621 miles (1,000 km) off the Ecuadorian coast. Discover a melting pot of wildlife and do this in-style aboard the Archipel I, a tourist-superior motor catamaran. Its powerful engines provide a cruising speed of 10 knots, and have been designed to minimise the impact on the Galapagos ecosystem.

Accommodating a maximum of just 16 passengers, the spacious yacht is fully equipped, with two decks (uncovered and shaded), a living room-library, and a spacious dining area where all your snacks and buffet-style meals are provided (from lunch on your first day to breakfast on your day of departure). Water, tea and coffee are included, and if you fancy something different, cocktails and other beverages are available for purchase from the bar on-board. No detail has been overlooked: Enjoy the modern decor and never burn your feet walking on the wooded flooring of the open-air sun deck. Sip a cocktail al fresco while watching wildlife, and rest your tired muscles on the sun deck.

Your Galapagos National Park–certified naturalist guide provides nightly briefings using a laptop or TV. Enjoy relaxing in the cosy cabins with private facilities. Cabins are on average 10m2 in size and are all situated on the main deck, away from the engine room, allowing you to sleep well during overnight passages. Choose a cabin with two separate beds or double accommodation; all the cabins face outward and have sea-view windows that open, as well as privately controlled air-conditioning. An experienced crew makes sure you receive top-notch service throughout your journey. To reach the islands, you’ll typically leave the yacht at the anchorage-site and board a dinghy for the final stretch to land. Your crew is trained and ready to assist you as needed. See below for itinerary details.

Itinerary A

Day1: San Cristobal Airport-Colorado Hill

Day2: South Plaza-Barrington Bay

Day3: Champion Islet-La Loberia

Day4: Charles Darwin Station-Highlands

Day5: Tintoreras-Tortoise breeding centre

Day6: Punta Moreno-Elizabeth Bay

Day7: Tagus Cove-Punta Espinoza 

Day8: Las Bachas-Baltra Airport

Itinerary B

Day1: Baltra Airport-North Seymour

Day2: Prince Philip’s Steps-Darwin Bay 

Day3: Bartolomé-Sullivan Bay 

Day4: Charles Darwin Station-Highlands

Day5: Cormorant Point-Post Office Bay 

Day6: Gardner Bay-Punta Suarez 

Day7: Punta Pitt-Cerro Brujo

Day8: Isla Lobos-San Cristobal Airport