Aqua Mare Itinerary

Santa Cruz Island - Baltra Island (West Galapagos) 7N

8 days / 7 nights

About Aqua Mare

  • Stay on board the first super-yacht to sail the Galapagos
  • Sumptuous social spaces with wrap-around seating and flatscreen TVs
  • Outdoor Jacuzzi, workout zone, and a water-level ‘Beach Club’ lounge
  • Make use of snorkeling gear, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and more

The first true super-yacht offering scheduled itineraries in the Galapagos Islands, Aqua Mare takes an iconic once-in-a-lifetime adventure to the next level - out-performing other yachts in the region when it comes to speed, range, space, and style. An extravagant suite of world-class watersports facilities, including snorkling gear and unique tenders, are on hand to help guests experience the island's renowned wildlife and nature through tailor-made, expert-led excursions. After a day spent exploring, this vessel’s expansive size, personalised service, and indulgent luxuries, such as an outdoor Jacuzzi and delectable cuisine, provide the perfect respite.

Learn more about Aqua Mare

Itinerary details

8 days / 7 nights
0
No experience required
Not Required

Highlights

  • Witness the unparalleled biodiversity that inspired Charles Darwin
  • See endemic penguins, fur seals, marine iguanas and giant tortoises
  • Hike the highlands of Santa Cruz to a Galapagos tortoise sanctuary
  • Dive with up to 30 different species of shark during one incredible trip!
  • Large marine life including manta rays, dolphins and sea lions
  • Indulge in delectable cuisine and five-star service
  • Visit a flamingo lagoon, Post Office Bay, Baroness Lookout, and more

Day 1: Once you arrive at the airport, you will be met by our team and escorted to Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. On the way, enjoy a delicious outdoor lunch at a Giant Tortoise Reserve, followed by your first excursion to the highlands of Santa Cruz. Once you arrive at the vessel, pick out a snorkelling kit and wetsuit for your personal use during the week. You will also receive a special waterproof bag and an Aqua Expeditions water bottle as a welcome gift.

In the evening, you will have some leisure time to explore the main town of Puerto Ayora. We recommend strolling along the main waterfront where you can stop by the many boutiques and jewellery shops before heading back to the ship for an evening of presentations.

Day 2: On your second morning in the Galapagos, we will be anchored in the southern part of the Archipelago at Floreana Island. After breakfast, the morning’s wet landing excursion will take you to a big brackish water lagoon to observe greater flamingos, ducks, black-necked stilts, and other shore birds at Punta Cormorant. You will be able to observe where sea turtles nest at night, and spot stingrays and sharks swimming very close to the shore. For those wishing to dive, a morning rendezvous diving option is available.

After lunch on board, head back out to Floreana to pay tribute to an old island tradition at Bahia Post Office. The visit will follow another quick tour of what once was a fishing enterprise in the 1920s before continuing onboard the tenders to visit Mirador de la Baronesa. 

Day 3: After a night of sailing, we will arrive on the western side of Isabela Island. For the morning excursion, a hike at Punta Moreno takes us among mangroves and gas-rich basaltic lava rocks. You will also embark on a dinghy ride to observe marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, and penguins among other species.

In the afternoon, the Aqua Mare will sail north to Bahía Urbina, where you can see land iguanas, some of the biggest marine iguanas roaming free in the Archipelago, and on occasion, tortoises as well. We’ll end the day with an unforgettable view of Isabela’s five volcanoes.

Day 4: Our next anchorage is Punta Espinoza. The region is famous for its large colonies of marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, and lizards. We might come across Galapagos penguins, Galapagos hawks, and snakes as well. You will spend the morning on shore with the option to snorkel before returning to the yacht for lunch.

Crossing the Bolivar Channel back towards Isabela Island, you will visit Caleta Tagus - once a favourite anchorage spot for pirates and whalers. Here we will hike to see Darwin Lake, a saltwater lake trapped inside a tuff cone. If you would rather not hike, you can go kayaking, snorkelling, stand-up paddleboarding, or take a ride on our elegant black tenders.

Day 5: This morning, we’ll take a tender ride to Caleta Bucanero, a 17th century pirate rest stop where pirates used to stock up on fresh tortoise meat and fresh water. In case ocean conditions are unfavourable, we’ll visit Playa Espumilla instead, a golden sandy beach which is a well-known breeding ground for sea turtles.

We head back to the yacht for lunch, before exploring the black sand beaches of Puerto Egas, northwest of Santiago Island. You will be able to walk the intertidal zone to the fur seal grottos or snorkel to watch sea turtles, sea lions, and whitetip reef sharks.

Day 6: Depart by tender to Rábida Island, also known as the red island. You will be able to hike, kayak, stand-up paddleboard, or snorkel, as well as observe hundreds of sea lions who have made their home on the beach. Alternatively, a morning rendezvous dive is also available.

After a delicious lunch, listen to an afternoon lecture presented by our expert guides. The Aqua Mare will sail towards the north of Santa Cruz Island, to Caleta Tortuga Negra, a mangrove estuary that is home to sea turtles. This is a tender ride excursion as there is no landing site, but you will be able to spot green sea turtles, as well as blacktip and Galapagos sharks.

Day 7: Your penultimate day in the Archipelago begins with refreshing breakfast before heading out to Seymour Norte Island - known for its healthy population of land iguanas, blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, and great frigate birds. Alternatively, a morning rendezvous dive is also available. After a morning full of fun activities, you will head back to the yacht for a delicious lunch aboard Aqua Mare.

For the afternoon excursion, hop on to one of our tenders for a wet landing onto Mosquera Island - one of the hotspots for spotting sea lions. Around sunset you will return to the sleek comfort of Aqua Mare for your last evening aboard. 

Day 8: Enjoy the views from Aqua Mare as we circumnavigate Daphne Island before making our way to Baltra Island for disembarkation. You will be escorted to the airport for your flight back to the mainland.

Sample itineraries are for guidance only. Actual itineraries may differ slightly due to factors such as weather, wildlife, logistics and local regulations.

Transfer details

Departure

11:30am

Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz: SZN

Return

08:00am

Baltra

Baltra Airport: GPS

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