Aqua Mare Itinerary

Santa Cruz Island - Santa Cruz Island (West and East Galapagos) 14N

15 days / 14 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

15 days / 14 nights
0
No experience required
Not Required

Highlights

  • Witness the unparalleled biodiversity that inspired Charles Darwin
  • Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station
  • See endemic penguins, fur seals, marine iguanas and giant tortoises
  • Hike the highlands of Santa Cruz to a Galapagos tortoise sanctuary
  • Gaze out over Bartolomé Island’s iconic Pinnacle Rock
  • 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 Baltra airport, you will be met by our team and escorted on a short cross island transfer to the jetty. Receive a warm welcome aboard Aqua Mare where a delicious Nikkei-inspired lunch crafted by consultant chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino will be served. At your leisure, pick out your snorkelling kit complete with mask, fins, snorkel, and an optional shorty wetsuit for your personal use during the trip. You will also receive a waterproof bag and water bottle. 

The afternoon will see you head out onto your first excursion to the beautiful white beach
of Bahia Borrero on the northern part of Santa Cruz. It is possible to spot Darwin’s finches, cactus finches or the small ground finch among the coastal vegetation. For those who prefer to snorkel, the beach is one of the main nesting sites of sea turtles. Head home to the yacht for the evening to indulge in your first sumptuous dinner in the Archipelago, making it the perfect start to your Galapagos Islands adventure.

Day 2: This morning explore Genovesa Island, where you will take a tender ride along the volcanic rocks of El Barranco to view the fur seals resting inside rock crevices. A 1.5 km hike inland takes us to the lava fields to view red-footed boobies as well as great frigatebirds and Galapagos storm petrels. After the visit we will return to the yacht to get suited up for your snorkelling session to view bottlenose dolphins, schools of hammerhead sharks, colourful fish and pristine corals. The afternoon sees us at Bahía Darwin’s coralline beach for hiking, snorkelling, stand-up paddleboarding, or kayaking. 

Day 3: Our first excursion of the day will take us to the northeast of Santiago Island with a dry landing at Bahía Sullivan to discover recent Pahoehoe lava flows. A morning rendezvous diving option is also available. 

After a sumptuous lunch and lecture on the geology of the Galapagos Islands from one of our expert scientist guides on board Aqua Mare, we head towards Sombrero Chino Island, so named after the small crater that forms the islet. The surrounding crystal-clear waters provide a great opportunity to observe sea lions and penguins from above. There will be time for snorkelling, stand-up paddleboarding, and kayaking. Return to the yacht for evening sundowners and a barbecue dinner on the upper deck, with the volcanic island serving as a stunning backdrop to your once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

Day 4: With an early morning anchor at Bartolomé Island, you will embark upon a mild climb up to the summit of a spatter cone for a spectacular view of the island’s iconic Pinnacle Rock. Cool down afterwards with a snorkel where you may encounter sea turtles and Galapagos penguins, before heading back to the yacht for lunch as we sail towards Santa Cruz Island. A morning rendezvous diving option is also available. 

Our afternoon excursion takes us to Cerro Dragón or Dragon Hill, so named because in 1975 it was one of the only places in the Santa Cruz Island where scientists could still find a healthy population of land iguanas. The hiking trail begins with a wet landing and continues inland to a flamingo lagoon, ending with the option to swim and snorkel from the beach or walk along the mangroves and sand dunes of the south beach.

Back onboard, swap tales of your magnificent excursion over an al fresco dinner encompassing flavours from the South American Pacific coast and Peruvian Nikkei style crafted by consultant chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino.

Day 5: This morning you will explore the El Chato Giant Tortoise Reserve to see these wild
Galapagos Islands creatures up close in their natural habitat. The area is also a great place
to observe Darwin’s finches, yellow warblers, flightcatchers, cattle egrets, and if lucky
Galapagos Rails.

After a mouth-watering lunch and afternoon lecture on the evolution of Darwin’s finches
presented by our expert guides in the panoramic lounge, you will take a tender ride to
Darwin Station and National Park headquarters to observe tortoises in captivity at the Fausto
Llerena Breeding Center, as well as the different age hatchlings categorised by islands.
There will be free time to enjoy the town of Puerto Ayora before returning to the ship.

Refreshing superfruit juices await at our Beach Club, which is located at water level at the
aft of the ship or enjoy the scenic sunset views from the upper deck. For divers there is the
option of a full day of diving instead of joining the day excursions.

Day 6: Rise and shine to disembark in Punta Suárez for this morning’s excursion. This visitor site is one of the most interesting landing sites in Galapagos Islands, due to the high percentage of unique endemism in its fauna such as Española mockingbirds, lava lizards, Galapagos tortoises, marine iguanas, and the unique waved albatross. 

In the afternoon, we will take a tender ride to the beautiful array of islets where you will be
able to snorkel alongside playful sea lions, sea turtles, sharks, rays and many different species of reef fishes. The last visit of the day will be Bahía Gardner, an outstanding coralline sand beach that boasts one of the biggest colonies of sea lions in the Galapagos Islands. 

Back at the yacht, head over to our bar to socialise over Happy Hour with a glass of our special Aqua Bloody Mary as the crew prepares for departure to our next anchorage.

Day 7: After a night of sailing, you will visit Santa Fé Island for your seventh day. It is one of the oldest in the Galapagos Islands, characterised to some degree by its vegetation of palo santo trees, pear cactus, and many other native bushes. Here we will spot land iguanas, lava lizards, swallow-tailed gulls, shearwater petrels, red-billed tropicbirds, mockingbirds, Darwin’s finches, and Galapagos hawks. After the visit, we will be able to head out for more activities, so take your pick of snorkelling, kayaking, or stand-up paddleboarding. A morning rendezvous diving option is also available. 

As you enjoy lunch onboard, the boat will sail to Plaza Sur Island, located off the eastern shore of Santa Cruz. In the afternoon you disembark at this small, but diverse little islet to head out on a two-hour hiking excursion led by your guide to discover its unique landforms. Swap notes on everything you’ve seen today at your final recap briefing once back aboard and toast farewell under the Archipelago’s amazing starlit skies to your new found friends over a glass of wine.

Day 8: Build your own adventure today from a selection of activities such as a morning run to Academy Bay for a beach morning, an introductory scuba dive with a local certified dive operator, hike to the Las Grietas fissure canyon for a cool snorkel in the crystal-clear waters, or even choose to bicycle around and outside of Puerto Ayora town. 

You will be able to meet new companions joining you onward for the next seven nights over another delicious lunch aboard. As they explore the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center in the afternoon, yours is free to spend at your leisure - just let our Cruise Director know and all the arrangements will be made. If you prefer to slow down the pace, our tenders can take you out for a short snorkelling excursion, or stay onboard Aqua Mare to sunbathe on our upper deck sun loungers. Regroup at the end of the day over dinner where our chefs will present
you with a dazzling array of native ingredients.

Day 9: For your ninth morning in the Galapagos Islands, we will be anchored in the southern part of the Archipelago at Floreana Island. After breakfast, the morning 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. Later you will return to the boat to prepare for kayaking or take a short tender ride to Devil’s Crown for snorkelling. A morning rendezvous diving option is also available. 

Enjoy a splendid lunch consisting of fresh Ecuadorian recipes with an Andean twist before heading back out to Floreana to pay tribute to an old island tradition at Bahía 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. A delicious feast showcasing Japanese technique combined with Peruvian seasoning using only the freshest local fish and seafood awaits when you return onboard Aqua Mare. Stay out on the upper deck with a cocktail if you would like to admire the northern and southern hemispheres’ starlit skies tonight.

Day 10: After a night of sailing, the morning sees our beautiful superyacht anchored on the
western side of Isabela Island. As the biggest and youngest island in the Archipelago,
Isabela was formed by five relatively young volcanoes and is characterised by giant
tortoises and marine iguanas. For the morning excursion, a hike at Punta Moreno takes us
to the mangroves and gas-rich basaltic lava rocks resulting from a large basaltic lava flow
which came from the Cerro Azul volcano on Isabela hundreds of years ago. There are
mangrove lagoons along the shore and small saltwater lagoons inland, where you will
observe ducks, shore birds, stilts, blue-winged teals, flamingos, and gallinules. After the visit
you will have the opportunity to go snorkelling near the shore or return to the yacht to rest
and enjoy the majestic landscapes Isabela has to offer.

In the afternoon, the yacht will sail north to Bahía Urbina. Here you can see tortoises, land iguanas and the biggest marine iguanas roaming free in the Archipelago. We end the day with an unforgettable view of Isabela’s five volcanoes as we dine beneath the stars.

Day 11: Our next anchorage point is Punta Espinoza, part of a huge lava flow formed from one of the many eruptions of the La Cumbre volcano, known to be one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Famous for its large colonies of marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, Galapagos penguins, Galapagos hawks, lizards and snakes. You will spend the morning on shore with the option to snorkel before returning to the yacht for a sumptuous lunch and lecture on the geology of the Galapagos Islands from one of our expert scientist guides.

As Aqua Mare crosses the Bolivar Channel back towards Isabela Island, prepare to channel your inner pirate for the afternoon excursion visiting 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 take your pick from
our eight double kayaks, snorkelling, stand-up paddleboarding, or a ride on our elegant
black tenders to explore the cove and its surroundings. 

Return to the yacht for evening sundowners and head to the bridge after dinner for a chat with our captain as we cross the equatorial line twice while rounding the top of Isabela Island sailing to our next anchorage point.

Day 12: This morning sees us disembark on the black sand beaches of Puerto Egas, northwest of Santiago Island. Once the location of a salt mine (1967), today you can take a two and a half-hour hike to find the abandoned mine turned into a shallow saltwater lake. For those who prefer to stay by the beach, you will be able to walk the intertidal zone to the fur seal grottos or snorkel to watch sea turtles, sea lions and white-tipped sharks.

We head back to the yacht for lunch encompassing flavours of the South American Pacific
coast and Peruvian Nikkei style crafted by Pedro Miguel Schiaffino. Then our tenders will
continue their adventure to Playa Espumilla, where a wet landing will set us upon a golden
sandy beach, a well-known breeding ground for sea turtles. You will also visit Caleta
Bucanero, a 17th century pirate rest stop where pirates used to stock up on fresh tortoise
meat and fresh water. The day will end with a choice of snorkelling, kayaking, or stand-up
paddleboarding before winding down back on board with Happy Hour over a glass of our
signature cocktails as the crew prepares for departure to our next adventure.

Day 13: Awake to the sounds of nature and a fresh breakfast before departing by tender to
Rábida Island, also known as the Red Island. The colour is the result of oxidation of very old
porous lava. You will be able to hike, take out one of our eight double kayaks, stand-up
paddleboards, or snorkel, as well as observe hundreds of sea lions who have made their
home on the beach. A morning rendezvous diving option is also available. 

After a delicious lunch, you can listen to an afternoon lecture on the evolution of Darwin’s
finches presented by our expert guides in the panoramic lounge. 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 three different types of sharks - the black tip, the
Galapagos, and the famous blue shark. End this glorious day discovering more of Chef
Pedro Miguel Schiaffino’s masterful and innovative farm-to-table creations at dinner.

Day 14: Your penultimate day in the Archipelago begins with refreshing breakfast before heading out to Seymour Norte Island, formed by uprisings of underwater volcanic lavas some 3.1 million years ago. The island is mostly known for its healthy population of land iguanas, blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, and great frigatebirds. A morning rendezvous diving option 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. While the rock pile is one of the smallest in the Archipelago, it is home to one of the largest colonies of sea lions in the Galapagos Islands, and if you’re lucky you may even spot migratory orcas. Around sunset you will return to the sleek comfort of Aqua Mare for your last evening aboard. Swap notes on everything you’ve experienced during this most incredible adventure with your friends onboard and toast farewell with something special from our curated wine list.

Day 15: The last day begins with a luxurious breakfast set against the morning sunrise before setting out for one final excursion by tender. You will enjoy the views of the fragile visitor site of Daphne Island, a scientific use zone for scientists studying Darwin’s finches. You will observe Nazca boobies, red-billed tropicbirds, and blue-footed boobies nesting at
Daphne Major terraces, which is also the site of a 40-year study on the evolution in Darwin’s finches, demonstrating evolution occurring over short periods of time.

We return to the ship for a refreshing juice and to pack up the last of your belongings as
we set sail to Baltra Island, bidding farewell to our crew and beautiful home for the past
week. You will be escorted to the airport for your flight back to the mainland and onward
journey home.

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

Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz: SZN

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