Highlight
Yacht Isabela II is expertly designed for Galapagos expedition cruising, offering top-notch installations to complement the day’s activities perfectly. Guests can expect a comfortable and intimate space to explore the Galapagos Islands. The stability of a crew that has remained almost unchanged for years ensures meticulous attention to detail, making the entire journey feel genuinely exceptional.
Technical Specifications
| Construction: | 1979 |
| Renovation: | 2014 |
| Category: | Deluxe |
| Gross Tonnage: | 1,025 tons. |
| Type of Vessel: | Expedition Yacht |
| Capacity: | 40 guests / 20 cabins |
| Length: | 55.94 m (183 ft) |
| Beam: | 11.58 m (38 ft) |
| Speed: | 10 knots |
| Electricity: | 110 – 220 V / 60 Hz |
| Engines: | 2 CUMMINS, KTA-38-M1, 1000 HP |
| Navigation Equipment: | Radar ARPA, Radar, Satellite Compass, Magnetic Compass, Automatic Pilot, Echosonar, 2 GPS, AIS |
| Fire Detector: | Installed throughout the ship |
| Life Jackets: | In each cabin |
| Lifeboats: | 2 semi-enclosed units / capacity for 27 persons each |
| Life Rafts: | Two 25-man, one 20-man |
| Owner: | ETICA / Metropolitan Touring |
| Decks: | 3 (Boat deck, Cabin deck, Main deck) |
| Naturalist Guides: | 3 (includes Expedition Leader) |
| Crew: | 26 |
| Passenger/Crew Ratio: | 0.126388888889 |
| Medical Officer: | Permanently on board |
| Safety Certificates: | SOLAS 74, ISM, ISPS, MARPOL |
NORTHEASTERN
- 5 days 4 nights
- After landing, we drive to the Itabaca Channel to take a ferry to Santa Cruz Island. A 30-minute bus ride takes us to the Highlands.
- Highlands of Santa Cruz Island
After lunch, we drive to a reserve to see giant tortoises in their natural habitat. Then, a bus ride takes us to Puerto Ayora, where we board Yacht Isabela II.
- Santiago Island & Chinese Hat Islet
- Puerto Egas (Santiago Island): Following a wet landing on a black, sandy beach, our trail takes us to enjoy close-up encounters with land iguanas, land and marine birds, and fur seals.
- Chinese Hat Islet: This islet makes for a beautiful visit as we explore the wildlife along its 1,312 ft-long (400 m-long) trail. The cove offers excellent swimming and snorkeling opportunities amid white-tipped reef sharks and Galapagos penguins.
- Genovesa Island
- Prince Philip’s Steps: After a panga (dinghy) ride along the cliffs of “Bird Island,” we land at a steep staircase. Walking along the trail, we can spot Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, great frigatebirds, and storm petrels. Snorkeling and kayaking activities are available.
- Darwin Bay: We land after lunch at the beautiful white beach of Darwin Bay. Here we walk amid hundreds of birds- frigatebirds, red-footed and Nazca boobies, and plenty more.
- Santa Fe Island & South Plaza Island
- Santa Fe Island: We visit a white sandy beach with sea lion colonies. There are potential sightings of the Santa Fe land iguana. Options include snorkeling, swimming, or a glass-bottom boat ride.
- South Plaza Island: After lunch and rest, we land (dry landing) at this channel, encountering sea lion colonies and observing frigates, swallow-tailed gulls, and shearwaters.
- Baltra Island: Our journey ends at Baltra Island, where we transfer to the airport to take the flight back to the mainland.
- Itineraries can be modified due to weather conditions or Galapagos National Park regulations.
Footsteps Back in Time
- 5 days 4 nights
- Baltra Island & Santa Cruz Island
- Baltra Airport (Santa Cruz Island): After landing, we drive to the Itabaca Channel to take a ferry across Santa Cruz Island. A bus ride takes us to a restaurant in the Highlands to enjoy lunch and then continue to Puerto Ayora.
- Puerto Ayora: We visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and the Giant Tortoise Breeding Center in Puerto Ayora. Later in the afternoon, we stroll along the main street before embarking.
- Bartolome Island & Santiago Island
- Bartolome Island: We start the day with a steep climb up a wooden staircase: the panoramic view from the top is well worth the effort! Following the walk, we take a panga ride around colossal Pinnacle Rock in search of Galapagos penguins and other wildlife.
- Sullivan Bay (Santiago Island): After lunch, we board the pangas and land at Sullivan Bay. A trail runs along a lava field, the perfect place to see and understand the volcanic origin of the Galapagos.
- Santa Cruz Island & Santiago Island
- Dragon Hill (Santa Cruz Island): After disembarking, our walk passes a brackish-water lagoon frequented by shorebirds, ducks, and American flamingos. After our walk, we can snorkel from the shore. Here, we may spot rays, green turtles, and sharks.
- Buccaneer Cove (Santiago Island): After lunch, we explore the coastline along the impressive cliffs of Buccaneer Cove. The cove is home to many marine birds, sea lions, and intertidal organisms. We also enjoy fantastic natural formations such as Elephant Rock and The Bishop.
- Isabela Island & Fernandina Island
- Punta Vicente Roca (Isabela Island): We explore the coast by dinghy, seeking out wildlife like Galapagos fur seals, Nazca boobies, flightless cormorants, penguins, and marine iguanas. Back on board, we navigate along the Bolivar Channel.
- Punta Espinoza (Fernandina Island): Our visitor site of Punta Espinoza offers a fantastic combination of barren landscapes and abundant wildlife. You can spot hawks, penguins, marine iguanas, and the flightless cormorant.
- Baltra Island
- Our journey ends at Baltra Island, where we transfer to the airport to take the flight back to the mainland.
- Itineraries can be modified due to weather conditions or Galapagos National Park regulations.
SOUTHESTERN AND WESTERN
- 7 days 6 nights
- Baltra Island & Santa Cruz Island
- Baltra Airport and Santa Cruz Island: We land at Baltra Island and transfer to the nearby dock to board Yacht Isabela II. There, we receive an introductory briefing and lunch.
- Las Bachas (Santa Cruz Island): A white beach with brackish lagoons that are the feeding grounds of various birds. We will have a briefing on the expedition plan and dinner back on the ship.
- San Cristobal Island
- Punta Pitt: It is the only site in the Galapagos where the three species of boobies can be found, the two species of frigatebirds and a colony of sea lions.
- Cerro Colorado: At Cerro Colorado, we visit the breeding center for giant tortoises. Here, we also find the endemic San Cristobal lava lizard.
- Española Island
- Gardner Bay: We can walk to observe the sea lions, mockingbirds, and finches. Kayaking, snorkeling, or glass-bottom boat rides are also offered.
- Punta Suarez: We go on an exciting trail across lava/boulder terrain after lunch aboard. We can observe beautiful waved albatrosses, boobies, and swallow-tail gulls.
- Floreana Island
- Cormorant Point: We disembark and walk to a brackish lagoon where American flamingos can be observed. At Champion Islet, guests can snorkel or have a glass-bottom boat ride.
- Post Office Bay & Baroness Cove: After lunch, we landed at Post Office Bay to visit the historic barrel that served as a post office.
- Isabela Island & Fernandina Island
- Punta Moreno (Isabela Island): In the morning, we search the mangroves for sea turtles. Later, we enjoy a glass-bottom boat ride or deep-water snorkel.
- Punta Mangle (Fernandina Island): We explore the coastline in the afternoon, home to Galapagos penguins and flightless cormorants.
- Santa Cruz Island & North Seymour Island
- Eden Islet: A panga ride takes us to Eden Islet, where we can observe blue-footed boobies and reef sharks.
- North Seymour Island: In the afternoon, we walk between numerous nesting frigatebirds. Later, we attended an evening briefing, a farewell cocktail, and dinner.
- Baltra Airport
- Our journey ends at Baltra Island where we transfer to the airport to take the flight back to the mainland.
- Itineraries can be modified due to weather conditions or Galapagos National Park regulations.
Cruise includes
- Accommodations
- All meals
- Soft drinks
- Island sightseeing
- Naturalist guides
- Lecture services in English/Spanish only
- Wet suit rental
- Snorkeling gear
- Internet
- Luggage handling
- Medical care on board (but not the cost of medication)
- Taxes
- Transfers in the Islands
Cruise does not include
- Air transportation to / from Galapagos
- Airport taxes
- Galapagos National Park entrance fee (US$ 200 subject to change without previous notice)
- Migration Control Card (US$ 20 subject to change without previous notice)
- Fuel surcharges
- Alcoholic beverages**, gratuities, gifts, laundry or valet services and additional items.
- Please note: soft drinks are considered juices and carbonated drinks, not “virgin” cocktails; internet connections onboard consist of 2 computer stations in the library and Wi-Fi in the yacht’s social areas; due to the Galapagos’ remote location, internet connections are intermittent and low-bandwidth.
- Please note, we charge guests who wish to bring bottles of wine and/or spirits aboard our vessels a corkage fee of $27+taxes.
Would you like to start a experience with us?
Please feel free to contact us, our Travel Experts will be happy to send you a free quote according to your needs and budget!