Embark on a 9-day/8-night journey aboard the Hermes Galapagos Mega Catamaran, traveling through Santa Cruz, Isabela, Fernandina, Santiago, North Seymour, Rabida, Bartolome, South Plaza, Santa Fe, and San Cristobal while experiencing hiking, snorkeling, swimming, panga excursions, wet and dry landings, beaches, volcanic landscapes, and extraordinary wildlife encounters. The itinerary offers opportunities to observe Galapagos Giant Tortoises, Galapagos Penguins, sea lions, Galapagos Fur Seals, land and marine iguanas, sea turtles, sharks, rays, Greater Flamingos, Flightless Cormorants, Blue-footed, Red-footed and Nazca Boobies, Magnificent and Great Frigatebirds, and other distinctive species while exploring environments ranging from the nutrient-rich waters of western Isabela and Fernandina to the misty Santa Cruz Highlands and the volcanic landscapes of Rabida and Bartolome.
9 Day Galapagos Itinerary
Day 1: Baltra Airport & Bachas Beach
Arrive at Baltra Airport, where a Hermes guide will welcome you to the Galapagos Islands and escort you to the superyacht. Enjoy lunch aboard and learn about Hermes before beginning your first excursion. In the afternoon, visit Bachas Beach on Santa Cruz Island, where soft white sand formed from decomposed coral provides a nesting site for sea turtles. Explore the shoreline while looking for Sally Lightfoot crabs among the lava rocks, along with frigatebirds, Blue-footed Boobies, and sea lions.
Meals Included: Lunch / Dinner
Day 2: Isabela: Tagus Cove & Urbina Bay
Visit Tagus Cove, a historic anchorage once favored by whalers and pirates dating back to the 1800s. After a dry landing, hike along the slopes of Darwin Volcano to panoramic viewpoints and Darwin’s Lake, a saltwater crater lake located above sea level. Continue with a dinghy ride beneath the cliffs while observing Blue-footed Boobies, Brown Noddies, and the endemic Flightless Cormorant. Snorkeling provides opportunities to swim alongside Galapagos Penguins, schools of fish, and possibly sea turtles. In the afternoon, make a wet landing at Urbina Bay, where a geological uplift in 1954 exposed part of the shallow seabed and coral reef. Walk among coral fossils, search for Galapagos Land Iguanas, admire Alcedo Volcano, and snorkel near Galapagos Penguins with opportunities to observe marine iguanas feeding underwater.
Meals Included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 3: Fernandina: Espinoza Point & Isabela: Vicente Roca Point
Make a dry landing at Espinoza Point on Fernandina Island and hike across black basaltic lava flows. Observe one of the large concentrations of marine iguanas described in the source and search for endemic Flightless Cormorants. Explore natural tide pools where marine life and colorful Sally Lightfoot crabs contrast with the volcanic terrain, while enjoying views across the Bolivar Channel toward Isabela and La Cumbre Volcano. In the afternoon, explore Vicente Roca Point entirely from the water. Cruise by panga beneath towering cliffs while looking for Blue-footed Boobies, Nazca Boobies, and Flightless Cormorants. Snorkel in nutrient-rich waters where Green Sea Turtles are described as very likely encounters, with additional opportunities to see Galapagos Penguins and search for Red-lipped Batfish and Mola Mola.
Meals Included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 4: Santiago: Egas Port & Buccaneer Cove
Explore Egas Port, characterized by black lava sand, volcanic rock formations, and remnants of a former salt mine that operated during the 1960s. Follow a coastal trail past grottos and natural lava pools while observing Galapagos Fur Seals, marine iguanas, and Sally Lightfoot crabs. Later, snorkel directly from the beach among sea lions, sea turtles, and schools of tropical fish. In the afternoon, continue to historic Buccaneer Cove, once used by pirates, whalers, and buccaneers. This excursion takes place entirely on the water, with a panga ride beneath high cliffs and distinctive rock formations. Look for sea lions and fur seals resting on small beaches and seabirds such as Brown Pelicans nesting among the rocky crevices.
Meals Included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 5: North Seymour & Santa Cruz Highlands
Begin with a dry landing on North Seymour Island and follow a circular trail through an active wildlife nesting area. Sea lions and marine iguanas may share the trail, while Blue-footed Boobies can be observed performing their high-stepping courtship dance. Continue to the nesting area of Magnificent Frigatebirds, where males may display their inflated scarlet throat sacks. In the afternoon, ascend into the lush, humid, and misty Santa Cruz Highlands. Visit a tortoise sanctuary where Galapagos Giant Tortoises roam freely in their natural habitat, grazing, resting, and bathing in the mud. Complete the excursion by walking through an impressive lava tunnel formed by ancient molten rock.
Meals Included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 6: Rabida & Bartolome
Make a wet landing on Rabida Island and discover its distinctive deep-red sand, colored by the high iron oxide content in the lava. Follow a short trail to a brackish lagoon while searching for Greater Flamingos and White-cheeked Pintails, then ascend through a Palo Santo forest to a lookout with panoramic views of the red bay, mangroves, and nearby islets. Snorkel offshore among sea lions and colorful reef fish, with possible sightings of juvenile sharks and stingrays. In the afternoon, make a dry landing on Bartolome Island and climb a wooden boardwalk to the summit for panoramic views of Pinnacle Rock, volcanic terrain, and crescent-shaped beaches. Later, snorkel around Pinnacle Rock while searching for Galapagos Penguins and swimming alongside sea lions, with possible encounters with large sea turtles.
Meals Included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 7: South Plaza & Santa Fe
Spend the morning exploring South Plaza Island, a small islet formed by uplifted lava and inhabited by large colonies of sea lions. Follow a trail through colorful Sesuvium vegetation and an endemic Prickly Pear Cactus forest while observing Galapagos Land Iguanas. Along the cliffs, look for Swallow-tailed Gulls and Red-billed Tropicbirds. In the afternoon, make a wet landing at Barrington Bay on Santa Fe Island and hike through a giant Opuntia cactus forest while searching for the Santa Fe Land Iguana. After exploring on land, snorkel in the turquoise bay among sea lions and tropical fish, with possible sightings of rays, sea turtles, and white-tipped reef sharks.
Meals Included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 8: San Cristobal: Pitt Point & Witch Hill
Make a wet landing at Pitt Point on the eastern tip of San Cristobal Island and follow a demanding trail climbing the volcanic tuff cliffs. This site provides opportunities to observe three species of boobies nesting in the same area: Blue-footed, Red-footed, and Nazca Boobies. Magnificent and Great Frigatebirds may also be observed overhead. After hiking, snorkel offshore among sea lions and schools of reef fish, with possible sea turtle encounters. In the afternoon, make a short wet landing at Witch Hill and walk along its white coral sand beach. Continue to a nearby lagoon with Brown Pelicans and occasional Blue-footed Boobies before relaxing or snorkeling in the turquoise waters alongside sea lions, colorful reef fish, and potentially marine iguanas.
Meals Included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 9: Lobos Island & San Cristobal Airport
Spend your final morning at Lobos Island, also known as Sea Lion Island. Following a short dry landing, take a gentle walk along a defined trail and observe a small colony of nesting Blue-footed Boobies while frigatebirds soar overhead. The primary attraction is the high concentration of sea lions, with opportunities to observe pups nursing and large males competing for territory close to the trail. After this final wildlife excursion, return to the yacht to prepare for your transfer back to the mainland. The source identifies the day as “Lobos Island / Airport,” although additional airport-transfer details are not provided.
Meals Included: Breakfast
+12
9 Day Galapagos Itinerary Includes
- Accommodation in double cabin.
- All activities and excursions as depicted in the itineraries in company of a bilingual naturalist guide.
- Snorkeling equipment.
- Kayak
- Wetsuits
- Stand up Paddle Board
- Internet
- All meals on board.
- Purified water, tea, coffee
- Non – alcoholic beverages
- Selected menu premium wines, beer and cocktails
- Laundry service
- Mini bar consumption
- Butler service
- Assistance at the airport for flight to Galapagos on departure dates
- National Park Entrance Fee ($30 Ecuadorians / $200 Foreigners) (Subject to change)
- Galapagos Control Transit $20
- Full meals on board (breakfast, lunch & dinner)
9 Day Galapagos Itinerary Does not Include
- Air ticket to and from Galapagos.
- Gratuities to guides and crew.
- Personals expenses.
- Alcoholic drinks not included in menu selection
- Travel insurance.
- Fuel Surcharge
- Corkage Fee ($100 per bottle)
- Ticket to/from Galapagos
- Entrance to the Galapagos National Park $ 200 USD
- Galapagos control transit card $20,00 USD
- Tips, phones, internet services
- Laundry Service.
- Drinks, Bottled Water, Alcoholic Beverages.
- Optional Tours
- Consumptions or personal charges.
9 Day Galapagos Itinerary Highlights
- Encounter Galapagos Giant Tortoises roaming freely in the Santa Cruz Highlands.
- Explore Tagus Cove and hike toward Darwin’s Lake on Isabela Island.
- Discover the uplifted landscape and coral fossils of Urbina Bay.
- Observe large concentrations of marine iguanas and endemic Flightless Cormorants at Espinoza Point.
- Snorkel the nutrient-rich waters of Vicente Roca Point with opportunities to encounter Green Sea Turtles and Galapagos Penguins.
- Explore Egas Port’s volcanic coastline and Galapagos Fur Seal habitat.
- Observe Blue-footed Boobies and Magnificent Frigatebirds at North Seymour.
- Experience Rabida’s deep-red landscape and Bartolome’s iconic Pinnacle Rock.
- Search for Galapagos Land Iguanas on South Plaza and the Santa Fe Land Iguana on Santa Fe.
- Observe Blue-footed, Red-footed, and Nazca Boobies at Pitt Point.
- Snorkel at multiple locations with opportunities to encounter sea lions, sea turtles, sharks, rays, tropical fish, and Galapagos Penguins.
- Finish with close-up sea lion encounters at Lobos Island.
Itinerary Map
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More information about the Galapagos Islands you visit in this 9 day itinerary:
9-Day Wildlife & Island Expedition - Hermes Catamaran
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