An expert-guided, intimate cruise aboard a comfortable deluxe yacht that would even make Charles Darwin envious!

When Charles Darwin first sailed through the Galápagos in 1835 aboard the HMS Beagle, he probably would have loved the chance to enjoy a spacious luxury yacht, first class service, and regional expertise that you will on this MTS voyage! Each island is a world unto itself , boasting rare wildlife found nowhere else in the world. You’ll get an intimate glimpse of the giant tortoises for whom the islands are named, the clownish blue-footed boobie, endlessly playful sea lions, colorful iguanas and lizards, the beautiful waved albatross, and the famous flightless cormorant—not to mention the incredibly diverse and rich marine life you’ll encounter underwater! Hiking, swimming, sea kayaking, and snorkeling all offer you plentiful opportunities to have your own experience with this wildlife paradise—one of the most beautiful and exotic on Earth.

A Galápagos voyage with MTS is be the fruit of decades of exploring the islands, forging long-standing relationships with the best yachts, and continuous fine tuning of our itineraries to consistently bring our guests the best Galápagos has to offer. MTS’s top notch, National Park-certified naturalist guides are hand selected for their experience, depth of expertise, and passion for sharing these enchanted islands with others. And to top it all off, you’ll enjoy best-in-the-business support through our in-country office in Quito throughout your voyage. Since our first time leading this trip in 1970, it has not only become one of our most interactive trips, but also one of the most comprehensive tours of the Galápagos available. But then you wouldn’t expect anything less from the adventure travel leader!

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Activities

Comfortable yacht travel; hiking; wildlife viewing; swimming, snorkeling, sea kayaking; maximum elevation 9,350' (Quito)

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Hike, swim, snorkel, and sea kayak on the most comprehensive and interactive tour of the Galápagos available—MTS has been the adventure travel leader here since 1970!
• Experience the magic of the Galápagos through close encounters with rare, endemic wildlife in one of the world’s top nature destinations and protected UNESCO World Heritage Sites
• Relax in style and comfort while cruising aboard your roomy private motor yacht, and in a 5-star hotel in Quito
• Guides are longtime MTS vets and National Park-certified—the best in the field, and hand-selected to give you the best and richest experience possible!
• Enjoy top-notch support from our Quito-based office throughout your journey
• Combine your voyage with optional extensions to the Amazon, Ecuador’s highlands, and Machu Picchu for an even more unforgettable adventure

Duration: 11 days Start Location: Quito, Ecuador End Location: Quito, Ecuador

BRIEF Itinerary

• Day 1 : Arrive in Quito, Ecuador

   Arrive in Quito, Ecuador. A Mountain Travel Sobek representative will meet you outside the customs and immigration area at the airport. He or she will answer questions, brief you on the immediate arrangements, and escort you to your hotel.

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  Day 2 : Quito

  A free day in Quito to explore on your own or tour the colonial Old Town, visit Otavalo Market or visit the cloud forest!

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  Day 3 : To the Galapagos Islands

  Fly to the Galapagos Islands. Board yacht and begin your Galapagos cruise.

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  Days 4 - 9 : Cruise Among the "Enchanted Isles"

  Each day of your Galápagos cruise contains magical moments of discovery, with a naturalist guide helping you see the wonders of the islands. Some Galápagos cruise itineraries vary, but you'll visit a combination of islands: Plazas, North Seymour, Tower, James (Santiago), Bartolomé, Fernandina, Isabela, Santa Cruz, Española (Hood), and Floreana. Each has its own special highlights: the soft, powdery sands, blue-footed boobies, and waved albatross colony at Española; great snorkeling and a volcano hike on Bartolomé; tide pools and fur seals on James; the giant tortoises in the highlands of Santa Cruz; flightless cormorants and hordes of marine iguanas on Fernandina.

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  Day 10 : End Cruise and Return to Quito

  Motor back to the port. Transfer to the airport and fly to Quito, arriving in the late afternoon.

• Day 11 : Fly Home

  Transfer to the airport for homeward bound flight or join one of our extensions in Ecuador or Peru!

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  Swissôtel

  Quito, Ecuador

  This luxury hotel offers comfort and professional service in an excellent location close to the Old Town and the airport. Large, comfortable rooms and great views of the surrounding area from the top.

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  The Reina Silvia

  At 90 feet long, the Reina Silvia was recently renovated and redesigned to create a pleasant atmosphere for groups of 12-16 guests. The yacht is fully air-conditioned and all cabins have en suite bathrooms with shower, vanity and lavatory. The yacht features up-to-date security, navigational and communications equipment. There is a spacious open-air lounge on the top deck, a swimming platform, kayaks, inflatable tenders, and snorkeling equipment.

  More information and deck plan.

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  The Galaxy

  The 115 foot long motor yacht Galaxy is the newest built yacht the we offer. She has 9 beautiful and comfortable double cabins with lower beds and outside views. Each cabin has en suite bathroom, air conditioning, hair dryer, telephone for internal communication, and safe boxes. The yacht features a dining room, bar and lounge, coffee station with tea, coffee, herbal infusions, and drinkable water all the time, TV and DVD, library, an open sundeck, inflatable tenders, kayaks, and snorkeling equipment.

  More information and deck plan.

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  The Beagle

  Spacious interiors ensure total relaxation and her beautiful top-side areas are ideal for bird watching or observing dolphins from the bow. Accommodating only 13 guests, The Beagle is tailor-made for families, special-interest groups or private parties, and her friendly, professional crew and naturalist guide will ensure your every need is taken care of. More information and deck plan.

Properties shown are representative of the accommodations we use on this trip, may not be inclusive of all accommodations we use, and are subject to change.

Expert leadership is the key to an exciting, unforgettable experience. Our trips feature gifted leaders for whom leading trips is a true vocation. Besides showing you wonders you’d never find on your own, they make sure everything runs smoothly and safely without a hitch. They are knowledgeable about all aspects of your trip, and take great pleasure in sharing their insights with you. More than just guides, they positively elevate your experience by being teachers, companions, and the best of friends. You’ll be in good hands with them every step of the way.

• Greg Estes

  Born in the United States, Greg Estes first arrived in Galapagos in 1982 leading the Cambridge Darwin Centenary Galapagos Expedition to conduct research on the feeding ecology of marine iguanas. After graduating from the University of London, England, with an honours degree in Biology Greg’s research in Galapagos has encompassed a wide range of ecological projects, including studies on sperm whales and the endangered Galapagos petrel. Greg and his wife Thalia have retraced Darwin’s footsteps through Galapagos using information from his original notebooks and manuscripts of the famous voyage. Their research was published in “Notes and Records of the Royal Society“, September 2000 and was the basis of their book Darwin in Galapagos: Footsteps to a New World, published by Princeton University Press in 2009. Greg has served as a licensed naturalist guide of the Galapagos National Park Service since 1982 and continues to work as naturalist and expeditions leader in the islands. He is in high demand by university and natural history organizations alike and among the institutions he has guided/led are the Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, Stanford University, Princeton University, The Nature Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund, New York Audubon Society, New York Botanical Gardens. Greg has traveled extensively in North, Central and South America, and Europe and has worked as a naturalist in the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the Antarctic. His explorations have included an ascent of Cotopaxi in Ecuador, which is one of the highest active volcanoes in the world.

• Desiree Cruz

  Desiree Cruz loves Galápagos so much that she lives in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island. Born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, she received her B.S. from the University of Guayaquil in biology with a specialty in botany. She has been a naturalist guide in Galápagos since 1987 and has served in several capacities for the Galápagos National Park Service, including Deputy Director. Desiree is fluent in Spanish, English, and German. She has worked with Sea Shepherd in Galápagos, an organization dedicated to protecting the marine reserve from poaching, and is an advocate for conservation in Galápagos. She balances her conservation work with the delight of sharing her love of nature and Galápagos with our trip members. Desiree is a “guide’s guide” and works part-time teaching naturalist guides in Galápagos.

• Patricia Stucki

  Patricia Stucki has been guiding diving trips in Galápagos since 1999. A native of Switzerland and originally a journalist for the Swiss News Agency, Patricia started her career in guiding as a dive master in Honduras in 1995 and as a naturalist guide in Costa Rica. She is fascinated by wildlife, is a passionate teacher, and an active conservationist in the islands. As a resident of Galápagos, she will be able to give you an insider’s viewpoint of life in the islands. Patricia is fluent in English, German, and French.

• Luis Die

  Luis Die was born in Seville, Spain, and is a graduate of the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid with a degree in environmental biology. He is fluent in Spanish, English, and French and has guided in Galápagos for more than a decade. In addition to being a professional nature photographer, Luis is working on a Master’s Degree in geographical ecology and is active with conservation groups on the mainland. Luis is a born teacher and enthusiastically shares his knowledge of Galápagos with people of all ages. He lives in Quito with his wife and twin sons and is our head naturalist guide, working exclusively with Mountain Travel Sobek.

photo credits: ©Brenda Ernst