Group Size: 26-36 participants
Price: Starting from $9,990 per person, double occupancy
Co-sponsored with: Harvard Exclusive
Trip Overview
Discover the Galápagos as Darwin did, sailing island to island on an unforgettable shipboard adventure. Begin in Quito, Ecuador’s capital city, with a welcome reception and dinner. Fly to Baltra Island and board an exclusive charter of the 40-berth Isabela II. Visit several islands, each with endemic species that have evolved differently from neighboring islands. Venture ashore to see a myriad of birds, sea lions, marine iguanas, sea turtles, penguins, fur seals, and other wildlife that exists only here. Swim and snorkel almost every day. View the islands as they might have been viewed by Darwin himself. This adventure is enriched by three expert Galápagos naturalists who are passionate about their work and will eagerly share their diverse knowledge. An optional one-day pre-extension to Colonial Quito and the Middle of the World complex will be offered.
Enjoy an exclusive six-night charter on the 20-cabin Isabela II, a boutique expedition yacht, exploring the Galápagos.
Snorkel and kayak among playful and curious sea lions by day and stargaze from the deck of Isabela II at night.
Marvel at wildlife, such as Galápagos giant tortoises, marine and land iguanas, Galápagos penguins, blue-footed, red-footed and Nazca boobies, waved albatross, frigatebirds, mockingbirds, and the finches that made Darwin faous.
Visit San Cristobal, Española, Floreana, Isabela, Fernandina, Santa Cruz, and North Seymour Islands, each with its endemic species that have evolved differently from neighboring islands.
Learn about the Galápagos Islands’ giant tortoises with a visit to Cerro Colorado Breeding Center on San Cristobal Island.
Enjoy shore visits led by professionally trained naturalists.
Schedule by Day
Pricing
Classic Cabin (2 twin beds, 139 sq. ft.)
- $9,990 per person, double occupancy
- $14,990 single occupancy
Classic Family Cabin (1 full bed, 139 sq. ft.)
- $11,990 per person, double occupancy
Owner's Cabin (1 king bed, 170 sq. ft.)
- $14,990 per person, double occupancy
Accommodations
- Two nights at the Wyndam Airport Hotel in Quito, Ecuador
- Six nights aboard the Isabela II
Extensions
Pre-Tour Extension in Quito March 18 - 19, 2026
Arrive early to enjoy a guided tour of Old Town Quito, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which is one of the most intact examples of colonial Spanish architecture in the region. Also straddle the Northern and Southern hemispheres at the Middle of the World Monument, directly on the equator.
- $340 per person, double occupancy
- $460 single occupancy
What to Expect
To make the most of what this expedition has to offer, the trip will be active, requiring you to be in good health and physical condition and able to keep up with the group without assistance from tour staff. The schedule will include long days, with some early departures, and activities scheduled throughout the day and into the evening. In the Galápagos, daily excursions usually include two shore excursions each day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, each lasting two to three hours and usually a snorkeling opportunity every day. On some days the shore excursions can require up to two hours of walking, often over loose rocks and uneven terrain where stairs are unavailable or do not have handrails, and standing, often in the warm sun. Travel from the ship to the landing sites will be in pangas (large, motorized rubber boats). For these shore excursions, travelers, with assistance from the ship’s crew, must be able to step from the ship to the panga and vice versa, and the water can sometimes be choppy. There will be wet landings where you step off the panga into the water and walk a short distance through shallow water to shore. During the shore excursions there will be opportunities to hike, kayak, swim, and snorkel. The degree of difficulty will be described in daily briefings, and all activities are optional, so each traveler may choose the activity level that best suits his or her ability. Please note that the Isabela II does not have an elevator.
