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Galapagos at a Glance: Southern Islands (Grand Daphne)

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Galapagos at a Glance: Southern Islands (Grand Daphne)

Was From $ 5,185 AUD
Now From $ 4,481 AUD
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Description

Welcome to the Galapagos Islands, guaranteed to fill even the most well-travelled adventurers with a sense of awe and wonder. On this six-day adventure cruise, you’ll see pink flamingos in the lagoons of Isla Floreana, sunbathe with sea lions along Gardner Beach, hike along the spectacular green shoreline of Punta Cormorant and snorkel in the clear waters of the archipelago. This active trip is a short but sweet introduction to the famed islands and the perfect addition to any South American adventure.

Trip Name
Galapagos at a Glance: Southern Islands (Grand Daphne)
Last Updated
2024-08-07
Days
6
Capacity
16
Highlights
  • Spot pink flamingos, red-throated frigates and blue-footed boobies, snapping photos and contemplating a career in ornithology.
  • Snorkel through the underwater wonderland of Devil’s Crown – the formerly volcanic crater that’s now home to turtles, rays and sharks.
  • Have an up-close encounter with the lumbering gentle giant that is the Galapagos tortoise.
  • Learn about the maritime history of Post Office Bay – home of the oldest postal system in the Americas – and maybe even send your own latter or postcard.
  • Choose an itinerary that strikes the perfect balance between active adventure on land and relaxation on the Grand Daphne – the newest motor yacht sailing these waters.

Itinerary

ITINERARY CHANGES Our itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year based on customer feedback and to reflect the current situation in each destination. The information included in this Essential Trip Information may therefore differ from when you first booked your trip. It's important that you review this information prior to travel so that you have the latest updates. Due to weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays, political unrest or other factors, further changes may be necessary to your itinerary once in-country. Your group leader or local representative will keep you up to date with any such changes once your trip is underway. The maritime component of this trip is operated by a fully licensed Ecuadorian shipping operator. The Captain of the vessel will do all that is possible to adhere to the outlined itinerary however it may be changed without notice due inclement weather or changes to the Galapagos National Park's regulations. We ask you for your patience and understanding with any changes outside our control. Any changes to the itinerary will be undertaken with your safety and comfort in mind. There may be some early starts to the day for the scheduled activities to be conducted as per the itinerary due to specific visiting hours for some sites. All travel distances/times and durations for the activities listed in the trip notes are a guide only and are subject to change. FAMILIES TRAVELLING WITH CHILDREN Families can travel with children who are 12 years and above on our Galapagos islands cruising trips. There are multiple snorkelling activities on this trip, so we recommend everyone has a good level of swimming ability if they wish to participate in the snorkelling activities. The snorkelling can start at the beach or straight from the zodiacs in deep open water. Life jackets are always available if you prefer to wear one while snorkelling. Children must be accompanied, by their guardian throughout the trip, both on and off the boat which includes during the snorkelling activities. Please discuss cabin options with your sales consultant at time of booking if you are travelling with children. We do not have interconnecting rooms available onboard so if your family requires multiple cabins, please note these may not be available next to each other. Your sales consultant will be able to provide you with the available cabin options and where they are located on the boat at time of booking. We can provide twin and double bed cabins – there are no triple share cabins on this boat. If your family consists of 2 adults and one child, the child must share with one of the adults and the other adult has the option to be paired up with another solo adult of the same gender or pay a single supplement to have their own cabin.

Day 1 - Quito
Bienvenidos! Welcome to Ecuador. Your adventure begins in Quito – Ecuador’s sprawling capital city. You’ll have a welcome meeting at 5 or 6 pm tonight to meet your local leader and small group of fellow travellers. If you arrive early, maybe check out the city at your own pace – head to the Old Town and pick one (or more) of the 30 churches to explore. After your meeting, you’ll head to a small, local restaurant for dinner with your group. Take in the aromas and fresh flavours of the traditional Ecuadorian cuisine – think locroc (traditional potato soup) or quinoa, pork and vegetable dishes cooked with herbs, lemongrass and rich sauces, all sourced from local farms.
Day 2 - Isla Baltra/Santa Cruz Highlands
You have a very early start this morning (maybe as early as 4 am, depending on flight times) as you head into the Galapagos. Transfer to Mariscal Sucre International Airport (Quito Airport), with a boxed breakfast on the way. When you arrive, you’ll meet your naturalist guide in the arrival hall. Take the short bus ride to the ferry, then board and head across the Itabaca Channel to Isla Santa Cruz. You’ll then board a private bus to Los Gemelos, in the highlands. Surrounded by the unique scalesia cloud forest, look out for the abundant birdlife when you arrive, including different species of Darwin finches, woodpeckers, warbler finches and vermillion flycatchers. Continue further into the highlands to explore a rancho farm, where you’ll take a walk and have lunch – you might even see the giant tortoises in their natural habitat! After lunch, travel to Puerto Ayora, where Le Grande Daphne and her crew will be waiting for you.
Day 3 - Isla Floreana
Learn about the maritime history of Post Office Bay – home of the oldest postal system in the Americas. The post box here was first built by 18th-century whalers and is still in use today. Maybe leave a letter, then head out for your first spot of snorkelling. After, head ashore at Punta Cormorant, where the sand is made up of olivine crystal – a glassy, volcanic mineral that gives the beach an olive-green colour. Take a walk in search of sea lions, flamingos, pintails and stilts, finishing at a sandy beach where Eastern Pacific green turtles nest. Just offshore, the famous Devil’s Crown waits for those who want a special snorkelling experience – the partially-submerged remains of a volcanic cone are now a unique swimming hole, home to rays, sharks, sea lions and turtles.
Day 4 - Isla Espanola
Today will begin with a hike on Isla Espanola – the southernmost island of the Galapagos and the breeding site for almost all the estimated 24,000 waved albatross on earth. If you’re lucky (and the timing is right), you might spot the elaborate courtship rituals performed by albatross before the female chooses her lifelong mate. Hike through booby colonies to the rocky trails of beautiful Punta Suarez, ending at a clifftop viewpoint. Look out over views of rugged cliffs framed by swooping frigate birds, watching while albatross use the cliffs as their ‘runway’, getting airborne on the southeast winds. Next, head to Bahia Gardner for a walk along the beach. Dodge lounging sea lions, then cool off with a spot of snorkelling. The rocks off the coast are rich with reef sharks, turtles and many species of tropical fish (such as surgeon and angelfish). Small, white-tipped reef sharks can also be spotted resting under the rocks.
Day 5 - Isla San Cristobal
Take a trip to Leon Dormido (Kicker Rock) – this basalt crater rises 150 m above the water and is divided into two parts by a narrow channel. Cruise around Kicker Rock as nesting seabirds flank the boat, tropicbirds soar overhead and sea lions lounge by the water. Next, spend some time snorkelling at Cerro Brujo, looking out for Galapagos sharks and sea turtles. You could also walk on the beach to see the sea lions. Later, sail to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on the island of San Cristobal for your flight back to Quito. You’ll arrive at Quito Airport at approximately 4 pm and take a transfer to your hotel.
Day 6 - Quito
There are no activities planned for today, and your adventure finishes after breakfast this morning. Of course, that doesn’t mean your adventure has to end! Why not stay on in Quito for a few days and discover the charms of the city. If you need help booking extra accommodation, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
04-02-202509-02-2025AUD $ 4,481-
04-02-202509-02-2025AUD $ 4,481-
04-02-202509-02-2025AUD $ 5,009-
04-02-202509-02-2025AUD $ 4,805-
18-02-202523-02-2025AUD $ 4,481-
18-02-202523-02-2025AUD $ 4,481-
18-02-202523-02-2025AUD $ 5,009-
18-02-202523-02-2025AUD $ 4,805-
04-03-202509-03-2025AUD $ 5,009-
04-03-202509-03-2025AUD $ 4,805-
04-03-202509-03-2025AUD $ 4,481-
04-03-202509-03-2025AUD $ 4,481-
18-03-202523-03-2025AUD $ 4,481-
18-03-202523-03-2025AUD $ 4,481-
18-03-202523-03-2025AUD $ 5,009-
18-03-202523-03-2025AUD $ 4,805-
01-04-202506-04-2025AUD $ 4,481-
01-04-202506-04-2025AUD $ 4,481-
01-04-202506-04-2025AUD $ 5,009-
01-04-202506-04-2025AUD $ 4,805-
13-05-202518-05-2025AUD $ 4,481-
13-05-202518-05-2025AUD $ 4,481-
13-05-202518-05-2025AUD $ 5,009-
13-05-202518-05-2025AUD $ 4,805-
27-05-202501-06-2025AUD $ 4,481-
27-05-202501-06-2025AUD $ 4,481-
27-05-202501-06-2025AUD $ 5,009-
27-05-202501-06-2025AUD $ 4,805-
10-06-202515-06-2025AUD $ 4,481-
10-06-202515-06-2025AUD $ 4,481-
10-06-202515-06-2025AUD $ 5,009-
10-06-202515-06-2025AUD $ 4,805-
24-06-202529-06-2025AUD $ 4,481-
24-06-202529-06-2025AUD $ 4,481-
24-06-202529-06-2025AUD $ 5,009-
24-06-202529-06-2025AUD $ 4,805-
05-08-202510-08-2025AUD $ 4,481-
05-08-202510-08-2025AUD $ 4,481-
05-08-202510-08-2025AUD $ 5,009-
05-08-202510-08-2025AUD $ 4,805-
19-08-202524-08-2025AUD $ 4,481-
19-08-202524-08-2025AUD $ 4,481-
19-08-202524-08-2025AUD $ 5,009-
19-08-202524-08-2025AUD $ 4,805-
02-09-202507-09-2025AUD $ 4,481-
02-09-202507-09-2025AUD $ 4,481-
02-09-202507-09-2025AUD $ 5,009-
02-09-202507-09-2025AUD $ 4,805-
16-09-202521-09-2025AUD $ 4,481-
16-09-202521-09-2025AUD $ 4,481-
16-09-202521-09-2025AUD $ 5,009-
16-09-202521-09-2025AUD $ 4,805-
30-09-202505-10-2025AUD $ 4,481-
30-09-202505-10-2025AUD $ 4,481-
30-09-202505-10-2025AUD $ 5,009-
30-09-202505-10-2025AUD $ 4,805-
28-10-202502-11-2025AUD $ 4,481-
28-10-202502-11-2025AUD $ 4,481-
28-10-202502-11-2025AUD $ 5,009-
28-10-202502-11-2025AUD $ 4,805-
11-11-202516-11-2025AUD $ 4,481-
11-11-202516-11-2025AUD $ 4,481-
11-11-202516-11-2025AUD $ 5,009-
11-11-202516-11-2025AUD $ 4,805-
25-11-202530-11-2025AUD $ 4,481-
25-11-202530-11-2025AUD $ 4,481-
25-11-202530-11-2025AUD $ 5,009-
25-11-202530-11-2025AUD $ 4,805-
09-12-202514-12-2025AUD $ 4,481-
09-12-202514-12-2025AUD $ 4,481-
09-12-202514-12-2025AUD $ 5,009-
09-12-202514-12-2025AUD $ 4,805-
06-01-202611-01-2026AUD $ 6,038-
06-01-202611-01-2026AUD $ 6,038-
06-01-202611-01-2026AUD $ 6,763-
06-01-202611-01-2026AUD $ 6,483-
20-01-202625-01-2026AUD $ 6,038-
20-01-202625-01-2026AUD $ 6,038-
20-01-202625-01-2026AUD $ 6,763-
20-01-202625-01-2026AUD $ 6,483-
03-02-202608-02-2026AUD $ 6,038-
03-02-202608-02-2026AUD $ 6,038-
03-02-202608-02-2026AUD $ 6,763-
03-02-202608-02-2026AUD $ 6,483-
17-02-202622-02-2026AUD $ 6,038-
17-02-202622-02-2026AUD $ 6,038-
17-02-202622-02-2026AUD $ 6,763-
17-02-202622-02-2026AUD $ 6,483-
03-03-202608-03-2026AUD $ 6,038-
03-03-202608-03-2026AUD $ 6,038-
03-03-202608-03-2026AUD $ 6,763-
03-03-202608-03-2026AUD $ 6,483-
17-03-202622-03-2026AUD $ 6,038-
17-03-202622-03-2026AUD $ 6,038-
17-03-202622-03-2026AUD $ 6,763-
17-03-202622-03-2026AUD $ 6,483-
28-04-202603-05-2026AUD $ 6,038-
28-04-202603-05-2026AUD $ 6,038-
28-04-202603-05-2026AUD $ 6,763-
28-04-202603-05-2026AUD $ 6,483-
12-05-202617-05-2026AUD $ 6,038-
12-05-202617-05-2026AUD $ 6,038-
12-05-202617-05-2026AUD $ 6,763-
12-05-202617-05-2026AUD $ 6,483-
09-06-202614-06-2026AUD $ 6,038-
09-06-202614-06-2026AUD $ 6,038-
09-06-202614-06-2026AUD $ 6,763-
09-06-202614-06-2026AUD $ 6,483-
23-06-202628-06-2026AUD $ 6,038-
23-06-202628-06-2026AUD $ 6,038-
23-06-202628-06-2026AUD $ 6,763-
23-06-202628-06-2026AUD $ 6,483-
21-07-202626-07-2026AUD $ 6,038-
21-07-202626-07-2026AUD $ 6,038-
21-07-202626-07-2026AUD $ 6,763-
21-07-202626-07-2026AUD $ 6,483-
04-08-202609-08-2026AUD $ 6,038-
04-08-202609-08-2026AUD $ 6,038-
04-08-202609-08-2026AUD $ 6,763-
04-08-202609-08-2026AUD $ 6,483-
18-08-202623-08-2026AUD $ 6,038-
18-08-202623-08-2026AUD $ 6,038-
18-08-202623-08-2026AUD $ 6,763-
18-08-202623-08-2026AUD $ 6,483-
01-09-202606-09-2026AUD $ 6,038-
01-09-202606-09-2026AUD $ 6,038-
01-09-202606-09-2026AUD $ 6,763-
01-09-202606-09-2026AUD $ 6,483-
15-09-202620-09-2026AUD $ 6,038-
15-09-202620-09-2026AUD $ 6,038-
15-09-202620-09-2026AUD $ 6,763-
15-09-202620-09-2026AUD $ 6,483-
29-09-202604-10-2026AUD $ 6,038-
29-09-202604-10-2026AUD $ 6,038-
29-09-202604-10-2026AUD $ 6,763-
29-09-202604-10-2026AUD $ 6,483-
08-12-202613-12-2026AUD $ 6,038-
08-12-202613-12-2026AUD $ 6,038-
08-12-202613-12-2026AUD $ 6,763-
08-12-202613-12-2026AUD $ 6,483-
22-12-202627-12-2026AUD $ 6,038-
22-12-202627-12-2026AUD $ 6,038-
22-12-202627-12-2026AUD $ 6,763-
22-12-202627-12-2026AUD $ 6,483-

Accommodation

Hotel (2 nights) Overnight boat (3 nights)

Transport

Boat,Plane,Bus,Zodiac (Panga)

Map