15D14N Ultimate Galápagos: East & West Expedition

Arrive via Baltra Airport and meet the Aqua Expeditions team for a cross-island transfer by road and ferry to Puerto Ayora, approximately 1.5 hours. Pause in the Santa Cruz highlands for an outdoor lunch and a visit to a giant tortoise reserve. Board Aqua Mare and settle into your suite, meet the expedition team and prepare your snorkelling equipment. In the evening, guests may have time to explore Puerto Ayora waterfront before their first dinner on board.

Meals: Lunch and dinner. Overnight aboard Aqua Mare.

Step ashore at Punta Cormorant to explore a brackish lagoon frequented by flamingos and wading birds. The beach and nearby waters can reveal signs of nesting sea turtles and sightings of rays or reef sharks. Later, visit the historic Post Office Bay, where visitors have traditionally exchanged unstamped postcards, and continue by tender towards Baroness Lookout for coastal views and island history.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight aboard Aqua Mare.

Explore Isabela’s extraordinary basaltic lava terrain around Punta Moreno and mangrove-fringed lagoons, with possibilities to spot Galápagos penguins, marine iguanas and flightless cormorants. In the afternoon, continue to Urbina Bay, an area uplifted by geological activity in 1954. The walk here offers opportunities for land iguanas, large marine iguanas and, occasionally, giant tortoises, against the backdrop of Isabela’s volcanoes.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight aboard Aqua Mare.

Land at Punta Espinoza on remote Fernandina, a remarkable environment of recent lava and dense marine iguana colonies. Watch for flightless cormorants, Galápagos penguins and other coastal species. Cross Bolívar Channel towards Tagus Cove on Isabela, historically visited by whalers and pirates. A guided hike towards Darwin Lake may be offered, alongside alternatives such as snorkelling, kayaking, paddleboarding or tender exploration depending on conditions.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight aboard Aqua Mare.

Begin with a tender excursion around Buccaneer Cove or, depending on sea conditions, visit Espumilla Beach, an important sea turtle nesting area. Continue to Puerto Egas and walk along black-sand and rocky tidal shorelines towards fur seal grottos. The waters here can offer snorkelling encounters with sea turtles, sea lions and reef sharks.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight aboard Aqua Mare.

Discover Rábida’s memorable red-sand shoreline, formed from oxidised volcanic material. Walk the coast and enjoy opportunities for kayaking, paddleboarding or snorkelling around sea lion habitat. Later, explore Black Turtle Cove, a sheltered mangrove estuary on Santa Cruz, by tender only. Watch quietly for green sea turtles and sharks among the mangrove channels.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight aboard Aqua Mare.

On North Seymour, guided walks reveal important breeding habitat for blue-footed boobies and frigatebirds, together with land iguanas and other seabirds. After lunch aboard, visit low-lying Mosquera Island, known for its colony of sea lions and open sandy expanses. Return to Aqua Mare for a final evening of expedition reflections and dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight aboard Aqua Mare.

Continue the 14-night expedition through the central archipelago. Aqua’s West + East itinerary lists a Baltra / Bahía Borrero visit on Day 8, transitioning into the eastern circuit. Guests remaining aboard for the full voyage enjoy the next phase of their expedition; the exact timing of port operations, excursions and any passenger changes is determined by Aqua Expeditions.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight aboard Aqua Mare.

Explore Darwin Bay’s coralline beach and surrounding waters, a rewarding area for birdwatching and snorkelling. After lunch, travel by tender along the volcanic shoreline of El Barranco and walk inland across lava terrain. Look for red-footed boobies, great frigatebirds, storm petrels and fur seals resting in rocky crevices.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight aboard Aqua Mare.

Walk across fascinating pahoehoe lava formations at Sullivan Bay to appreciate the islands’ volcanic origins. Later, visit the distinctive cone-shaped Sombrero Chino islet. The surrounding waters may offer sea lion and penguin sightings, with opportunities for guided snorkelling, kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding as conditions allow.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight aboard Aqua Mare.

Visit Bartolomé for a guided climb to a scenic viewpoint overlooking iconic Pinnacle Rock and the surrounding volcanic coast. A snorkelling excursion may reveal sea turtles or Galápagos penguins. In the afternoon, continue to Dragon Hill on Santa Cruz, an important habitat for land iguanas, and explore the coastal scenery with naturalist guides.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight aboard Aqua Mare.

Visit the Fausto Llerena Breeding Centre and Darwin Station area to learn about giant tortoise conservation and island-specific breeding efforts. A local Galápagos coffee stop may feature in the programme. Continue into the highlands to Manzanillo, where free-roaming giant tortoises can be observed in their natural habitat. An optional full-day diving alternative may be available by prior arrangement.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight aboard Aqua Mare.

Explore Punta Suárez, celebrated for endemic wildlife such as the Española mockingbird, lava lizards, marine iguanas and, in the appropriate season, waved albatrosses. Later, discover the coast around Osborn Islet by tender or in the water, followed by time at Gardner Bay’s beautiful sandy beach, home to an impressive sea lion colony.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight aboard Aqua Mare.

Discover Santa Fé’s palo santo trees, prickly pear cacti and endemic land iguanas during a guided nature excursion. Depending on conditions, enjoy snorkelling, kayaking or paddleboarding. In the afternoon, explore South Plaza Island on foot, where diverse vegetation, striking volcanic terrain and abundant land and seabird life make for a memorable final full expedition day.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight aboard Aqua Mare.

After breakfast and disembarkation, travel into the Santa Cruz highlands to visit Los Gemelos, two large volcanic sinkholes surrounded by lush vegetation, en route to Baltra. Continue to the airport for the recommended departure flight to mainland Ecuador.

Meals: Breakfast. End of cruise.

Arrive at Baltra Airport on a recommended flight and meet the Aqua Expeditions team for transfer to the jetty. Embark Aqua Mare, enjoy lunch and receive a snorkelling kit briefing. In the afternoon, explore Bahía Borrero, a white-sand beach on northern Santa Cruz, with opportunities to observe Darwin’s finches and other coastal wildlife. Sea turtles may be encountered while snorkelling, subject to conditions.

Meals: Lunch and dinner. Overnight aboard Aqua Mare.

Explore Darwin Bay’s coralline beach and surrounding waters, a rewarding area for birdwatching and snorkelling. After lunch, travel by tender along the volcanic shoreline of El Barranco and walk inland across lava terrain. Look for red-footed boobies, great frigatebirds, storm petrels and fur seals resting in rocky crevices.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight aboard Aqua Mare.

Walk across fascinating pahoehoe lava formations at Sullivan Bay to appreciate the islands’ volcanic origins. Later, visit the distinctive cone-shaped Sombrero Chino islet. The surrounding waters may offer sea lion and penguin sightings, with opportunities for guided snorkelling, kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding as conditions allow.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight aboard Aqua Mare.

Visit Bartolomé for a guided climb to a scenic viewpoint overlooking iconic Pinnacle Rock and the surrounding volcanic coast. A snorkelling excursion may reveal sea turtles or Galápagos penguins. In the afternoon, continue to Dragon Hill on Santa Cruz, an important habitat for land iguanas, and explore the coastal scenery with naturalist guides.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight aboard Aqua Mare.

Visit the Fausto Llerena Breeding Centre and Darwin Station area to learn about giant tortoise conservation and island-specific breeding efforts. A local Galápagos coffee stop may feature in the programme. Continue into the highlands to Manzanillo, where free-roaming giant tortoises can be observed in their natural habitat. An optional full-day diving alternative may be available by prior arrangement.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight aboard Aqua Mare.

Explore Punta Suárez, celebrated for endemic wildlife such as the Española mockingbird, lava lizards, marine iguanas and, in the appropriate season, waved albatrosses. Later, discover the coast around Osborn Islet by tender or in the water, followed by time at Gardner Bay’s beautiful sandy beach, home to an impressive sea lion colony.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight aboard Aqua Mare.

Discover Santa Fé’s palo santo trees, prickly pear cacti and endemic land iguanas during a guided nature excursion. Depending on conditions, enjoy snorkelling, kayaking or paddleboarding. In the afternoon, explore South Plaza Island on foot, where diverse vegetation, striking volcanic terrain and abundant land and seabird life make for a memorable final full expedition day.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight aboard Aqua Mare.

The 14-night East + West itinerary includes a Day 8 visit to Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz, transitioning from the eastern to the western circuit. Guests on the full expedition remain on the programme; activities and timing around the changeover are managed by the expedition team and may differ from those of separate 7-night bookings.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight aboard Aqua Mare.

Step ashore at Punta Cormorant to explore a brackish lagoon frequented by flamingos and wading birds. The beach and nearby waters can reveal signs of nesting sea turtles and sightings of rays or reef sharks. Later, visit the historic Post Office Bay, where visitors have traditionally exchanged unstamped postcards, and continue by tender towards Baroness Lookout for coastal views and island history.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight aboard Aqua Mare.

Explore Isabela’s extraordinary basaltic lava terrain around Punta Moreno and mangrove-fringed lagoons, with possibilities to spot Galápagos penguins, marine iguanas and flightless cormorants. In the afternoon, continue to Urbina Bay, an area uplifted by geological activity in 1954. The walk here offers opportunities for land iguanas, large marine iguanas and, occasionally, giant tortoises, against the backdrop of Isabela’s volcanoes.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight aboard Aqua Mare.

Land at Punta Espinoza on remote Fernandina, a remarkable environment of recent lava and dense marine iguana colonies. Watch for flightless cormorants, Galápagos penguins and other coastal species. Cross Bolívar Channel towards Tagus Cove on Isabela, historically visited by whalers and pirates. A guided hike towards Darwin Lake may be offered, alongside alternatives such as snorkelling, kayaking, paddleboarding or tender exploration depending on conditions.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight aboard Aqua Mare.

Begin with a tender excursion around Buccaneer Cove or, depending on sea conditions, visit Espumilla Beach, an important sea turtle nesting area. Continue to Puerto Egas and walk along black-sand and rocky tidal shorelines towards fur seal grottos. The waters here can offer snorkelling encounters with sea turtles, sea lions and reef sharks.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight aboard Aqua Mare.

Discover Rábida’s memorable red-sand shoreline, formed from oxidised volcanic material. Walk the coast and enjoy opportunities for kayaking, paddleboarding or snorkelling around sea lion habitat. Later, explore Black Turtle Cove, a sheltered mangrove estuary on Santa Cruz, by tender only. Watch quietly for green sea turtles and sharks among the mangrove channels.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight aboard Aqua Mare.

On North Seymour, guided walks reveal important breeding habitat for blue-footed boobies and frigatebirds, together with land iguanas and other seabirds. After lunch aboard, visit low-lying Mosquera Island, known for its colony of sea lions and open sandy expanses. Return to Aqua Mare for a final evening of expedition reflections and dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Overnight aboard Aqua Mare.

Enjoy breakfast aboard before saying farewell to the crew. Transfer to Baltra Airport for the recommended onward flight to mainland Ecuador. Exact timing and transfer arrangements depend on the confirmed sailing instructions.

Meals: Breakfast. End of cruise.