Our Western Galapagos Cruise Itinerary starts with a tour of Dragon Hill on Santa Cruz Island, home to Galapagos land iguanas. The next day is spent at Isabela Island and Fernandina Island, the volcanic jewels of the National Park, where one can also spot flightless cormorants and Galapagos penguins.
Afterward, we head to the world-famous Charles Darwin Research Station and its giant-tortoise breeding center on Santa Cruz Island. Finally, Floreana Island’s Post Office Bay and Cormorant Point round off the trip with fascinating insights into the human history of the archipelago.
This Galapagos itinerary has been designed to guarantee the best wildlife-viewing opportunities at several of the most gorgeous landscapes in the archipelago.
Fit for every type of traveler, our comfortable and impeccably clean cabins all come with large picture-windows that illuminate their interior, allowing guests to take in the views while providing an elegant and private relaxation space after a day of active exploring.
A total of 50 cabins for 90 guests, 36 of which can be interconnected, offer flexibility for larger groups of guests and families.
Visited on days one and three.
Home of the Charles Darwin Research Station and one of the largest giant tortoise populations in the archipelago. This island provides an exquisite sense of the ongoing conservation efforts underway, and the care native islanders take in protecting the wildlife and the environment. Giant tortoises are also seen in their natural habitat in the lush and verdant highlands.
Visited on day two.
Admire the epic and beautiful coastline of one of the largest islands in the Galapagos. In addition to the dramatic geology found here, you’ll also enjoy the chance to hop aboard our glass-bottom boat or go snorkeling in the presence of green sea turtles, playful sea lions, ocean sunfish, and even penguins, possibly!
Visited on day two.
Fascinate yourself with the mesmerizing canvas of recent lava flows that have amassed across the terrain here. Home to one of the largest colonies of marine iguanas, you’ll definitely want to watch your step, too! Snorkeling is offered here, with the possibility of seeing and even swimming alongside flightless cormorants and penguins.
Visited on day four.
Immerse yourself in the human history of the Galapagos by partaking in the rather unique act of sending mail the way sailors did two centuries ago — through a post office barrel! You’ll also enjoy gorgeous beaches that are frequented by flamingos, herons, and numerous other birds. Snorkeling, glass-bottom boat, kayaking, and paddleboarding are offered here.
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Have a chat with our Destination Experts that have enjoyed Santa Cruz II’s itineraries!
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Cruise the Galapagos Islands with the passionate experts – established in 1953! We own and operate the finest Galapagos Island Expedition Small Cruise Ship, Yacht and Vessel. Get special deals and come explore with us!
© 1953-2023 Metropolitan Touring - 70 years of travel experience
This small, secret rooftop of the restored Casa Gangotena mansion peers over Plaza San Francisco in the center of Quito’s colonial Old Town, the world’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Order a Cedrón Spritz, a refreshing mix of rum, lemon, sparkling wine, and fresh lemon verbena (cedrón) syrup and leaf, then revel in the mesmerizing, real-time montage of daily life in Ecuador’s capital as it parades past.
A Font of information, Klaus has spent decades in the field, leading tours in the Amazon, Andes and Galapagos Islands. He hung up his guiding boots a few years back and now creates itineraries for the tour operator, Metropolitan Touring. Adrift in the Pacific Ocean, hundreds of miles from mainland South America, Galapagos is one of the most biodiverse locales on Earth.
Santa Cruz II is a replacement for the much-loved Santa Cruz, which plied the waters of the Galapagos for 36 years. It is not a new ship; it was built in 2002 and sailed as Mare Australis under the Australis cruise brand, operating expedition cruises around Cape Horn and to Antarctica. Metropolitan Touring bought the ship in 2015 and completely refurbished it, launching it as Santa Cruz II in October 2015.
When this modern, minimalist, glass-walled jungle lodge opened in 2012, it changed the accommodation game in South America. Arquitect Alfredo Ribadeneira’s “protective cocoon” would impress in a modern city; in the depths of an Andean cloudforest, it is wild, audacious and beautiful. Though only 70 miles from Quito, Maspi Lodge sits in splendid isolation, perched on a cliff at the end of an unsealed road.
Itinerario de 5 días / 4 noches: Basado en la tarifa regular (4214 USD + impuestos por persona)
Itinerario de 7 días / 6 noches: Basado en la tarifa regular (5672 USD + impuestos por persona)
No reembolsable. Aplica únicamente para residentes ecuatorianos en nuevas reservas directas realizadas, hasta el 30 de junio del 2022, con un ejecutivo de ventas del hotel. Válido para estadías hasta el 31 de agosto de 2022. No puede ser combinada con otros descuentos, promociones u ofertas. El descuento no aplica para otros servicios. El precio no incluye recargo de combustible de $20 por noche de crucero.
