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Yacht Isabela

Galapagos Islands of Fire Cruise

Traversing the Jewels of Central and Northern Galapagos

9 Days

14 of 15

Galapagos Iconic Species

From

USD 9250
per guest

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Experience a 9-day Cruise to the Galapagos aboard the Yacht Isabela II

  • 2026: 9 Days from USD 9250 per guest
  • 2027: 9 Days from USD 9350 per guest

Nine days. Eight islands. 14 of the Galapagos Big 15 species — including the red-footed boobies of Genovesa, the marine iguana colonies of Fernandina, and the Galapagos penguins darting past you at Bartolome.

This is the longest expedition that the Yacht Isabela II sails, and the most comprehensive. You will stand at the edge of the Bolivar Channel as flightless cormorants fish below the cliffs. You will walk the hardened lava of Sullivan Bay. You will drift by dinghy into Darwin Bay and watch frigatebirds the size of eagles perform overhead.

Isabela II carries fewer than 20 guests. Your naturalist guide knows your name by lunch on day one. By the time you reach Genovesa on day seven, the Galapagos will feel less like a destination and more like a place you have always known.

Day By Day

Day 1 - Puerto Ayora & Charles Darwin Research Station

  • Your Galapagos expedition begins on land.
  • Walk the research station where conservation in the archipelago was born — come face to face with giant tortoises in the breeding center, where the work of protecting these animals is still happening right in front of you.
  • Stroll the lively main street of Puerto Ayora, then board Yacht Isabela II for your Captain’s welcome cocktail.
  • Nine extraordinary days start tonight.

Wildlife: Giant tortoises · Darwin’s finches · Galapagos mockingbirds

Bartolome Island

  • Bartolome Island looks like another planet — and climbing its wooden stairs through a landscape of volcanic cones, you will feel it.
  • At the summit, Pinnacle Rock frames a view of lava stretching to the sea that travelers remember for years.
  • Then drop into the water: Galapagos penguins dart past you at eye level on the panga ride around the rock.

Sullivan Bay (Santiago Island)

  • Walk a century-old lava field where life is slowly, stubbornly returning.
  • Swim at the white coral beach at its edge.

Wildlife: Galapagos penguins · Marine iguanas · Sea lions · Reef sharks · Green sea turtles · Sally Lightfoot crabs

Dragon Hill (Santa Cruz Island)

  • Dragon Hill earns its name.
  • Dusty-yellow land iguanas patrol above a brackish lagoon where flamingos wade in the shallows.
  • Snorkel offshore and find green turtles, spotted eagle rays, and the occasional reef shark turning lazily in clear water below.

Buccaneer Cove (Santiago Island)

  • Buccaneer Cove’s towering cliffs sheltered buccaneers for good reason.
  • Sea lion colonies spill across the rocks, and nesting marine birds fill the cliff faces.
  • Explore by panga, glass-bottom boat, or snorkel — the life packed into this cove rewards every angle.

Wildlife: Land iguanas · Flamingos · Green sea turtles · Spotted eagle rays · Reef sharks · Galapagos fur seals · Blue-footed boobies

Punta Vicente Roca (Isabela Island)

  • Drift by dinghy along the volcanic cliffs of Punta Vicente Roca — one of the most wildlife-dense coasts in the archipelago.
  • Fur seals lounge on the ledges; flightless cormorants fish below.
  • Slip into the water and find green sea turtles rising through cold, glassy water.
  • In the Bolivar Channel, dolphins and whales feed on the surface above nutrient-rich upwellings.

Fernandina Island

  • Fernandina is the youngest island in the archipelago and the most untouched.
  • Your naturalist leads you through a landscape where hawks hunt overhead, and marine iguanas bask on lava by the thousand.
  • This is the Galapagos as it was, and still is: completely wild.

Wildlife: Galapagos fur seals · Nazca boobies · Flightless cormorants · Galapagos penguins · Marine iguanas · Galapagos hawks · Green sea turtles · Dolphins · Orcas & whales (seasonal)
  • The Highlands are tortoise country.
  • Your naturalist leads you into a reserve where giant tortoises roam freely — not in a breeding center, but grazing through green pastures on their own terms.
  • Descend into the lava tunnels: underground passages carved by volcanic flows, now cool, dark, and extraordinary to walk through.
  • A bus back to Puerto Ayora in the afternoon, and the yacht Isabela II is waiting to sail the second half of your expedition.

Wildlife: Giant tortoises · Land iguanas · Darwin’s finches · Vermilion flycatchers · Short-eared owls

Puerto Egas (Santiago Island)

  • Puerto Egas’ black sand beach is one of the most wildlife-rich shorelines in the archipelago.
  • Marine iguanas sunbathe in the hundreds; Galapagos fur seals shelter in tide pools.
  • Your naturalist points out the intertidal creatures hiding in every crevice along the lava shore.

Chinese Hat

  • Snorkel through a channel where reef sharks, penguins, and sea turtles share the same clear water.
  • The glass-bottom boat ride here is equally spectacular.

Wildlife: Marine iguanas · Galapagos fur seals · Shorebirds · Oystercatchers · Herons · Reef sharks · Galapagos penguins · Green sea turtles

Prince Philip’s Steps

  • Genovesa is called Bird Island for a reason.
  • This collapsed volcanic crater in the far north hosts the largest red-footed booby colony in the Galapagos — along with frigatebirds, Nazca boobies, storm petrels, and the short-eared owl that hunts them.
  • Your naturalist walks you up Prince Philip’s Steps, a dramatic lava stairway that deposits you directly into the colony.

Darwin Bay

  • Seabirds are so accustomed to visitors that they will walk past your feet.
  • Panga rides trace the bay while frigatebirds display overhead.
  • Kayak or snorkel the clear water for an entirely different perspective.

Wildlife: Red-footed boobies · Frigatebirds · Nazca boobies · Short-eared owls · Storm petrels · Herons · Galapagos fur seals · Mockingbirds

South Plaza Island

  • South Plaza is one of the smallest islands in the archipelago and one of the most concentrated wildlife spectacles.
  • The plateau above the cliffs is carpeted with land iguanas and prickly pear cacti.
  • Below, sea lions haul out on the rocks while swallow-tailed gulls nest at the cliff edge.

Santa Fe Island

  • Santa Fe is home to the Santa Fe land iguana, found nowhere else on Earth.
  • Walk the trail through towering cacti with Galapagos hawks circling overhead and sea lions sleeping on the beach below.
  • Snorkel the bay or take the glass-bottom boat for one of the clearest-water encounters of the trip.

Wildlife: Santa Fe land iguanas · Land iguanas · Galapagos hawks · Sea lions · Marine iguanas · Sally Lightfoot crabs · Swallow-tailed gulls · Green sea turtles
  • Farewell breakfast aboard Yacht Isabela II.
  • Transfer to Seymour Airport, carrying nine days of the most extraordinary wildlife encounters on Earth: 14 of the Big 15, eight islands, and an archipelago that feels like a place you already belong to.
  • The Galapagos stays with you long after you leave.

Note: Wear comfortable clothes and shoes; bring a small backpack with medications, sunblock, insect repellent, and essentials

Itinerary Map

Day 1

Baltra Airport

Day 2

Sullivan Bay

Day 3

Dragon Hill

Day 4

Punta Vicente Roca

Day 5

Cerro Mesa

Day 6

Puerto Egas

Day 7

Darwin Bay

Day 8

Santa Fe

Day 9

Baltra Airport

frigatebirds
galapagos-fur-seal
galapagos-giant-tortoise
galapagos-hawk
galapagos-penguin
galapagos-sea-lion
marine-iguana
nazca-booby
american-flamingo
blue-footed-booby

Prices

Prices in 2026

Starting at USD 9250 per guest

Prices in 2027

Starting at USD 9350 per guest

Prepare your Big 15 Checklist

Each iconic species you encounter enriches your Galapagos tours, making them the ultimate wildlife experience and unforgettable moments.

Land Iguana, Galapagos
Galapagos Flamingo
Fur Seal
Flightless Cormorant
Galapagos Penguin
Nazca Booby
Sea Lion
Blue-footed Booby
Frigatebird
Galapagos Tortoise
Galapagos Hawk
Marine Iguana
Red-footed Booby
Santa Fe Land Iguana in the Galapagos

Why Book With Us

Unmatched Experiences & Expert Care

Choose expedition vessels for an authentic and intimate experience.

Consider the comfort level with the ideal space-to-guest ratio during your journey.

All our itineraries allow you to discover 11 to 12 of the Big 15 iconic species and the top 4 islands in just 5 to 7 days.

Join multi-guided itineraries in your language, customize your experience, and connect with others who share your interests.

Expertly designed itineraries ensure exclusivity and optimal wildlife viewing during island visits.

Enjoy multiple activities around the islands at no extra cost during your Galapagos expedition.

Rest assured, our Galapagos cruise ships have onboard medical professionals to attend to any medical needs.

Gallery

Yacht Isabela, Galapagos
Galapagos Expedition, Yacht Isabela
Owners Cabin, Yacht Isabela
Galapagos Hikes, Yacht Isabela
Galapagos Sea Lion, Yacht Isabela
Galapagos Sunset Couple, Yacht Isabela
Glass bottom boat Galapagos Island, Yacht Isabela
Panga Ride Dolphins Galapagos, Yacht Isabela
Yacht Isabela, Flightless Cormorant Galapagos
Yacht Isabela, Restaurant
Yacht Isabela, Snorkeling
Yacht Isabela, Sun Deck

Included

  • Shared transfers
  • Accomodation and all meals on board
  • Island expeditions with Park-certified Naturalist Guides
  • 24/7 On-board Medical Officer
  • Luggage assistance
  • Starlink WiFi
  • Kayaks, paddleboards, and a glass-bottom boat
  • Snorkeling equipment: wetsuits, masks, fins, vests
  • Informative lectures
  • Soft Drinks

Reminder: We can assist with tickets and fees for entry to Galapagos.

Not Included

  • International airfare
  • Galapagos National Park fee (USD 200)
  • INGALA migration card (USD 20)
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Personal expenses, gratuities & taxes
  • Fuel surcharges*
  • Non-alcoholic beverages are included on board only.
  • Fees and surcharges are subject to change without prior notice.

Tours you can Combine this Itinerary with

Mashpi Lodge & Galapagos Islands: Rainforest and Wildlife Expedition

  • Mashpi Rainforest & Reserve, Galapagos Islands
  • 10 days /
  • 9 nights
  • USD $9399 per guest

Itinerary details

Machu Picchu & Galapagos Expedition

  • Quito, Galapagos Islands / Machu Picchu
  • 12 days /
  • 11 nights
  • USD $11199 per guest

Itinerary details

Origin of Species Northeast Cruise – Yacht La Pinta

  • Baltra, Bartolome, Genovesa, Isabela, Santa Cruz, Santiago
  • 5 days /
  • 4 nights
  • USD $6000 per guest

Itinerary details

Origin of Species Southeast Cruise – Yacht La Pinta

  • Baltra, Española, San Cristobal, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, South Plaza
  • 5 days /
  • 4 nights
  • USD $6000 per guest

Itinerary details

Talk to an expert that´s
Sailed aboard!

Melissa Altamirano

“Melissa has been fantastic! She answers all my questions, gets back to me quickly, and has mapped out a wonderful trip for us. I couldn’t be happier with the service I have received.”

– Mary Kabat

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Four Galapagos penguins standing on black lava rocks near a sandy beach shoreline
Are you a Travel Agent?*
At Metropolitan Touring we process the information you provide us with in order to respond to the request made by you in relation to the services we provide and the products we supply. You can exercise the rights of access, rectification and updating of inaccurate data or, where appropriate, request the deletion or elimination, limitation or suspension of the processing of your data or oppose the processing of your data. Contact us at dpdecuador@metropolitan-touring.com