Galapagos Islands Cruise on the Galapagos Legend (2024)

Depart mainland Ecuador to Baltra (2.5 hour flight). Passengers are greeted at the airport and transferred to the pier in order to board the M/V Galapagos Legend.

In the afternoon, a dry landing on Santa Cruz Island and short bus ride brings guests to the highlands to view the giant tortoise natural reserve. Guests are free to explore the grounds where the giant tortoises are often seen roaming through the pastures in the agricultural region. As you stroll through the forests full of ferns, plants, and epiphytes, listen carefully for heavy footsteps as the tortoises slowly move through the brush.

If you’d rather not visit the tortoises, opt for a ride into Black Turtle Cove, located on the north coast of Santa Cruz. Here, you can take a scenic boat ride exploring the sheltered mangrove cove, where sea turtles and other marine life swim in the calm waters.

In the morning, you will be dropped off at the Prince Phillip’s stairway that leads through a seabird colony, through the Palo Santo forest, and to the rocky lava plain that overlooks the beautiful blue water. Marvel at the abundance of sea life that uses the lava cliffs as their home. You will have plenty of opportunities to spot Nazca and Red-footed Boobies along your journey. With a bit of luck, you may spot a Short-eared Owl along the way.

In the afternoon, explore the white-sand beaches of Genovesa Island. Watch as swallow-tailed seagulls soar above you. Go on a 2 and ½ hour walk past mangroves of saltbush, where red-footed boobies and great frigatebirds nest. Then, arrive at a tidal lagoon where sightings of the endemic lava gull, the rarest in the world, have occurred.

In the morning, embark on a dry landing on Santa Cruz Island for a lagoon walk. Keep an eye out for feeding flamingoes, mockingbirds, Darwin finches, yellow warblers, and Galapagos doves. The trail leads to Dragon Hill for a look at land iguanas as well as excellent views of the surrounding islands.

In the afternoon, take a wet landing on Santa Fe for the chance to relax on white sand beaches surrounded by sea colonies. Here, you will be able to view a number of species, including the Galapagos hawk, Galapagos snakes, numerous types of finches, and more!

In the morning, a wet landing on Santa Cruz island near flamingo ponds that include iguanas, coastal birds, native vegetation and much more. The beach is home to sea turtle nests. Visitors can also view the remains of old military barges that sank after World War II. In the afternoon, depart the vessel en route to your next South American destination.

After visiting Bachas Beach, transfer to the Baltra airport for your return flight to Guayaquil, Quito, or to your next destination.

Galapagos Islands Cruise on the Galapagos Legend

Depart mainland Ecuador to Baltra (2.5 hour flight). Passengers are greeted at the airport and transferred to the pier in order to board the M/V Galapagos Legend.

In the afternoon, a dry landing on Santa Cruz Island and short bus ride brings guests to the highlands to view the giant tortoise natural reserve. Guests are free to explore the grounds where the giant tortoises are often seen roaming through the pastures in the agricultural region. As you stroll through the forests full of ferns, plants, and epiphytes, listen carefully for heavy footsteps as the tortoises slowly move through the brush.

If you’d rather not visit the tortoises, opt for a ride into Black Turtle Cove, located on the north coast of Santa Cruz. Here, you can take a scenic boat ride exploring the sheltered mangrove cove, where sea turtles and other marine life swim in the calm waters.

Depart from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra (2.5-hour flight). Passengers are greeted at the airport and transferred to the pier in order to board the M/V Galapagos Legend.

In the afternoon, travel to Mosquera Islet, located between North Seymour and Baltra Island. This island is home to a large colony of sea lions, herons, and lava gulls. With no existing trail on the island, guests can enjoy taking a stroll in the wide open spaces.

In the morning, a wet landing in Egas Port on Santiago Island to view the black volcanic sand beach and it’s variety of animals. During your time here, you may spot yellow-crowned herons, lobster, starfish, and other marine wildlife.

In the afternoon, a wet landing on the dark-red sand beaches of Rabida. Considered the epicenter of the Galapagos, the island features incredible landscapes. Look for Brown Pelicans and other nesting seabirds. Snorkel off the coast in this area that is known for particularly active marine life.

In the morning, a dry landing at Espinosa Point on Fernandina Island. From here you can look across the Bolivar Chanel at Isabela Island. Search for the largest and most primitive-looking marine iguanas and view the ‘Pa-hoe-hoe’ and ‘AA’ lava formations.

In the afternoon, go snorkeling in the deep waters of Vicente Roca Point to enjoy some of the richest marine havens on the planet. Take a dinghy ride along the coast to view the great diversity of coastal and sea birds

n the morning, a dry landing on Santa Cruz Island and 45-minute bus ride to Puerto Ayora to visit the natural reserve for giant tortoises. These incredible creatures can way up to 500 or 600 pounds and will live for up to 150-200 years.

In the afternoon, passengers are transferred to Baltra airport to continue on to their next South American destination.

Note: If you’re traveling on an extended cruise, there is an option to visit the Pit Craters on Santa Cruz Island. Explore the collapsed, twin sinkholes that put us in a breathtaking forest, full of Scalesia (an endemic species known to grow as shrubs or trees in the Galapagos). In addition to the natural beauty of the area, enjoy sightings of diverse passerine bird species.

Galapagos Islands Cruise on the Galapagos Legend

Depart from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra (2.5-hour flight). Passengers are greeted at the airport and transferred to the pier in order to board the M/V Galapagos Legend.

In the afternoon, travel to Mosquera Islet, located between North Seymour and Baltra Island. This island is home to a large colony of sea lions, herons, and lava gulls. With no existing trail on the island, guests can enjoy taking a stroll in the wide open spaces.

Depart mainland Ecuador to Baltra. Passengers are picked up at the airport by naturalist guides and taken on a short trip to the pier to board the M/V Galapagos Legend.

In the afternoon, experience a dry or wet landing on Bartolome Island. Discover volcanic parasitic cones, lava bombs, spatter, and cinder cones. You have the option to ascend the summit where there is an incredible view of the surrounding islands, including the famous Pinnacle Rock. Prepare to encounter marine iguanas, lava lizards, and more. Later, walk along the beach, or dive into the water for a snorkeling adventure. You may be able to spot the famous Galapagos Penguins, sea turtles, or reef sharks in the crystal clear water.

In the morning, experience a dry landing on the northern part of the Islet. The walk begins with an impressive cactus forest surrounded by land and marine iguanas. At the highest point of the walk, look out for tropicbirds such as the Nazca, blue-footed boobies and swallow-tailed gulls. In the South Plaza, there is a large colony of the smaller sized land iguanas, numbering approximately 300. They feed on all kinds of vegetation, but during the dry season survive on the fruits and flowers of Opuntia cacti. Due to their proximity to marine iguanas, this is the only place on Earth where Galapagos hybrid iguanas are found.

In the afternoon, a dry landing on North Seymour Island, not far from Santa Cruz. Explore the land, which was formed by numerous underwater volcanic eruptions. Take a walk (2-hours) around the island, searching for large colonies of blue-footed boobies, great frigate birds, and swallow-tailed gulls. On a lucky day, you might even pass by the Galapagos Snake.

In the morning, a wet landing followed by a high-intensity hike on rocky terrain. The trail includes a 90-meter long beach and a path that climbs to the top of a volcanic tuff, through several magnificent viewpoints. This is probably the only site where the three booby species of the Galapagos can be seen together, as well as two species of frigate birds and a sea lion colony; it is also excellent for dinghy rides and snorkeling, where a good range of sea birds can be observed.

In the afternoon, a wet landing on Cerro Brujo, an eroding tuff cone that is composed of AA lava formations and a beautiful white sand beach, great for snorkeling and sunbathing. Visit a lagoon where migratory bird species can be seen: Black-necked Stilts, Ruddy Turnstones, Whimbrels, other sandpiper species and White-cheeked Pintails. Cerro Brujo offers beautiful views of Kicker Rock, the southern part of San Cristobal and the adjacent coast.

In the morning, a dry landing in the highlands of San Cristobal. Guests will visit the San Cristóbal Giant Tortoise Breeding Center to learn about the conservation programs put forth by the National Parks. Enjoy a beautiful landscape on the way to the Reserve. Passengers will also have the opportunity to visit the port village, have a drink or shop for arts and crafts and other souvenirs.

In the afternoon, prepare to disembark the vessel and transfer to San Cristobal airport for the return flight to mainland Ecuador.

Galapagos Islands Cruise on the Galapagos Legend

Depart mainland Ecuador to Baltra. Passengers are picked up at the airport by naturalist guides and taken on a short trip to the pier to board the M/V Galapagos Legend.

In the afternoon, experience a dry or wet landing on Bartolome Island. Discover volcanic parasitic cones, lava bombs, spatter, and cinder cones. You have the option to ascend the summit where there is an incredible view of the surrounding islands, including the famous Pinnacle Rock. Prepare to encounter marine iguanas, lava lizards, and more. Later, walk along the beach, or dive into the water for a snorkeling adventure. You may be able to spot the famous Galapagos Penguins, sea turtles, or reef sharks in the crystal clear water.

Depart mainland Ecuador for San Cristobal. Passengers are picked up at the airport by naturalist guides and taken on a short ride to the pier to board the M/V Galapagos Legend.

In the afternoon, visit the Interpretation Center, an excellent place to learn about natural history in the Galapagos. Discover information on the volcanic origins of the islands, their remoteness from the continent, ocean currents, climate, the arrival of the different species and their colonization, among other points of interest. The human history is also showcased, chronologically narrating the most significant events related to the discovery and colonization of the islands.

Then hike to Frigatebird Hill (Cerro Tijeretas). Walk amidst beautiful landscapes and enjoy a magnificent view at the foot of a frigatebird nesting colony.

In the morning, a wet landing on a beautiful white coral sand beach guarded by a colony of sea lions. There are no trails, so stay along the shore where there are spottings of Galapagos hawks, Galapagos Ground Doves, Hood mockingbirds, Yellow Warblers, lava lizards, marine iguanas, and three species of Darwin finches. Swimming and snorkeling offer a great variety of Galapagos marine wildlife: king angelfish, creole fish, parrotfish, manta rays, and white-tipped reef sharks.

In the afternoon, a dry landing that will appeal to those with geological interest. Explore volcanic formations and riveting wildlife. Large sea lion colonies and seabirds including the Española mockingbird, Nazca Boobies and the spectacular Red-billed Tropicbird. Encounter marine iguanas, lava lizards, and the colorful Sally Lightfoot Crabs. Take a somewhat lengthy hike and spot Nazca and Blue-footed Boobies. Other birding favorites include the Galapagos Dove, Galapagos Hawk, Swallow-tailed Gulls and the world’s largest colony of Waved Albatross. Admire the island’s dramatic backdrop, featuring the famous Soplador, a seaward blowhole that shoots water some 23 m. (75 ft.) in the air.

In the morning, a wet landing on the north side of Floreana. The bay is so-named because in 1793 Captain James Colnett installed a wooden barrel which served as an informal post office for sailors passing through, who would take letters with them to their destinations. Today, our visitors continue the tradition by placing unstamped postcards inside the barrel that should reach their destinations for free. It can take weeks, months, even years, may not arrive at all, or even arrive before you!

Later, a wet landing on an olivine green sand beach. Hike from the black mangrove beds to a brackish lagoon, which usually holds one of the largest flamingo populations in the Galapagos. This island features some endemic plants such as the notable Scalesia villosa. The trail continues to a beautiful white-sand beach, one of the most important nesting sites of Green Pacific Sea Turtles. From the beach spot sea turtles, Blue-footed Boobies plunging into the water, and small reef sharks floating along the shoreline in search of food.

This coral-sand beach marks the end of the trail. Head back to the olivine beach to swim or snorkel amongst sea turtles, reef fish, sea lions and, on a good day, white-tipped reef sharks. A small colony of penguins resides on Floreana and can sometimes be observed as well.

In the morning, a dry landing and short bus ride to the Santa Cruz highlands, located to the northwest of Puerto Ayora, where a natural reserve with giant tortoises resides. These enormous and slow-moving reptiles are responsible for the island’s name and therefore approaching them in their humid and forested abode is always an inspiring adventure. They can weigh between 250 and 300 kg and can live up to 150-200 years. Additionally, travelers can walk inside surprising lava tubes.

In the afternoon, a wet landing on Ballena Bay where a beautiful green sand cove rests. Explore the beach, where volcanic crystals have formed. While visiting, you may see tortoises, marine iguanas, sea birds, and more.

Today, explore the marine biodiversity of Santa Cruz Island. Snorkel with colorful fish, swim alongside stingrays and keep your eyes out for the chance to see the magnificent white tipped shark.

After the visit, transfer to Baltra Airport for your return flight to Guayaquil, Quito, or your next destination.

Galapagos Islands Cruise on the Galapagos Legend

Depart mainland Ecuador for San Cristobal. Passengers are picked up at the airport by naturalist guides and taken on a short ride to the pier to board the M/V Galapagos Legend.

In the afternoon, visit the Interpretation Center, an excellent place to learn about natural history in the Galapagos. Discover information on the volcanic origins of the islands, their remoteness from the continent, ocean currents, climate, the arrival of the different species and their colonization, among other points of interest. The human history is also showcased, chronologically narrating the most significant events related to the discovery and colonization of the islands.

Then hike to Frigatebird Hill (Cerro Tijeretas). Walk amidst beautiful landscapes and enjoy a magnificent view at the foot of a frigatebird nesting colony.