Wild Galápagos Escape - Islander II
A shorter Galapagos adventure for those with limited vacation time offered by an expert operator with over 50 years' experience.
SPECIAL OFFER
9.2*
ECO SCORE
48
PASSENGERS
7
DAYS
3/5
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Galapagos: Drink It In
Welcome Aboard the
National Geographic Islander II
Pack a ton of adventure into one action-packed week aboard the 48-guest National Geographic Islander II. With multiple adventures each day on land and undersea—including options for walks and hikes, kayaking, paddleboarding, and snorkeling—you’ll be assured of the full Galápagos experience, but in less time. Get close to the iconic wildlife that has no instinct to flee human presence. Snorkel with sea lions, hike the highlands among giant tortoises, and see blue-footed boobies and other seabirds up close. Honed over the last 50 years, each voyage is crafted to offer you a diverse experience of the archipelago.
- -Swim with sea lions and marvel at sea turtles during snorkeling sessions that surprise you with their undersea colors.
-Step onto islands teeming with animals who don't run away and are actually trying to get a better look at you.
-Maximize your time in the islands with options for exploration every day including hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, and more.
Travel Curator’s Insights:
Trip Sustainability Awards
Waste
100% free of single-use plastics!
Food
Sources all food and seafood sustainably and locally
Carbon
Offsets 100% of operations and is carbon neutral
Itinerary
Day 1: U.S. / Guayaquil, Ecuador
Arrive in Guayaquil and transfer to the 44-room Hotel del Parque. Call for recommended international flights or additional nights at the hotel.
Day 2: Guayaquil / Galápagos / Embark
Fly to Baltra in the center of Galápagos, a little world unto itself in the Tropical Pacific. We are welcomed by our aturalist staff and start exploring the islands.
Days 3-6: Galápagos
Listed below is a sample of islands we may visit during our
expedition. Our expeditions begin and end at Baltra, and include visits to Isla Santa Cruz and a careful selection of diverse islands. Each of our itineraries offers an optimal balance of wildlife, landscapes and experiences. All ship itineraries are subject to Galápagos National Park regulations. (All meals are included daily)
North Seymour: Encounter nesting frigatebirds, plus land and marine iguanas, and enjoy a beautiful coastal walk.
Santa Cruz: Call at Puerto Ayora, the largest town and headquarters of both the Galápagos National Park and Charles Darwin Research Station. Head to the lush, green highlands to see giant tortoises roaming in the wild.
Isabela: Toast crossing the Equator at Volcán Ecuador, northernmost of Isabela’s six great shield volcanoes. Keep an eye open for whales and dolphins as you ply these rich waters, once the haunt of whalers and pirates.
Fernandina: One of the most active oceanic volcanoes in the world, it’s the youngest and most pristine island in Galápagos—and home to the strange flightless cormorant and the largest marine iguanas.
San Cristobal: Search for red-footed boobies and the endemic
mockingbird and lava lizard—found only on this easternmost island. Explore Baquerizo Moreno, where sea lions thrive in the middle of town.
Española: Home to swallow-tailed gulls, Española mockingbirds, Nazca boobies and seasonally, the world’s only population of waved albatross at Punta Suarez.
Floreana: Follow a trail past a rose pink-tinted lagoon frequented by flamingos. Snorkel among sea lions and abundant fish, or cruise along Champion Islet by Zodiac. Visit the famous barrel at Post Office Bay.
Day 7: Disembark / Baltra / Guayaquil / Depart
Return by air to Guayaquil, where we enjoy dayrooms at the Hotel del Parque before flights home—or continue to Quito for an optional two-night extension. You may also opt to overnight and fly home on Day 8 at no additional cost. Ask your Travel Curator for details. (This day includes Breakfast.)
Sample Airfares:
Economy: from $700
Business: from $1,600
Charter(Internal Air ($520-Adult/$350-Child) - Guayaquil/Galapagos)
Airfares are subject to change.
Air Note: International and internal Ecuador tickets must be issued separately for all Galapagos voyages.
Children: This operator believes sharing an expedition with your kids or grandkids is a life-enhancing experience. So take $500 off for each child under the age of 18.
Special Air Offer: Free Round-Trip Air on Select Dates. Book by October 31, 2022, for Free round-trip economy group airfare from Miami to Galápagos on select 2022 departures. Upgrade to Business Class to Guayaquil starting at $750, subject to availability.
All offers are valid for new bookings only, must be ticketed by this operator with the help of your Travel Curator and are subject to availability at time of booking. In the case that offered Miami flights are no longer available, the operator reserves the right to issue a credit.
National Geographic Islander II
This operator is thrilled to welcome the new, all-suite National Geographic Islander II to their fleet in August 2022. Sleek and elegant, she will sail year-round in the Galápagos Islands and elevate the guest experience to an entirely new level. A best-in-class expedition vessel that feels like a private yacht, National Geographic Islander II is a spacious all-suite ship. Accommodating just 48 guests, she sails with a 1:1 guest-to-crew ratio.
Special features include teak decks, indoor-outdoor dining options, an impressive observation deck, 26 light and airy suites, and new amenities like a climate-controlled Marina and a high-tech Science Hub.
The new, all-suite National Geographic Islander II provides an authentic sense of place, drawing on our decades of partnering with local communities and conservation groups. Contributing to the fully immersive Ecuadorian experience on board are Ecuadorian staff and locally sourced and sustainable farm-to-table and ocean-to-table culinary ingredients, as well as artisan spa elements and handcrafted textiles, art, and décor all regionally created.
Capacity: 48 Guests
Cabins: 24 Cabins
Specialists: National Geographic Experts, National Geographic Photo Coach, Full-Time Doctor, Video Chronicler, and Wellness Coach
ACHIEVEMENTS
2023 ”Best Cruise Ships in the World" Conde Nast Traveler Gold List
2023 "Best Expedition Ships" Conde Nast Traveler Reader's Choice Awards
2022 "World's Best Cruise Line" World Cruise Awards
2022 "GOLD: Best Expedition Line" Reader's Choice Awards, Recommend Magazine
"The stylish National Geographic Islander II, new to the Galapagos Islands, offers spacious, beautifully appointed cabins, many attractive public areas, an intimate lounge for lectures, and much more deck space than you would normally have on a 48-passenger vessel. This ship will offer the National Geographic level of guiding this operator is known for, paired with expert operations due to their over 50 years' experience in expedition cruising. Offering what we consider to be one of the highest quality programs in the Galapagos, we're excited to welcome the National Geographic Islander II to our collection and to heartily recommend her to Wild Nectar travelers."
Wild Nectar
Life On Board
Deck Plan
Click to enlarge
Questions?
Rates
I traveled to the Galapagos with this operator and the program was fantastic. My clients have loved the experience just as much as I did. And now, with the new ship, this option is simply stellar!
Joy Martinello, Founder
Questions?
What’s Included & Cancellation Policy:
WHAT'S INCLUDED
All accommodations aboard ship or in hotels per itinerary or similar, all meals and nonalcoholic beverages aboard ship, alcoholic beverages (except premium brands) and one hour of Wi-Fi per person per day, meals on land as indicated, air transportation where indicated as included, shore excursions, sightseeing and entrance fees, special access permits, transfers to and from group flights, use of snorkeling equipment and wet uits, use of kayaks and stand-up paddle-boards, tips (except to ship’s crew), taxes and service charges, services of a ship physician and services of our expedition staff.
