Highlights

• Explore with 96 fellow travelers and benefit from over 50 years experience, history and relationships in the Galápagos Islands, curated to offer intimate and diverse perspectives.
• Snorkel with sea lions, turtles and abundant fish in the protected waters of the Galápagos Marine Reserve.
• Walk among wildlife: lounge on beaches with sea lions, marvel at huge colonies of marine iguanas and see nesting seabirds.
• Adventure by kayak, paddleboard, glass-bottom boat and Zodiac.

Your Expert Trip Hosts

Accommodations

National Geographic Endeavor II

A beautiful ship, National Geographic Endeavour II is lavishly windowed to better frame the never-ending panorama as she voyages from island to island. She has 52 outside cabins and suites accommodating 96 guests.

There are lovely public areas on board including a Forward lounge and bar accommodating all guests for presentations and gatherings, a restaurant, large library with Mac kiosks, open-air observation deck, underwater gear area and dual Zodiac boarding platform and “open Bridge,” where guests can meet the captain and officers and learn about navigation.

Daily Itinerary

Friday, June 11

Quito or Guayaquil, Ecuador

Arrive in Ecuador, either in Quito, Ecuador’s capital city in the Andes, or in the coastal city of Guayaquil, for an included transfer to your convenient hotel for an overnight stay. Both cities are well-served by international carriers, and Galápagos flights start and end in Quito with a stop in Guayaquil. Guests in Guayaquil stay at the locally owned Hotel Oro Verde or have the choice of several hotels in Quito, including a convenient airport hotel.

Note: For those preferring to fly into Quito and overnight, please note the city sits at a 9,350 ft elevation. This is an alternative option to Guayaquil, at no additional cost, and is recommended if guests take advantage of an optional extension.

Saturday, June 12

Quito OR Guayaquil/Galápagos/Embark (B,L,D)

This morning, take a required flight to the Galápagos Islands (booked by Lindblad Expeditions at an additional cost) and board National Geographic Endeavour II. After lunch, begin your exploration of the islands and their diverse wildlife.

Sunday, June 13 – Friday, June 18

Galápagos Islands (B,L,D daily)

Listed below is a sample of islands you may visit during your expedition. All ship itineraries are subject to Galápagos National Park regulations.

North Seymour: Follow coastal trails past Galápagos sea lions on this wildlife-rich central island. Continue inland through a silvery forest of endemic palo santo trees, where frigatebirds nest, blue-footed boobies dance and prehistoric-looking land iguanas feed on cactus.

Rábida: Land on a red-sand beach on this volcanically varied island, where we explore inland. We may see flamingos feeding in a brackish lagoon and clownish brown pelicans putting on a playful performance from their nests. Jump in the surrounding waters for a snorkel or explore by kayak or paddleboard.

Fernandina: One of the most active oceanic volcanoes in the world, Fernandina is the youngest and most pristine island in the Galápagos — and home to the strange flightless cormorant, Galápagos penguins and the largest marine iguanas. On shore, hike across impressive recent lava flows.

Isabela: Cross the equator at Volcán Ecuador, northernmost of Isabela’s six great shield volcanoes. Keep an eye out for whales and dolphins, sea turtles and the elusive ocean sunfish. Follow in the footsteps of Charles Darwin and Herman Melville and look for wildlife along the wildly eroded volcanic shore.

Santiago: Explore tide pools and look for fur seals sheltered in quiet grottos of black basalt. Swim, snorkel, kayak and paddleboard along spectacular shorelines and explore an enchanting coastal forest where Charles Darwin once walked.

Santa Cruz: Call at Puerto Ayora, the largest town and headquarters of both the Charles Darwin Research Station and Galápagos National Park. Head to the lush, green highlands to see giant tortoises roaming in the wild.

San Cristóbal: Search for red-footed boobies and the endemic mockingbird and lava lizard — found only on this easternmost island. Explore Baquerizo Moreno, where sea lion colonies thrive in the middle of town.

Saturday, June 19

Galápagos /Disembark/Quito OR Guayaquil (B)

Disembark this morning for a return flight to the mainland, then transfer to Hotel Oro Verde in Guayaquil, or have several options in Quito, including a convenient airport hotel. The afternoon and evening are at your leisure. You may be able to take advantage of overnight flights home.

Sunday, June 20

Quito OR Guayaquil (B)

After breakfast, transfer to the airport and board flights home.

Optional Extensions

Tropical Andes & Colonial Quito – Pre-Voyage Extension

6 days

Before your Galápagos adventure, discover the lesser-known wonders of mainland Ecuador on this six-day adventure in the Andes. Explore Quito, a UNESCO World Heritage site, from the comfort of historic Casa Gangotena on Plaza San Francisco. Then immerse yourself in the heart of the Ecuadorian Chocó, one of the world’s top five biodiversity hotspots, at Mashpi Lodge.

See Quito – Pre-Voyage Extension

3 Days

From your base at the Swissôtel Quito, experience this vibrant city — the world’s first UNESCO World Heritage site — with its dazzling colonial churches and bustling traditional markets. Focus your explorations on the Centro Histórico, where a colonial legacy blends with contemporary Andean culture. This extension adds just one night to your voyage, giving you time to get acclimated to Ecuador before your expedition.

Reservations & Payment

To confirm your place, an advance payment of 15% of the cabin fare per person is required and is payable by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover or check through the Lindblad portal. Receipt of advance payment indicates your acceptance of the terms and conditions.

FINAL PAYMENT: Payment is due 120 days prior to departure. Lindblad Expeditions reserves the right to cancel your reservation if payment has not been received by final payment due date.

Cancellations

Cancellation Fee Policy (Per Person) - 120 or more days prior to expedition start: No penalty. Advance payment will be credited toward your next expedition.

** 119-90 days prior to expedition start: 50% of trip cost**

*** 89-0 days prior to expedition start: 100% of trip cost***

**Advance payments will be credited in the form of a Lindblad Expeditions Travel Certificate, valid for 12 months from the date of cancellation, and which may only be applied towards final payment on any future booking.

***Trip cost is total price paid including extensions, charter airfare and other additional services. We strongly recommend that you purchase a travel protection plan.

Insurance

To help safeguard your travel investment, belongings and well-being, a robust Travel Protection Plan is available, through our tour operator, Lindblad Expeditions. Information will be sent to you upon registration.

Nature requires flexibility

Your guides may alter the timing of activities to best suit the conditions and ensure you see the most wildlife.

Due to the nature of wildlife programs, itineraries are subject to change. We cannot fully predict where wildlife will be, and our specific itinerary will depend largely on the weather conditions each day. The itinerary provides examples of the sorts of experiences that we’ll seek during the week, but please come with flexibility. Our guides adjust the itinerary accordingly to maximize your opportunities to enjoy the Galápagos. Shedd Aquarium partners with responsible operators that follow rules and regulations in place to protect wildlife.

FAQs