Archipel I Catamaran — Comfortable Galapagos Cruise

Comfortable-category catamaran
Snorkel equipment included
Certified bilingual naturalist guide
Four routes: two of 4 days, two of 5 days
All meals and cabins with private bathroom

Duration
4 or 5 days
Difficulty
Easy
Departure
San Cristobal Airport, Galapagos (4-day A4 itinerary)
Departure days
Monday for the 4-day A4 and B4 itineraries, Thursday for the 5-day A5 and B5 itineraries
Languages
English and Spanish

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Tour overview

Short on time but not willing to compromise on where you go? The Archipel I is a Comfortable-category catamaran running four compact routes, two of 4 days and two of 5 days, each covering a completely different corner of the archipelago.

Choose the northern route and you sail to Genovesa, the caldera island reached by the Prince Philip’s Steps, where red-footed boobies and short-eared owls nest. Choose the western route and you cross to Fernandina’s Espinoza Point, the largest marine iguana colony on earth, and Tagus Cove with its graffiti carved by 19th-century whalers.

Cabins have private bathrooms, snorkel equipment is supplied, and all four routes are guided by a certified naturalist working in English and Spanish. Meals run from lunch on day one to breakfast on the last day.

The 4-day A4 route is detailed below. Ask us for the day-by-day of the B4, A5 or B5 programmes.

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Itinerary

Day 1 · Monday: San Cristobal: Interpretation Centre and Frigatebird Hill

Arrival at San Cristobal and transfer to the catamaran, then the Interpretation Centre and the walk up Frigatebird Hill, where both frigatebird species nest side by side.
Day 2 · Tuesday: South Plaza Island and Santa Fe Island

South Plaza with its red carpet of sesuvium, prickly-pear cactus forest and land iguanas, then Santa Fe, home to an endemic land iguana and a sheltered bay for snorkelling.
Day 3 · Wednesday: North Seymour and Chinese Hat

North Seymour for frigatebird and blue-footed booby colonies, then the volcanic cone of Chinese Hat and its lava fields, with snorkelling in the channel.
Day 4 · Thursday: Santa Cruz: El Chato Reserve, Twin Craters and departure

Giant tortoises in the wild at El Chato Reserve and the twin collapsed craters of Los Gemelos, then transfer to Baltra airport.

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What's included

Included

All meals, from lunch on day 1 to breakfast on the final day
Cabin accommodation with private bathroom
All excursions listed in the itinerary
Certified naturalist guide, bilingual Spanish/English
Snorkel equipment
Unlimited purified water, tea and coffee

Not included

Galapagos National Park entrance fee: US$200
Galapagos Transit Control Card: US$20 per person (subject to change)
International flights and Quito or Guayaquil – Galapagos – Quito or Guayaquil flights. Note: if you buy the Galapagos flights yourself, airport assistance in Quito or Guayaquil cannot be provided
Airport transfers in Quito or Guayaquil
Wetsuit rental: US$45 for 4 days, US$50 for 5 days, US$80 for 7 days
Alcoholic drinks and sodas (there is a bar on board)
Tips for the guide and crew
Any other personal expenses

What to bring

Cash for the National Park entrance fee and the Transit Control Card
Cash for tips for the guide and crew
Sun hat, sunglasses and high-factor sunscreen
Swimwear, a quick-dry towel and shoes you can get wet
Closed walking shoes for lava and rocky trails
A light jacket for evenings on deck

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Good to know

Which fees do I pay on top of the cruise rate?

The Galapagos National Park entrance fee of US$200 and the Transit Control Card of US$20 per person, which is subject to change.
Should I book my Galapagos flights with you?

We recommend it. If you buy the flights yourself, airport assistance in Quito or Guayaquil cannot be provided, so you would handle the mainland connections on your own.
Are wetsuits available?

Yes, for rent on board: US$45 for a 4-day cruise, US$50 for 5 days and US$80 for 7 days. Snorkel equipment itself is included in the rate.
Is there a discount for children?

Yes, 20% for children up to 11 years and 11 months, as long as they are accompanied by two paying adults.
Which route should I choose?

The A4 and B4 routes are 4 days and depart on Monday, covering the central and northern islands. The A5 and B5 routes are 5 days and depart on Thursday, reaching Isabela and Fernandina in the west, or Floreana, Española and San Cristobal in the south-east.