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Zodiac to pristine beaches, kayak or stand-up paddleboard along volcanic shores, explore wildlife on land or under the sea. Experience the Galápagos aboard our elegant and nimble ship, well-equipped for up-close exploration. Perfect for couples, families, and solo travelers. Encounter abundant wildlife—blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas, Darwin’s finches, pink flamingos, giant tortoises and more. The wildlife of Galápagos is legendary for being without fear in the presence of humans.
May 9-18, 2025
National Geographic Galapagos
Galápagos Expedition with Lindblad National Geographic
The Galapagos Experience
North Seymour | Isabela | Fernandina | Española | Floreana | Santa Cruz | Bartolomé | Santiago | Genovesa | San Cristobal
- Itinerary
- Top Pricing
- Payments & Cancellations
- Terms & Conditions
- Endeavour Two
- Pre Cruise Extension
- Post Cruise Extension
Itinerary
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DAY 1 – May 9
Quito or Guayaquil, Ecuador
We meet you on arrival 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 Galapagos flights start and end in Quito with a stop in Guayaquil. Guests in Guayaquil stay at the locally owed Hotel Oro Verde and have the choice of several hotels in Quito, including a convenient airport hotel. You may opt for a pre-voyage extension to Mashpi Reserve in the tropical Andes outside Quito, a biodiversity hotspot. Or choose to reserve additional hotel nights and tours in Quito or Guayaquil.
Arrival Time: Anytime.
Arrival City: Quito or Guayaquil, Ecuador -
DAY 2 – May 10
Quito or Guayaquil / Galápagos Islands
In the morning we will fly to the Galápagos and embark the National Geographic Endeavour II. After lunch, our journey begins as we explore the islands and their remarkable wildlife.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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DAYS 3-8 – May 11-16
Galápagos Islands
North Seymour:
Follow coastal trails past playful 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 where we may also encounter prehistoric-looking land iguanas feeding on cactus.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. Over two days, land in the footsteps of Darwin and Melville, and look for wildlife along the wildly eroded volcanic shore.Fernandina:
One of the most active oceanic volcanoes in the world, Fernandina is the youngest and most pristine island in Galápagos — and home to the strange flightless cormorant, Galápagos penguins, and the largest marine iguanas. Hikes ashore lead across impressive recent lava flows.Española:
See swallow-tailed gulls, Española mockingbirds, Nazca boobies and, seasonally, the world’s only population of waved albatross at this bird paradise, also home to vividly colored marine iguanas. Watch sea lions on the white sand beach, and snorkel offshore at Gardner Bay.Floreana:
Follow a trail past a rose pink-tinted lagoon sometimes frequented by flamingos. Snorkel among sea lions and abundant fish, or cruise along Champion Islet by Zodiac. Visit the historic mail barrel at Post Office Bay.Santa Cruz:
Visit Puerto Ayora, the largest town and headquarters of both the Galápagos National Park and Charles Darwin Research Station. See the monument to Lonesome George, and tour the giant tortoise breeding corrals. Witness the giant tortoises roaming in the wild in the lush, green highlands.Bartolomé:
Climb the steps to the summit of this 300-foot volcanic wonderland for stunning views. Explore, swim, and snorkel from the beach. Catch a glimpse of Galápagos penguins, one of the world’s rarest.Santiago:
Explore tide pools and look for fur seals sheltered in quiet grottos of black basalt. Swim, snorkel, kayak, and paddleboard along Santiago’s spectacular coast, and explore an enchanting coastal forest where Charles Darwin once walked.Genovesa:
Sail across the Equator to the remote northern realm of the Galápagos into this flooded caldera, home to over one million seabirds. Visit Prince Philip’s Steps at the top of the island. Highlights along the trail are many, from Nazca, red- and blue-footed boobies and frigates, to gulls, owls, fur seals, hammerhead sharks, turtles, and manta rays.San Cristobal:
Search for red-footed boobies and the endemic mockingbird and lava lizard — found only on this easternmost island. Walk along the powdery white sand at a gorgeous beach fronted by iconic Kicker Rock. Explore Baquerizo Moreno, where sea lions thrive in the middle of town.Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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DAY 9 – May 17
Galápagos Islands / Disembark / Guayaquil or Quito
Disembark this morning for a return flight to the mainland, where we transfer to Hotel Oro Verde in Guayaquil, and 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. Ask your expedition specialist about Peru, Quito, and other post-voyage options. Many guests upon arrival in Guayaquil continue on a flight to Lima, Peru for Galápagos Aboard National Geographic Endeavour II + Peru’s Land of the Inca.
Meals Included: Breakfast=
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DAY 10 – May 18
Guayaquil or Quito
After breakfast, transfer to the airport and board flights home, unless you have arranged for additional nights or an extension.
Departure Time: Anytime on day 10, or anytime after 7:00 p.m. local time on day 9.
Departure City: Guayaquil or Quito
Meals Included: Breakfast
PRICES per person, double occupancy
Category 2 – $10,561
Category 3 – $11,683
Category 2S SOLO – $13,491 (1 available)
Category BS SUITE – $17,981 approx. (ON REQUEST)
PLUS $100 per person shipboard credit
Triple accomodations are not available. $500 per person discount extended to all guests under age 18.
PRICE INCLUDES
9 Night Cruise on the National Geographic Endeavour II
Accommodations aboard ship and in hotels as well as transfers per itinerary
All meals aboard ship
All non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages aboard ship (except certain premium brands)
All shore excursions and sightseeing
Entrance fees, special access permits
Taxes, service charges and port charges
Services of the ship’s physician
Lindblad Expeditions’ Leader and Naturalist staff
Local guides
$100 pp Shipboard Credit
PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE
Airfare
Travel insurance, visas and items of a personal nature
**Travel insurance is recommended**
PAYMENTS: A non refundable deposit of 15% of voyage fare per person is due with reservation. Final payment is due January 2, 2025. Payments may be made by check, cash, or zelle. (We accept MC, VI & AX).
CANCELLATIONS:
If cancelled prior to January 2, 2025, a $500 per person fee is assessed. After January 2, 2025 penalty is 50% of voyage fare. After Feb 8, 2025 penalty is 100%.
INSURANCE IS HIGHLY RECOMMENED.
FULL LEGAL NAMES: must be given as stated on PASSPORT.
INSURANCE: Cancellation insurance is highly recommended. Insurance information will be provided to you. If for some reason you have not been given an insurance application, please call our office immediately. Please read the information brochure carefully before sending payment to the insurance carrier. If you have a pre-existing condition, insurance must be purchased before final payment is made. If you wish to purchase “cancel anytime” insurance, it must be done when deposit is received. Insurance does not cover a pandemic.
SHARON CARR TRAVEL IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR WEATHER-RELATED OR MECHANICAL DELAYS.
Any out of pocket expenses caused by airline delays are the sole responsibility of the client and any refunds due are at the sole discretion of the airline. Client must contact the airline directly for any reimbursement. Once again, INSURANCE IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
RESPONSIBILITY: Sharon Carr Travel/Journey House offers retail travel services to customers, which are provided by separate and independent vendors of travel services. Sharon Carr Travel/Journey House does not operate, control, or otherwise provide the services of the independent travel vendors. Hence, customer agrees that Sharon Carr Travel/Journey House acts only as agent for the client in acquiring transportation, hotel accommodations, sightseeing, and other privileges, or services for the clients’ benefit, and on the express condition that Sharon Carr Travel/Journey House shall not be responsible for any loss, accident, injury, delay, defect, pandemic, omission or irregularity which may occur or be occasioned, whether by reason of any act, negligence or default of any company or person engaged in or responsible for carrying out any of the arrangements, or otherwise in connection there with. The suppliers reserve the right to make minor adjustments to the itinerary. Sharon Carr Travel /Journey House will not be held responsible should any of these suppliers fail to provide the travel services purchased, whether through default or any other cause. Sharon Carr Travel /Journey House is not responsible for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air schedules or other causes. All such losses or expenses will be the responsibility of the member of the tour. Sharon Carr Travel /Journey House is not responsible for any loss or damage to luggage during the tour. Also, Sharon Carr Travel /Journey House is not liable for any illnesses contracted during or after travel, is not liable for medical care or the adequacy of any care that may be rendered during or after travel. Acceptance of the Tour Contract will serve as a Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk Agreement. This agreement is binding on your heirs, legal representatives and assigns. If, for some reason, a trip must be rescheduled due to any of the above reasons, participants are bound by the new dates of travel, and can only obtain a refund if insurance has been purchased and insurer is contractually bound. SHARON CARR TRAVEL IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR WEATHER RELATED OR MECHANICAL DELAYS.
NOTE TO TRAVELER: The traveler assumes and understands that there is a risk involved with travel and travel activities and/or excursions. The traveler is responsible for reading and abiding by all Health and Safety protocols of the vendor & the destination prior to travel, has reviewed the travel itinerary for accuracy, has been advised of all applicable fees imposed by Sharon Carr Travel/Journey House Travel and the suppliers, and has been offered the option of purchasing trip cancellation/interruption insurance. The traveler also understands that discounted fares and vacation packages typically involve restrictions and that changing any aspect of any travel arrangements may result in the payment of additional money.
The National Geographic Endeavour II navigates the Galápagos archipelago and is outfitted with a range of expedition equipment—including kayaks, Zodiac landing craft, a glass-bottom Zodiac, and snorkeling gear—ideally suited for exploring the wildlife-rich Ecuadorian isles.
The Endeavour II is fully air-conditioned and includes a partially covered deck with tables and chairs, a sun deck, and a lounge with a full-service bar and facilities for films, slide shows, and presentations. Public areas also include a library, a fitness center, a spa, and a global gallery. A full-time doctor and video chronicler accompany every voyage; and Internet access, laundry service, and a wellness program are also available.
Meals are served in a single seating with unassigned tables for an informal atmosphere and easy mingling. The menu is international with an Ecuadorian flair. Our Ecuadorian captain and officers welcome guests to the bridge in accordance with our “Open Bridge” policy.
Staterooms
Category 1 |All cabins face outside with a large window, two single beds that can convert to a queen-sized bed. Furniture includes an armchair, desk, two nightstands, and a closet.
Category 2 | All cabins feature two single beds that can be convert to a queen-sized bed with a large window. Furniture includes an armchair, desk, two nightstands, and a closet. Cabins 224 & 225 can accommodate a third person with a fold-down murphy bed. Cabins 226/228 and 227/229 are interlocking with a connecting door.
Category 3 | All cabins face outside with a large window, two single beds that can convert to a queen-sized bed. Furniture includes an armchair, desk, two nightstands, and a closet. Cabins 326 & 328 can accommodate a third person with a fold-down murphy bed. Cabins 315/317, 316/318, and 320/322 are interlocking with a connecting door.
Category 2s SOLO | #203-209 – These cabins face outside with a large window and two single beds that can convert to a queen. In the cabin you will also find an armchair, desk, two nightstands, and a closet. Equal in size and amenities to other Category 2 cabins.
Category BS Suite | #420, 422 – These suites feature floor-to-ceiling windows that provide incredible views and natural sunlight and are furnished with a sofa that converts to a single bed, double closet, writing desk and chair, two nightstands, mini fridge, espresso maker, oversized bathroom, plus two single beds convertible to a queen. Guests receive a welcome amenity, complimentary laundry, and priority access to one spa appointment per departure.
Deck Plans
Upper Deck
Bridge Deck
Lounge Deck
Tropical Andes & Colonial Quito
Featuring Mashpi Lodge, set in a 6,000-acre rainforest reserve
$3050 per person Double | $5560 per person Single
Before your Galapagos 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. See dazzling colonial churches and bustling traditional local markets. Then immerse yourself in the heart of the Ecuadorian Chocó, one of the world’s top five biodiversity hotspots, at Mashpi Lodge. Mashpi is a strikingly contemporary base on a 2,600-acre biodiversity reserve on the Pacific slope of the Andes, with resident biologists, naturalist guides, a life center, and remarkable access to the wild rainforest. It offers extensive hiking trails, a stunning open-air tram, observation towers, and even an ingenious aerial bicycle, all designed to get you out into nature. At 3,000-feet in the Equatorial tropical forest, Mashpi is less than three hours from our arrival point, Quito, with a moderate, semi-tropical climate.
Day 1 – Home/Quito, Ecuador
Fly to Quito, where we are met by our guide, and transfer to Casa Gangotena on Plaza San Francisco. Most flights arrive in the evening.
Day 2 – Quito
Tour the dazzling churches and monuments of old town—largest and best preserved colonial center in the Americas—and visit a revitalized traditional market with a local non-profit this morning on a walking tour. Take the afternoon at leisure to relax and explore. Elect to join an exclusive neighborhood visit for hotel guests. Gather for a welcome dinner at Restaurant Cedrón at Casa Gangotena, presenting Ecuadorian cuisine with modern flair. (B,D)
Day 3 – The Andes/Mashpi Lodge
After breakfast, journey 70 miles north across the Equator though dramatic Andean valleys to Mashpi Lodge, set in tropical forest at 3,000 feet.
After check-in and lunch, join resident naturalists on a nature walk. Search for the endemic Mashpi torrent frog and other nocturnal creatures after dinner tonight. (BLD)
Day 4 – Mashpi Lodge
We have the day to explore, where options and excursions arranged for us include a ride across the canopy in the aerial tram or innovative sky-bike, naturalist-led walks to waterfalls on well-constructed trails, a visit to the hummingbird feeders, and butterfly farm and the life center. Birds like endemic mountain tanagers, trogons, motmots, hummingbirds flock around the lodge verandas, and the surrounding forest is spectacular. Keep an eye open for the Chocó toucan, one of dozens of spectacular bird species endemic to this bio-region. The bird list tops 400 species. (B, L, D)
Day 5 – Mashpi Lodge/Quito
Return this morning with the guide to Casa Gangotena with a lunch stop en route. Join an neighborhood activity exclusive for hotel guests back in the historic center of Quito. Dinner and the rest of the evening is at leisure to prepare for our upcoming adventures in Galápagos. (B,L)
Day 6 – Quito/Guayaquil/Galápagos
Early this morning, transfer to the airport for the flight to Guayaquil, continuing to Galápagos with the main group. (B)
Cost Includes:
Accommodations, meals as indicated, porterage, soft drinks and bottled water, private guide and transfers in Quito, transport to the lodge, tours, lectures and hikes with naturalist guides at Mashpi, waterproof ponchos and rubber boots, water bottle, gratuity to guides and naturalists.
Not included:
International and domestic airfare, items of a personal nature, bar tab.
Peru’s Sacred Valley & Macchu Pichu
$6495 per person Double
DAY 9 – Galápagos Islands / Disembark Ship / Guayaquil / Lima, Peru
Depart Galápagos this morning and fly to Lima, Peru, via Guayaquil. Check into the Belmond Miraflores Park, set on a wide promenade overlooking the Pacific, where we spend two nights. Meals included: breakfast, lunch
DAY 10 – Lima
Explore World Heritage-designated colonial Lima this morning, where we stroll the Plaza Mayor and delight in a private welcome lunch with a special musical presentation at Casa Aliaga, one of the oldest houses in Lima. Then visit the extraordinary Larco Museum dedicated to pre-Columbian art. Return to our hotel with dinner on your own to sample local fare. Meals included: breakfast, lunch
DAY 11 – Lima / Cusco / Sacred Valley
Board a short scenic flight to Cusco this morning, and continue to Moray—a visually stunning Inca site with dramatic agricultural terraces in the heart of the fabled and fertile Urubamba Valley. After lunch and an opportunity to experience a local market, check into our hotel. Sol y Luna, a Relais & Chateâux property, is where we stay in individual casitas set in verdant greens. Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 12 – Sacred Valley
Spend the day exploring the archaeological sites and culture of the Sacred Valley in the company of National Geographic expert Peter Frost (or a colleague), who has lived and worked in Peru for decades. He or a colleague joins us for a talk at our hotel and a visit to the massive Inca stone fortress of Ollantaytambo, set above a thriving Inca community. Lunch is at a working, family-owned hacienda, where we are treated to a show of Peruvian Paso horses, and National Geographic grantee Nilda Callañaupa, founder of El Centro de Textiles Tradicionales de Cusco, demonstrates Inca weaving traditions. Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 13 – Sacred Valley / Machu Picchu
Marvel at the dramatic scenery and life along the river en route this morning by train to Machu Picchu, the Inca royal retreat famously introduced to the world by Hiram Bingham in the April 1913 issue of National Geographic magazine. Check-in at the historic 31-room Belmond Sanctuary Lodge, adjacent to the World Heritage site, with the leisure to explore over two days in the company of our hand-picked tour director and local guides. Lunch and dinner at the hotel. Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 14 – Machu Picchu / Cusco
Awaken this morning at Machu Picchu, where our local and veteran guides share their intimate understanding of this site, focusing on the history and far-reaching cultural influence. After lunch, return by train and bus to Cusco—the center of the Inca universe, a burgeoning cultural capital, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Check-in at the Belmond Hotel Monasterio on Plaza Nazarenas in the heart of Cusco for two nights. Occupying a monastery founded in 1592, our hotel—like much of colonial Cusco—is built atop Inca stones. Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 15 – Cusco
Explore the magnificently ornate 17th-century cathedral, sacred Inca Temple of the Sun, and other treasures of Cusco. Visit nearby Sacsayhuamán, where a series of imposing terrace walls, the most impressive yet, command views over the city. Relax, shop, or visit one of Cusco’s many churches and museums this afternoon. Dinner is on your own tonight. Meals included: breakfast, lunch
DAY 16 – Cusco / Lima
After breakfast and a final morning at leisure, say goodbye to the Land of the Inca and fly from Cusco back to Lima, connecting to flights home. Depending on your flight schedule, optional rooms at the Wyndham Costa del Sol Lima Airport Hotel are available, or join our Upper Amazon Expedition aboard Delfin II. Departure Time: Depart after 7:00 p.m. local time. Departure City: Lima, Peru Meals included: breakfast, lunch
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