Aqua Mare Galapagos Cruises

For the second morning in the Galapagos Islands, the ship anchors in the southern part of the Archipelago at Floreana Island. After breakfast, the morning wet landing excursion takes all to a big brackish water lagoon to observe greater flamingos, ducks, black-necked stilts and other shorebirds at Punta Cormorant. Observe where sea turtles nest at night, and spot stingrays and sharks swimming very close to the shore.

Enjoy a splendid lunch consisting of fresh Ecuadorian recipes with an Andean twist before heading back out to Floreana to pay tribute to an old island tradition at Bahía Post Office. The visit will follow another quick tour of what once was a fishing enterprise in the 1920s before continuing on board the tenders to visit Mirador de la Baronesa. Upon returning on board Aqua Mare, enjoy another feast showcasing a blend of Japanese technique and Peruvian seasoning through delicacies such as the tuna tartare and quinoa yakimeshi. Stay out on the upper deck with a cocktail if you would like to admire the northern and southern hemispheres’ starlit skies tonight.

Diving: this optional, added-cost activity is available today. For details read Aqua Mare FAQ’s for scuba diving.

After a night of sailing, the morning sees your beautiful superyacht anchored on the western side of Isabela Island. As the biggest and youngest island in the Archipelago, Isabela was formed by five relatively young volcanoes and is characterized by giant tortoises and marine iguanas. For the morning excursion, a hike at Punta Moreno takes you to the mangroves and gas-rich basaltic lava rocks resulting from a large basaltic lava flow which came from the Cerro Azul volcano on Isabela hundreds of years ago. There are mangrove lagoons along the shore, where you will embark on a dinghy ride to observe marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, and penguins among other species.

In the afternoon, the Aqua Mare will sail north to Bahía Urbina, a 2.3-square-mile (6km²) point, once underwater and uplifted in 1954 up to ~10 feet (3m) above sea level. Here you can see land iguanas, some of the biggest marine iguanas roaming free in the Archipelago, and on occasion, tortoises as well. You’ll end the day with an unforgettable view of Isabela’s five volcanoes while dining on macambo rice, fish maito and candied pear beneath the stars.

Start the morning early with a workout on the sun deck at your next anchorage point of Punta Espinoza, part of a huge lava flow formed from one of the many eruptions of the La Cumbre volcano, known to be one of the most active volcanoes in the world. The region is famous for its large colonies of marine iguanas, flightless cormorants and lizards. You might come across Galapagos penguins, Galapagos hawks and snakes as well. You will spend the morning on shore with the option to snorkel before returning to the yacht for a sumptuous lunch.

As Aqua Mare crosses the Bolivar Channel back towards Isabela Island, prepare to channel your inner pirate for the afternoon excursion visiting Caleta Tagus, once a favorite anchorage spot for pirates and whalers. Here you will hike to see Darwin Lake, a saltwater lake trapped inside a tuff cone. If you would rather not hike, you can take your pick from the ship’s four double kayaks, snorkeling, stand-up paddleboarding or a ride on the ship’s elegant black tenders to explore the cove and its surroundings. Return to the yacht for evening sundowners and head to the bridge after dinner for a chat with your captain as you cross the equatorial line twice.

This morning, take a tender ride to Caleta Bucanero, a 17th century pirate rest stop where pirates used to stock up on fresh tortoise meat and fresh water. If ocean conditions are unfavorable, visit Playa Espumilla instead, a golden sandy beach which is a well-known breeding ground for sea turtles.

Head back to the yacht for lunch encompassing flavors of the South American Pacific coast through specially prepared dishes like the linguine ai frutti di mare. Next, disembark on the black-sand beaches of Puerto Egas, northwest of Santiago Island. You will be able to walk the intertidal zone to the fur seal grottos or snorkel to watch sea turtles, sea lions and white-tipped sharks.

Wind down back on board with Happy Hour over a glass of the ship’s special Aqua Bloody Mare as the crew prepares for departure to your next adventure.

Awake to the sounds of nature and a fresh breakfast before departing by tender to Rábida Island, also known as the red island. The color is the result of oxidation of very old porous lava. Choose to hike, kayak, stand-up paddleboard or snorkel, as well as observe hundreds of sea lions who have made their home on the beach.

After a delicious lunch, listen to an afternoon lecture on the evolution of Darwin’s finches presented by the onboard expert guides in the Panoramic Lounge. The Aqua Mare will sail towards the north of Santa Cruz Island, to Caleta Tortuga Negra, a mangrove estuary that is home to sea turtles. This is a tender ride excursion as there is no landing site, but watch for green sea turtles, as well as three different types of sharks: the black tip, the Galapagos and the famous blue shark. End this glorious day discovering more signature Ecuadorian cuisine with an Andean twist courtesy of Chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino.

Diving: this optional, added-cost activity is available today. For details read Aqua Mare FAQ’s for scuba diving.

The penultimate day in the Archipelago begins with a refreshing breakfast before heading out to North Seymour Island, formed by uprisings of underwater volcanic lavas some 3.1 million years ago. The island is mostly known for its healthy population of land iguanas, blue-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls and great frigatebirds. After a morning full of fun activities, head back to the yacht for a delicious lunch aboard Aqua Mare.

For the afternoon excursion, hop on to a tender for a wet landing onto Mosquera Island. While the rock pile is one of the smallest in the Archipelago, it is home to one of the largest colonies of sea lions in the Galapagos Islands, and with luck one may even spot migratory orcas. Around sunset, return to the sleek comfort of Aqua Mare for the last evening aboard. Swap notes on all the experiences from this most incredible adventure with friends on board and toast farewell with something special from the ship’s curated wine list.

Diving: this optional, added-cost activity is available today. For details read Aqua Mare FAQ’s for scuba diving.

The last day begins with a luxurious breakfast set against the morning sunrise. Enjoy the views from Aqua Mare before making your way to Baltra Island for disembarkation. Bid farewell to the crew and your beautiful home for the past week.

You will be escorted to the airport for your flight back to the mainland and onward journey home, with all the wonderful memories to cherish forever.