White and blue painted Galapagos small ship Evolution floats next to popular site Kicker Rock a tan volcanic cone that reaches up from the ocean.
A group of Galapagos travelers stand on an islands sandy beach with black lava rock against crystal blue and teal ocean water beyond them.
A blue footed bobby bird stands on black lava rock as an inflatable skiff holding cruise passengers dock on land behind it.
Tandem kayaking pair paddles an orange boat beside rocky cliffs in calm water on an Evolution Galapagos cruise.
Snorkeler on an Evolution Galapagos cruise swims along the water's surface beside a sea turtle in calm, clear conditions.
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South America Galapagos Islands Cruise

Evolution Galapagos Cruises

For most travelers, the Galapagos is a once-in-a-lifetime trip, and a Galapagos cruise aboard the Evolution offers one of the finest cruise experiences available. At nearly 200 feet and only 32 guests, the Evolution is a spacious and service-oriented yacht with a high crew-to-passenger ratio. She has all the modern amenities and loving attention to detail in her design, yet retains the adventurous atmosphere and charm of a Roaring Twenties small boat. The carefully selected professional and friendly naturalists aboard Evolution are the most knowledgeable in the region, with an average of 15 years of experience guiding on the Islands. 

Evolution operates two 8-day Galapagos cruise itineraries, which can be combined to create an all-encompassing 15-day cruise. Look for special family departures with Kids Club activities like stargazing and movie nights, plus child-oriented guides, making Evolution a great choice among our Galapagos family cruises. We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Call today to inquire about a specific Galapagos Evolution itinerary or to learn more about Galapagos Evolution small ship cruises.

Experience the full spectrum of Galapagos wildlife that made the Islands famous and inspired Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. Many Galapagos cruises avoid the long navigations to save costs, but Evolution believes that a true Galapagos experience involves visiting the most remote islands as well. Amongst these is Genovesa Island, found far north on the archipelago. Visit this “Island of Birds” and be amazed at the variety of bird life that inhabits this partially submerged volcano. 

The 8-day Footsteps Back in Time itinerary highlights include: Stopping at all the important visitor sites that have shaped the Galapagos islands through history and evolution. Experience all the wonderful flora and fauna of the region while visiting nine islands of this enchanted archipelago, including San Cristobal, South Plaza, Santa Cruz, Mosquera, Santiago, Genovesa, North Seymour, Santa Fe and Floreana.  

The 8-day In the Steps of Pirates itinerary highlights include: Visiting nine islands of this enchanted archipelago, including Baltra, Isabela, Fernandina, Bartolome, Santiago, Santa Cruz, Rabida, Espanola and San Cristobal. Regular opportunities to snorkel, kayak, swim, hike and enjoy panga rides mean interaction with endemic Galapagos species is accessible to travelers of various activity levels.

Read on for details about this trip, or learn more about an AdventureSmith Galapagos cruise and all our Galapagos trips. Our experts have been on an Evolution Galapagos cruise firsthand; learn more in our MV Evolution Galapagos Review.



Itinerary

Footsteps Back In Time Itinerary

This 8-day San Cristobal to Baltra itinerary follows the “footsteps back in time” itinerary, stopping at all the important visitor sites that have shaped the Galapagos islands through history and evolution. Experience all the wonderful flora and fauna of the region while visiting nine islands of this enchanted archipelago, including San Cristobal, South Plaza, Santa Cruz, Mosquera, Santiago, Genovesa, North Seymour, Santa Fe and Floreana.

Galapagos cruise route map showing visits to San Cristobal, Isla Lobos, South Plaza, Santa Cruz, Mosquera, Santiago, Genovesa, North Seymour, Santa Fe and Floreana islands.
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Day 1
SAT - Embark San Cristobal to Cerro Brujo

You’ll need to rise early this morning to catch your flight to the Galapagos. All flights to the Galapagos originate in Quito and stop briefly in the port city of Guayaquil to take on passengers before heading on to the islands. For this itinerary you will be landing on the island of San Cristobal. After passing through Galapagos National Park inspection your National Park Guide will be there to greet you holding a sign with the name of your yacht on it and will accompany you on the short bus ride to the waterfront.

San Cristobal was the first island Darwin visited when he arrived in the Galapagos in 1835 aboard HMS Beagle. He reported encountering a pair of giant tortoises feeding on cactus during that outing. Today the airport of this easternmost island in the chain is increasingly used as the arrival point for flights into and out of the Galapagos. The administrative capital for the province is Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on the southwestern shore. In 1998 the Galapagos National Park Visitor Center opened for the benefit of islanders and travelers alike, presenting a comprehensive exhibit of the islands’ natural history, human interaction, ecosystems, flora and fauna. It is also the place where cultural activities take place, including theater, exhibitions and workshops. From the Interpretation Center, a short trail arrives at Frigate Bird Hill, where both magnificent frigates and great frigates can be seen in the same colony—ideal for learning to distinguish the two bird species. If your crew requires a bit more time to prepare the ship, then you may take in the Visitor Center before heading to the dock.

At the dock, board your dinghy (panga) to make the short crossing to the ship. You only need to bring your carry-on luggage aboard the panga as your crew will transfer the rest of your luggage to your cabin. You’ll have time to settle into your new home for the week before assembling on deck to review safety procedures and coming events with your Galapagos National Park Guide. While this is taking place the ship will start her engines and set out to the first landing site.

Heading up the coast from Wreck Bay and Puerto Baquerizo, spot Leon Dormido to the north. Also known as Kicker Rock, the spectacular formation rises 500 feet (152 meters) out of the Pacific. It takes the form of a sleeping lion (hence its Spanish name), but from another angle you can see that the rock is split, forming a colossal tablet and, piercing the sea, a great chisel ready for etching.

St out along the coast of San Cristobal heading northeast toward your first landing at Cerro Brujo. This inviting powdery beach beside a turquoise waters is a great introduction to the islands offering your first opportunity to go snorkeling with sea turtles, rays and the archipelago’s playful ‘wolves of the sea’ i.e. sea lions. After walking the trail in search of baby sea lion and boobies beneath the salt bushes, you have a real treat in store.

Following your outing you will discover that the best place to warm up from your dip is in the ship’s oversized Jacuzzi. Your afternoon comes to a close as you head south back to Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Enjoy your first
Pacific sunset aboard the ship by celebrating happy hour atop her sky lounge where drinks are available daily along with hors d’oeuvres. A little later, gather in the main salon for the daily presentation by your guide on the next day’s activates and visitor sites, before sitting down to dinner. Spend a bit more time in port this evening before setting sail for your next destination to the northwest.

Accommodations

Evolution

Meals

lunch, dinner

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Day 2
SUN - South Plaza, Punta Carrion (Santa Cruz) & Mosquera

South Plazas Island lies just a few hundred meters off the east coast of Santa Cruz Island and is one of the smallest, yet richest islands in the archipelago. Just over 400 feet wide, it was formed by lava upwelling from the bottom of the ocean. Your landing is in the channel between North and South Plaza, where the island tilts toward the water. South Plaza is known for its lush and diverse flora. A grove of luminescent green prickly-pear cacti, a ground cover of red sesuvium, the turquoise waters of the channel and fiery Sally Lightfoot crabs against the black lava rock combine to create a colorful palate of an island to explore. One of the big attractions here are the friendly yellow land iguanas waiting for lunch to drop from a cactus in the form of a prickly pear. Follow a trail up the tilt of the island to cliffs that look out over the ocean. Swallow-tailed gulls, with red banded eyes, nest atop the overlook where you may spot marine life such as manta rays. South Plaza has a very healthy population of sea lions including a colony of bachelors that sit atop the cliff. They unintentionally polish the surrounding rocks with the oil from their fur. You may see red-billed tropic birds, Nazca (masked) and blue-footed boobies catching rides on the wind currents.

Between the north end of Santa Cruz Island and the Galapagos’s other airport on Baltra Island lays narrow Itabaca Channel. The channel takes less than 5 minutes to cross by ferry. Punta Carrion juts out from the north of Santa Cruz Island to mark the southeastern entrance to the channel and the snorkeling/dive site that it gives its name. It’s time to step up your snorkeling just a bit with some real rewards. The inviting green-turquoise cove close to shore will beckon you to enter the water. Friendly cousins of the sea lion welcoming committee from yesterday will of course be there to make you feel right at home and introduce you to large schools of yellow-tail surgeon fish interwoven with large parrot fish interlopers. Creole fish and blue stripped sea slugs and moray eels inhabit the spaces in the rocks. You can stay in the shallow, protected cove or venture out toward the deeper waters where white tipped-reef sharks and the occasional hammerhead inhabit the channel and tuna and red-tailed snapper pass through. Ashore you will see blue-footed boobies, brown pelicans; Galapagos herons and great blue herons. Located between North Seymour and Baltra is the small island of Mosquera. The island consists of a long narrow stretch of white sand, rocks and tide pools. Created by geological uplift, the island has a flat look to it rather than the conical shape of the volcanically formed islands. A stroll down the beach offers views of the brown pelicans, boobies and colonies of sea lions that like to laze here. The tiny spit of land has one of the largest populations of sea lions in Galapagos. Along the rocks and in the tide pools are the now familiar Sally Lightfoot crabs (red lava crabs). They follow the tide eating the algae and detritus left behind. Ever aware of movement around them, the Sally Lightfoot is quick to escape from approaching predators, in stark contrast to the unabashed way the crabs climb over the sedentary marine iguanas.

A short distance to the east of Mosquera you will notice a small table-like island and just to the south of this, an island comprised of a single volcanic cone (called a tuff cone). The larger island is known as Daphne Major and the smaller table island is Daphne Minor. You will be navigating close by the larger of the two islands, Daphne Major. Though Daphne is just a short distance from Baltra, with its airport, the Galapagos National Park restricts visits here. Because her shores are teeming with life, especially birds, you will cruise past her shores for a look. The island has been of central focus to scientific researchers and featured in The Beak of the Finch, the Pulitzer Prize winning non-fiction book about the work done by biologists Paul & Rosemary Grant. You will not only see finches, but short-eared owls, masked boobies and Galapagos martins as you pass along her shores. Your day ends aboard the ship’s sky lounge as you raise your glass to the Pacific sunset. Your next landing is just off the southeastern shore of Santiago Island looming to the northeast.

Accommodations

Evolution

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 3
MON - Chinese Hat & James Bay (Santiago)

Tiny Sombrero Chino (Chinese Hat) Island is named for the resemblance its shape has to a traditional Chinese worker’s hat. Today’s visitor site is off limits to larger groups and day boats, making Sombrero Chino, along with Daphne Major, one of the least-visited sites in the central islands. The island lies just off the southeastern tip of the large nearby island of Santiago; separated by a narrow channel which makes for very calm, protected waters. Your landing site is a tiny crescent-shaped cove with sandy white beach cradled between black lava rocks and the crystal turquoise waters of the channel. A sea lion colony likes to rest on the warm white sands, while the rockier sections of the coast are alive with fiery colored Sally Lightfoot crabs. Marine iguanas sun themselves atop the rocks after foraging for algae in the channel. American oyster catchers stalk the tide pools stabbing at shellfish with their bright orange beaks. A quarter mile (400 meter) trail sets off into the island’s volcanic interior to explore its rock formations, including excellent examples of pahoehoe lava resembling black rock ropes. The area is inhabited by ground-hugging red sesuvim plants and curious lava lizards.

Back at the cove you will not only have another opportunity to snorkel with sea lions, but rockier sections of the coastline are inhabited by Galapagos penguins that dart past unsuspecting snorkelers. You’ll also have a chance to see the penguins during a panga ride. Galapagos penguins are the only species of penguin you’ll find living north of the nearby equator. Paddlers will have the opportunity to kayak or paddleboard here in the areas that are not off limits (indicated by National Park Signs).

In the early afternoon, set out west, making your way along the length of Santiago’s dramatic southern coastline before turning north up her western shore as you make for James Bay (Puerto Egas). This location offers access to three unique sites. One landing is on a black beach with intriguing eroded rock formations inland. A trail crosses the dry interior eastward and rises to the rim of an extinct volcanic crater; cracks within it allow sea water to seep in, which then dries to form salt deposits that have been mined in the past. Darwin describes his visit to South James Bay in Voyage of the Beagle.

Another path leads south, where hikers are treated to a series of crystal-clear grottos formed of broken lava tubes. These are home to sea lions and tropical fish. This is the best place in the islands to see fur sea lions as they laze on the rocks by the grottos. Further to the north, another landing and path lead to a series of inland lagoons, home to flamingos. Birders coming to James Bay will have the opportunity to spot vermillion flycatchers, Galapagos hawks and the tool-wielding woodpecker finch. Puerto Egas is a good spot for taking pictures—the light for photography is perfect at sunset, when the distinct rock layers that form on the shore are lit up. The lava and the black sand seem to catch fire and the animals acquire a surreal quality. The marine iguanas that inhabit the area resemble Samurai warriors and can easily be seen grazing on seaweed in the more shallow pools near the grottos.

Accommodations

Evolution

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 4
TUE - Darwin Bay & Prince Phillip's Steps (Genovesa)

Tower Island could serve as a film set for a remote secret submarine base. The southwestern part of the island is an ocean-filled caldera ringed by the outer edges of a sizeable and mostly submerged volcano. The island sits to the northwest, slightly removed from the Galapagos archipelago. It is also known as Bird Island, a name it lives up to in a spectacular way. Landing on the white coral sands of Darwin Bay and walking up the beach, you will be surrounded by the bustling activity of great frigate birds. Puffball chicks and their proud papas—who sport bulging scarlet throat-sacks—crowd the surrounding branches, while yellow-crowned herons and lava herons feed by the shore. Farther along you will discover a stunning series of sheltered pools set into a rocky outcrop. Watch your step for marine iguanas, lava lizards and Galapagos doves that blend with the trail. The trail beside the pools leads up to a cliff overlooking the ocean filled caldera, where pairs of swallow-tailed gulls, the only nocturnal gulls in the world, can be seen nesting at the cliff’s edge. Lava gulls and pintail ducks ride the sea breezes nearby.

A brief panga ride brings you to the base of those same cliffs to reveal the full variety of bird species sheltering in the ledges and crevices created by the weathered basalt. Among them, red-billed tropic birds enter and leave their nests trailing exotic kite-like tails. This is also an intriguing place to go deep-water snorkeling. Tower offers two very different snorkeling experiencing along the cliffs that form the inner part of the caldera.

The center of the caldera is very deep and attracts hammerheads and large manta rays which sometimes patrol the western edge of the caldera that is more open to the sea. You can snorkel here gazing down into the depths where you just may spot these large animals if you are fortunate. But don’t worry, if you don’t really want to see them there is an equally amazing and far more sheltered snorkeling experience for you across the bay.

Across the bay is Prince Phillip’s Steps, named for a visit by the British Monarch in 1964. The shoreline here falls off less sharply into the depths and is far more protected. The first thing you will notice when snorkeling here are very large tropical fish. These are warm water fish feeding off cold water nutrients. You’ll find the full  assortment here including oversize parrot, unicorn, angel and hogfish along with schools of perch, surgeon fish and various types of butterfly fish. Hiding in and around the rocky shoreline that drops off into the caldera you will also see a rainbow assortment of wrasse, basslet, anthias and tang. This is the place to bring your underwater tropical fish identification chart. There are some special treats to be found here including occasional visits by fur sea lions. This area of the bay is also excellent for some kayaking or paddleboarding in the calm waters close to the shore to observe nesting birds.

Prince Phillip’s actual steps are an 81-foot-tall (25 meters) stairway leading up to a narrow stretch of land that opens out onto the plateau surrounding Darwin Bay. It extends to form the north side of the island. Red-footed boobies wrap their webbed feet around branches to precariously perch in the bushes and, in contrast, their masked-booby cousins dot the surface of the scrublands beyond. Crossing through the sparse vegetation, you will come to a broad lava field that extends toward the sea—this forms the north shore of the island. Storm petrels flutter out over the ocean in swarms, then return to nest in the cracks and tunnels of the lava field but not without hazard. Short-eared owls lay in camouflaged wait and make their living feeding off the returning petrels. Remember to watch Tower’s inner bay at sunset as you might spot a giant manta ray.

Accommodations

Evolution

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 5
WED - North Seymour & Santa Fe

North Seymour Island was lifted from the ocean floor by a seismic event, and its origins as a seabed give the island its low, flat profile. Cliffs only a few meters high form much of the shoreline, where swallow-tailed gulls sit perched in ledges. A tiny forest of silver-grey Palo Santo trees stand just above the landing, usually without leaves, waiting for the rain to bring them into bloom. This island is teeming with life! You might have to give way to a passing sea lion or marine iguana. Blue-footed boobies nest on either side of the trail where mating pairs perform their courtship dance. You are likely to see fluffy white chicks peeking out from beneath their protective mothers. The trail follows the eastern shore along the beach. You may be fortunate to witness flocks of brown pelicans and blue-footed boobies hunting schools of fish. The boobies, which look so comical on land, are ideally adapted as dive bombers and easily pierce the water, zeroing in on their targeted prey. Frigate birds with wingspans of up to 5 feet soar overhead and all around. They were named for the way that the trim of their wings in flight are reminiscent of the square rigged sailing warship. Not coincidentally frigate birds are also called man o’ war birds and they live up to that name in a literal way when they target boobies, pelicans and other birds to steal their catch. Because the frigates are pelagic, they lack the ability to take off from the water, so they do better at snatching fish from the surface or simply stealing them. They also target marine iguanas and young baby sea turtles.

The trail turns east and inland to reveal the nesting stronghold of the frigates. Here you can see males with large, bright red, inflated throat sacks known as gular pouches, all done in an effort to attract females. Your guide will point out the difference between the magnificent, or man o’ war frigates and their great frigate bird cousins. Large puff-ball frigate bird chicks inhabit nests, waiting for their parents to return with a meal. Even at this young age they possess long hooked beaks and act defiant when they feel threatened. You will also get a closer look at the feathers of the proud parents and notice their iridescent quality and deep green tinge.

Another inhabitant along the trail is the yellow land iguana. The species was originally introduced to the North Seymour in 1932 by Captain Alan Hancock and his crew from Baltra with the aim of rescuing the creatures from the poor conditions left by goats and other feral animals. The iguanas colonized the island without problem. The original colony disappeared from Baltra when it became a US military base in WWII. In 1980 Charles Darwin Station began a breeding program using some of the animals found on Seymour and successfully reintroduced their prodigy to both islands. Today the population on Seymour is roughly 600 and on Baltra 1,500.

Our snorkeling site at North Seymour also attracts scuba divers. You have a chance to see many types of rays here including marble rays, golden eagle rays, spotted eagle rays, sting rays and even manta rays. Dormitories of white-tipped reef sharks sleep on the bottom while schools of king angelfish and yellow tailed surgeonfish swarm the rocky shoreline passing the occasional parrot and damselfish. Some of the rocks are actually well disguised scorpion fish. Large schools of tightly packed blue and gold snappers, grunts and jacks are usually found plying these waters. Sea lions pay visits from both Seymour and nearby Mosquera Island as sea turtles and the occasional hammerhead shark can been seen down in the depths. Creole fish, the color of red salsa, hieroglyphic hawkfish, with neon-like etchings on their flanks and spotfin burrfish, which look a bit like a swimming shoe box with a cartoon face also inhabit the region.

Santa Fe offers one of the more beautiful and sheltered coves in the islands. Its turquoise lagoon is protected by a peninsula of tiny islets forming an ideal anchorage. The island lies southeast of Santa Cruz Island within sight of Puerto Ayora. Geologically it is one of the oldest islands in the archipelago and for many years was thought to be a product of an uplift event. Through satellite imagery it has been possible to determine the island’s volcanic origins.

A wet landing on a sandy white beach brings us into contact with one of many sea lion colonies. Bulls contend for the right of being beach master, while smaller males mask as females to make stealthy mating moves. Galapagos hawks are sometimes easily approached, perched atop salt bushes. An ascending trail leads toward the cliffs, where a dense thicket stands to the inland side of the island. The cliff side provides an expansive view of the ocean. You will be struck by the forest of giant prickly pear cactus found here that live up to their name, with tree-sized trunks! These are the largest of their kind in the Galapagos.

At the top of the trail your goal is to spot one of the large species of land iguana endemic to Santa Fe. Beige to chocolate brown in color with dragon-like spines, these big iguanas truly resemble dinosaurs. An indigenous  species of rice rat also inhabits the thicket, and lucky hikers may spot harmless Galapagos snakes. Santa Fe offers a more advanced kayaking or paddleboarding route along its northern shore that ends at sea caves and is subject to conditions.

Accommodations

Evolution

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 6
THU - Post Office Bay, Punta Cormorant & Champion Islet (Floreana)

Floreana has had a colorful history: Pirates, whalers, convicts and a small band of somewhat peculiar colonists—a self proclaimed Baroness among them—who chose a Robinson Crusoe existence that ended in death and mystery. Today roughly a hundred Ecuadorians inhabit the island. In 1793 British whalers set up a barrel as the island’s post office, to send letters home on passing ships. The tradition continues to this day, simply by dropping a postcard into the barrel without a stamp. The catch is you must take a postcard from the barrel and see that it gets to the right place. That is how the system began and continues to this day. Some claim it works better than the official Ecuadorian post office. You’ll have a chance to continue the traditions by sending your own card and picking up others.

Return to the ship for lunch and a siesta. Your next landing is further along the shore to the northeast. On route you pass within view of Baroness Point in an area of mangrove-lined lagoons. Eloise Wehrborn de Wagner-Bosquet, the self proclaimed Baroness (of Floreana) frequented this overlook, but the rest of her intriguing story will be left up to your Galapagos guide.

Punta Cormorant offers two highly contrasting beaches; the strand where you land is composed of volcanic olivine crystals, giving it a greenish tint that glitters in the sun. From here you’ll notice the small cinder cone that forms the point. Your landing is just to the west of the cinder cone where a trail crosses the neck of an isthmus to a beach of very fine white sand known as Flour Beach. Flour Beach was formed by the erosion of coral skeletons. Between the two beaches, in a basin formed by the surrounding volcanic cones, is a hypersaline lagoon frequented by flamingoes, pintails, stilts and other wading birds. Stop at the lagoon and then continue on the trail to Four Beach. Be careful not to wade into the tide with bare feet! If you stand at the edge of the water and look into the tidal area you will soon notice that the silty surf is rife with rays. Sea turtles also surf the waves off the beach. Return to your yacht and set out to your snorkeling destination as you don wetsuits while making your way around Punta Cormorant.

Not far from the north shore of Floreana is the tiny islet known as Champion. Champion is considered one of the top snorkeling sites the Galapagos offering prime underwater sea lion interactions. Dolphins are frequently seen near the shore along with humpback whales who like the bay off Flour Beach. As you swim with the sea lions you will be surrounded by an assortment of tropical fish including yellowtail grunts, amberjacks and schools of king angel. You may spot sleepy white-tipped reef sharks hugging the bottom. Sea turtles glide by, while torpedo-like Galapagos penguins can also be encountered in the waters off Champion.

Alternatively, you may snorkel at Devil’s Crown which is located some 700 feet (250 meters) north of Punta Cormorant. The crown is an old submerged volcanic cone that has been worn down by waves. Devil’s Crown is home to a myriad of marine species including several species of corals, sea urchins and many other creatures including a great number of fish species, making this place one of the best snorkeling sites in the Galapagos. The eroded crater walls form a popular roosting site for seabirds including boobies and pelicans.

Accommodations

Evolution

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 7
FRI - Charles Darwin Research Station & Highlands (Santa Cruz)

Santa Cruz, your next stop, is the second largest island in the Galapagos and something of a hub for the archipelago. Baltra, where one of the archipelago’s two airports is found, is on the far north end of the island. Puerto Ayora, located in the south of this large, round volcanic island is the seaside economic center of the Galapagos, focused on fishing and tourism. The little port town offers restaurants, hotels, souvenir shops, internet cafés and a place to get your laundry done!

This morning, visit Puerto Ayora, home to both the Galapagos National Park Service Headquarters and Charles Darwin Research Station, the center of the great restorative efforts taking place in the park, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Here you visit the Giant Tortoise Breeding & Rearing Program run by the research station, which began by rescuing the remaining 14 tortoises on the island of Española in 1970. This program has restored the population of animals there to over 1,000 today. You will see many of these animals, with their sweet ET necks and faces; from hatchlings to juveniles to large, distinguished individuals. This is where famed tortoise Lonesome George lived out his last days as the last of his particular race of tortoise.

A highlight of any trip to the archipelago is a visit to the Santa Cruz Highlands, where the sparse, dry coastal vegetation transitions to lush wet fields and forests overgrown with moss and lichens. Your afternoon destination is the Wild Tortoise Reserve where you will have chances to track and view these friendly ancient creatures in their natural setting. This extends to the adjacent pasturelands, where farmers give tortoise safe quarter in exchange for allowing paying visitors to see them.

When viewing the tortoise in their natural setting you are literally scratching the surface because there is another world awaiting you beneath the highlands. Lava tubes are formed when the outer surface of a lava flow cools, insulating the interior lava, which continues to flow on leaving a hollow tube as the result. The tubes become covered with earth over time and the result is a perfectly formed underground tunnel courtesy of Mother Nature. A wooden stairway descends to the mouth of the arched entrance to one of these underground passages and continues to the narrow opening that marks its exit. There are lights to show you the way but it’s also a good idea to bring a flashlight.

Return to Puerto Ayora with time for shopping, visiting an internet café or simply enjoying this little port town near the edge of the world.

Accommodations

Evolution

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 8
SAT - Black Turtle Cove (Santa Cruz) & Disembark Baltra

This last morning of your visit to the Galapagos, visit Black Turtle Cove. Located on the northern shore of Santa Cruz, the cove is a living illustration of how mangroves alter the marine environment to create a rich and unique habitat. Four species of mangrove crowd from the shore out into the lagoon, which stretches almost a mile inland. As you drift through the quiet waters in your dinghy, you are likely to see spotted eagle rays and cow nosed or golden rays, which swim in a diamond formation. White-tipped reef sharks can be seen beneath the boat and Pacific green sea turtles come to the surface for air and to mate. Sea birds, including brown pelicans, blue herons and lava herons, come to feed in the cove which has also been declared a Turtle Sanctuary.

It’s time to begin your journey home as you set sail for nearby Baltra Island. During WWII the island was a US Air Force base and one can still see the remnants of the old foundations left behind from that era once ashore. It doesn’t take long for the ship to navigate north along Baltra’s western shore to the island’s port. Don’t worry about your bags, your guide will instruct you on how to prepare your luggage and have it ready for pick up in your cabin. Your crew will see to transporting your luggage ashore where you will reunite with it at the airport. All you need to do is take along your carry-on luggage in the panga for the short crossing to shore. Once there a bus will pick you up for the 5-minute drive to the airport. Your guide will be there to make sure you are checked in on the proper flight. This is your last chance to purchase souvenirs in the Galapagos and the airport offers an assortment of shops where you can purchase everything from baseball caps and t-shirts to animal figurines, jewelry and much more; all with a Galapagos theme. There is one final checkpoint before you enter the waiting area from which you will board your flight. Almost all flights to the mainland stop in Guayaquil and continue on to Quito so make sure you know where to get off the plane. Say farewell to the Galapagos as you begin your journey home, or on to other destinations like the Ecuadorian highlands, Amazon or nearby Peru.

Accommodations

n/a

Meals

breakfast

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Details
Inclusions, Terms & Notes

Included

Comprehensive pre- and post-cruise information material; accommodations aboard Evolution; all meals and snacks; all transfers in Galapagos; guides and activities throughout the cruise; limited use of Wi-Fi; select wines, local beer, cocktails, spirits, soft drinks, juice, coffee, hot chocolate, water and tea are included throughout the cruise; use of snorkeling equipment, 3mm long wetsuits and sea kayaks, Galapagos National Park fee; Transit Control Card.

Exclusions

Round-trip Galapagos airfare; hotel accommodations in mainland Ecuador; airport transfers in Ecuador; gratuities and tips to guides, crew and staff; premium brands of wines, beer or spirits; additional wi-fi minutes; other personal expenses.

Payment & Cancellation

In order to confirm this trip, a non-refundable deposit of $900 is required per person at time of booking. The balance of the trip price is due 90 days before the departure date. Special group (4+ staterooms) and holiday payment and cancellation terms may apply, inquire for details. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing. Standard cancellations are subject to the following per-person penalties, based on number of days prior to departure:
Up to 65 days – 100% of deposit
64 to 0 days – 100% of total trip cost

Terms & Conditions

This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations’ Terms and Conditions. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A Traveler Information Form, which includes a release of liability, must be completed and signed by all travelers. Your Adventure Specialist will send you a unique link to complete this form along with a packing list and extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information upon booking confirmation.

Arrival & Departure

Most flights to the Galapagos will depart Quito or Guayaquil between 6:00am and 11:00am on Day 1 and return between 2:00pm and 6:00pm on the final day. We highly recommend travelers arrive to Ecuador two days prior to their Galapagos cruise. If you would like assistance with international flights, please visit our Booking Flights resource page. Note: Your passport must be valid 6 months after your Ecuador trip concludes.

Internal Flights

Flights from mainland Ecuador (Quito or Guayaquil) to the Galapagos are not included in the cruise price, but are arranged for you by AdventureSmith Explorations through your ship. Your Adventure Specialist will book these flights for you on the scheduled Galapagos flight for your particular departure. Airfares vary by departure; your Adventure Specialist will detail these for you in their proposal and on your invoice. On flights from mainland Ecuador to the Galapagos Islandsbaggage weight limits are currently 50 pounds for checked items, and 17 pounds for carry-on plus a small personal item. Subject to change.

Activities

There are numerous opportunities to swim and snorkel. The underwater experience is an integral part of any Galapagos cruise. We encourage all travelers to try snorkeling. Snorkeling gear (mask, snorkel, fins, floating vest and net bag) are provided. Wetsuits are available, either free of charge or to rent for a fee (see Inclusions and Exclusions), and are recommended from June to December.

Daily excursions from the boat to the islands will be made in pangas (dinghies). Trip members will hike from the landing point to specific areas for wildlife observation. Hiking time for most landings will be a couple of hours round-trip with lots of time to stop to study, photograph and enjoy the flora and fauna. Some landings are dry but many are “wet,” requiring cautious footing on slippery rocks. The boat staff will be on hand to assist.

Room Configuration

Single travelers wishing to book a double-occupancy cabin may do so at a 50% supplement of the per-person listed rate in Staterooms, and a 75% supplement of the per-person listed rate in Suites. A 100% supplement of the per-person listed rate applies on holiday departures (Christmas and New Year dates).

Families & Children

Children 15 years and younger receive a 15% discount off the cruise fare (not available for holiday departures). A maximum of three children discounts are allowed per family per booking. There is a minimum age of 5 years, but exceptions may be made for designated family departures and/or private charters.

Travel Insurance

Emergency medical evacuation insurance is mandatory for this trip, with a minimum recommended coverage of $50,000 per person. In addition to the emergency evacuation insurance, we highly recommend our travelers protect their travel investment with insurance. Our partners at Travelex Insurance offer a variety of plans and policies to fit every trip and budget. Coverage for a pre-existing medical condition is also available if you purchase the Travel Select plan within 15 days of the initial trip payment; refer to plan details. Learn more about travel insurance or get a free quote.

We strongly recommend that you travel to Galapagos Province with travel insurance that contains medical coverage. Be certain to bring your insurance plan ID documents with you when you travel.

Itinerary Notes

Use the itinerary as a guide only. Itineraries may be altered due to weather, wildlife, National Park regulation or at the captain’s discretion. Due to the active nature of volcanoes in the Western Galapagos, alternate excursions may be offered. The ability to be flexible makes this type of small ship cruising unique.

In the Steps of Pirates & Darwin Itinerary

This 8-day Baltra to San Cristobal itinerary follows in the steps of pirates and famed naturalist Charles Darwin by visiting some historically rich islands and the home of the Darwin Research Station. View iconic Galapagos species and become educated about all of Darwin’s endeavors in the region while visiting nine islands of this enchanted archipelago, including Baltra, Isabela, Fernandina, Bartolome, Santiago, Santa Cruz, Rabida, Espanola and San Cristobal. Regular opportunities to snorkel, kayak, swim, hike and enjoy panga rides mean interaction with endemic Galapagos species is accessible to travelers of various activity levels.

Galapagos cruise route map showing visits to Baltra, Isabela, Fernandina, Bartolome, Santiago, Santa Cruz, Rabida, Espanola and San Cristobal islands.
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Day 1
SAT - Embark Baltra to Daphne Major

You’ll need to rise early this morning to catch your flight to the Galapagos. All flights to the Galapagos originate in Quito, and stop briefly in the port city of Guayaquil to take on passengers before heading on to the islands. For this itinerary you will be landing on the island of Baltra. After passing through Galapagos National Park inspection your National Park Guide will be there to greet you, holding a sign with the name of your yacht. Your guide will accompany you on the short bus ride to the waterfront. During WWII the island of Baltra was a US Air Force base and one can still see the remnants of the old foundations left behind from that era. Transfer via panga (launch) to the waiting ship. The crew will see that your luggage is transferred to your cabin.

At the dock, board a dinghy (panga) to make the short crossing to the shipn. You only need to bring your carry-on luggage on the panga as your crew will transfer your luggage to your cabin. You’ll have time to settle into your new home for the week before assembling to review safety procedures and coming events with your Galapagos National Park Guide. While this is taking place the ship will start her engines and set off into the archipelago.

Bahia Borrero is an incredible mangrove inlet home to an amazing amount of wildlife that will be experienced in a dinghy ride. It is a gorgeous white-sand beach with turquoise waters and home to a large number of sea turtles, reef sharks, birds, rays and tropical fish. Daphne Minor, which can be seen at distance, a tuff cone (giant pile of compressed volcanic ash shaped like a cone), sits off the north coast of Santa Cruz Island, west of Baltra Island and North Seymour Island. This island has (natural) historic importance as a result of the husband-wife biology team of Peter and Rosemary Grant conducting a 20-year field study into the behavior and life cycles of finches as relates to Darwin’s theory of natural selection. Their work is chronicled in the Pulitzer Prize-winning book The Beak of the Finch.

As the sun sets on your first day in the Enchanted Archipelago, you’ll toast to the voyage ahead with a welcome cocktail.

Accommodations

Evolution

Meals

lunch, dinner

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Day 2
SUN - Punta Vicente Roca (Isabela) & Punta Espinoza (Fernandina)

Located at the mouth of the head of the sea horse, which forms the northern part of the Isabela is Punta Vicente Roca. Here the remnants of an ancient volcano forms two turquoise coves with a bay well protected from the ocean swells. The spot is a popular anchorage from which to take panga rides along the cliff where a partially sunken cave beckons explorers. Masked and blue-footed boobies sit perched along the point and the sheer cliffs, while flightless cormorants inhabit the shoreline. The upwelling of cold-water currents in combination with the protection of the coves make Punta Vicente Roca one of the archipelago’s most sought after dive spots. One cove is only accessible from the sea by way of an underwater passage. The passage opens to calm waters of the hidden cove where sea lions laze on the beach having traveled along the underwater route. The entire area of Punta Vicente Roca lies on the flank of 2,600 foot Volcano Ecuador. This is the island’s sixth largest volcano. Half of Volcano Ecuador slid into the ocean leaving a spectacular cutaway view of its caldera. The site offers deep water snorkeling where sea lions turtles, spotted eagle rays and even manta rays are the attraction. After your visit here, set off south and west across the Bolivar channel. Keep your eyes open in this best place in the islands for spotting whales.

Fernandina is the youngest and westernmost island in the Galapagos. It sits across the Bolivar Channel opposite Isabela. Your destination is Punta Espinoza, a narrow spit of land in the northeastern corner of the island, where a number of unique Galapagos species can be seen in close proximity. As your panga driver skillfully navigates the reef, Galapagos penguins show off by throwing themselves from the rocks into the water. Red and turquoise-blue zayapas crabs disperse across the lava shoreline, while blue and lava herons forage through the mangrove roots. The landing is a dry one, set in a quiet inlet beneath the branches of a small mangrove forest. A short walk through the vegetation leads to a large colony of marine iguanas—a schoolyard of Godzilla’s children—resting atop one another in friendly heaps along the rocky shoreline, spitting water to clear their bodies of salt. Nearby, sea lions frolic in a sheltered lagoon.

Dominating this landscape from high overhead looms the summit of La Cumbre, 1,495 meters (4,858 feet), one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Farther down this stretch of shore, the world’s only species of flightless cormorants have established a colony near an inviting inlet frequented by sea turtles. Because these birds evolved without land predators—it was easier to feed on the squid, octopus, eel and fish found in the ocean—the  cormorants progressively took to the sea.

They developed heavier, more powerful legs and feet for kicking, serpent-like necks and fur-like plumage. Their wings are now mere vestiges. Back toward the landing and farther inland, the island’s black lava flows become more evident, forming a quiet, inner mangrove lagoon where you will spot rays and sea turtles gliding just below the surface. Galapagos hawks survey the entire scene from overhead.

Accommodations

Evolution

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 3
MON - Urbina Bay & Tagus Cove (Isabela)

Isabela is the largest island in the archipelago, accounting for half of the total landmass of the Galapagos at 1,771 square miles (4,588 square kilometers). Though narrow in places, the island runs 82 miles (132 km) from north to south. Isabela is formed from six shield volcanoes that merged into a single landmass. It is also home to the highest point in the Galapagos, Wolf Volcano at 5,547 feet (1,707 meters), and calderas of up to 12.5 miles (20 kilometers) across.

Urbina Bay is directly west of Isabela’s Volcano Alcedo, where you will make an easy, wet landing (a hop into a few inches of water) onto a gently sloping beach. In 1954, a Disney film crew caught sight of this gleaming white strip, and went to investigate. To their astonishment, three miles (5 km) of the marine reef had been uplifted by as much as 13 feet (4 meters) prior to their arrival. They discovered schools of stranded fish and other creatures in newly formed tidal pools along with the skeletons of sea turtles and sharks unable to make it to the ocean as a result of the uplift event. Alcedo erupted a few weeks later.

Now visitors can walk amongst the boulder-sized dried coral heads, mollusks and other organisms that once formed the ocean floor. A highlight of this excursion is the giant land iguanas, whose vivid and gaudy yellow skin suggests that dinosaurs may have been very colorful indeed. Giant tortoises inhabit this coastal plain during the wet season, before migrating to the highlands when it turns dry. Your landing beach provides a nesting site for sea turtles and will also provide you with opportunities to snorkel amongst marine creatures, or just relax on shore. Here you must take care not to step on the sea turtle nests dug carefully into the sand. For those looking for snorkeling from a beach this is the place, with tropical fish hiding amongst the rocks to the north side of the bay.

Head north along the western coast of Isabela Island, to Tagus Cove, named for a British warship that moored here in 1814. Historically the cove was used as an anchorage for pirates and whalers. One can still find the names of their ships carved into the rock above your landing, a practice now prohibited. The cove’s quiet waters make for an ideal panga ride beneath its sheltered cliffs, where blue-footed boobies, brown noddies, pelicans and noddy terns make their nests, and flightless cormorants and penguins inhabit the lava ledges.

From your landing, a wooden stairway rises to the trail entrance for a view edge of giant Darwin volcano. The cove is formed by a breached and flooded section of the crater with Darwin Lake forming the very center of the same cone. The trail continues around the lake through a dry vegetation zone, and then climbs inland to a promontory formed by spatter cones. The site provides spectacular views back toward your anchorage, as well as to Darwin Volcano and Wolf Volcano to the north.

As you set sail north to navigate out of the channel back towards the central islands, keep your eyes peeled as this is one of the best places in the islands to spot whales and dolphins that feed in these productive waters created by the upwelling of the Cromwell Current. And while you watch you can enjoy a happy hour at the sky lounge on the upper rear deck.

Accommodations

Evolution

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 4
TUE - Pinnacle Rock (Bartolome) & Sullivan Bay (Santiago)

Bartolomé is famous for Pinnacle Rock, a towering spearheaded obelisk that rises from the ocean’s edge and is the best known landmark in the Galapagos. It served as a back drop in the film “Master & Commander.” Galapagos penguins—the only species of penguin found north of the equator—walk precariously along narrow volcanic ledges at its base. Sea lions snooze on rocky platforms, ready to slide into the water to play with passing snorkelers. Below the surface, shoals of tropical fish dodge in and out of the rocks past urchins, sea stars and anemones.

A perfectly crescent sandy beach lies just to the east of the pinnacle and across a narrow isthmus another beach mirrors this one to the south. Sea turtles use both beaches and another to the west of the Pinnacle as nesting sites and can sometimes be seen wading back out into the shallow water near the shore, or resting in the sand recovering from the arduous task of digging nests, laying eggs and covering them over.

Penguins like to rest atop the nearby rocks by your next landing site, about a quarter mile east along the shore. Here the submerged walls of a tiny volcanic crater give the impression of a large fountain pool. This dry landing—no wet feet!—is the entrance to a 2,000-foot (600-meter) pathway complete with stairs and boardwalks leading to Bartolome’s summit.

The route is not difficult and presents an open textbook of the islands’ volcanic origins; a site left untouched after its last eruption, where small cones stand in various stages of erosion and lava tubes form bobsled-like runs down from the summit. At the top you will be rewarded with spectacular views of Santiago Island and Sullivan Bay to the west, and far below, Pinnacle Rock, where the crystal turquoise waters of the bay cradle your yacht. Your next landing site is a short distance away to the southeast.

If you created a partnership between well-known glass artist Dale Chihuly and Mother Nature, the result would be Sullivan Bay. Back in 1897 the island fired up its own internal kiln giving birth to a field of pahoehoe (“rope-like” in Hawaiian) lava reaching out into the channel toward Bartolome. The results gleam in the sun like a gigantic, obsidian sculpture.

It stirs the imagination to envision the once-molten lava lighting up the earth, flowing into the sea and sending plumes of superheated steam skyrocketing into the air as pockets of gas in the flow exploded when the lava hit the water. The flow gave birth to new land as it engulfed vegetation, leaving some plants forever etched into the earth. Today the flow stands as a great walkway gallery of abstract shapes resembling braids, curtains and swirling fans. Brightly colored painted locusts and lava lizards punctuate the black volcanic canvas, as does the occasional finger of lava cactus and spreading carpetweed. Hike south into the flow, taking time to admire the earth’s craftwork as you proceed.

Upon your return to the black rocky coast you may spot Galapagos penguins that dot the shore. Unlike the penguins, which mimic the lava with their color, Sally Lightfoot crabs stand out against the black rocks as a  reminder of their once molten state. The snorkeling along the edge of the lava flow is very good for swimming with penguins and sea lion. Squadrons of spotted eagle rays pass through the channel, and sea turtles that lay their eggs on nearby Bartolome swim past, while white-tipped reef sharks patrol the bottom.

Accommodations

Evolution

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 5
WED - Bachas Beach (Santa Cruz) & Rabida

At the north end of Santa Cruz Island is Las Bachas, comprised of two sandy white-coral beaches that are major egg-laying sites for sea turtles. The official story of how Las Bachas got its name comes from the Galapagos National Park. During WWII the U.S. military discarded two barges on the beaches. When the first settlers to the area following the war arrived, they mispronounced barges as bachas, resulting in the name. There are other explanations of how the location got its name having to do with indentations left in the sand by both egg-laying sea turtles and their departing hatchlings.

Go ashore the white sandy beach and be greeted by patrolling blue-footed boobies. A brief walk inland takes you to a lagoon where pink flamingos are often found along with great blue herons, common stilts, brown noddys, white-cheek pintail ducks and migratory birds. Snorkeling today is from the beach and you can also enjoy a swim in these waters, which are typically warmer than in other places in the Galapagos. At the geologic center of the archipelago, Jervis presents an island of a different color with its deep red sandy beach and equally red towering cliffs. Even the starfish are red. The flanks of a sloping volcanic cinder cone rise sharply from the coast and looking up one can see where the vegetation transitions from the arid zone to the wetter Scaleisia zone. A hedgerow of green saltbush frames the beach between the clear teal waters of the Pacific making for one of the more colorful islands. A noisy colony of sea lions inhabits these scarlet shores. This is also the best place in the islands to get close to nesting brown pelicans raising their chicks in precariously positioned nests atop the saltbush.

A short trail inland offers observations of land birds including Galapagos dove, cactus finch and the large ground-finch. Hidden behind the narrow strip of green saltbush is a briny lagoon frequented by flamingos. These large pink birds feed for up to 12 hours a day on the pink shrimp larva and water boatman that give them their color. Follow follow the trail to the left and up from the beach to the top of the rocky peninsula that juts from the island towards north. As you climb higher, pass through groves of prickly pear cactus, some oddly reminiscent of Mickey Mouse. The top of the overlook reveals excellent views back toward the lagoon and red sea cliffs beyond.

Rabida also offers a nice kayaking or paddleboarding route starting on the eastern side of the peninsula, then around and along it. The route continues west past the beach, then beneath the island’s towering red cliffs. This is a great place to spot sea turtles from your kayak. They sometimes swim right up without noticing you and then dart into the depths once they see you. Make sure you to stop kayaking or paddleboarding when you reach the red diamond-shaped sign where there is a large rock where both blue-footed and masked boobies like to perch.

Beneath the ocean surface, Rabida offers excellent snorkeling along the shore of the little peninsula. The sea turtles you just saw topside are easier to see once you are in the water. Giant schools of stripped salemas have been seen to carpet the deeper sections, attracting Galapagos sharks. Large schools of yellow tail surgeon fish thread through passages between the rocks. You can look for chances to swim with sea lions and penguins as well and keep your eyes open for marine iguanas grazing the underwater greenery. Visitors can sometimes watch orca right off the shore on rare occasions but this pod can also be seen elsewhere as they patrol the islands.

Accommodations

Evolution

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 6
THU - Highlands & Charles Darwin Research Station (Santa Cruz)

Santa Cruz, your next stop, is the second largest island in the Galapagos and something of a hub for the archipelago. Baltra, where one of the archipelago’s two airports is found, is on the far north end of the island. Puerto Ayora, located in the south of this large, round volcanic island is the seaside economic center of the Galapagos, focused on fishing and tourism. The little port town offers restaurants, hotels, souvenir shops, internet cafés and a place to get your laundry done!

This morning, visit Puerto Ayora, home to both the Galapagos National Park Service Headquarters and Charles Darwin Research Station, the center of the great restorative efforts taking place in the park, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Here, visit the Giant Tortoise Breeding & Rearing Program run by the research station, which began by rescuing the remaining 14 tortoises on the island of Española in 1970. This program has restored the population of animals there to over 1,000 today. You will see many of these animals, with their sweet ET necks and faces; from hatchlings to juveniles to large, distinguished individuals. This is where famed tortoise Lonesome George lived out his last days as the last of his particular race of tortoise.

A highlight of any trip to the archipelago is a visit to the Santa Cruz Highlands, where the sparse, dry coastal vegetation transitions to lush wet fields and forests overgrown with moss and lichens. Your afternoon destination is the Wild Tortoise Reserve where you will have chances to track and view these friendly ancient creatures in their natural setting. This extends to the adjacent pasturelands, where farmers give tortoise safe quarter in exchange for allowing paying visitors to see them.

When viewing the tortoise in their natural setting you are literally scratching the surface because there is another world awaiting you beneath the highlands. Lava tubes are formed when the outer surface of a lava flow cools, insulating the interior lava, which continues to flow on leaving a hollow tube as the result. The tubes become covered with earth over time and the result is a perfectly formed underground tunnel courtesy of Mother Nature. A wooden stairway descends to the mouth of the arched entrance to one of these underground passages and continues to the narrow opening that marks its exit. There are lights to show you the way but it’s also a good idea to bring a flashlight.

The terrestrial world of the tortoise and underworld of the lava tubes meet at Los Gemelos (the twins). These two large sinkholes craters were formed by collapsed lava tubes. The contrast between the marine desert coast and verdant Lost World look of the highlands is most striking here and you can easily encounter rain even when sun is shining a half an hour away at the coast. Los Gemelos are surrounded by a Scalesia forest. Scalesia is endemic to Galapagos and many endemic and native species call the forest home. This is an excellent place to view some of Darwin’s famous finches along with the elusive and dazzling vermillion flycatcher.

Return to Puerto Ayora with time for shopping, visiting an internet café or simply enjoying this little port town near the edge of the world.

Accommodations

Evolution

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 7
FRI - Punta Suarez & Gardner Bay (Espanola)

Hood is the southernmost island of the archipelago, and is one of the most popular due to the breathtaking variation and sheer number of fauna that greet visitors along with well known Gardner Bay. The giant tortoise was reintroduced to Hood in the 1970’s and counts as one of the park’s great success stories. They reside in an off-limits area.

The quantity and variety of wildlife at Punta Suarez is remarkable. Sea lions surf the waves beyond the breakwater landing, and tiny pups are known to greet your toes upon arrival. A few steps inland is a colorful variety of marine iguana in the Galapagos. They bear distinctive red and black markings, some with a flash of turquoise running down their spine. They nap in communal piles or cling to the rocks for warmth. The trail then takes you beside the western edge of the island where masked boobies (also known as Nazca boobies) nest along the cliff’s edge. The trail descends to a rocky beach before rising to an open area where you may see a large gathering of nesting blue-foot boobies. Galapagos doves, cactus finch and mocking birds forage nearby, unconcerned by human presence. Both lava and swallow-tailed gulls, with their red ringed eyes, sit atop the cliffs in company with marine iguanas.

The trail continues to the high cliff edge of the southern shore; below, a shelf of black lava reaches out into the surf where a blowhole shoots a periodic geyser of salt water into the air. Further east along the cliff is the Albatross Airport where waved albatross line up to launch their great winged bodies from the cliffs, soaring out over the dramatic shoreline of crashing waves and driven spray. These are the largest birds you will see in the Galapagos with wingspans up to 7.4 feet (2.25 meters). They are the only species of albatross exclusive to the tropics. In the trees set back from the cliff is one of only two places in the world where the waved albatross nests. The 12,000 pairs that inhabit Hood Island comprise all but a tiny fraction of the world’s population of this species. Lucky visitors can watch courtship ‘fencing’ done with great yellow beaks. Large, fluffy, perfectly camouflaged chicks adorn nests on the ground nearby. The Albatross lay their eggs from April through June though they can be seen fencing long after that. Eggs take two months to hatch. Hungry chicks can eat up to 4.4 pounds (2 kg) a day which keeps their parents busy. By December the chicks are fully grown and ready to set out on their own in January. Pairs mate for life.

On the northeastern shore of Hood, Gardner Bay offers a magnificent long white sandy beach, where colonies of sea lions laze in the sun, sea turtles swim offshore and inquisitive mockingbirds boldly investigate new arrivals. You will be lured from the powdery white sand into the turquoise water for a swim, but just a little further off-shore the snorkeling by Gardner Island offers peak encounters with playful young sea lions and schools of surprisingly large tropical fish, including yellow tailed surgeonfish, king angelfish and bumphead parrot fish. The young sea lions like to snack and play along Gardner Island’s sea cliff. They dart up from the depths, playfully show off their skills and then disappear. Sleepy white-tipped reef sharks can also be seen napping on the bottom.

Accommodations

Evolution

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 8
SAT - Interpretation Center (San Cristobal) & Disembark

San Cristobal was the first island Darwin visited when he arrived in 1835. He reported encountering a pair of giant tortoises feeding on cactus during that outing. Today the airport of this easternmost island in the chain is increasingly used as the arrival point for flights into and out of the Galapagos. The administrative capital for the province is Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on the southwestern shore. Your guide will give you clear instructions on the rest of the day’s events before you go ashore. Once you arrive in port, board a dinghy (panga) to make the short crossing to dock. In recent years a great deal of effort has gone into sprucing up the waterfront including the building of the new municipal dock. You only need to bring your day pack as the crew will pick up your luggage at your cabin and insure that it gets to the airport, which is less than a 5 -minute drive from the waterfront.

One of the most sought after sites in Galapagos, Kicker Rock, also known as León Dormido, is the remains of a volcanic cone, eroded by the sea across hundredths of years. It is the eroded cone of an extinct volcano in the shape of a sleeping lion which earned it the name, Leon Dormido. Above the water, the monolithic rock formation towers over 500 feet above the Pacific Ocean and is home to various blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds, California sea lions and red-billed tropicbirds.

In 1998 the Galapagos National Park Visitor Center opened for the benefit of islanders and travelers alike, presenting a comprehensive exhibit of the islands’ natural history, human interaction, ecosystems, flora and fauna. This is your last stop in the islands and it is also the place where cultural activities take place, including theater, exhibitions and workshops. From the Interpretation Center, a short trail arrives at Frigate Bird Hill, where both magnificent frigates and great frigates can be seen in the same colony—ideal for learning to distinguish the two bird species. The interpretation center will be your final stop today before departing the islands.

Along with your tour of the visitor center museum there will be time to stroll the quaint tiny port town, with time to shop for last-minute souvenirs before taking the bus to the airport where you will have your last chance to make purchases in the Galapagos. There is one final check point before entering the waiting area from which you will board your flight. Almost all flights to the mainland stop in Guayaquil and continue on to Quito so make sure you know where to get off the plane. Say farewell to the Galapagos as you begin your journey home, or on to other destinations like the Ecuadorian highlands, Amazon or nearby Peru.

Accommodations

n/a

Meals

breakfast

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Details
Inclusions, Terms & Notes

Included

Comprehensive pre- and post-cruise information material; accommodations aboard Evolution; all meals and snacks; all transfers in Galapagos; guides and activities throughout the cruise; limited use of Wi-Fi; select wines, local beer, cocktails, spirits, soft drinks, juice, coffee, hot chocolate, water and tea are included throughout the cruise; use of snorkeling equipment, 3mm long wetsuits and sea kayaks, Galapagos National Park fee; Transit Control Card.

Exclusions

Round-trip Galapagos airfare; hotel accommodations in mainland Ecuador; airport transfers in Ecuador; gratuities and tips to guides, crew and staff; premium brands of wines, beer or spirits; additional wi-fi minutes; other personal expenses.

Payment & Cancellation

In order to confirm this trip, a non-refundable deposit of $900 is required per person at time of booking. The balance of the trip price is due 90 days before the departure date. Special group (4+ staterooms) and holiday payment and cancellation terms may apply, inquire for details. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing. Standard cancellations are subject to the following per-person penalties, based on number of days prior to departure:
Up to 65 days – 100% of deposit
64 to 0 days – 100% of total trip cost

Terms & Conditions

This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations’ Terms and Conditions. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A Traveler Information Form, which includes a release of liability, must be completed and signed by all travelers. Your Adventure Specialist will send you a unique link to complete this form along with a packing list and extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information upon booking confirmation.

Arrival & Departure

Most flights to the Galapagos will depart Quito or Guayaquil between 6:00am and 11:00am on Day 1 and return between 2:00pm and 6:00pm on the final day. We highly recommend travelers arrive to Ecuador two days prior to their Galapagos cruise. If you would like assistance with international flights, please visit our Booking Flights resource page. Note: Your passport must be valid 6 months after your Ecuador trip concludes.

Internal Flights

Flights from mainland Ecuador (Quito or Guayaquil) to the Galapagos are not included in the cruise price, but are arranged for you by AdventureSmith Explorations through your ship. Your Adventure Specialist will book these flights for you on the scheduled Galapagos flight for your particular departure. Airfares vary by departure; your Adventure Specialist will detail these for you in their proposal and on your invoice. On flights from mainland Ecuador to the Galapagos Islandsbaggage weight limits are currently 50 pounds for checked items, and 17 pounds for carry-on plus a small personal item. Subject to change.

Activities

There are numerous opportunities to swim and snorkel. The underwater experience is an integral part of any Galapagos cruise. We encourage all travelers to try snorkeling. Snorkeling gear (mask, snorkel, fins, floating vest and net bag) are provided. Wetsuits are available, either free of charge or to rent for a fee (see Inclusions and Exclusions), and are recommended from June to December.

Daily excursions from the boat to the islands will be made in pangas (dinghies). Trip members will hike from the landing point to specific areas for wildlife observation. Hiking time for most landings will be a couple of hours round-trip with lots of time to stop to study, photograph and enjoy the flora and fauna. Some landings are dry but many are “wet,” requiring cautious footing on slippery rocks. The boat staff will be on hand to assist.

Room Configuration

Single travelers wishing to book a double-occupancy cabin may do so at a 50% supplement of the per-person listed rate in Staterooms, and a 75% supplement of the per-person listed rate in Suites. A 100% supplement of the per-person listed rate applies on holiday departures (Christmas and New Year dates).

Families & Children

Children 15 years and younger receive a 15% discount off the cruise fare (not available for holiday departures). A maximum of three children discounts are allowed per family per booking. There is a minimum age of 5 years, but exceptions may be made for designated family departures and/or private charters.

Travel Insurance

Emergency medical evacuation insurance is mandatory for this trip, with a minimum recommended coverage of $50,000 per person. In addition to the emergency evacuation insurance, we highly recommend our travelers protect their travel investment with insurance. Our partners at Travelex Insurance offer a variety of plans and policies to fit every trip and budget. Coverage for a pre-existing medical condition is also available if you purchase the Travel Select plan within 15 days of the initial trip payment; refer to plan details. Learn more about travel insurance or get a free quote.

We strongly recommend that you travel to Galapagos Province with travel insurance that contains medical coverage. Be certain to bring your insurance plan ID documents with you when you travel.

Itinerary Notes

Use the itinerary as a guide only. Itineraries may be altered due to weather, wildlife, National Park regulation or at the captain’s discretion. Due to the active nature of volcanoes in the Western Galapagos, alternate excursions may be offered. The ability to be flexible makes this type of small ship cruising unique.

Rates & Dates

Galapagos Cruise Rates & Dates

A 15-day Galapagos Evolution itinerary is available by combining the ship’s 8-day itineraries. Receive a 10% discount on the second week of cruising. If the 15-day cruise is taken during Christmas, Easter or New Year, full cruise prices will apply. Contact AdventureSmith Explorations for more information.

Jan 04 - Jan 11, 2025
Evolution • 8 days
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From $9500USD
Per Person
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Jan 11 - Jan 18, 2025
Evolution • 8 days
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From $9500USD
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Jan 18 - Jan 25, 2025
Evolution • 8 days
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From $9500USD
Per Person
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Jan 25 - Feb 01, 2025
Evolution • 8 days
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From $9500USD
Per Person
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Feb 01 - Feb 08, 2025
Evolution • 8 days
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From $9500USD
Per Person
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Feb 08 - Feb 15, 2025
Evolution • 8 days
green western galapagos islands directional icon
From $9500USD
Per Person
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Feb 15 - Feb 22, 2025
Evolution • 8 days
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From $9500USD
Per Person
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Feb 22 - Mar 01, 2025
Evolution • 8 days
green western galapagos islands directional icon
From $9500USD
Per Person
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Mar 01 - Mar 08, 2025
Evolution • 8 days
olive green eastern galapagos islands directional icon
From $9500USD
Per Person
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Mar 08 - Mar 15, 2025
Evolution • 8 days
green western galapagos islands directional icon
From $9500USD
Per Person
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Mar 15 - Mar 22, 2025
Evolution • 8 days
olive green eastern galapagos islands directional icon
From $9500USD
Per Person
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Mar 22 - Mar 29, 2025
Evolution • 8 days
green western galapagos islands directional icon
From $9500USD
Per Person
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Mar 29 - Apr 05, 2025
Evolution • 8 days
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From $9500USD
Per Person
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Apr 05 - Apr 12, 2025
Evolution • 8 days
green western galapagos islands directional icon
From $9500USD
Per Person
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Apr 12 - Apr 19, 2025
Evolution • 8 days
olive green eastern galapagos islands directional icon
From $9500USD
Per Person
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Apr 19 - Apr 26, 2025
Evolution • 8 days
green western galapagos islands directional icon
From $9500USD
Per Person
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Apr 26 - May 03, 2025
Evolution • 8 days
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From $9500USD
Per Person
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May 03 - May 10, 2025
Evolution • 8 days
green western galapagos islands directional icon
From $9500USD
Per Person
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May 10 - May 17, 2025
Evolution • 8 days
olive green eastern galapagos islands directional icon
From $9500USD
Per Person
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May 17 - May 24, 2025
Evolution • 8 days
green western galapagos islands directional icon
From $9500USD
Per Person
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May 24 - May 31, 2025
Evolution • 8 days
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From $9500USD
Per Person
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May 31 - Jun 07, 2025
Evolution • 8 days
green western galapagos islands directional icon
From $9500USD
Per Person
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Jun 07 - Jun 14, 2025
Evolution • 8 days
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From $9500USD
Per Person
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Jun 14 - Jun 21, 2025
Evolution • 8 days
green western galapagos islands directional icon
From $9500USD
Per Person
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Jun 21 - Jun 28, 2025
Evolution • 8 days
olive green eastern galapagos islands directional icon
From $9500USD
Per Person
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Jun 28 - Jul 05, 2025
Evolution • 8 days
green western galapagos islands directional icon
From $9500USD
Per Person
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Jul 05 - Jul 12, 2025
Evolution • 8 days
olive green eastern galapagos islands directional icon
From $9500USD
Per Person
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Jul 19 - Jul 26, 2025
Evolution • 8 days
olive green eastern galapagos islands directional icon
From $9500USD
Per Person
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Jul 26 - Aug 02, 2025
Evolution • 8 days
green western galapagos islands directional icon
From $9500USD
Per Person
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Aug 02 - Aug 09, 2025
Evolution • 8 days
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From $9500USD
Per Person
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Aug 09 - Aug 16, 2025
Evolution • 8 days
green western galapagos islands directional icon
From $9500USD
Per Person
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Aug 16 - Aug 23, 2025
Evolution • 8 days
olive green eastern galapagos islands directional icon
From $9500USD
Per Person
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Aug 23 - Aug 30, 2025
Evolution • 8 days
green western galapagos islands directional icon
From $9500USD
Per Person
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Nov 08 - Nov 15, 2025
Evolution • 8 days
olive green eastern galapagos islands directional icon
From $9500USD
Per Person
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Nov 15 - Nov 22, 2025
Evolution • 8 days
green western galapagos islands directional icon
From $9500USD
Per Person
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Nov 22 - Nov 29, 2025
Evolution • 8 days
olive green eastern galapagos islands directional icon
From $9500USD
Per Person
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Nov 29 - Dec 06, 2025
Evolution • 8 days
green western galapagos islands directional icon
From $9500USD
Per Person
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Dec 06 - Dec 13, 2025
Evolution • 8 days
olive green eastern galapagos islands directional icon
From $9500USD
Per Person
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Dec 13 - Dec 20, 2025
Evolution • 8 days
green western galapagos islands directional icon
From $9500USD
Per Person
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olive green eastern galapagos islands directional icon East Galapagos Islands
green western galapagos islands directional icon West Galapagos Islands
Accommodation

Learn About the Galapagos Ship on Your Itinerary

Yacht
Evolution

This classic small expedition ship accommodates 32 passengers for its Galapagos itineraries. A historic feel combined with modern amenities and a 1:10 guest-to-guide ratio give this yacht the adventurous atmosphere of a smaller boat.

Deal

Current Deals on This Trip

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Offer expires January 31st, 2025
Save 30% + Complimentary Flights On Select March 2025 Evolution Galapagos Cruise

Get aboard the historic Grace or Evolution yachts sailing the Galapagos Islands on select Fall 2023 departures and save 20-40%.

Expert Review

Reviews From Our Experts So You Know What To Expect

Leslie Camacho • October 14th, 2024
Expert Aboard: MV Evolution Galapagos Review

Our longtime travel specialist Leslie reviews the iconic Evolution yacht in her second trip to the Galapagos. Read her insights, then find even more MV Evolution Galapagos reviews from our travelers who’ve been aboard.

Testimonials

Hear It from Travelers Who Have Explored with Us

"The MV Evolution Was Perfect"

It was a wonderful trip, we enjoyed all aspects of it.

Overall
5 /5 Star Created with Sketch.
Accommodations
5 /5 Star Created with Sketch.
Meals
5 /5 Star Created with Sketch.
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"Beautiful & Awe-Inspiring"

Fantastic trip, very well organized. Galapagos islands were incredible - beautiful and awe-inspiring. The Evolution was top-notch and I would recommend it without hesitation.

Overall
5 /5 Star Created with Sketch.
Accommodations
5 /5 Star Created with Sketch.
Meals
4.5 /5 Star Created with Sketch.
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"A Trip I Will Remember For The Rest of My Life"

The trip was everything that I imagined it to be and more. There was plenty of excursion, both land and water everyday. The guides were very knowledgeable and it is definitely a trip I will remember for the rest of my life.

Overall
5 /5 Star Created with Sketch.
Accommodations
5 /5 Star Created with Sketch.
Meals
5 /5 Star Created with Sketch.
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Book with the confidence that comes from experience.

100+ combined years of experience, 7 continents explored, decades of expedition cruising around the world & here to help you find & book your dream trip.

Extend Your Trip

Additional Travel Options Before or After Your Galapagos Cruise

Add to Wishlist
5 Day Land Tour
Quito & Guayaquil Galapagos Travel Package

Most Galapagos cruises require travelers to find pre- and post-cruise Guayaquil or Quito hotels. This travel package offers an easy, cost-effective way to get to the Galapagos with a comprehensive land package.

From $485USD
Year Round
Add to Wishlist
4 - 5 Day Land Tour
Ecuador Amazon Adventure - La Selva EcoLodge

Explore the incredible diversity of Ecuador's Amazon for 4 or 5 days from La Selva EcoLodge, an exceptional wilderness lodge deeply committed to sustainable ecotourism. Daily hikes and paddles are lead by expert resident guides to canopy platforms, parrot clay licks and rainforest wildlife.

From $1570USD
Year Round
Add to Wishlist
5 - 6 Day Land Tour
Machu Picchu Explorer

Travel to Peru's most spectacular archaeological monument in South America: the ancient Inca site of Machu Picchu. This 5- or 6-day Machu Picchu Explorer adventure includes Cusco, the Urubamba Valley and upscale accommodations.

From $2335USD
Year Round
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Evolution Galapagos Cruises

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