Galapagos

Central Galapagos Islands

4 Days aboard Monserrat. Contact for pricing.
Small Ship Expeditions
Details

Overview

Roam across island trails, explore peaceful lagoons, swim and snorkel in crystalline waters, bask in the sun on white sand beaches, soak in extraordinary volcanic vistas, and get up close and personal with fascinating wildlife throughout your Galapagos adventure. Observe some of the Galapagos’ most fascinating creatures in their natural habitats, such as giant tortoises, marine iguanas, Galapagos penguins, sally lightfoot crabs, green sea turtles, and resting white tip reef sharks.

Itinerary Highlights

  • Visit the Highlands of Santa Cruz and see the giant tortoise in its natural habitat
  • Snorkel through spectacular sights of tropical fish and clear blue waters
  • Wildlife spotting opportunities including Sally Lightfoot Crabs, flamingos, sea lions, iguana and much more

Itinerary in Brief

  • Day 1: Baltra Island / Santa Cruz Highlands
  • Day 2: Genovesa Island: Darwin Bay / Phillip’s Steps
  • Day 3: Bartolome Island / Bowditch Point
  • Day 4: Bachas / Baltra Airport

Ship Information

For more information on the M/Y Monserrat please view the ship page.

View M/Y Monserrat

Travelling with Eclipse

Peace of Mind
  • Eclipse Travel is Australian owned and run, and an ATAS accredited travel agent.
  • 24/7 emergency numbers and local contacts provided for support while you’re abroad.
  • We provide all the information you need to organise your visas and vaccinations, making travel preparation stress-free.
  • No currency surcharges. Once your deposit is paid, your price is guaranteed.
Specialists
  • Our consultants are true destination experts, with firsthand experience and extensive travel in the regions we offer.
  • Expect quick, professional responses and dedicated service from our knowledgeable team.
  • We conduct regular checks on destinations, hotels, and services to ensure quality for every trip.
Authentic Travel
  • Tailor-made itineraries designed around your unique requirements.
  • Freedom to select your preferred style and standard of accommodation.
  • Unique itineraries that take you beyond the major highlights, immersing you in each location.
  • Committed to responsible travel: we reinvest in the environment and local communities across our destinations.

Day 1: Baltra Island / Santa Cruz Highlands

Baltra
Transfer to the boat to meet the guide and get on board. In the afternoon enjoy the highlands, visit a tortoise ranch and see some of the amazing volcanic formations on Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz Highlands Excursion (PM)
Visit the highlands of Santa Cruz and see the Galápagos giant tortoise in its natural surroundings. Explore the area and its incredible underground lava tunnels – some are more than 1km long! Wander along the volcanic tubes and keep an eye out for the (mainly) nocturnal barn owls that sometimes roost here.

Lunch and Dinner included.

Day 2: Genovesa Island: Darwin Bay / Phillip’s Steps

Today we will be visiting the beautiful and remote Genovesa Island. This northern island, famous for its red-footed colony, is a paradise for bird lovers. It is estimated that about 200,00 Red-footed boobies live on this island.

Darwin Bay Excursion (AM)
Darwin bay was formed by the collapse of the flooded caldera of Tower Island, another name used for Genovesa. After landing at a small sand and coral beach, it easy to realize why this island is a bird lover paradise. Among the bird species found here, the most common are swallow-tailed and lava gulls, mockingbirds, yellow-crowned night herons, lava herons, Galapagos doves and yellow warblers. We will continue on a short and flat trail to encounter red- footed booby and great frigatebird nests.

We will visit a tidal lagoon where sea lions swim playfully ending our path on a cliff with magnificent views of this remote part of the Galapagos.

Prince Phillips’s Steps Excursion (PM)
El Barranco or Prince Phillips’s Steps as otherwise known, was named after a visit by the British Monarch in 1964. El Barranco's steep 81-foot stairway leads up to a high cliff-face that opens out onto the plateau surrounding Darwin Bay.

Here an amazing view can be appreciated. Once at the top of the stairway we will meet Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies, mockingbirds, and finches along the way of a palo santo trail. It will also be possible to see wedge-rumped storm petrels swarm and short-eared owls.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 3: Bartolome Island / Bowditch Point

Bartolomé Island Excursion (AM)
Hike to Bartolomé's summit for a stronger perspective of the islands' not-too-distant volcanic origins, and enjoy a panoramic view – it’s one of the best among the islands! See other Galápagos Islands in the distance as well as Pinnacle Rock, the island’s famous towering landmark.

Take the opportunity to swim and snorkel around Pinnacle Rock, one of the most iconic volcanic rock formations on the islands. Home to Galápagos penguins, friendly sea lions, sea turtles, and a huge variety of fish, Bartolomé and its surrounding waters are a fantastic place to explore the natural wonders of the Galápagos.

Bowditch Point Excursion (PM)
This is a unique place where almost nobody visits, on this amazing spot you can relax on a powdery beach, snorkel around turquoise water islets and hike beside salt pools and dried white corals.

In the afternoon, you will visit one of the last off-the-beaten-path sites in the Galapagos Islands. Only a couple of cruises visit Bowditch Point. This pristine site offers you a great snorkeling session with giant schools of black-striped salema, parrotfish, and Mexican hogfish, or you can enjoy kayaking or SUP if you prefer. Afterwards, you spend time on the beach relaxing or walking around it.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 4: Bachas / Baltra Airport

Bachas Beach Excursion (AM)
Head to Bachas Beach where the sand is made of decomposed coral, making it soft and white, and a favorite site for nesting sea turtles.

Spot abundant Sally Lightfoot crabs on the lava rocks along the water's edge -- these crabs will eat anything they can get their claws on! Trek to see a wide range of wildlife, including flamingos, hermit crabs, black necked stilts, and sea lions.

Baltra
Disembark at Baltra for flight back to Ecuador mainland.

Breakfast included.

Please contact us for dates

Cabin Details

Upper Deck Twin

2 single beds, air conditioning, private bathroom with shower and hot water & hairdryer.

Upper Deck Twin
Upper Deck Twin
Lower Deck Twin

2 single beds, air conditioning, private bathroom with shower and hot water & hairdryer.

Lower Deck Twin
Lower Deck Twin
Lower Deck Triple

1 single bed and 1 bunk bed, air conditioning, private bathroom with shower and hot water & hairdryer.

Lower Deck Triple
Lower Deck Triple
Upper Deck Double

• With large windows overlooking the ocean
• Non – Shaded relaxing area (Observation deck)

Upper Deck Double
Upper Deck Double
Single Cabin - Lower Deck

Air conditioning, private bathroom with shower and hot water & hairdryer.

Single Cabin - Lower Deck
Single Cabin - Lower Deck

Monserrat Deckplan

deck plan

Specifications

  • Year of construction: 2005
  • Refurbished: 2023
  • Type: Motor Yacht
  • Category: First Class
  • Length: 91fts / 28mts
  • Beam: 22fts / 7mts
  • Capacity: 20 passengers
  • Accommodation: - Lower Deck: 4 cabins (2 twin cabins & 2 matrimonial cabins)
                                - Upper Deck: 6 cabins (5 twin cabins & 1 matrimonial cabin).
                                  All cabins have lower beds no bunk
  • On Board: Lounge with TV, DVD Comendor & bar Solarium
  • Main engines: Propeler / General Motors 340 HP
  • Max speed: 12 knots
  • Crew: 9 + 2 naturalist guide
  • Safety & Navigation: All safety equipment

What's included?

  • Accommodation in double cabin
  • Fuel Surcharge.
  • All meals on board.
  • All activities and excursions as depicted in the itineraries in company of a bilingual naturalist guide.
  • Snorkeling equipment.
  • Purified water, tea, coffee
  • Assistance at the airport for flight to Galapagos on departure dates
  • Kayak
  • Stand up Paddleboards
  • Wetsuits

What's not?

  • Air ticket to and from Galapagos (Subject to change).
  • Galápagos National Park fee: US$200 per person
  • Transit control card: US$20 per person
  • Alcoholic and non - alcoholic beverages.
  • Gratuities to guides and crew
  • Personals expenses.
  • Travel insurance.

Price Assurance

At Eclipse Travel, our expert destination knowledge and decades of travel planning experience come at no extra cost to you. While many think booking through a tour operator is more expensive than planning a trip independently, that’s not the case. We’re paid by our travel partners—such as hotels, activity operators, and cruise providers—via commissions, not by our clients.

Our team negotiates the best rates for you and ensures you receive unbiased advice, with no preference for any particular supplier. In fact, where we secure higher commissions, we often pass the savings on to you, giving us a competitive price edge.

Additionally, we lock in exchange rates at the time of your deposit, ensuring no surprise costs when it’s time for final payment. You can rest easy knowing we’ll handle the details with our suppliers. The only exceptions are national park fee increases or fuel surcharges imposed after your booking, though these are rare.

Take advantage of our team’s expertise and let us help you plan the perfect holiday—hassle-free!

Destination: Galapagos

This once in a lifetime destination is a nature lovers dream. Watch the famous Galapagos tortoises and blue footed boobies in the morning and snorkel with sea lions in the afternoon, then relax on your cruise to the next destination tomorrow!

Downloadable travel guide

Planning your next adventure has never been easier with our free downloadable travel guides. Get in-depth insights into local attractions, dining options, and hidden gems, all curated by our team of travel specialists with decades of experience.

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Central Galapagos Islands

4 Days aboard Monserrat. Contact for pricing.