Galapagos

Western Galapagos Islands

5 Days aboard Monserrat. From AUD $5,825pp.
Details

Overview

Explore the Western Galapagos Islands on this cruise of the Galapagos archipelago. Explore secluded inlets and stroll sweeping white sand beaches such as Punta Espinoza, where flightless cormorants nest nearby and sea lions, Galapagos penguins, and turtles can be seen frolicking in a fine display of multi-species tolerance in the nearby lagoon.

Itinerary Highlights

  • Dive in the most pristine island ecosystems on Isabela
  • Snorkel with sea lions, colorful tropical fish, and sea turtles—or observe them through a glass-bottom boat
  • Visit Charles Darwin Center and learn about preservation of endemic fauna

Itinerary in Brief

  • Day 1: Baltra / Bachas Beach
  • Day 2: Tagus Cove / Urbina Bay
  • Day 3: Espinoza Point / Vicente Roca Point
  • Day 4: Puerto Egas / Buccaneer Cove
  • Day 5: North Seymour / Baltra Airport

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 / Bachas Beach

Baltra
Flight to Baltra Island. You will be met by our guide and transferred to the Monserrat. We will then sail to Bachas Beach where our first exploration of the
Galapagos begins. Bachas is a great introduction to the Galapagos. Here you can relax and swim on its crystalline waters. This site also gives visitors the
opportunity to see frigatebirds, blue-footed boobies, and sea lions.

Bachas Beach Landing (PM)
Bachas Beach (2h)
Head to Bachas Beach where the sand is made of decomposed coral, making it soft and white, and a favourite 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.

Snorkelling (AM)
Bachas Beach (45m-1h)
Go snorkelling or swimming right off the white sand beach of Las Bachas. Spot all sorts of marine wildlife in its shallow waters and tidal pools. Bachas is also one of the most important beaches for the green turtle as a nesting site.

Lunch and Dinner included.

Day 2: Tagus Cove / Urbina Bay

After a long journey from the central part of the Galapagos, we will arrive to the pristine and remote West of the archipelago. Our visits today are Tagus Cove and Urbina Bay on the west of Isabela Island, where we will have our first encounters with flightless cormorants, penguins, giant tortoises and beautiful landscapes and amazing snorkeling opportunities.

Tagus Cove (AM)
Tagus Cove is located on the Northwestern coast of Isabela. It is a historical site visited by Charles Darwin in 1835, where graffiti has been carved into the
rock walls by visitors over the past centuries. This spot has been frequented by whalers and pirates since the 1800s that used the area as anchorage. The
name of the site dates back to 1814 when it was visited by a British ship, The Tagus, which had anchored there in search of giant tortoises to be used as
food supply on the boat. Here, we will admire a variety of seabirds, such as blue-footed booby, brown noddy, terns, flightless cormorant and Galapagos penguins depending on the season. Occasionally you might see woodpecker finches, the Galapagos hawk, the yellow warbler or a large-billed flycatcher. After a dry landing one, we can climb up the trail to visit Darwin 's Lake. The lake is located on the slopes of Darwin Volcano and is, surprisingly, a salt water lake above sea level. Our naturalist guide will tell you what are the different scientific theories for this occurrence. Meanwhile, in our snorkeling there are chances to see sharks, turtles and sea stars. You may also see various different types of colorful fish.

Urbina Bay (PM)
Urbina Bay is a fascinating visitor site that came to be as the shallow sea bottom uplifted in 1954 showing a large coral reef sticking up above sea level.
Because of this, Urbina Bay is one of the newest features in the Galapagos. This visitor site is located at west of Isabela and provides spectacular views of the Alcedo volcano. The long trail starts on the beach where a wet landing is made. In this location, you will likely see wild Galapagos Giant Tortoises and Galapagos Land Iguanas. As the trail circles back towards the shore line you'll come across colonies of the unique Galapagos Flightless Cormorant which lost its ability to fly. This is also a great spot for snorkeling, as you can come close to a Galapagos Penguin Colony and see Galapagos Marine Iguanas feeding underwater.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 3: Espinoza Point / Vicente Roca Point

Today we visit the most western visitor site of the Galapagos, Espinoza Point in Fernandina Island. This island is also one the most pristine on the
archipelago as no foreign species have been introduced. On the afternoon, we will visit Vicente Roca Point, on Isabela Island, famous for its rich underwater sea life thanks to its location on the Bolivar Channel.

Espinoza Point (AM)
Espinosa Point on Fernandina Island is one of the most pristine islands in the world, with none of man’s introduced species to date. From here we can see
the island of Isabela across the Bolívar Channel, an area that boasts some of the highest diversity of endemic sea fauna in the Galapagos. Fernandina is the youngest of the Galapagos Islands and a visitor favorite. When landing, check out the tidal pools where there is abundance of sea life, including small fish and mollusks. If we are lucky, a sea turtle or ray may be trapped in the pools. A little further ahead we will pass through some marine iguana burrows and sea lion colonies. The trail continues to where several flightless cormorants have their nests. This remarkable bird is only found in western Galapagos, and experts estimate that they may only be a few hundred individuals in total.

Vicente Roca Point (PM)
Vicente Roca Point has great deep-water snorkeling at one of the richest marine havens on Earth (Bolivar Channel). Vicente Roca Point is renowned for its Galápagos green turtles, which are very numerous on the bay. Although the spot is known for its high concentration of green turtles, sharks and rays can also be observed when underwater visibility is good. We take a dinghy ride along the coast to observe a great diversity of sea and coastal birds; Nazca and blue-footed boobies, noddies, brown pelicans, penguins, flightless cormorants. The upwelling of coldwater currents in this part of the Galapagos gives rise to an abundance of marine life. Our snorkeling will takes us along the cliffs and offers the chance of exploring two shallow underwater caves with rich marine wildlife.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 4: Puerto Egas / Buccaneer Cove

Morning excursion to Puerto Egas to see the salt crater as well as a dark sand beach and tidal pools. Continue to Playa Espumilla, one of the most idyllic
beaches in the Galápagos Islands, which boasts thick mangroves and flamingo and sea turtle nesting sites. Head to Buccaneer Cove to witness the towering cliff wall rock formations. Santiago Island has seen its share of human activity from whalers and pirates over the years, and despite the introduction of goats to the island many years ago, the wildlife of Santiago has otherwise flourished and provides outstanding viewing opportunities. The island boasts marine iguanas, sea lions, fur seals, land and sea turtles, among others. Enjoy great wildlife viewing both on land and in the water.

Puerto Egas Visit (AM)
Puerto Egas
Explore the spectacular shoreline of Puerto Egas, also known as James Bay. Spot a great number of shore birds and reptiles – the beach area is home to a plethora of wildlife.

Snorkelling (Puerto Egas) (AM)
Puerto Egas (45m-1h)
Grab a snorkel and jump into the water right off the beach to explore Puerto Egas' interesting underwater world. Keep your eyes peeled for rays, turtles, and reefsharks while snorkelling. After, visit the large tidal pool area – marine iguanas and Sally Lightfoot crabs are everywhere.

Playa Espumilla Excursion (PM)
Playa Espumilla
Head to Playa Espumilla, one of the most idyllic beaches in the Galápagos Islands, which has thick mangroves and sea turtle nesting sites.

Buccaneer Cove Visit (PM)
Jump into the panga and cruise alongside high cliffs and rock formations on this visit to Buccaneer Cove, which was a favourite hideout for pirates looking to stock up their boats with food and water. Spot sea lions relaxing on the beach and sea birds nesting in the cove – there’s lots to see at this site.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Day 5: North Seymour / Baltra Airport

Baltra
Visit North Seymour for guided walks to observe birds and wildlife, including vast sea lion colonies. Disembark at Baltra for flight back to Ecuador mainland.

North Seymour Island Visit (AM)
Have an amazing wildlife experience visiting North Seymour Island – this island is teeming with life! Follow trails to see all the action (you may need to give way to a passing sea lion or marine iguana while walking). See blue-footed booby nests where mating pairs perform their courtship dance. Head to a rocky shore to see flocks of pelicans having lunch in a dive bomb feeding frenzy, then turn inland to a large nesting site of magnificent frigate birds. These huge, dark acrobats have two-metre (6.5 ft) wingspans, and males, with their puffed-up scarlet throat sacks, sit precariously perched in low bushes to watch over their equally large chicks. Top off the excursion with a snorkel among sea lions and rays.

Breakfast included.

Next Departure Date: 23 Feb 2025
DatesCabinFromSpecial Offer
23 Feb 2025 - 27 Feb 2025 AUD$5992ppExpand to view prices
Lower Deck TwinAUD$5992ppContact us
Upper Deck TwinAUD$6325ppContact us
23 Mar 2025 - 27 Mar 2025 AUD$5992ppExpand to view prices
06 Apr 2025 - 10 Apr 2025 AUD$5992ppExpand to view prices
20 Apr 2025 - 24 Apr 2025 AUD$5825ppExpand to view prices
04 May 2025 - 08 May 2025 AUD$5992ppExpand to view prices
18 May 2025 - 22 May 2025 AUD$5825ppExpand to view prices
01 Jun 2025 - 05 Jun 2025 AUD$5825ppExpand to view prices
15 Jun 2025 - 19 Jun 2025 AUD$5825ppExpand to view prices
29 Jun 2025 - 03 Jul 2025 AUD$5825ppExpand to view prices
13 Jul 2025 - 17 Jul 2025 AUD$5992ppExpand to view prices
27 Jul 2025 - 31 Jul 2025 AUD$5992ppExpand to view prices
10 Aug 2025 - 14 Aug 2025 AUD$5992ppExpand to view prices
19 Oct 2025 - 23 Oct 2025 AUD$5992ppExpand to view prices
02 Nov 2025 - 06 Nov 2025 AUD$5992ppExpand to view prices
16 Nov 2025 - 20 Nov 2025 AUD$5992ppExpand to view prices
30 Nov 2025 - 04 Dec 2025 AUD$5825ppExpand to view prices
14 Dec 2025 - 18 Dec 2025 AUD$5992ppExpand to view prices

**Prices are per person based on twin / shared accommodation.
**Single supplements may apply

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

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

Whats 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 included?

  • 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

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Western Galapagos Islands

5 Days aboard Monserrat. From AUD $5,825pp.