Experience the abundant wildlife and spectacular scenery of the Galapagos aboard the Calipso on this magnificent 8 day adventure.
Galapagos
Naturalist Cruise
8 Days aboard Calipso. From AUD $10,539pp.
Small Ship Expeditions
Details
Overview
Itinerary Highlights:
- Visit Witch Hill and observe the unique wildlife, including booby birds, tropical fish and sea turtles.
- Visit the famous Pinnacle Rock on Bartholomew Island
- Discover the flightless cormorant nesting site and spot the Galapagos hawk at Espinoza Point
- Snorkel with penguins at Tagus Cove
- Spot land iguanas and giant tortoises at Urbina Bay
- View the Galapagos sea lions, blue-footed boobies and magnificent frigatebirds on North Seymour Island
- Discover South Plaza Island, home to one of the largest sea lion colonies
- Visit Post Office Bay and continue an 18th-century tradition of leaving an addressed postcard
- Visit Baroness Viewing Point and learn about the legend of the fascinating murder mystery
- Explore Cormorant Point, including the large flamingo lagoon and 'Green Beach'
- Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to view turtles ranging from 3-inches to 4-feet long and a photo opportunity
Itinerary Brief:
- Day 1: San Cristobal Island
- Day 2: Bartholomew Island: Bartholomew - Santiago Island: Egas Port
- Day 3: Fernandina: Espinosa Point - Isabela: Tagus Cove
- Day 4: Isabela: Urbina Bay - Isabela: Moreno Point
- Day 5: North Seymour Island & South Plaza Island
- Day 6: Floreana Island: Post Office Bay - Baroness Viewing Point - Floreana Island: Cormorant Point
- Day 7: Santa Fe Island - Santa Cruz Island: Tortoise Breeding Center
- Day 8: San Cristobal: Gianni Arismendy Interpretation Center
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: San Cristobal Island
In the morning: In the morning: In the morning: San Cristobal airport arrival
You will arrive at San Cristobal Island in the morning.
After passing through immigration and baggage claim, you will be met by a Calipso staff member and transferred to the yacht. You will be shown to your cabin where you will have some time to settle in before lunch and a welcome briefing.
In the afternoon: In the afternoon: In the afternoon: Witch Hill
Located on the northern coast, this eroded hill and its surroundings present one of the most picturesque beaches in the Galapagos with its white powdery sand and the abundance of animals. Wildlife includes sea turtles, rays, and various types of booby birds. The clear water provides an excellent opportunity for enjoying swimming and snorkeling.
Highlights & Animals: Beautiful rock formations, sea lions, shore birds, finches and mockingbirds;
Snorkeling: nice tropical fish, anemones, sponges, coral
Difficulty: Easy
Type of Landing: Wet Landing
Possible Activities: Hiking, snorkeling, dinghy ride, kayaking
Dinner included.
Day 2: Bartholomew Island: Bartholomew - Santiago Island: Egas Port
You will head to Bartholomew Island where the famous Pinnacle Rock is found. Bartholomew consists of an extinct volcano with a variety of red, orange, black and even green volcanic formations. We will take a trail of stairs to the summit of the volcano (about 30 or 40 minutes) where you will enjoy one of the best views of the islands! You will also visit a small, beautiful beach surrounded by the only vegetation found on this barren island. The beach is perfect for snorkeling where you may even see and swim with Galapagos penguins.
Highlights & Animals: Pinnacle Rock, panoramic view, moonlike landscape, penguins, pioneer plants, lava cactus; snorkeling: penguins, reef sharks, rays, and great colorful fish.
Difficulty: Moderate/Difficult
Type of Landing: Dry & Wet Landings
Possible Activities: Hiking, snorkeling, dinghy ride
Egas Port, also known as James Bay, on Santiago Island is home to the curious Galapagos hawks and quick-footed Galapagos lava lizards. The trail leads to the coastline with gorgeous tide pools and grottos full of fauna. Here the Galapagos furseals bathe in the sun. This is also a great snorkeling site.
Highlights & Animals: Furseals, Galapagos sea lions, tidal pools and grottos, Galapagos hawks, oyster catchers, marine iguanas, finches; snorkeling: reef sharks, turtles, rays, nice underwater formations.
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Type of Landing: Wet Landing
Possible Activities: Hiking, snorkeling
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 3: Fernandina: Espinosa Point - Isabela: Tagus Cove
Arrive in the morning at one of the most pristine island ecosystems, Espinoza Point.
As no foreign species have invaded Fernandina Island, it is a great opportunity to see the flightless cormorant nesting site and the Galapagos hawk.
The area also features an active volcano "La Cumbre" with lava fields reaching the ocean.
Highlights: Flightless cormorant, marine iguanas, 'a'a lava, sea lions, penguins, active volcano “La Cumbre”
Possible Activities: Hiking, snorkeling
Type of Landing: Dry and slippery at low tide
Difficulty: Moderate
In the afternoon visit Tagus Cove on Isabela Island, to explore the winding trails by Lake Darwin revealing extraordinary views. Hike around the cove to view the Darwin Volcano and for possible sightings of penguins and flightless cormorants, then head north to Punta Tortuga, a beach surrounded by mangroves.
Highlights: Penguins, flightless cormorants, Darwin Volcano & Lake Darwin
Possible Activities: Hike, snorkeling, dinghy ride and kayaking
Type of Landing: Dry landing
Difficulty: Moderate / difficult
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 4: Isabela: Urbina Bay - Isabela: Moreno Point
Located at the base of the Alcedo Volcano between Tagus Cove and Elizabeth Bay, Urbina Bay is a great place to snorkel to see the coral reef, giant tortoises, tropical fish and rays. The area also features the biggest land iguanas in the Galapagos and two hiking trails.
Highlights: Land iguanas (the biggest in the Galapagos), hawks, coral reef, giant tortoises; snorkeling: turtles, rays, tropical fish
Possible Activities: Snorkeling and hike
Type of Landing: Wet landing
Difficulty: Easy / moderate
Moreno Point is the perfect place for avid birdwatchers, with dinghy rides or hikes providing ample opportunity to view pink flamingos, gallinules and pintail ducks. Green sea turtles or white-tip sharks can also be spotted by hiking through the lava rocks leading to the tide pools.
Highlights: Flamingos, gallinules, pintail ducks, turtles, white-tip reef sharks.
Possible Activities: Snorkeling, dinghy ride & hike
Type of Landing: Dry landing
Difficulty: Moderate / difficult
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 5: North Seymour Island & South Plaza Island
In the morning witness Galapagos sea lions, blue-footed boobies and frigatebirds on North Seymour Island. The island is characterised by its arid vegetation, and snorkelling or dinghy rides offer possible sightings of reef sharks, fish and garden eels.
Highlights: Land & marine iguanas, frigatebirds, blue-footed boobies, sea lions; snorkeling: rays, reef shark, fish, garden eels.
Possible Activities: Dinghy ride, snorkeling & hiking
Type of Landing: Dry landing
Difficulty: Moderate/difficult
South Plaza Island is a small island with steep cliffs which were formed by rising lava. It is inhabited by on the largest colonies of sea lions as well as colourful yellow and red iguanas. The plant 'sesuvium' is the most distinctive on this island, being a greenish yellow tone during the rainy season and turning a bright red in the dry season.
Highlights: Land iguanas, sea lion colony, Audubon's shearwaters, swallow-tailed gulls, Nazca boobies, amazing landscape with cliffs
Possible Activities: Hiking, dinghy ride, kayaking
Type of Landing: Dry landing
Difficulty: Moderate
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 6: Floreana Island: Post Office Bay - Baroness Viewing Point - Floreana Island: Cormorant Point
Continue a tradition from 18th-century whalers at Post Office Bay, where they would use a wooden barrel as a mailbox for other passing sailors to deliver. Tourists now leave addressed postcards in the box for others to deliver should they be travelling to the same destination as the letter. The area also contains a short hiking trail and time for snorkelling.
Highlights: Post office barrel, nice sandy beach
Possible Activities: Hike and snorkeling
Type of Landing: Wet landing
Difficulty: Easy
Later in the morning head to Baroness Viewing Point, where legend speaks of a murder mystery involving a baroness and her three lovers. Easy hiking trails in this area allow for exploration of the flora and fauna as well as spectacular views and sightings of sea turtles.
Highlights: Great view, sea turtles, mysterious story about the first inhabitants of the islands
Possible Activities: Hiking, dinghy ride, kayaking
Type of Landing: Wet landing
Difficulty: Easy
An afternoon in Cormorant Point offers plenty of time for birdwatching and experiencing distinct and fascinating beaches. The area is home to a large flamingo lagoon which also attracts common stilts and white-cheeked pintails. Green Beach is a unique attraction, as well as Four Sand beach composed of white coral.
Highlights: Flamingos, green-colored beach
Possible Activities: Hiking, snorkeling, dinghy ride
Type of Landing: Wet landing
Difficulty: Easy
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 7: Santa Fe Island - Santa Cruz Island: Tortoise Breeding Center
A morning in Santa Fe consists of a small picturesque bay and two hiking trails. One trail leads up a cliff to reveal a scenic view, while the other goes from a small beach to a tall prickly pear cactus forest. Land iguanas and giant tunas characterise this island.
Highlights: Land iguanas, giant tunas
Possible Activities: Hiking, snorkeling, dinghy ride, kayaking
Type of Landing: Dry landing
Difficulty: Moderate
Santa Cruz Island is the site of the Charles Darwin Research Station which is home to turtles ranging from 3-inches (new hatchlings) to 4-feet long. Subspecies of turtles interact with one another and many of the older turtles are accustomed to humans stretching out their heads for a photo opportunity. The babies are kept until they are about four years old and strong enough to survive on their own.
Highlights: Giant tortoises in captivity
Possible Activities: Hike
Type of Landing: Dry landing
Difficulty: Easy
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 8: San Cristobal: Gianni Arismendy Interpretation Center
Visit The Interpretation Center which was opened in 1998 as a phase of the project “Interpretation and Environment Education Project.” Visitors enjoy expositions on natural history, human history, and conservation. The conservation efforts represent the movement to protect the wildlife and natural environment through means of population and tourist control. The Interpretation Center has an outdoor stadium, audio-visual equipment, and meeting rooms.
Possible Activities: Hike
Difficulty: Easy
Type of Landing: Dry
Highlights: Information and history about the Galapagos Islands.
Breakfast included.
Next Departure Date: 11 Dec 2025
| Dates | Cabin | From | Additional |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Dec 2025 - 18 Dec 2025 | AUD$10539pp | ||
| Standard Twin Cabin | AUD$10539pp | Contact us |
Alternative itinerary options:
- 4 Day Calipso: Central and Eastern Islands
- 5 Day Calipso: Western, Central and Eastern Islands
- 8 Day Calipso: Galapagos Island Diving Cruise (B)
**Prices are per person based on twin / shared accommodation.
**Single supplements may apply
Cabin Details
Standard Twin Cabin
13.5 m2, twin or double bed, private bathroom, hot water, air conditioning
Calipso Deckplan
Specifications
- Year of construction: 1991, rebuild 2019
- Type: Motor Yacht
- Length: 115 ft (35 m)
- Beam: 24 ft (7.3m)
- Electricity: 110 & 220 V
- Draft: 6.2 ft (1.9 m)
- Capacity: 16 passengers
- Accommodation: Main Deck:
2 Cabins (Twin beds) 140 ft²/13.5 m², dining room, bar, social area
Upper Deck:
2 Cabins (Twin beds) 120 ft²/11.2 m², 4 Cabins (Twin beds) 130 ft²/12.2 m²
Sun Deck:
Jacuzzi, al fresco dining and social area
Lower Deck:
2 Cabins 120 ft²/11.3 m²
*All cabins with private bathrooms, hot water and air-conditioning / All cabins can be converted into matrimonials, except on the ones located in the lower deck
- Main engines: Cummins NTA855-M @400hp (x2)
- Generators: Cummins 6B-CP 99 kW (x2)
- Cruising speed: 12 knots
- Exterior: Naval steel and fiber glass
- Water capacity: 5,000 gls.
- Crew: 10 Crew members + 1 Guide
- Safety & Navigation: • First Aid, Oxygen and AED
• Life Jackets and Life Rafts
• Nautilus Lifelines, dive alerts
• Radar and sonnar
• VHF Radio
• Antenna GPS
• Searchlight and Horn
• Bilge pump alarm
• Fire Alarm System and Extinguishers
• Smoke and temperature detectors
• CO2 reserve (150 Kg)
What's included?
- All meals and excursions
- Transfers in the islands
- Bilingual National Park Guide
- Use of snorkelling equipment/Wetsuit
What's not?
- Roundtrip Airfare to/from Galapagos
- Alcoholic drinks
- Galápagos National Park fee: US$200 per person
- Transit control card: US$20 per person
- Nitrox ($150)
- Dive equipment
- Travel / medical insurance
- Tips
- Personal Expenses
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!
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