When it comes to great adventures, a journey through the Galapagos Islands is a dream holiday. This magical archipelago, located 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, features 19 unspoiled, isolated islands and 42 islets, that all rose from the sea as the product of volcanic eruptions over a million years ago.
Experience the Galapagos Islands
Simply landing on a beautiful island is one thing. Getting to know its science, history, and secrets is quite another. These are the kinds of in-depth experiences that the Celebrity Cruises naturalist guides create just for you. They’re some of the best in the Galapagos. Experts in everything from science to history, they’ve spent years on these fascinating islands, and many were raised in the region. They’ll give you not only a unique view from an ecologic and geologic perspective but also a personal view of what it’s like to grow up in such a special place.
All-Inclusive Galapagos Cruise from £7,999 per person
A trip to the Galapagos Islands is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so you shouldn’t waste a single moment thinking about logistics or details. Celebrity Cruises Galapos adventures are blissfully all-inclusive, worry-free, and well-planned, right down to the last detail. They’ve taken care of everything from hotel stays before and after your cruise, to flights, transfers, packages, meals, beverages, and destination experiences.
What’s included in a Celebrity Cruises Galapagos pre-cruise stay?
- Return flights from the UK.
- Transfers from the Quito Airport to your hotel and back to the airport.
- Two nights in a hotel in Quito, Ecuador, prior to your flight to Baltra.
- Meals during the pre-land portion of the package in Quito, including all meals on Saturday, and Sunday breakfast pre-cruise.
- A guided tour of Quito (full day).
- Round-trip air transportation from Quito, Ecuador to Baltra.
- Transfers from the airport in Baltra to the ship.
What’s included in a Celebrity Cruises Galapagos cruise?
- 7-night all-inclusive Galapagos cruise onboard Celebrity Flora.
- Accommodation in luxurious staterooms with air conditioning, private bathrooms and showers, and refrigerators with complimentary bottled water.
- All meals and complimentary beverages on board the vessel including select wines, sparkling wines, spirits, soft drinks, bottled water, coffee and teas.
- Complimentary room service.
- Complimentary internet access.
- Onboard entertainment, including programs or lectures by onboard, Galapagos National Park certified naturalists or our experienced Celebrity staff.
- Complimentary snorkelling equipment, wetsuits, binoculars and walking sticks are provided for the duration of the cruise.
- Gratuities while on board for the crew and lecturers, as well as gratuities for the naturalist guides.
- The Galapagos National Park admission fee.
- Galapagos Tourist Card fee.
- Transfers from/to the Baltra, Galapagos airport to/from the ship.
Galapagos Islands Excursions Included
Take advantage of Celebrity Cruises’s all-inclusive activities, where adventure is yours for the taking, and active snorkelling and destination experiences really bring this archipelago to life. One day, you’ll find yourself hiking from white sand beaches to black lava flows. Another day, you’re underwater, snorkelling among the sea turtles, marine iguanas, and sea lions. Each excursion will be the adventure of a lifetime.
HIKING
The Celebrity Cruises naturalists will guide you as close as eight feet from the famed Galapagos tortoises. You’ll traverse volcanic terrain and find yourself perched high atop paths that offer world-class views of the islands. From short walks to long hikes, plenty of options are afoot.
COASTAL EXPLORATIONS
Safely explore hard-to-reach areas right offshore from the security and comfort of the tender boats. This is the perfect way to get closer than ever to these natural wonders, from marine iguanas perched on wave-drenched rocks to sea lions sleeping on the shore.
BEACH AND SNORKEL EXCURSIONS
Teeming with life, these protected waters hold treasures both above and below the surface. Wade out through the penguins, marine iguanas, and sea lions, into the realm of dolphins, rays, sea turtles, and colourful tropical fish. Join the advanced snorkelling tour for an even deeper experience.
EXPLORING BY KAYAK
Paddle through paradise in a kayak that’s great for sightseeing in the most nonintrusive, eco-friendly kind of way. Plus, you’ll get some exercise. Along the secluded shores, watch for marine iguanas, eagle rays, sea lions, dolphins, penguins, and other welcoming wildlife.
Celebrity Flora – Galapagos Islands Outer Loop Itinerary
DAY 1 THURSDAY – Depart from the UK on an overnight flight to Quito, Ecuador.
DAY 2 FRIDAY– Arrive in Quito, the capital city of Ecuador, where you will be met by Celebrity Cruises representatives. Check-in to your hotel for your 2-night pre-cruise hotel stay, You’ll have time to explore one of the world’s highest capital cities which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978.
DAY 3 SATURDAY – Breakfast is served at the hotel before setting off on a full-day guided tour of the capital of Ecuador, you’ll stand on the equatorial line at the Intiñan Solar Museum, and marvel at the monastery of San Francisco and la Compañia Church. Your Tour Director will escort you throughout your Quito stay, and serve as your personal concierge. Lunch will be accompanied by a spectacular view of the city, and you will also enjoy a welcome dinner at a local gourmet restaurant.
DAY 4 SUNDAY AM – Baltra Island / Embarkation – During World War II, Baltra served as a U.S. military base protecting the Panama Canal from enemy attack. Now the cactus-strewn landscapes of Baltra are home to the region’s main airport and where you will meet the ship. From the airport, it is just a short bus and Zodiac ride to the ship.
DAY 4 SUNDAY PM – Daphne Island – Daphne is a satellite volcanic cone located north of Santa Cruz Island. The crater floor is an important breeding site for blue-footed boobies. This Island is famous for the scientific investigation led by Peter and Rosemary Grant on the finches’ population, one of the most important studies on the field that supports Charles Darwin’s Theory. The cliff shore of the island is home to sea lions, pelicans, blue-footed boobies, and tropical birds which can be observed during the circumnavigation of the island.
DAY 5 MONDAY AM – Gardner Bay, Española Island – A long white sand beach and clear blue waters make this an ideal spot for swimming, snorkelling, or just relaxing on the beach. In the water, sea turtles, rays, colourful tropical fish, and maybe even a white-tip reef shark may be seen. It is also home to a colony of sea lions. Excursion options: beach walking, swimming, or a deep-water snorkel for experienced snorkelers.
DAY 5 MONDAY PM – Suarez Point, Española Island – Española is the oldest island in the Galapagos and home to an abundance of wildlife. At this site, visitors can expect to see sea lions, Galapagos Hawks, marine iguanas, and both blue-footed and Nazca boobies. Between late March and the following January, the Waved Albatrosses come here to mate and raise their young. Excursion options include a long, rocky walk to look for albatrosses and observe an impressive blowhole that spews water like a towering geyser.
DAY 6 TUESDAY AM – Cormorant Point, Floreana Island – Floreana was the first capital of the Galapagos, and where Charles Darwin met the islands’ Governor. Its small brackish lagoon is often home to flamingos, stilts, and white-cheeked pintail ducks, and one of its beaches is a highly used nesting site for sea turtles. Check out the green-hued sand where you land! Excursion options include a relatively short walk to the lagoon and sea turtle nesting beach, and optional snorkelling and swimming at the landing beach. In addition, nearby Champion Island lies east of Floreana and provides a wonderful opportunity for snorkelling and a zodiac ride. When snorkelling, tropical fish abound with frequent sightings of sea turtles, rays, sharks, sea stars, and more. If we’re lucky, the sea lions will be in a playful mood. During a zodiac ride along the rocky shoreline, keep an eye out for seabirds such as boobies, pelicans, and frigate birds. Red-billed Tropicbirds nest in the crevices below the large prickly pear cacti, and you may spy the very rare Charles Mockingbird.
DAY 6 TUESDAY PM – Post Office Bay, Floreana Island – Rich in history, this site is home to the post office barrel established in about 1793, where pirates, buccaneers, whalers and others could leave their mail to be picked up by outbound ships. The tradition continues today, as visitors leave addressed postcards in the barrel and sort through left mail to deliver at home. Baroness Outlook, Floreana – The Baroness’ Viewing Point is the ideal place to take in the unique scenery that defines Floreana, and to learn about the history of the island’s early settlers. Once inhabited by an indulgent baroness and her three lovers, the history of this island is intriguing. During the Zodiac ride around “La Loberia,” you can observe several marine species such as golden eagle rays, sea turtles,
sea lions, mullets and occasionally Galapagos penguins.
DAY 7 WEDNESDAY AM – Moreno Point, Isabela Island – Along this beautiful rocky shore, a field of hardened black lava flows is pockmarked by shallow pools, which are home to shorebirds and flamingos. The mangrove-lined shore also provides a chance to see marine iguanas, sea turtles, stingrays, sharks, penguins, and the flightless cormorant. Excursion options: a long walk and Zodiac ride, or an extended Zodiac ride.
DAY 7 WEDNESDAY PM – Urvina Bay, Isabela Island – Composed of five coalesced volcanoes, this is the largest island in the Galapagos and the most recently active, the latest eruption having occurred in 2009. Here we will see large land iguanas, finches, and if lucky, a giant tortoise or two. In 1954, the intrusion of magma below one of the islands volcanoes caused part of the bay to be uplifted some 6 meters, and today we can walk through the remains of what was once a thriving underwater reef. Excursion options: a long, faster-paced hike with some rock climbing required, followed by an optional snorkel (if conditions allow), or a short walk and optional snorkel.
DAY 8 THURSDAY AM – Espinoza Point, Fernandina Island – Fernandina is the youngest island in the Galapagos and, as Darwin wrote, it is “covered with immense deluges of black naked lava.” Along with its extraordinary black lava rocks, this point of land hosts the largest colony of marine iguanas in the Archipelago, along with sea lions and a nesting site for flightless cormorants. Excursion options: a long walk or short walk, as well as a deep-water snorkel for experienced snorkelers.
DAY 8 THURSDAY PM – Vicente Roca Point, Isabela Island – The half-collapsed remains of an ancient volcano make for a spectacular setting at this site. Awe-inspiring cliffs, blue waters, and wildlife create a Zodiac ride to remember as we search for sea turtles, penguins, fur seals, the flightless cormorant, marine iguanas, marine mammals, and the oddly shaped form of the elusive sunfish.
DAY 9 FRIDAY AM – South Plaza, Santa Cruz Island – One of two islands off Santa Cruz, South Plaza was born of upheaval, uplifted during a geologic event. The rocky island is strewn with prickly pear cactus and home to land iguanas, marine iguanas, and a colony of sea lions. Our excursion here is a short walk to view wildlife, flora, and geology.
DAY 9 FRIDAY PM – Dragon Hill, Santa Cruz Island – Dragon Hill, or “Cerro Dragon,” is named after its population of land iguanas. The site offers a beautiful view of the landscape and two small brackish lagoons where flamingos and other shore birds occasionally feed. Along the trail, we’ll cross a beautiful “white forest” of Palo Santo (incense) trees and Galapagos cotton plants. Options for this visit include a long walk and a short walk.
DAY 10 SATURDAY AM/PM – Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island – This is the main population centre of the islands, and home to the National Park Service tortoise-breeding centre and the Charles Darwin Research Station. You will be able to visit the tortoise-breeding centre and walk through the Charles Darwin Research Station. You will also have the opportunity to take a bus ride to the highlands to observe giant tortoises in the wild and walk through a lava tunnel. In addition, you will have an exclusive opportunity to participate in the Scalesia reforestation project in the highlands of Santa Cruz Island.
DAY 11 SUNDAY – Baltra disembarkation and airport transfer for flight home. Baltra is home to the region’s main airport, and where you will fly out. You will have a zodiac and bus ride to the airport ahead of your flight to Quito. On Arrival in Quito you will spend one last night in Ecuador’s capital city with time to explore at your leisure.
DAY 12 MONDAY – After breakfast your Celebrity Cruises representative will transfer you to Quito airport ahead of your flight home to the UK.
Which Celebrity Cruises ship will I be sailing on?
Celebrity Flora is the first all-suites ship of her kind to be designed and built especially for the Galapagos Islands. As soon as you step onboard Celebrity Flora you’ll experience a sense of being truly immersed in the destination, instead of just visiting it. Indulge in the largest and most luxurious accommodations in the Galapagos Islands, where every stateroom is a suite. Dine on delectable menus and allow your Personal Suite Attendant to help you unpack. Best of all, it’s all included.
To protect the pristine islands and their waters, Celebrity Cruises have incorporated all the latest environmental technologies. The ship’s dynamic positioning system enables her to remain on station without dropping anchors, protecting the seabed, and the solar panels supplement her electricity, reducing emissions. The result is one of the most eco-friendly ships sailing anywhere in the world.
What should you pack for your cruise to the Galapagos Islands?
What to wear during the day and whilst on shore excursions:
- Neutral-coloured clothing is advised due to possible presence of insects.
- Lightweight rain jacket or windbreaker.
- A small backpack to carry water and other essentials.
- A hat, sunglasses, sunblock, and insect repellent.
- A re-sealable plastic bag to prevent water damage to cameras and other items of that nature.
- If you bring a digital camera, make sure to pack plenty of memory cards.
- The weather in these ports of call can be unpredictable, so we recommend layers. During the warmer months (February through June) it can be very hot on shore excursions.
- Lightweight shorts and pants as well as both long-and short-sleeve shirts.
- A jacket or sweatshirt will come in handy for cooler days and evenings.
- Sturdy, comfortable walking shoes or lightweight hiking boots, thick socks, swimsuit, and waterproof sandals or wet/dry water shoes for the beach and wet landings. Some of the island trails require walking on rocks, so be sure to have support and good tread on walking shoes.
What to wear during the evenings:
- As you pack evening clothes, remember that there is no need for formal attire aboard any of Celebrity Cruises Galapagos vessels.
- For women, it is recommended to wear resort casual attire (pants, skirts or even casual dresses).
- For men, it is recommended to wear resort casual attire (comfortable shirts and pants, along with a sweater or light jacket).
What is the weather like in the Galapagos Islands?
Located on the equator, the Galapagos Islands are subject to oceanic currents that influence temperatures on the archipelago. The weather is pleasant at any time of the year, making it a year-round cruise destination.
There are two seasons in the Galapagos. The dry, or garoa, season runs from July to December. “Garoa” refers to the fog and mist that commonly hangs on the higher elevations during this season. The hot or wet season lasts from January through June, with March and April generally being the wettest months.