Galápagos Escape: A 7-Day Voyage

Detailed Itinerary

Day-by-day description of your cruise and cruise activities.

Day 1

Guayaquil or Quito, Ecuador

Arrive in Ecuador, either in Quito, Ecuador’s capital city in the Andes, or in the coastal city of Guayaquil, and take an included transfer to your hotel for an overnight stay. Both cities are well-served by international carriers, and Galápagos flights start and end in Quito with a stop in Guayaquil. Guests in Guayaquil stay at the Hotel del Parque, a 44-room Relais & Châteaux hotel set along the river in lush tropical gardens. In Quito guests have the choice of several hotels, including a convenient airport hotel. Note that Quito sits at a 9,350 ft elevation. It is an alternative option to Guayaquil, at no additional cost, and recommended if you opt to reserve additional hotel nights and pre-voyage tours of the city.Arrival Time: Anytime.
Arrival City: Quito or Guayaquil, Ecuador

Day 2

Quito or Guayaquil / Galápagos Islands / Embark Ship

Fly to Baltra in the center of Galápagos, a little world unto itself in the Tropical Pacific, where you'll be welcomed by your naturalist staff as you begin exploring the islands.

Day 3

Galápagos Islands

Listed below is a sample of islands you may visit during your expedition. Expeditions begin and end at Isla Santa Cruz and include a careful selection of diverse islands. No two days are alike. Each itinerary offers an optimal balance of wildlife, landscapes and experiences. All ship itineraries are subject to Galápagos National Park regulations. Santa Fe: Snorkel and kayak in the secluded cove at Barrington Bay. On shore, a trail leads you through the largest cactus trees in Galápagos. The Santa Fe land iguana is found only on this island, where Galápagos hawks are also thriving once again. Plaza Sur: Sea lions greet you at South Plaza, an uplifted block carpeted in salt-loving succulents and teeming with wildlife, including a noisy group of bachelor sea lions and a population of land iguanas. Santiago: Hike over the smooth pahoehoe lava and admire spatter cones, little miniature hornitos and the wild riot of black lava at Sullivan Bay, the result of an eruption recorded by passing buccaneers in 1897. Snorkel and explore by kayak and Zodiac the crystalline water surrounding Sombrero Chino. Keep a keen eye for the Galápagos penguin, sometimes spotted along the coast.Genovesa: Sail north across the Equator to the remote northern realm of the Galápagos, bathed in warmer tropical waters and home to the red-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, great frigate birds and other nesting seabirds. Paddle and kayak along the cliffs of this flooded caldera, where Galápagos fur seals and sea lions haul out to rest. Santa Cruz: Journey to the lush, green highlands, where you'll see giant Galápagos tortoises roaming wild at a local ranch. Continue to Baltra for a flight back to the mainland.

Day 4

Galápagos Islands / Disembark Ship / Guayaquil or Quito

Disembark this morning for a return flight to the mainland, where you'll transfer to Hotel del Parque in Guayaquil. In Quito there are several hotel options. The afternoon and evening are at your leisure. You may be able to take advantage of overnight flights home. Ask your expedition specialist about joining a culturally rich post-voyage extension to Quito and Otavalo, a celebrated market town.

Day 5

Quito or Guayaquil

After breakfast, transfer to the airport and board flights home, unless you have arranged for additional nights or an extension.Departure Time: Anytime on day 7, or after 7:00 p.m. local time on day 6.Departure City: Quito or Guayaquil

Ship

Your cruise ship

About this ship

National Geographic Gemini

Step aboard the National Geographic Gemini, the newest addition to Lindblad Expeditions’ global fleet, purposefully designed for immersive exploration in regions rich with culture, history, and natural beauty. Elegant and agile, this 296-foot expedition vessel carries just 48 guests—offering a rare blend of intimacy, flexibility, and elevated comfort for in-depth journeys across Europe and the Mediterranean.

Refined yet inviting, the Gemini features 26 outward-facing cabins and suites, many with large picture windows and serene views of the coastline. Each accommodation is thoughtfully appointed with contemporary furnishings, plush bedding, modern en-suite bathrooms, and stylish design touches that reflect the regional character of each voyage.

Onboard, guests enjoy a relaxed, yacht-like ambiance with access to a comfortable lounge and bar, a sun deck perfect for scenic cruising, a library for quiet reflection, and a dining room that serves regionally inspired cuisine crafted from fresh, local ingredients. The ship’s smaller size allows it to call on less-visited ports and navigate narrow waterways that are inaccessible to larger vessels—unlocking authentic cultural encounters and off-the-beaten-path discoveries.

As with every National Geographic expedition, a team of expert guides, cultural specialists, and a certified National Geographic photo instructor accompanies each sailing. Whether exploring UNESCO World Heritage sites, sailing along the Dalmatian Coast, or visiting remote islands in the Aegean, guests are immersed in rich storytelling, hands-on learning, and unforgettable moments both on land and at sea.

Blending the spirit of exploration with casual sophistication, the National Geographic Gemini offers a new standard for small-ship cruising—where every journey is both a luxurious retreat and a window into the world's most captivating coastal regions.

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