The Aida Maria is a great value for money motor yacht accommodating a maximum of 16 people in 8 comfortable cabins with private bathrooms and air conditioning. Your experienced naturalist guide will help ensure you make the most of your Galapagos experience on this 6 day cruise to the volcanically active western side of the islands which are especially interesting for their unique flora and fauna.
Galapagos
Western Galapagos Islands
6 Days aboard M/Y Aida Maria. From USD $2,250pp.
Details
Overview
Itinerary Highlights
- Fantastic wildlife spotting opportunities
- Good accommodation, service, food and a great price
- Visit the volcanically active Isabella Island.
Itinerary in Brief
- Day 1: Arrive in Baltra - Charles Darwin Station
- Day 2: Volcano Sierra Negra, Humedales & Wall of Tears, Isabela Island
- Day 3: Moreno Point & Elizabeth Bay, Isabela Island
- Day 4: Tagus Cove, Espinosa Point & Vicente Roca Point, Isabela Island
- Day 5: Egas Port - Rabida Island
- Day 6: North Seymour Island - Depart 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: Arrive in Baltra - Santa Cruz Highlands
Upon arrival in Baltra, you will be met by your guide and transferred to the boat. Once on board your ship, you will be introduced to the crew and given a welcome briefing as well as an important safety drill. After this you'll be shown to your cabin. While you're served a well-deserved and delicious lunch, the captain will cast off and your adventure truly starts.
Aside from the Station headquarters, Santa Cruz Island is home to the largest town and economic center of the Galapagos, Puerto Ayora. In this port-side town you can buy souvenirs (postcards, t-shirts, books, etc.) of the islands. After lunch, you will explore the upper region of the island and learn about the vegetation and animal life of the area. Return to town in the late afternoon and check out its night life while the boat is docked for most of this night.
Day 2: Volcano Sierra Negra, Humedales & Muro de las Lagrimas, Isabela Island
Your first visit in the morning will take place to Volcano Sierra Negra , will be a walk around 30 minutes to the lap of this famous volcano at Isabela Island. Volcano Sierra Negra is a large shield volcano at the South eastern end of Isabela Island in the Galapagos that rises to an altitude of 1124m. Also is considered one of the oldest Volcano at the Islands.
In the afternoon after lunch, you will go to visit the Humedales, which is a mangrove area with small brackish water lagoons that create the perfect environment for a small type of shrimp that serves as the food for the island’s flamingos.
Following this visit, you will be transported to El Muro de las Lagrimas or “The Wall of Tears.” When the Ecuadorian government first took possession of the islands their main purpose was to harbor Ecuadorian prisoners; since there wasn’t much for them to do they were forced to carry rocks to a far location and build a wall.
Day 3: Moreno Point & Elizabeth Bay, Isabela Island
After night navigation you’ll arrive to Moreno Point on the west coast of Isabela, a dry landing on a lava field. The vegetation found in this area is sparse and concentrated mainly in the mangrove area and around the lakes. It should be noted that the three kinds of cacti are found here. The main attractions at Moreno Point are the coastal lagoons amid black lava flows where there are several species of birds. Here you’ll have a panoramic view of three of the most active volcanoes in the Galapagos, which are Sierra Negra, Cerro Azul of Isabela Island and La Cumbre of Fernandina Island.
After lunch, you’ll continue on your way to Elizabeth Bay, located on Isabela Island`s west shore, which is an excellent spot for observing marine life. You’ll motor past a few islands where you can usually see Galapagos Penguins; this is one of the best areas to take their photos. A colony of these magnificent birds inhabit a rocky islet at the entrance to Elizabeth Bay. We’ll let our boat drift through a small passage lined with mangroves and eventually emerge into an enclosed cove. We’ll turn the motor off and look in the sheltered waters for Marine Turtles, Rays, Flightless Cormorants, Sea Lions, and, circling overhead, Galapagos Hawks.
Day 4: Tagus Cove, Espinosa Point & Vicente Roca Point, Isabela Island
The visitor’s site of Tagus Cove is located west of Darwin Volcano on Isabela Island. The entire distance of the trail is about 1800 meters. This was a favorite spot for pirates and whalers, and the tradition of inscribing the names of boats is a tradition still observed today.
Back on board for lunch and a short navigation to Elizabeth Bay on Fernandina Island and Espinosa Point is a narrow ledge of lava and sand that extends from the base of the volcano to the sea. Espinosa Point is a place famous for its large colonies of Marine Iguanas as well as being the habitat of unique species like the Flightless Cormorant, the Galapagos Penguin, the Galapagos Hawk, and the Galapagos Snake, among others. It’s an ideal place to observe the lava cactus (Brachycerus Nesioticus), which grow on young lava and survive with little water.
After visiting Fernandina, you will start the navigation to the central part of the Galapagos and on the way you’ll see Vicente Roca Pointa, a mostly eroded volcano which now is a great site for seeing Blue Footed Boobies, Frigate Birds and other marine birds from the boat.
Day 5: Egas Port - Rabida Island
ames Bay (Egas Port) is a black sand beach located on the west side of James Bay and northwest of Santiago Island. South of the beach is Sugarloaf Volcano, which has deposits of volcanic tuff, the same that helped the formation of the black sand beach. El Cráter is just north of this site, it has a saltwater lagoon, which during the summer dry season becomes a salt mine. Between 1928 and 1930 was the first exploitation of salt; but the efforts did not last long. Then again in 1964 a new attempt was made that lasted for some time.
After lunch on board we’ll navigate to our next destination, Rabida Island consists of a red sand beach, a coastal lagoon behind the beach, and a loop trail. The approximate distance of the trail is 1.1km. The colour of the rocks and sand on the beach is due to the very porous volcanic material, which with the help of environmental factors (rain, salt water and sea breeze), has acted as an oxidizing agent. The main attraction of this spot is the red sand beach and scenery, aside from the vegetation of the arid zone and the presence of native and endemic species.
Day 6: North Seymour Island - Depart Baltra Airport
After an early breakfast, you’ll disembark at North Seymour Island. Here you will see Frigate Birds, the clownish Blue-Footed Booby, and of course the ubiquitous Sea Lions. With luck you’ll witness the striking courtship display of the male Frigate Bird, in which he inflates a red balloon-like sac below his throat and struts his stuff for all of the young females.
After lunch, you will be transferred to Baltra Airport onwards to your outbound flight home.
- Day 1: Arrive in Baltra - Santa Cruz Highlands
- Day 2: Volcano Sierra Negra, Humedales & Muro de las Lagrimas, Isabela Island
- Day 3: Moreno Point & Elizabeth Bay, Isabela Island
- Day 4: Tagus Cove, Espinosa Point & Vicente Roca Point, Isabela Island
- Day 5: Egas Port - Rabida Island
- Day 6: North Seymour Island - Depart Baltra Airport
Next Departure Date: 28 Jan 2025
| Dates | Cabin | From | Special Offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Jan 2025 - 02 Feb 2025 | USD$2250pp | ||
| Standard Cabin | USD$2250pp | Contact us | |
| 11 Feb 2025 - 16 Feb 2025 | USD$2688pp | ||
| 25 Feb 2025 - 02 Mar 2025 | USD$2688pp | ||
| 11 Mar 2025 - 16 Mar 2025 | USD$2688pp | ||
| 25 Mar 2025 - 30 Mar 2025 | USD$2688pp | ||
| 08 Apr 2025 - 13 Apr 2025 | USD$2688pp | ||
| 22 Apr 2025 - 27 Apr 2025 | USD$2688pp | ||
| 06 May 2025 - 11 May 2025 | USD$2688pp | ||
| 20 May 2025 - 25 May 2025 | USD$2688pp | ||
| 03 Jun 2025 - 08 Jun 2025 | USD$2688pp | ||
| 01 Jul 2025 - 06 Jul 2025 | USD$2688pp | ||
| 15 Jul 2025 - 20 Jul 2025 | USD$2688pp | ||
| 29 Jul 2025 - 03 Aug 2025 | USD$2688pp | ||
| 12 Aug 2025 - 17 Aug 2025 | USD$2688pp | ||
| 26 Aug 2025 - 31 Aug 2025 | USD$2688pp | ||
| 09 Sep 2025 - 14 Sep 2025 | USD$2688pp | ||
| 23 Sep 2025 - 28 Sep 2025 | USD$2688pp | ||
| 07 Oct 2025 - 12 Oct 2025 | USD$2688pp | ||
| 21 Oct 2025 - 26 Oct 2025 | USD$2688pp | ||
| 04 Nov 2025 - 09 Nov 2025 | USD$2688pp | ||
| 18 Nov 2025 - 23 Nov 2025 | USD$2688pp | ||
| 02 Dec 2025 - 07 Dec 2025 | USD$2688pp | ||
| 16 Dec 2025 - 21 Dec 2025 | USD$2688pp |
**Prices are per person based on twin / shared accommodation.
**Single supplements may apply
Cabin Details
Standard Cabin
Located on the main deck, upper or sun deck, double cabin with upper and lower bed, private bathroom with hot shower.
M/Y Aida Maria Deckplan
Specifications
- Type: Motor Yacht
- Category: Tourist Superior
- Construction: 1996, Galapagos Islands.
- Motor: 2 John Deere (175 HP).
- Generator: 2 x Yanmar 110 V.
- Electricity: 110 V / 220 V
- Airconditioned: All the cabins and indoor areas
- Navigation: Radar, Echosounder, GPS, and all marine electronics
- Length: 70 Feet.
- Speed: 9 Knots.
- Capacity: 16 Passengers.
- Accommodation: 8 double cabins (upper and lower beds)with private facilities.
- Social areas: Dining room, living room, sundeck and entertainment centre.
- Crew: 8 + 1 bilingual Naturalist Guide.
Whats included?
- On-board accommodation
- Transfers
- Tours with English-speaking Guide
- Activities as specified
- Meals as specified
- Use of kayaks and snorkelling equipment
What’s not included?
- Air transportation
- Passport, visa and immigration fees
- Airport arrival/departure taxes
- Galápagos National Park fee: US$200 per person
- Transit control card: US$20 per person
- Alcoholic & non alcoholic beverages
- Wetsuit rental
- Travel protection plan
- Gratuities
- Any items not mentioned as included
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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