Galapagos Escape – Solaris (Itinerary C)

Galapagos Escape - Solaris (Itinerary C)

Name: Galapagos Escape - Solaris (Itinerary C)
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 5 (1 reviews)

1 reviews

Activity

Wildlife

Overview

Walk (and snorkel) with the animals of Española, Floreana, Bartolomé and more

With lumbering giant tortoises, playful sea lions and an aviary of swooping, squawking, soaring bird life, the Galapagos Islands is wildlife-watching heaven. For this five-day trip, it’s all aboard the Solaris, a first-class motor yacht, to cruise around the archipelago in the company of an expert naturalist. Along the way, we stop at a string of biologically diverse islands, including Española, Floreana and Bartolomé, with the chance to get out and explore on foot and by snorkelling. Expect moments worthy of a nature documentary and plenty of photo opportunities.

Key Information

Trip Code: WGSC
Ways to Travel: Guided Group, Small Ship Cruises
Countries: Ecuador
Carbon Footprint: 146kg CO2e per person per day

What's Included

All breakfasts, four lunches, four dinners
All accommodation
All transport and listed activities
Tour leader throughout
Arrival transfers
Snorkel equipment (mask, snorkel and fins) available free of charge on board

Highlights

Spend four nights aboard the Solaris with a knowledgeable naturalist guide
Experience incredible wildlife viewing and photographic opportunities with near-tame animals
Enjoy a high chance of spotting waved albatrosses, blue- and red-footed boobies, giant tortoises, sea lions and marine iguanas

Itinerary

First Destination: Quito
Next Destination: Guayaquil

Meals included:None

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Quito
Next Destination: Guayaquil

There are free transfers available for all clients today – make sure to check the Joining Instructions for further details. A local guide will welcome you to Quito and explain the schedule for the next few days.

Accommodation: Hotel Wyndham (or similar)
Upgrade to a suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Morning: Fly to Galapagos

You transfer to Quito Airport and fly to San Cristóbal Airport in the Galapagos Islands. Upon arrival, you pass through the airport inspection point to make sure no foreign plants or animals are introduced to the island and to pay the national park entrance fee. Your guide will meet you, help you collect your luggage and escort you on a short bus ride to the harbour where a dinghy will take you to the yacht.

Afternoon: Colorado Hill (San Cristóbal)

Cerro Colorado Tortoises Reserve, built to protect and expand the tortoise population on the island, is approximately 40 minutes by bus to the southeast of San Cristóbal. It includes a large corral, a visitor centre, a breeding centre and an interpretive trail. Along this trail, it is possible to see different species of native and endemic plants plus birds including the San Cristobal mockingbird, yellow warblers, many finch species and Galapagos flycatchers.

Accommodation: Solaris

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Morning: Gardner Bay (Española)

On the northeast coast, Gardner Bay offers a wonderful place to refresh in the turquoise sea and to admire a large number of colourful reef fish. You can also snorkel with green sea turtles or watch the playful Galapagos sea lions. The white-sand beach is also an important breeding ground for the green sea turtles. In the crystal-clear ocean, whales can sometimes be spotted if the conditions are right.

Afternoon: Suarez Point (Española)

Huge ocean waves crash onto the southern basaltic cliffs of Suarez Point, forming a spectacular blowhole, where the water sprays high into the air (depending on the season, the tide and how strongly the sea breeze pushes the waves). Take time for a meditative break on this peace-inducing viewpoint.

This rocky area is also home to the most impressive and diverse collection of seabirds in the archipelago. Depending on the season, you can admire the endangered Galapagos albatross, blue-footed and nazca boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, red-billed tropicbirds and more. Along the southern coast, high cliffs allow spectacular views of ascending birds and the seawater shooting through blow holes.

Accommodation: Solaris

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Morning: Cormorant Point and Champion Islet (Floreana)

The peninsula of Cormorant Point forms the extreme north cape of Floreana; at the landing beach, you will be welcomed by a small colony of Galapagos sea lions. The green sand on this beach contains a high percentage of glassy olivine crystals, which were blown out by the surrounding tuff cones. The ‘flour sand’ beach on the southern side of the peninsula is made up of even finer white coral sand, which feels very smooth on the feet. Parrotfish have pulverised it, grinding the skeletons of living coral; you can even spot stingrays hiding in the sandy seabed here. During the first months of the year, Pacific green turtles come ashore to bury their eggs. Devil’s Crown offers one of the best snorkelling spots in the Galapagos due to the coral reef in its centre, which attracts a lot of marine life. Here you can spot Galapagos penguins, sea lions, sea turtles, many different colourful fish and even dolphins. The current can be a bit strong sometimes, so it should not be attempted by novice swimmers.

Afternoon: Post Office Bay and Baroness Viewpoint (Floreana)

In the 18^th century, the crew of a whaling ship placed a wooden barrel at Post Office Bay. Letters put inside were collected and delivered by sailors returning home. There was no postage fee and, surprisingly, this mailbox honour system is still in use today. Although letters are no longer from sailors to their loved ones, tourists leave thousands of them today and many still reach their destination. You can also relax on the beach, where, in addition to Galapagos sea lions, Pacific green turtles and golden rays, you may see Galapagos penguins. This is the only place in the southeastern archipelago where penguins reside.

You can also climb the small basaltic cone of Baroness Lookout and enjoy the paradisiacal coastline views. This viewpoint was the favourite spot of one of Floreana’s first settlers, the eccentric baroness and self-proclaimed Empress of the Galapagos, Eloisa von Wagner, who even built her house a few metres further back. There will be a long navigation at the end of the day, so we recommend you take medication for seasickness.

Accommodation: Solaris

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Morning: Sullivan Bay (Santiago)

The arrival in Sullivan Bay is like a moon landing. The desolate, sprawling fields seem to be mostly lifeless; but this island, which is particularly popular among photographers, still has a lot to offer. Green sea turtles burrow in the small white-sand beach, where you can also find crabs, blue herons and oystercatchers.

Afternoon: Bartolomé

The beautiful volcanic islet of Bartolomé is among the youngest of the islands and, on a geological scale, was just recently born out of the fire. Although it looks lifeless at first sight, Bartolomé has some of the wildest landscapes and best panoramas in the entire archipelago.

To enjoy an idyllic view of Pinnacle Bay, climb the stairs to the viewpoint on top of the island (375ft/114m). You enter a dramatic world of (extinguished) spatter cones, craters, and lightweight lava droplets once spewed out by fiery fountains. The summit trail is also ideal for witnessing how pioneer vegetation, such as lava cactus, struggles to take root in the bare virgin lava fields.

Accommodation: Solaris

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Morning: Black Turtle Cove (Santa Cruz)

This small bay, on the north side of Santa Cruz, offers a unique backdrop for unique adventures. The landscape makes you feel as if you’re in the Amazon rainforest rather than near the sea. Explore the quiet emerald lagoon and surrounding shallow bays with the inflatable dinghy. The crystal-clear water allows you to spot groups of whitetip reef sharks, blacktip reef sharks, hammerhead sharks, gold rays, and spotted eagle rays.

Afternoon: transfer to Baltra Airport

Finishing our activities around 9am, the dinghy takes us (and our luggage) to Baltra, where we take the airport shuttle for our flight to Guayaquil, which typically departs around 11.38am. Arriving, you can catch your international flights from 6pm onwards.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

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Call us on 1 844 462 4317

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View Details

Accommodation

The Solaris, a first-class motor yacht

Cruise around the Galapagos on the Solaris, a first-class motor yacht overseen by 10 crew members. On top is a spacious sundeck (come here for stretching views over the Pacific Ocean and islands) with sun loungers, a dining table and barbecue area.

Inside, there’s a lounge with a stocked bar and another dining space. Additionally, the vessel has 11 cabins: five singles and six twins (four with a queen bed and a single bed, two with a queen bed and a sofa bed); all have air conditioning and private bathrooms.

The experience is undoubtedly enhanced by the on-board naturalist, an expert on the wildlife of the Galapagos. The vessel also has four double sea kayaks and snorkeling equipment, which we can use on guided adventures.

Boat specifications:

First-class motor yacht
16-passenger capacity with five single cabins and six twin cabins
Crew: 10 and one naturalist guide
Length: 118ft (36m)
Beam: 52ft (9m)

Take a virtual tour of the Solaris: https://oniriccruises.com/views-360/solaris/SOLARIS/SOLARIS.html

Worth knowing

There are five dedicated single cabins on the Solaris; these can be booked by solo travellers with no additional supplement for the cabin.
Travelling between islands is often done overnight, so expect some cabin noise and movement.
Room upgrades are available in the Quito hotel – please speak to your sales representative for more details.

Essential Information

This trip has been graded Activity Level 1 (Easy) with a Wildlife Rating of Five. Visit our Wildlife Holidays page for more on our Wildlife ratings. For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.

This trip is great for wildlife enthusiasts, photographers, and those with an interest in history or geology. Though you do not need to be particularly fit, there will be some walking on rough ground and sharp volcanic rocks due to the volcanic nature of the Galapagos Islands. The ability to withstand high temperatures and to swim will maximise your enjoyment of the trip. Due to local regulations, we have specific time slots for making our landings and site visits. There is usually very little disruption to the schedule, but this can mean little room for deviation in the event of poor weather or other circumstances.

Landings: Each day in the Galapagos will feature a mixture of walking, snorkelling and exploring the islands by boat. To get closer to the designated landing sites on each of the islands, we disembark into small pangas (motorised dinghies). Landings are divided into two types – wet and dry. For dry landings, the panga will take you right up to a landing stage or rocky outcrop where you can disembark without getting wet. However, where there is no landing stage, the panga will stop close to a beach and you will be expected to walk through shallow water (generally no more than ankle-deep) to the shore. The leader will always advise on conditions prior to leaving and it is possible to skip any excursion if you would rather relax on the boat.

Snorkelling: There are plenty of snorkelling opportunities in the Galapagos and this is one of the best ways to experience the marine life. A mask and snorkel will reveal an exciting underwater world with sea lions, rays, turtles, marine iguanas, and a colourful array of fish. On most days, there will be one or two snorkelling sessions. Snorkelling in the Galapagos does not require any special skills; however, at times, you will be snorkelling in open water where there are fairly strong currents. Before going into the water, the guide will evaluate the strength of the currents and the general sea condition to ensure they are right for a safe and enjoyable activity. The dinghy will remain very close at all times; if you get tired or feel like coming out of the water, you only have to raise your arm and they will pick you up so you can rest for a while before going back in or stay in the dinghy until it is time to return to the boat. Snorkelling equipment (snorkel, fins and masks) is provided; however, it is advisable to wear a wetsuit, which not only protects you from the cold but also makes floating much easier without as much effort.

Travellers: We offer this Galapagos cruise in conjunction with our Ecuadorian partners, and Exodus participants will join an international group, not all of whom have booked through Exodus. Occasionally some of these may be younger than Exodus’ minimum age for this trip.

Deposit terms

At the time of booking, we will ask you for the standard Exodus deposit plus an extra 10% of the trip cost to secure your space on the boat. If for any reason we are unable to secure the space and we have to cancel the trip, you will receive a full refund.

Cancellation terms

Due to the nature of this trip, it has slightly different cancellation charges to those listed in the standard Exodus Booking Conditions. After booking, if cancelling your travel arrangements, you will have to pay cancellation charges as follows:

From 90 days to 65 days before departure – loss of deposit (20%)
64 days or less (or failure to join the trip) – 100% of the trip cost

Islands visited on this itinerary:

Santa Cruz: The second-largest island in the archipelago, Santa Cruz is home to Puerto Ayora – where most Galapagos ships are docked for embarkation – and the Charles Darwin Research Station, which conducts tortoise research programmes and is heavily involved in the management and conservation of the islands along with the national park authorities. The Santa Cruz highlands are much greener than the dry lowlands of the other islands and are home to freely roaming tortoises. In common with the rest of the group, Santa Cruz has many interesting volcanic features, such as pit craters and lava tunnels, and there is also a flamingo lagoon at Cerro Dragón.

Bartolomé: One of the most photographed of all the islands. Bartolomé is an extinct volcano with many interesting geological features and a semi-lunar landscape. Pinnacle Rock, seen in countless photos, is actually a tuff cone – a column of hardened volcanic ash formed when molten rock fused after coming into contact with seawater. It’s possible to swim with Galápagos penguins here, and the island is home to sea lions, nesting marine turtles and white-tipped reef sharks.

Santiago: Home of the Galapagos fur seal, which likes the rocky shoreline and shady spots of Santiago. Around 30,000 to 40,000 fur seals live on the islands, and the majority are found close to Puerto Egas, either on the rocks or on the black-sand beaches. The island is a good place to see Galapagos hawks and Darwin finches, and there’s a popular snorkelling site called Chinese Hat where penguins, rays, turtles and playful sea lion pups reside.

Floreana: One of the first islands to be inhabited, Floreana has a human history as interesting as its natural history. At Post Office Bay, 18th-century sailors (and now tourists) left mail in a wooden barrel so it could be picked up by other ships and delivered. It’s still common for visitors to look for postcards or letters for their hometown and deliver them on their return from the Galapagos. Notable wildlife here includes large flamingo colonies, Galapagos petrels and, between December and May, nesting green turtles. Just off the coast is Devil’s Crown, an underwater coral-filled crater that offers some of the best snorkelling on the islands.

Española: The southernmost island of the chain, Española is also among the oldest. As it is relatively isolated from the other islands, it has developed endemic fauna, including the only marine iguanas that change colour to attract mates. The island is the favoured breeding ground for most of the world’s waved albatross population, with easy access to prime fishing grounds and steep cliffs that provide an ideal launch pad for the large birds to take off. There are also large colonies of mockingbirds, boobies, Darwin finches and doves, as well as sea lions, which surf the breaking waves.

San Cristóbal: The easternmost island of the archipelago and the first landing point for Charles Darwin in 1835. The provincial capital of the Galapagos Islands, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, is on San Cristóbal, and the town is home to the excellent Galapagos Interpretation Centre. Popular sites for visitors include El Junco Lake (one of the few freshwater lagoons in the archipelago), Frigatebird Hill (unsurprisingly named for the large colonies of magnificent and great frigatebirds), and Kicker Rock, a towering split rock that rises more than 330ft (100m) from the ocean. The highland cloud forests provide a natural habitat for giant tortoises. Huge numbers of sea lions are also present on San Cristóbal and nearby Isla Lobos, reachable by boat, is a big nesting site for blue-footed boobies.

Key information

Start hotel: Hotel Wyndham Quito Airport, Parroquia Tababela SN Via A Yaruqui, Quito 170183, Ecuador
Phone: +593 2-395-8000
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today
Airport: Mariscal Sucre Quito International Airport (UIO)

Getting to the start hotel

The start hotel is approximately five minutes’ drive from the airport. Exodus provides free arrival transfers to the start hotel from the airport for all customers. If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.

Catching your return flight

The trip ends at Guayaquil Airport, where it’s possible to connect with international flights from 6pm onwards. Please speak to your sales representative if you need more information.

Please note, unless specified otherwise, the arrival transfer will be to the start (or pre-tour) hotel and will be on the date on which the tour starts; transfers to other hotels in the same city and/or on different dates may attract an extra charge. Transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts.

Ecuador

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Ecuador. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/americas/ecuador
Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/ecuador
United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/ecuador/entry-requirements
USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Ecuador.html

All breakfasts, four lunches and four dinners are included.

On-board meals are plentiful with a wide choice of international and local cuisine. Breakfasts usually consist of cheese, meats, eggs, cereal, toasts, yoghurts and fruits. Snacks are provided mid-morning and mid-afternoon. For lunches and dinner, soup usually precedes the main course.

Alcoholic drinks are available on board (approximately US$4 per beer, US$35 for a bottle of wine, around US$8 for selected cocktails) and the crew request you do not bring your own alcohol with you. Drinking water, tea, coffee and juice is freely available at no additional charge.

Vegetarians and vegans can be well catered for on this trip; please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests so our local team can be well prepared.

It is possible to visit the Galapagos at any time of year, but seasonal variations do affect what you see and there are climatic changes to note. The weather is controlled by the two main ocean currents of the region: the Humboldt, bringing cold water from the Antarctic, and El Nino, which brings tropical water from the Gulf of Panama. How close to the Galapagos they converge (which varies from year to year) is the key to the weather.

Dry season

Generally speaking, late May to early December is the cooler dry season. In this period, it is not necessarily dry, as there is a persistent light mist (garua) and often light drizzle, and the higher mountain slopes are covered in cloud and fog or rain. The winds are in the southeast and are higher than at other times, so seas can sometimes be choppy and anyone worried about seasickness might want to avoid it. Daytime maximum temperatures are 27C-31C (81F-88F), the cooler months being July to November. In July and August, the fairly strong winds introduce a chill factor, and it can feel quite cold at nights, though throughout the year the official night temperatures are 19C-24C (66F-75F).

Wet season

Depending on how close the convergence of the two currents comes to the Galapagos, there may or may not be a wet season from January to April or May. Approximately every seven years the El Nino current actually hits the islands and there will be heavy rains in these months. In other years, rain usually falls sporadically from otherwise clear skies. The ocean temperatures are higher with generally calm seas and strong sunshine: pleasant, but potentially very hot. Apart from an El Nino year, the weather is usually better from December to January and April to May than at other times even if there is some rain. Most people would regard these months as the best time to go.

There are plenty of wildlife highlights throughout the year:

January: Nesting land birds; green sea turtles arrive to lay eggs on the island beaches; land iguanas start breeding on Isabela
February: Nesting marine iguanas on Santa Cruz; greater flamingos start nesting on Floreana
March: The bright red throat pouches of frigatebirds are inflated during mating season on Genovesa and San Cristóbal
April: Huge numbers of waved albatross on Española display courtship rituals; green sea turtle eggs begin to hatch; land iguana eggs hatch on Isabela
May: Waved albatross on Española start laying eggs
June: Giant tortoises migrate to the lowlands and start nesting; migrating birds stop in the Galapagos to rest; migrating humpback whales can often be seen around the western islands
July: Dolphins and whales are more likely to be seen around the western islands; blue-footed boobies on Española start breeding
August: Sea lions start giving birth to pups
September: Penguins seen in the water when snorkelling around Bartolomé
October: Galapagos fur seals start mating; blue-footed boobies start raising chicks
November: Curious sea lion pups found in the water among snorkellers
December: Mating green sea turtles; waved albatross chicks fledge

In Quito, it should be warm by day and generally dry. Maximum daytime temperatures are almost constant throughout the year at 20C (68F) and nights at 8C (46F). Expect some rain in February-May and October-November. Storms, though heavy, are generally short.

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

Reviews

Add new review

Debby Orsini

Added April 2025

Amazing Galapagos

Our party of four loved our itinerary, guide and boat. The days were filled with excursions, snorkeling and great food and lectures. We highly recommend the Solaris C excursion!