Galapagos Christmas Cruise

8 days
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5/5 Excellent
81 reviews  
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Small Ship Cruise
We invite you to break away from the habitual this Christmas holiday in favor of the exotic unknown. Tour the Galapagos Islands with ROW Adventures and embrace your voyaging spirit as you follow in the steps of great explorers like Charles Darwin. The unique, secluded beauty of the Galapagos Islands will doubtlessly inspire you and captivate you, for the isla...

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Overview

Trip type
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

    • Explore the white sand beaches and the quiet waters of the lagoons
    • See the volcanic views at Sullivan Bay
    • Visit the shores of Darwin Bay on Genovesa Island
    • Have many opportunities to go kayaking, swimming, or snorkeling
    • Visit the Arnaldo Tupiza Breeding Center to learn more about the famous giant tortoises of theGalapagos

What's this trip about?

    We invite you to break away from the habitual this Christmas holiday in favor of the exotic unknown. Tour the Galapagos Islands with ROW Adventures and embrace your voyaging spirit as you follow in the steps of great explorers like Charles Darwin. The unique, secluded beauty of the Galapagos Islands will doubtlessly inspire you and captivate you, for the islands are filled with wonders you cannot buy but must experience. On this Galapagos Christmas cruise, we board the Tip Top II, a yacht of the highest quality chartered for this winter vacation taking place late December 2015. The recently refurbished Tip Top II holds 16 passengers in total, and its 90 feet expanse provides ample room for both socializing and solitude. Our tour of the stunning Galapagos Islands is an excellent opportunity for those who want to explore the archipelago with a small group of other intrepid voyagers. Our rare winter-special takes place during an ideal time to visit the Galapagos Islands, as December falls on the cusp of the warm season and at the end of the dry season. Enjoy the temperate weather along the equator on this holiday tour!

Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age range8 years and up
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityQuito
End CityQuito

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • National Parks
  • Nature & Wildlife
  • Small Ship Cruise
  • Scuba Diving
  • Festivals & Special Events

Destinations

  • South America
  • Ecuador

Attractions

  • Galapagos
  • Guayaquil
  • Quito
  • Santiago

Activities

  • Bird watching
  • Culture
  • Educational/ learning
  • Hiking
  • History
  • Kayaking
  • Photography
  • Snorkeling

Trip includes

    • Plane ticket to Galápagos from Quito or Guayaquil (roundtrip).
    • Onboard lodging.
    • Excursions in the islands according to the established itinerary accompanied by a bilingual naturalist guide, who has been properly trained and certified by Galápagos National Park.
    • Snorkeling, panga rides, and kayak rides, which will give you the opportunity to discover the unique marine life of Galápagos.
    • Book reading, movie watching, board games.
    • Personalized service offered to each passenger. Our chef will combine Ecuadorian and international cuisine. Free of charge items: purified water, coffee, and infusions of aromatized water.

Popular Trips

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: Christmas Day 2016

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

You begin your Christmas cruise adventure by flying from your location, Quito or Guayaquil, on continental Ecuador to Baltra as a passenger on AEROGAL Airline. Upon arrival, you will be met by a guide who will escort you to a ...

Day 2

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After we finish a delicious breakfast on board, we will disembark to explore the volcanic views at Sullivan Bay. Sullivan Bay epitomizes the dynamic volcanic history of the Galapagos Islands with its sun baked lava field. Whil...

Day 3

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

We will begin our day by breakfasting on board before taking a panga ride to the shores of El Barranco, where we will hike up the steep, rocky staircase known as Prince Phillips’ Steps. The steps came by their name after the P...

Day 4

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

A hearty breakfast on the yacht prepares you for a day exploring the grey sand shores of James Bay. We disembark at the lava shoreline of Puerto Egas before continuing on the rocky coastline. As you walk, take the time to expl...

Day 5

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Once we finish breakfast on the yacht, we will head to Punta Vicente Roca, located on the northern shores of Isabela Island. Punta Vicente Roca epitomizes the Islands’ volcanic origin and the sheer geologic force which brought...

Day 6

Our morning begins early with breakfast on the yacht before we set out toward Urbina Bay. Urbina experienced an unexpected geologic uplift in 1954, causing the coastline to extend about ¾ of a mile further into the ocean as well as a rise in elevation of over 16 feet....

Day 7

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today is a day for volcanoes! We will eat breakfast upon the yacht and then boat to Las Tintoreras, an islet known for its turquoise waters and white sand beaches. Lava formations form the protected bay, and a calm channel whe...

Day 8

Meals: Breakfast

We will eat breakfast upon the yacht before departing to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, where we will receive an educational tour. The Charles Darwin Research Station is committed to the Galapagos Islands’ biodiversity and ecosystem...

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Dates & Availability

Price From $3,995
Price per day$499
Last Updated: 2/23/2024

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with ROW Adventures.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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ROW Adventures Reviews & Ratings

5/5  Excellent
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Other ROW Adventures Reviews

A

Andrew

Mar 2020

Provided byROW Adventures

Great trips--great company

I have travelled with ROW numerous times, including four trips on the Rogue River. Every trip has been wonderful and every person associated with ROW has been nice, ...

P

Pip

Mar 2020

Provided byROW Adventures

most memorable holiday

Wow, wow, wow, wow. As a family group of six adults we have just returned from four day Whale Camp at Magdalena Bay. We were so well looked after by Monica, ‘Sherman...

J

Jackie

Dec 2019

Provided byROW Adventures

My dad and I had a wonderful time, and would not hesitate to recommend ROW!

My dad and I booked this trip as a special experience to share together, and we knew we wanted to go with ROW because we had taken a family rafting trip with ROW 20 ...

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Tour Operator

ROW Adventures

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Connecting people to culture, wildlife, and nature

If there is water, there is ROW Adventures! While we started out as a Northwest whitewater rafting company in 1979, we have since expanded our reach to include tours on five continents and over 25 countries. Our ultimate focus is providing life-enriching journeys around the world that not only benefit you, but also our guides, and the people and places we visit. Rated by National Geographic Adventure as one of the “Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth,” and voted “World’s Best Tour Operator” by Travel & Leisure magazine readers, we continue to pioneer new trips and ways of adventuring in both popular and remote places of the world.

ROW offers a wide variety of trips that cater to many different activities - rafting, kayaking, hiking, biking, fishing, multisport, etc. – interests – family-focused vacations, lodge-based tours, wildlife viewing, custom itineraries – and locations – camping in the Galapagos Islands, hiking in Machu Picchu, ecolodges in the Amazon, safaris in Africa, yachting in Europe, wildlife viewing in Antarctica, sea kayaking in Baja, kayaking with orcas in British Columbia, and more.

At our core, we are all about “sharing nature, enriching lives.” We strives to connect you to the places we visit in a meaningful and personally relevant way, inspiring you to be a part of the culture and lifestyle, and creating a safe-space for you to grow and gain new insight through your travel experiences.

The driving force behind our company is a team of people passionate about travel and customer service. Setting the pace and tone are the original ROW owners and founders Peter Grubb and his life partner Betsy Bowen. With our superlative team who have an average of eight years of guiding experience, many with extensive wilderness medical training, and natural and cultural history interpretation training in order to share a deeper understanding and appreciation for the incredible places you visit, we continue to set the high watermark in adventure and guest service.

ROW has a high guide-to-guest ratio, allowing our guides to be more involved with you – joining in on meals, ensuring your comfort, answering questions, telling stories, entertaining, and sharing in on the fun and adventure. And not only are our guides there to lead the adventure, they also do all of the heavy lifting, food preparation, gear transfers, camp setup, and more, so that you can focus on your vacation.

Our guides prepare each meal for you using fresh, healthy ingredients, and there is beer and wine to boot. Luxury camping, with spacious tents, dining tables, chairs and sun showers, provides a high level of comfort even when you’re exploring remote wilderness areas. ROW provides all camping gear including tents, sleeping bags, and thick foam mattresses, and watercraft for our trips; you just need to bring clothes, yourself, and enjoy being on your adventure! And of course, we are passionately dedicated to “Leave No Trace” camping ethics and supporting a variety of conservation efforts around the world. 

We have it all covered, and we are here to provide you with the best travel experience out there. But don’t take our word for it; check out our reviews, join us for an adventure, and go home with incredible experiences and lifelong memories!

Tweets by ROWadventures

Why we love this operator
They’ve been recognized by major travel publications for their pioneering adventure travel expertise that spans back to their founding in 1979.
What they’re known for
Industry-leading adventures for outdoor enthusiasts that want a comfortable but exciting experience and all equipment included.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • Galápagos National Park Entrance Fee $100
    • Migration Control Card (Ingala) $10 (You will need $110 Cash for your Galapagos Immigration Card and National Park Fee. These are payable in cash only.)
    • A wide variety of alcoholic beverages and non-alcoholic beverages available at the bars of our yachts, which can be purchased in cash or with traveler’s checks at the end of the cruise.
    • Tipping the crew and the guide is optional.
    • Wetsuits available for rent upon previous request.

Accommodation

,Life on Board While our days our full of adventure, your mornings and nights will be spent on board the gleaming deck of the Tip Top II. You will wake up to the calls of Darwin finches before breakfast, and there will be plenty of time in the evenings to enjoy the glowing colors of the sunset over the Pacific Ocean as you relax upon the deck. Keep a look out for dolphins or whales breaching the waters’ surface as we tour the islands. Our captain will navigate the seas and our professional Galapagos National Park Service guide will provide exemplary counsel and direction that will enhance your experience. As you tour the islands, you will learn about the remarkable geology and natural history that formed the islands as well as the flora and fauna that inhabit them today. Our amiable crew will ensure that your tour is delightful and relaxing. Furthermore, our exceptional on-board chef will prepare delicious local and international dishes every day. On this holiday tour, you will enjoy the thrills of exploration and adventure as well as the comforts of first-class yacht and crew. TIP TOP II Length: 90 feet Beam: 22 feet Draft: 5 feet Cruising speed: 10 knots Year of built: 1983 and completely redesigned in 2011 Category: First Class Motor Yacht Capacity: 16 Passengers Guest Accommodation: Lower Deck: 6 cabins with two single lower berths Upper Deck: 2 cabins with two single lower berths Social Areas: Bar, Dining Room, Lounge, Sun deck Stateroom: Upper Deck Cabins Upper Deck: 2 cabins with two single lower berths Lower Deck Cabins Lower Deck: 6 cabins with two single lower berths
Cancellation policy

If you find it necessary to cancel your trip, you should notify ROW Adventures in writing, by e-mail or fax immediately.  If written cancellation is received (call to verify) before the final balance is due, you will be given a refund less the amount of the deposit.  Deposits are not refundable.  If cancellations are made on or after the final due date, no money will be refunded.  If you are unable to go on the trip, you are welcome to find a replacement for yourself.  Please understand that once you’ve signed up, we lose the right to sell your reserved space to other individuals or groups.  Therefore, we regret that we cannot make exceptions for personal emergencies.  For this reason we strongly recommend you consider purchasing the Travel Protection Plan ROW offers.

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included

7 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches and 6 Dinners

Age Requirements
8 years and up
Additional Information
Trip ID
rowadv-GalChiRow

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