Five days. Seven islands. Endless wildlife encounters. This is what it’s like to explore the Galápagos, one magical day at a time.
Not every destination lives up to your expectations. The Galápagos Islands are one of those rare destinations that actually exceed your dreams and captivate from the minute you arrive.
Imagine stepping off a small panga boat onto a wild, untouched beach where curious sea lions waddle up to greet you, blue-footed boobies dance their silly courtship rituals, and ancient lava fields stretch toward turquoise waters teeming with life.
On a small-ship cruise through this remote archipelago, every day brings a different island and a new adventure—one morning you might be snorkeling alongside graceful sea turtles, and by the afternoon you’re hiking past cactus forests with iguanas lounging in the sun. The pace is unhurried, yet the experiences are so vivid they etch themselves into your memory.
I recently spent five unforgettable days sailing aboard the Galaxy Yacht on a solo adventure, following its Itinerary C route through the central and southern islands. This wasn’t about lounging on deck (though there was time for that too); it was about getting out into the wild each day, exploring these remarkable landscapes and meeting the wildlife that makes the Galápagos unlike anywhere else on Earth.
In this post, I’ll take you through the itinerary day-by-day so you can see exactly what this journey looks like—and maybe start planning your own. (Note: my cruise was hosted by Galaxy Expeditions, all opinions are my own and I thank them for the opportunity to review this experience.)
Galaxy Yacht Itinerary C Day-by-Day Itinerary
I recently described what life on board the Galaxy Yacht was like in a separate post but now I want to go into detail about the day-by-day experience and daily excursions on the Galaxy Yacht Itinerary C.
Quick facts about the trip at a glance:
- Cruise length: 6 days / 5 nights
- Itinerary: Galaxy Yacht Itinerary C (Central and Southern Islands)
- Islands Visited: Seymour, Bartolome, Santiago, Genovesa, South Plazas, Santa Fe, and San Cristobal
- Highlights: Snorkeling with sea turtles, hiking lava fields, spotting blue-footed boobies
- Best for: Wildlife lovers, active travelers
Itinerary Overview:
Itinerary Map:
The Galapagos Islands are an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean made up of 13 large islands, four of which are inhabited, along with 174 islets and 400 volcanoes. While you can’t possibly visit everywhere in a standard trip, even five days in the Galapagos is enough to see most of its unique species and get an opportunity to experience its varied landscapes.
Galaxy Expeditions offers a variety of itineraries aboard its nine ships and I chose Itinerary C on the Galaxy Yacht because I wanted to get away from some of the larger cruise ships or land excursions and see some of the smaller islands. Of course I don’t know what I didn’t see, but I thought this itinerary was perfect. It checked off all the boxes in regards to the wildlife I was hoping to see and offered a variety of landscapes from lava fields to desert islands.
Day 1: Arrival and North Seymour Island
After a morning flight from Quito to Seymour Airport on Baltra near Santa Cruz, I met the other 13 passengers who would be joining me on board the Galaxy Yacht for the next five nights. Our leader and naturalist guide Gustavo whisked us off on a short bus ride to the port, where the lazy sea lions were waiting on the dock, ensuring that we wouldn’t spend even on hour in the Galapagos without spotting wildlife.
We loaded onto the pangas for a short jaunt to where the Galaxy was waiting at anchor. After settling into our rooms and enjoying lunch, we set sail for North Seymour Island. In the late afternoon, we had our first dry landing (when you board the zodiac boat/panga from the back of the yacht and step off onto solid ground, as compared to a wet landing when we pull up on the beach and step off into the water.)
A short and easy hike felt like hitting the wildlife jackpot. Soon we would become accustomed to seeing sea lions and birdlife everywhere, but on that first excursion, it is as magical as your first glimpse of the Disney castle as a child. The sea lions were basking in the late afternoon soon, with young pups loudly suckling on their moms.
Frigate birds flew overhead and sat expanding their vibrant red pouches, used to attract females. Galapagos iguanas sauntered by or stopped to munch on leaves.
But best of all, we spied our first blue-footed boobies — the animal I was most excited to see. And those blue feet are just as colorful as they appear in pictures. Their dopey faces and awkward mating dance make these silly creatures absolutely adorable.
With plenty of time to stop for pictures, we made our way back to the pangas just as the sun was starting to set and with just enough time for a quick shower and change before dinner. Every evening before dinner the group would meet in the lounge for a briefing to go over the events of the next day. The briefing went over our activities for the following day along with suggestions on what to wear and what to bring along.
Everyone (except me but I dealt with it) voted for early starts to get to explore before the other boats were done with breakfast. So it was early to bed and early to rise!
Day 2: Bartolome and Santiago Islands
I’m not an early riser, but I was rewarded with a beautiful sunrise when we loaded onto the pangas at 6:00 am on my second day in the Galapagos. First we pulled up close to Pinnacle Rock, a dramatic rock formation off the coast of Bartolome, successfully finding a few Galapagos penguins. The Galapagos Islands is the northernmost point where you can find penguins in the wild and as a penguin lover, this was such a thrill! I’m not sure if I’ll ever brave the Drake Passage to get to Antarctica, so this was truly a dream come true.
And to be honest, I found the Sally Lightfoot crabs, with their striking blue and red bodies, almost as fascinating and they covered the rocks in abundance.
Too soon, we made a dry landing on Bartolome, one of the hilliest of the islands that we visited. The morning hike led us along a boardwalk and up 400 stairs to the summit. The effort was rewarded with a beautiful view with lovely morning light.
Back on the Galaxy Yacht by 7:45, we had breakfast and then were sized and suited up for our first snorkeling excursion (snorkel gear and a wetsuit rental were included in my trip package.) I was extremely nervous about snorkeling because not only am I not a strong swimmer and afraid of being underwater (along with whatever other scary creatures are there with me), but traveling solo I knew I wouldn’t have a “buddy.” However, I spoke to Gustavo ahead of time and he provided me with a floatation device and kept an eye on me, checking in to make sure I was ok.
Climbing off the panga into the water, I was scared to let go of the ladder and had that typical sharp panic when the cooler water hits my chest and I first place my face in the water. But luckily the water wasn’t cold and it was fairly calm. Soon the tropical fish and undersea landscape calmed me. I was still one of the first people back on the boat, but not by much, and I was proud of myself of taking the leap.
Snorkeling was about an hour and we were back on board by 10:45 am with over an hour to relax before lunch. And trust me, you want to take those opportunities to rest and relax because your days are packed!
The afternoon was filled with another snorkeling excursion followed by a dry landing on Sullivan Bay on Santiago Island. The Galaxy sails between during destinations either during meals, downtime, or overnight.
On Santiago, home to the most recent volcanic activity, we learned about the formation of the Galapagos Islands and walked over a rocky lava field with hardened lava that could rival sculptures in an art gallery. The ropey designs are fascinating, but even more interesting is learning the role this landscape has in the development and survival of various species.
We were back on board by 6:00 pm in time to get ready for the pre-dinner briefing at 6:45 and dinner at 7:00 pm.
Day 3: Genovesa
It is a long overnight sail from Santiago to Genovesa, but I’m really glad that I chose an itinerary that included this “Bird Island.” Despite the group’s collective lack of sleep from the engine noise and movement of the ship, we were all back at it at 6:00 am for a wet landing at Darwin Bay on Genovesa.
It is clear why this is called Bird Island. It felt like the setting of a Hitchcock film. But we were more interested in the birds than they were in us. In full disclosure, I’m not a bird watcher. I can’t name many of the birds that fly around my backyard beyond the typical robin, bluejay, and cardinal. But, Genovesa was fascinating.
First, this is one island where we saw lots of boobies (yes, it is ok to giggle when you read that.) There were blue-footed boobies, red-footed boobies (the only ones that can curl their feet to cling to tree branches), Nazca boobies, and even brown-footed boobies. There were also frigate birds, iguanas, lava gulls, Darwin finches, and more than I can remember or name.
The beach was also lined with sea lions and they are absolutely fearless around humans. We were always warned to stay at least two meters away from wildlife but this isn’t always so easy! Especially when some of the curious animals come to check you out.
After nearly two hours on the island, we were offered the opportunity to swim in the clear blue water, but everyone opted to head back to the Galaxy and save the swimming for our next snorkeling excursion. I actually skipped this snorkeling outing because I was so tired that I needed a nap and it was getting cloudy, not leading to the best visibility.
With time to rest and have lunch, I was ready to go in the afternoon, when we broke into groups to either kayak in tandem or paddle board. The panga boats pulled our kayaks and paddle boards over towards the island cliffs and we had to carefully transfer from one to the other (luckily without taking an unplanned swim.) We only kayaked about 30 minutes along the cliffs but we were able to see pelicans, marine iguanas (which look like mini godzillas), and other birdlife.
The last excursion of the day was from 4:15 to 6:00 p.m. to El Barranco on Genovesa. We had a dry landing at the Prince Phillipe Steps and took a walk along the cliffs in search of the elusive short-eared owl. The owl is good at hiding but luckily I brought my binoculars along and these helped Gustavo spot a couple of them nestled into the rock.
For me, the real highlight of this excursion was the gorgeous sunset we saw from the panga on our way back to the Galaxy.
Day 4: South Plazas and Santa Fe Islands
By the fourth day of the trip, everyone was fully into the swing of all the activities, and luckily the day started slightly later, with 7:00 am breakfast and an 8:00 am departure for South Plazas Island. South Plaza Island was such a contrast to the other islands visited up to this point.
One of the smallest yet most vibrant islands in the Galápagos. Its striking lava cliffs are carpeted in a vivid tapestry of bright red and orange sesuvium plants, while the rest of the island is dotted with spiky, towering prickly pear cacti that look like whimsical trees imagined by Dr. Seuss.
Along the cliffs, the turquoise ocean crashes below while swallow-tailed gulls, shearwaters, and frigatebirds ride the wind. Land and marine iguanas bask on sun-warmed rocks, their golden scales blending with the volcanic stone, while playful sea lions lounge along the rocky shore. Everywhere you turn, the landscape bursts with life and contrast. The morning excursion consists of an easy 1.5 mile loop through the varying landscape.
Back on board, the Galaxy Yacht sets off on a two-hour cruise to Santa Fe. The slightly slower pace is perfect for this later part of the trip when everyone is eager to slow down.
After lunch, we rode the pangas to a protected bay with gorgeous clear turquoise water reminiscent of a Caribbean island’s shoreline. This was one of the most exciting snorkeling excursions of the trip. In these calm waters we spied multiple sea turtles, some just hanging out on the ocean floor. In addition to gorgeous fish, I also spotted an entire school of sting rays. Some of my fellow passengers saw a shark but I was happy that wasn’t me!
With a short time to dry off in the sun, our final excursion was one of the most exciting for sea lion lovers. We pulled up for a wet landing on the beach at Santa Fe to a parade of sea lions. The beach was littered with their big, brown bodies lounging in the sun or frolicking playfully in the surf.
We spent a lot of time just watching and photographing these bathing beauties before taking a short hike over rocky terrain, learning from our naturalist guide Gustavo, as always, as we went, finishing on another beach.
Day 5: San Cristobal
Sort of like raising small children, the days are long but the time moves quickly and before you know it, the last full day of the trip is upon you. This day is spent in San Cristobal, one of the large, inhabited islands. After exploring so many desolate islands, it is almost a shock to pull up in a busy harbor. You could almost forget you are in the Galapagos. At least until you spy the sea lions lounging in the local town park.
We spent some time in town and pick up some souvenirs, but the main attraction was the Tortoise Reserve. It is quite fascinating to learn about the endangered Galapagos tortoises. While you don’t see them in the wild, this preserve is dedicated to the conservation and restoration of the species and part of the Galapagos entrance fee is used to support this effort.
Unfortunately the introduction of non-indigenous animals such as goats and dogs has dramatically impacted the survivability of these tortoises as these animals eat their food and destroy their eggs, making survival near impossible. Especially considering that these tortoises take 45 years to reach sexual maturity. Today, tortoises are bred in captivity and raised to the age of 10 before they are released in the wild.
Seeing the giant tortoises ticked off the final wildlife species on my virtual checklist, leaving me feeling happy and complete at the close of my journey.
The journey wasn’t quite over though. We did have one more snorkeling excursion and a short hike on Lobos Islet to finish up our journey. On the final evening, we enjoyed a friendly cocktail with the crew before our last dinner.
Day 6: Departure from San Cristobal
The last morning of my cruise started with a sunrise sail around Kicker Rock, a popular scuba diving spot and one of the most iconic rock formations in the Galapagos.
Sadly, the time then came to say goodbye to the good crew at the Galaxy Yacht and my new friends and fellow passengers. While some passengers decided to extend their time at a hotel in San Cristobal, most of us flew back to the mainland from the San Cristobal airport. The airport is located just on the outskirts of town, so if you don’t have too much luggage, you may want to kill some time in town before walking to the airport.
The airport itself is open-air and not air conditioned, with limited services. They also do a very thorough job inspecting luggage so give yourself plenty of time to get through security. However, if you are priority pass member, you are in luck. There is a small Priority Pass lounge in the gate area (just be aware that they do charge for alcoholic drinks).
Trip Takeaways
It feels cliche to say that this is a bucket list trip and as a travel writer, I should have better worlds to describe how special this experience is compared to other vacations or cruises you may take. But I will leave you with an encouragement to not let this destination linger on your list but rather make it a reality. And I’d be happy to help you plan it!
- Favorite excursion: the incredible bird life on Genovesa Island
- Most surprising wildlife encounter: sea lions nipping at our heels on the beach on Santa Fe
- Core memory: watching the mating dance of the blue-footed boobies
- What I would do differently: bring a GoPro! I tried to film underwater with my Insta 360 and the pictures were pretty terrible
Do you need help planning your trip? If you are feeling overwhelmed and don’t have the time or resources to wade through tons of information and question your decisions, I help clients plan a custom itinerary, tailored to your interests and travel style. Learn more about my Travel Advisor and trip planning services.
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Tamara Gruber is an award-winning travel writer and the founder of Your Time to Fly. With more than a decade of professional writing experience across two travel publications and hundreds of destination guides, she specializes in crafting practical, detailed itineraries that help travelers explore the world with confidence. Her work reflects years of on-the-ground research across the globe. Tamara is a member of SATW and serves on the Board of Directors of the Family Travel Association.
