Amazing, enchanting, and wonderfully wild—no other corner of the world delivers the kind of exhilarating encounters like the Galápagos. Experience all the magic of the archipelago in one action-packed week aboard the sleek and elegant, 48-guest/all-suite, new National Geographic Islander II. You’ll walk up-close among lively colonies of wildlife, all legendary for their lack of fear—see marine iguanas, frigatebirds, blue-footed boobies, the famous giant tortoises, and more. Plus, explore the dazzling undersea as you paddle board, kayak, Zodiac cruise, and snorkel in rich waters teeming with fish, sea turtles, penguins, and curious sea lions. And discover the islands’ array of interesting habitats—from lush green highlands and stark volcanic landscapes to pristine beaches and mangrove thickets.
You’ll share the adventure with an exceptional expedition team whose knowledge and passion for the islands is the key to your once-in-a-lifetime experience. They’ll go above and beyond to ensure you see, do, and learn more. A certified photo instructor helps you capture all the unforgettable moments at the heart of your voyage; while an undersea specialist provides video footage from their dives to further illuminate the fascinating underwater world. Kids and teens are invited to join our exclusive Global Explorers’ program. With multiple options to choose from each day, this thrilling itinerary is crafted to offer you a diverse experience of the islands.
Special Offers
$500 discount extended to all guests under the age of 18.
Travel with friends and family to mark special moments of celebration like birthdays, anniversaries, reunions, etc. With your group of eight or more (on a single booking), you will be entitled to: 5% off for the group; $150 shipboard credit toward the spa or champagne; custom group photo, and more. Milestone celebration must be communicated at time of booking. See attached brochure for details and limitations.
Book by March 13, 2024. Receive a credit of $500 per person, deducted from cabin fare prior to any additional applicable savings with the purchase of cabin fare. Valid for new bookings only on this departure date, subject to availability, not applicable on airfare or extensions, and may not be combined with other offers. Call for details.
Book by March 13, 2024. Save 40% on solo cabins on this departure date. Not applicable on airfare or extensions and may not be combined with other offers. Call for details.
Day 1: Arrive in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
Day 2: Guayaquil to Baltra, Galápagos Islands - Embark the National Geographic Islander ll.
Days 3 - 6: Galápagos Islands
Listed below is a sample of islands you may visit during the expedition. Our expedition begins and ends at Baltra and includes a visit to Isla Santa Cruz and a careful selection of diverse islands and an optimal balance of wildlife, landscapes, and experiences. All ship itineraries are subject to Galápagos National Park regulations.
- North Seymour: Encounter nesting frigatebirds, plus land and marine iguanas, and enjoy a beautiful coastal walk.
- Santa Cruz: Head to the lush, green highlands to see giant tortoises roaming in the wild.
- Isabela: Toast crossing the Equator at Volcán Ecuador, northernmost of Isabela’s six great shield volcanoes. Keep an eye open for whales and dolphins as you ply these nutrient-rich waters, once the haunt of whalers and pirates.
- Fernandina: One of the most active oceanic volcanoes in the world, Fernandina is the youngest and most pristine island in Galápagos—and home to the strange flightless cormorant and the largest marine iguanas.
- San Cristóbal: Search for red-footed boobies and the endemic mockingbird and lava lizard—found only on this easternmost island.
- Española: Located in the extreme southeast of the archipelago, this island is home to swallow-tailed gulls, Española mockingbirds, Nazca boobies, and seasonally, the world’s only population of waved albatrosses at Punta Suárez.
- Floreana: Follow a trail past a rose pink-tinted lagoon frequented by flamingos. Snorkel among sea lions and abundant fish, or cruise along Champion Islet by Zodiac. Visit the famous barrel at Post Office Bay and learn about its unusual postal system.
Day 7: Disembark ship in Baltra and return by flight to Guayaquil. Option to depart for U.S. after 7 PM or overnight at the Hotel del Parque.
Day 8: Return to the U.S.
Family; Active
Faculty
Charles Hansen Professor of Anthropology
Professor Dominy is an anthropologist and evolutionary biologist. His research program pivots around the feeding behaviors and evolution of primates, but it draws direct inspiration from the Galápagos, namely the studies of Peter and Rosemary Grant. Professor Dominy has published more than 140 articles, most of which are based on primatological fieldwork in the rainforests of eastern and central Africa. He has received grants or fellowships from the National Science Foundation, Packard Foundation, and National Geographic Society, among other agencies; and he is an elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Explorers Club, and Dartmouth's Society of Fellows. Like Charles Darwin, Professor Dominy is an elected fellow of the Royal Geographic Society and Linnean Society of London.
His lectures will focus on the origins of new species as well as the principles of natural and sexual selection. At least one lecture will focus on fire and human language, which, for Darwin, were the two greatest touchstones of human evolution.
