Galapagos Catamaran

Highlights

• Sail aboard an elegant 16 passenger catamaran
• Take in the unique landscape from one of the large balconies on board the Queen
• Walk along island trails and come up close to a blue-footed booby or a marine iguana
• Stop at the Charles Darwin research station for an insight into the amazing Galapagos archipelago
• Trip length 9 days/8 nights
• Departure dates:for 2025 Reduced rates for 2025 FEB 11^th to 19^th /2025 or FEB 25^th to MAR 5^th /2025 PRICE PER PERSON: $6,302.00
  
• Departure dates for 2026 PRICE PER PERSON: $7,266.00
  JAN 13 to 21^st /2026 (This date is a hosted tour with Eva, ownder of Eviactive)JAN 27^th to FEB 4^th / 2026

  FEB 10^th to 18^th / 2026

  FEB 24^th to MAR 4^th / 2026

  MAR 10^th to 18^th / 20

The Alya travels through the Galapagos Archipelago on a year-round basis. We recommend booking at least 3 months in advance to ensure availability. The Queen of the Galapagos combines luxury, privacy and comfort in the marvelous setting of the Galapagos Islands. Choose between 4-day, 5-day and 8-day itineraries. Contact us for prices at info@eviactive.com. There is never a bad time to visit the Galapagos Islands.

Description

The Aliya is one of the most comfortable, elegant and luxurious catamaran cruise ships in the Galapagos Islands. It is ranked as a first class boat. The Queen hosts 16 passengers and is therefore also suited for private charters or reunions. The cabins, living rooms and bathrooms are elegantly appointed and all have great balconies for you to enjoy the stunning views throughout your journey.
This luxury catamaran has a big and spacious suite (owner’s suite), a double matrimonial cabin and 7 double cabins with twin beds; all of them have a private bath with a hot tub. Each cabin also has full air conditioning and temperature control and all of them have huge picture windows that allow you to have a wonderful view of the Islands while you are resting in your cabins. There is plenty of space on board where you will find a workspace for reviewing your day’s travels or referencing field guides for information about wild life in the Galapagos Islands.

Each cabin has a wonderful balcony providing stunning views for your journey through the archipelago. The Queen has one large owner’s suite and 7 double cabins. Each cabin has picture windows, is fully air-conditioned and temperature controlled. You’ll experience a world of wildlife, unique landscapes and unforgettable memories. Capacity 16 passengers.

As part of the 8 crew members on board the Queen of Galapagos has a Category III Naturalist Guide who will be in charge of your visits to each island, providing you educational activities, general information, and scientific points of view, bringing out the animal lover and ecologist in you. The true entertainment is the Darwinian experience.

Activities

On your vacation aboard the Queen of the Galapagos you will enjoy activities that will allow you to participate in guided hikes, snorkeling, swimming, optional diving, wildlife observation, and bird watching. Each activity permits you to experience the closest and most intimate encounters with the unique nature of these islands.

Snorkeling: Experience the wonders of the Galapagos marine reserve like sea lions, sharks, turtles, penguins, and marine iguanas flopping around the water. Snorkeling can be enjoyed year-round in the warm waters surrounding the archipelago. While the weather remains relatively constant throughout the year, the water is warmest between December and June.

Hiking: Get close to nature through our guided hikes. Witness truly spectacular landscapes of different geological formations, wildlife observation and bird watching from an up front and personal view. Encounter the unique and fearless animals from very short distances – one of the most fascinating aspects of your visit to the Galapagos Archipelago. The Galapagos Islands are a bird watcher’s dream: 29 of the 58 resident bird species are endemic, such as the Darwin Finches, the Flightless Cormorant, and the Red footed Booby, and the Frigate bird.

Only available for 5 day/4 night itineraries.

DAY 1, TUE

WELCOME TO ECUADOR!

Arrive in Quito. Upon clearing immigration and customs, private transfer to ILLA HOTEL. Accommodation in 1 Luxury Rooms for 2 nights. Breakfast and taxes included. Quito is one of the most fascinating and vibrant destinations in South America. Located at the foothills of the Andes, Quito is known for its rich colonial history, stunning architecture, and picturesque landscapes.

DAY 2, WED

QUITO

We start the morning visiting the Equator, Latitude 0 º 0’0 “. Our first stop will be at the Ciudad Mitad del Mundo where the main monument is located. Take a photo with your foot in the northern hemisphere and the other in the southern! After a short walk  arrive at the INTINAN Museum. This interactive Museum will teach you about the different cultures of Ecuador and some other facts applicable on the Equator line.

Next, we take a  tour of Quito. Start in old colonial Quito in the main square, where the presidential palace, the main cathedral and some other important buildings can be appreciated. Then  continue to Plaza San Francisco, with a quick stop in the way so that you can try t

he typical sweets of Quito. San Francisco is the oldest church in Quito, and it is full of history and legends.

Our next stop will be a Chocolate Experience, where you will have a chance to discover and taste the finest chocolate in the world! Ecuadorians are very proud of being one of the most important world producers of the finest aroma cocoa seeds and here you will learn the process of turning cacao into creamy chocolate for consumption.

Of final stop will be Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús, one of the most beautiful churches in South America, or perhaps the world, truly a treasure. Lunch is included today.

Evening on your own as we have an early start the next morning.

(B, L)

DAY 3, THU

SANTA CRUZ ISLAND: AIRPORT – BLACK TURTLE COVE

Private transfer to the airport. Fly to Galapagos. then Baltra Island (about 4.5 hours), where you will meet your Naturalist Guide who will then take you to the luxury class catamaran M/C ALYA. Begin your 4-night cruise. All cabins are spacious and feature a private bath/shower and air-conditioning. All meals, lectures and shore excursions are included.

Accommodation will be in 1 double cabin with balcony. We have 1 single cabin (no balcony)

PM: BLACK TURTLE COVE

After lunch our first visit is to Black Turtle Cove which is situated in the northern region of Santa Cruz. This bay is surrounded by mangroves and is accessible only by dinghy only. The shallow cove is a safe refuge for marine life. Black-tip reef sharks, marine turtles, and a variety of rays are often spotted here. Return to Alya.

(B, L, D)

DAY 4, FRI

AM: DARWIN BAY (GENOVESA ISLAND)

Wet landing, coral beach, activities for this day: short walks, photography, swimming, snorkeling. Genovesa is a small island in the north of the Galapagos. Our unloading in Darwin Bay will be wet. Near the beach is a mangrove swamp where we will find a colony of frigates, marine iguanas, red-footed boobies and mask boobies, the great terrestrial finch, seagulls, herons, and cactus finch. Following the land visit, our passengers can enjoy a swim in the bay. Snacks and refreshments are available. 

PM: BARRANCO (GENOVESA ISLAND)

Dry landing, activities: hiking. Also known as Prince Phillip’s stairs. Here, we will go for a walk on the Barranco path. On our journey we will observe tropical birds, petrels, common frigate, red-foot boobies, mask boobies, doves, and finches. Dinner.

(B, L, D)

DAY 5, SAT

AM: SANTIAGO ISLAND – SULLIVAN BAY

Wet landing and hiking. Description: Virtually uneroded lava flows cover an extensive area of this island. Lava pahoehoe (basaltic lava that has a smooth, billowy, undulating or ropy surface), hornitos, and mollugo (a lava colonizer) can be seen. Snacks and refreshing beverages await you on board the ship.

PM: BARTOLOME ISLAND

Dry landing, wet landing for the beach. Activities on this island include walking, swimming, snorkeling, and photography. We will follow a path to the top (114m) where we can see pioneering plants such as tiquilia, chamaesyce, and scalesia. The island has been formed by cones, lava pipes where lava once flowed. Following the wet landing at the beach, we will follow a path through mangrove swamps and sand dune vegetation, to the south beach. At the north beach, guests can enjoy swimming and snorkeling.

From the top of Bartolome, we will be able to see the islands of Santiago, Rabida, and Isabela. We will see penguins in the Rock Pinnacle.

(B, L, D)

 DAY 6, SUN

AM: CHINESE HAT

A small islet located near the south-east coast of Santiago. It’s shaped like a Chinese hat when seen from afar. It is an island consisting of a cone type “Splatter” (lava ejected as drops which fall close to where they came from, which form an inclined cone) that forms the summit and many lava tubes that go down to the coast. On the west side you can see pillow-type lava formations, which are an indicator that the flows were formed under the sea and have been raised upward, which is why coral heads are found on the lava. This visit provides an excellent opportunity for the interpretation of geological features such as lava tubes and lava flows. The trail is 700 m (round trip) and the minimum time it takes for this trek is 30 minutes. Return to your boat for lunch.

PM: MOSQUERA

This islet is located between Baltra Island and North Seymour. Here, we find the biggest sea lion colony; it is also possible to observe several species of birds. Enjoy the white sand beach. Return to Alya

(B, L, D)

DAY 7, MON

CHARLES DARWIN STATION & TORTUGA BAY

AM: CHARLES DARWIN

After breakfast, we will visit Charles Darwin Station which is located in the main port on Santa Cruz Island; we will take a private bus to the entrance of the breeding center where we will see tortoises and land iguanas in captivity. This center is the main breeding site on the islands. Animals that were in danger of extinction on the various islands are maintained in captivity. Thanks to the dedicated work of several institutions, some species are being saved.

Transfer to the airport for your flight back to Quito. Meet and greet your bilingual guide (Spanish/English); then transfer to the Imbabura province to Hacienda Zuleta (about one hour and 30-minute drive). Upon arrival, your host will welcome you personally at Zuleta and help you with your check-in. At night, you will enjoy a nice welcome dinner. Two nights at HACIENDA ZULETA, 1 Standard Rooms including all meals & local taxes. Upgraded rooms available at a surcharge.

(B, D)

DAY 8, TUE

ZULETA

If you are an early morning person, you might want to enjoy one of our short hikes before breakfast and try to catch sight of the countless birds we have at Zuleta.  You will be able to visit the cheese factory and learn more about Zuleta´s semi-aged, handmade Ecuadorian cheeses and how the process has changed throughout history. In the mornings, you are most likely to spot an Ecuadorian wild condor flying by.  You will learn about the foundation’s efforts, see rescued Andean condors in our aviary, and visit the nearby trout farm. The route back takes us through pastureland where we ride between ancient monuments of the Caranqui culture, seeing both small burial mounds dating back to 700 A.D., and giant ceremonial truncated ramp pyramids from the 13th century. At lunch time you can enjoy freshly caught trout and our exquisite Ecuador cuisine. Then have coffee on the patio whilst admiring the giant hummingbird that comes frequently to feed here. In the afternoon, you can buy or order countless beautiful, handmade, colorful embroidery articles from the Zuleta women’s cooperative. Coming out of the shop, our horse drawn carriage is waiting for you to take you down the eucalyptus alley to visit the foundation run library. This is where local children spend their afternoons, getting help with homework, reading and playing.

You can also decide to do a more challenging hike up to Condor view, which offers wonderful views of the local area, and you may even be lucky enough to spot a family of Spectacle Bears along the way. You can end the day with a nice hot bath.

(B, L, D)

 DAY 9, WED

After Breakfast, private transfer back to Quito for your flight home.

End of our services.

• The Galapagos and Ecuador schedule and all touring arrangements herein are subject to change without notice and can be operated in a different sequence, depending on operational considerations. All hotels are subject to availability and can be replaced with similar hotels.
• All payments are non-refundable in the event of cancellation. Proof of  TRIP INSURANCE mandatory.
  

** A National Park fee of $110 U.S. per person is payable in Ecuador and is never included in the pricing.Price subject to change by the Ecuadorian Government.