This once-in-a-lifetime cruise takes you to the Galapagos Islands in prime whale shark season, where we encounter the incredible and diverse marine life of the Galapagos Islands.
Diving with whale sharks is the main highlight, but we also have the opportunity to witness and dive alongside the islands’ unique and endemic species including marine iguana, Galapagos penguin and sea lion. Enjoy a week exploring the finest dive sites of the Galapagos including Wolf & Darwin Islands - where over 90% of whale shark sightings in the Galapagos occur, manta rays in Isabela and endemic species in Fernandina, the most westerly of these volcanic islands. We can also expect to dive with hammerhead sharks, green sea turtles, Galapagos shark, dolphin and more, as we experience the best diving in the Galapagos.
We have exclusively chartered the Aqua Galapagos liveaboard, for this unique trip and are joined by Sofía Green Iturralde, a marine biologist who works with the Galapagos Whale Shark Project. Sofia will share her expertise on these mysterious ocean giants - the whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is the world’s largest fish yet surprisingly little is known about its life history.
Established in 2011, the Galapagos Whale Shark Project aims to improve knowledge on the movements of whale sharks, their migratory corridors and their life histories to better inform future conservation management strategies. In the evenings you can enjoy presentations and question and answer sessions from Sofía.
At the end of the week we sail back to Santa Cruz island and disembark for a special topside experience. Enjoy a walk amongst the beauty of the national park and visit to El Chato to see the giant tortoise in its natural habitat.
Typical Itinerary
Day1: Depart the UK and overnight
Depart for Guayaquil, Ecuador and overnight.
Day2: Travel to the Galapagos and join the Aqua Galapagos Liveaboard
Depart Guayaquil this morning for the Galapagos Islands by domestic flight. On arrival, you will be met by a representative of the Aqua Galapagos vessel and transferred to the liveaboard. After lunch and a detailed safety briefings, the boat will depart and you will enjoy a check out dive at Baltra East. The boat will follow a set itinerary as authorised by the Galapagos National Park authority.
Sofía will be giving presentations and answering questions each evening on the Galapagos Islands and the unique research of the Galapagos Whale Shark Project.
Day3: Mantas and more in Isabela
Today, enjoy two morning dives at Cape Marshall on the east side of Isabela island. An impressive wall dive in the plankton rich waters which attracts many sizeable marine creatures and perhaps even a sea lion or two on your safety stop.
The afternoon dive site will bring joy to many, aptly named the 'City of Mantas' you're sure to have a memorable encounter.
The boat departs and travels north to the Wolf & Darwin Islands overnight.
Days4-6: Dive the Wolf & Darwin Islands during prime whale shark season
Enjoy the spectacular dive sites around Wolf & Darwin over the next three days.
Considered to be two of the best diving sites in the world, Wolf & Darwin islands provide an unparalleled quality and quantity of marine life to experience.
The islands are cleaning and feeding stations, home to a diverse and abundant marine life and world-class dive sites. Experienced divers will be rewarded with eagle and marble ray encounters, hundreds of sharks and playful dolphin. Darwin’s Arch is home to large schools of fish, turtle, hammerhead and Galapagos sharks. The biggest draw for divers however - and of course the focus for this trip - are the huge whale sharks. These ancient giants are attracted to the area when the Humboldt Current is at its strongest - June to November.
Under Sofía’s expert guidance, you will not only have the best opportunities to encounter these mysterious creatures, but will also learn about their ecology, physiology and behaviour. Whale shark photos taken on the trip will be used to identify whale sharks and monitor their movements through a global whale shark database.
Day7: Dive Isabela and Fernandina
This morning, dive Vicente Roca Point in Isabela. This dive site is the collapsed amphitheatre of a volcano and offers another impressive sight. The calmer waters of the caves are well protected from the ocean swell and are a great place to dive amongst various species of shark, Galapagos penguin, pufferfish, and even seahorses. Encounters with sunfish (mola mola) are also possible.
This afternoon, Cape Douglas is sure to provide you with incredible opportunities to observe an abundance of marine life above and below the water. Highlights on this site at Fernandina include the Galapagos penguin and marina iguana.
Day8: Dive Cousin's Rock
The lone, symmetrical pyramid of Cousin’s Rock sticks just above the coastal waters of Santiago, approximately three miles north of Bartolomé Islet. This bare volcanic rock serves as a roosting place for blue-footed boobies, brown pelicans, Galapagos fur seals, sea lions, and Galapagos penguins in season. It doesn’t take much imagination to realise that this triangular formation is the tiny summit of a huge underwater cone, though only divers and snorkellers can admire the unthinkable, colourful world beneath. A fantastic last dive which includes time observing a cleaning station for spotted eagle rays.
This afternoon you will transit to the Santa Cruz Highlands to observe giant tortoises in their natural habitat at El Chato, a protected reserve in the national park. In addition you will experience the sights and sounds of the native scalesia forest keeping an ear open for endemic bird song.
Day9: Disembark in San Cristobal and depart for home
Today you disembark the boat and return to Guayaquil by domestic flight, departing for home later this evening. Those wishing to stay on can extend their trip either in the Galapagos or in Ecuador. Contact us to find out more.
Day10: Arrive home
Please note: This itinerary is a sample only, and is subject to change depending on local regulation, weather and logistics at the Captain’s discretion. The order of the island visits is dictated by the Galapagos National Park and must be adhered to.
Key info
Duration and price including flights from/to UK: 10 daysfrom £6,995 pp
Duration and price excluding international flights: 8 daysfrom £5,845 ppIncludes all services bar international flights to Ecuador
Sofía has enjoyed an intimate connection with the Galapagos Islands all her life. She spent much of her formative years in Ecuador and the Galapagos due to her family’s close connection to the island’s conservation efforts.
A marine biologist and expert on whale shark behaviour, Sofía has been part of the Galapagos Whale Shark Project since 2017 and is at the forefront of global whale shark research.
In addition to her work with the Galapagos Whale Shark Project, she has been involved with conservation projects on marine invasive species, marine debris (plastics), turtle conservation, and the ecological monitoring of the Galapagos archipelago.
Sofía has led many Galapagos trips, including for Lindblad and National Geographic, and we are delighted to be able to call upon her expertise to add to your Galapagos diving experience.
Located 14 hours north of the main group of islands, Wolf and Darwin are reached by liveaboard and are a magnet for divers, with warm water species seen nowhere else in the archipelago. Whale sharks are common Jun-Nov, and hammerheads also frequently seen.
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Ideal for viewing: whale shark, Galapagos shark, scalloped hammerhead shark, giant oceanic manta ray, spotted eagle ray
Excellent for: Liveaboard diving, Shark diving, Whale shark, Manta ray
Their radiant fish and bizarre animals make the Galapagos a world-class diving and unique wildlife destination. Fed by nutrient rich waters from the tropical Pacific Ocean, the magical marine life enchants and fascinates in equal measure.
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Join the Aqua liveaboard for a Galapagos diving adventure to the top sites. Plus, combine a week-long dive itinerary with an extension to discover the natural beauty and wildlife of the islands.
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