Her speed, comfort, top guides and itinerary will make Ocean Spray perfect for your Galapagos cruise adventure. One of the most luxurious catamarans in the Galapagos and one of the only with cabins with private terrace.
Her speed, comfort, top guides and itinerary will make Ocean Spray perfect for your Galapagos cruise adventure. One of the most luxurious catamarans in the Galapagos and one of the only with cabins with private terrace.
One of the newest and most luxurious catamaran style boats in the Galapagos, the Ocean Spray offers ample social spaces and the most up-to-date amenities while still offering an intimate, small-ship experience. The elegant design includes a huge sundeck, Jacuzzi and spacious cabins each with private balcony.
8 day a Itinerary
Saturday: Arrive to Baltra / Santa Cruz/ Rabida Island
Sunday: Isabela Island: Vicente Roca Point / Fernandina Island: Espinosa Point
Monday: Isabela: Tagus Cove and Urbina Bay
Tuesday: Isabela: Elizabeth Bay and Moreno Point
Wednesday: Isabela: Puerto Villamil
Thursday: North Seymour Island / Santa Cruz Island: Twin Craters and Charles Darwin Research Center
Friday: Espanola Island: Suarez Point and Gardner Bay
Saturday: San Cristobal Island: Interpretation Center / Airport
8 day B Saturday through Saturday – alternative itinerary, inquire for details
6 day A cruises run Saturday through Thursday
6 day B cruises run Thursday through Tuesday – alternative itinerary, inquire for details
5 day cruises run Tuesday through Saturday
Catamarans tend to offer more ample cabin space of the smaller Galapagos yachts while their design makes them a bit more stable if waters get rough. This is a premier catamaran with private balconies, which is a rarity in Galapagos.
Knowmad has vast knowledge and operations in Ecuador; this is a private trip and we are happy to modify excursions, accommodations, and the flow of the itinerary to perfectly suit your travel style and interests.
Listed prices are approximations. All Knowmad trips are custom and exact pricing is provided in your trip proposal.
INTERNATIONAL Airfare is not included in the land cost of our trips. You may arrange your international airfare
Regional If booked by Knowmad, internal airfare for this trip (Quito/Baltra/Quito) averages $475, however this is an approximation and the airfare is subject to change upon booking. If you would like to arrange your own regional flights, please consult us prior so we can verify the departure and arrival times.
Owing to their location at the Equator, the Galapagos do not have a lot of seasonal variation. Temperatures average in the 70s-80s F (21 – 30 C) year round, with January to April being slightly warmer. The climate is quite dry, with the majority of precipitation coming between January and April.
Although there is slightly more precipitation between December and May than during other parts of the year, it is also the sunniest time of year with brief drizzles and rain clouds moving on quickly. The water is warmer during this time of year making swimming and snorkeling more comfortable, however there aren’t quite as many fish as other times of year. December through May is the breeding season for land birds, so it’s a great time to see unusual mating rituals. Also, if you are a turtle lover this is the time to be here as it’s when you can watch sea turtles nesting on the beach and in March through May you can often see land tortoises searching for mates. Sea lions also mate in this season and males can be seen sparring. The other benefits of this season are much calmer seas and blooming flowers making the islands their most colorful. And you will be more likely to find discounts on cruises available during these months. All in all, there are many benefits to Galapagos travel no matter which month you choose.
Prior to your departure, you are provided a detailed pre-trip information packet including a recommended pack list, information about the regions you’ll be visiting, suggested readings, up-to-date health information including any recommended vaccinations and more.
The Ocean Spray has 4 elegant double cabins (334 square feet, 32 square meters) on main deck, 4 double cabins (248 square feet, 23 square meters), 1 single cabin (194 square feet, 18 square meters).
All cabins have private balconies, private bathrooms, individual climate controls and ample storage space.
Accommodations: 9 cabins
Max Number of Passengers: 16
Construction: 2011
Type: Motor Catamaran
Length: 113 ft (34 mts)
Max speed: 14 knots
Day 1 Saturday
AM – Fly to Galapagos, meet guide and transfer to your ship.
PM – Visit Rabida Island, one of the most colorful and volcanically varied islands and great for snorkeling. Its famous maroon sandy beach and stunning lookouts amaze and the island is a birdwatcher’s paradise. Enjoy a light hike and snorkeling. Species highlights – sea lions, colorful fish, penguins and more.
Day 2 Sunday
AM – Vicente Roca Point on Isabela
Both the largest and most volcanically active, Isabela is one of the archipelago’s most stunning islands. The large bay with two separate coves has spectacular sea life. Enjoy a panga (dingy) ride and snorkeling. Watch for penguins, blue-footed boobies, Nazca Boobies, two types of sea lions, sea turtles, rays and puffer fish.
PM – Espinosa Point on Fernandina Island
No foreign species have ever invaded Fernandina Island and therefore it is one of the world’s most pristine island ecosystems. The volcano “La Cumbre” dominates the landspace with lava fields reaching the ocean. The island features the Flightless Cormorant nesting site and provides great opportunities to see the Galapagos Hawk.
Day 3 Monday
AM – Tagus Cove on Isabela
Take the trails winding along Lake Darwin to a ridge offering magnificent views. Also enjoy time for snorkeling at the beautiful Punta Tortuga.
PM – Urbina Bay on Isabela
A major plate shift lifted the land over 16 feet leaving marine life stranded on the new shore. You’ll see the largest land iguanas on the Galapagos here and myriad bird species while on a short hike. Watch for sea turtles, rays and tropical fish amongst the coral reef while snorkeling.
Day 4 Tuesday
AM – Elizabeth Bay on Isabela
Visit the many islets and cruise through the red mangroves by panga to see penguins, Blue Footed Boobies and other wildlife.
PM – Moreno Point on Isabela
Dingy ride and short hike through lava fields spotting sea turtles, pink flamingos, gallinules, pintail ducks and white-tip reef sharks in the brackish waters or choose to snorkel along the striking coast.
Day 5 Wednesday
AM and PM – Puerto Villamil on Isabela
Surrounded by vast, white-sand beaches, this striking port is a fantastic place to meet local Galapagenos and absorb local history and culture, as well as shopping for souvenirs. Relax on the beach, explore town, do some light hiking or snorkeling, you decide.
Day 6 Thursday
AM – North Seymour Island
Dinghy ride, hiking and snorkeling today. You’ll see the amazing Frigate Birds on this island formed by a series of submarine lava flows containing layers of sediment that were uplifted by tectonic activity.
PM – Twin Craters and Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz
Explore two enormous collapsed lava chambers to spot endemic flora and fauna. The view is amazing. Also visit the Charles Darwin Research Station where they are working to conserve the diversity of species in Galapagos.
Day 7 Friday
AM – Suarez Point on Espanola Island
A wonderful site for photography, watch giant Albatrosses take launch from their airstrip as the famous blowhole spurts water high in the air. Light hiking will take you to many blue-footed and Nazca Boobies.
PM – Gardner Bay on Espanola
Breeding site of nearly all 12,000 Waved Albatrosses, this white sandy beach spotted with sea lions is great for kayaking and snorkeling.
Day 8 Saturday
AM – Interpretation Center on San Cristobal
Visit the center working to help Galapagos wildlife thrive and see Giant Tortoises.
PM – Transfer to airport, fly mainland Ecuador and onward.
Ecuador contains nearly every ecosystem imaginable on the planet within a relatively small country (roughly the size of Colorado). Visits can include cloud forest, Andean Highlands, historic haciendas, remote indigenous communities, volcanoes, Amazon Jungle and colonial cities to name a few. We suggest browsing our Continental Ecuador itineraries for Galapagos trip extension ideas, as no Galapagos cruise is complete without at least a few days exploring mainland Ecuador.
This incredibly vast archaeological site – lost to the world until well into the twentieth century – is perched amidst Andean peaks and lush cloud forest making it as breathtaking as it is intriguing. Arrive by train or by a day’s hike on the Inca Trail.
By traveling alongside Knowmad you will be taking part in culturally and environmentally sustainable travel. You will be spreading the love, and the wealth. You will be doing Good Works. Learn more about Knowmad’s eco-travel efforts.
The Knowmad team put together the trip of a life time for us. Everything was perfect, from the guides to the accommodations to the activities, and your extensive knowledge of the area and personal relationships with the people we met in Chile were invaluable. We can’t recommend Knowmad highly enough.
This trip ranks as one of my favorite trips ever! The Inca Trail was challenging but rewarding, filled with breathtaking vistas and amazing sites brought to life by Max – he was so knowledgeable and I appreciated having a local guide. We avoided most of the crowds due to your unique itinerary.
Our trip was everything we dreamed it would be and more. Your group did a great job everywhere we went. We especially loved our guide Paula, and Explora was top notch too. All perfect.
I have been talking about the trip all week long. You put together a trip that was fun and adventurous while making us feel safe and comfortable. Everything was seamless and I would recommend a Knowmad trip to all of my friends and family members. I am very impressed!!!
Our goal was to find joy and happiness in honor of my wife and the trip blew us both away, it could not have gone any better. Patagonia was great, the hikes went well, the ice climb, horseback riding, and kayaking were spectacular. Our guides were top notch and we were well cared for
Peru and its people captured my heart. Simply remarkable and the trip couldn’t have been planned better. It’s really amazing how you put together a trip that my daughter and I both enjoyed equally
