About Cachalote Explorer Cruise
Cachalote Explorer is a modern and spacious motor yacht, ideal for travelers seeking a comfortable and adventurous way to explore the Galapagos Islands. With a capacity of 16 passengers, this Mid-Range vessel offers an intimate and personalized experience, perfect for couples, families, and nature lovers.
Originally built in Vancouver, Canada, and fully renovated in 2017, the yacht was designed to handle rough waters, ensuring a stable, smooth, and relaxing ride throughout your journey. Guests can enjoy spacious common areas, including a large air-conditioned salon and a dining area with panoramic views, as well as open-air decks perfect for lounging, wildlife watching, and sunbathing.
Onboard, travelers benefit from high-quality service, expert naturalist-guided excursions, and delicious local and international cuisine, while discovering the stunning biodiversity of the Galapagos.
Why Choose This Cruise?
🟢 Small Group, Big Experience – With a maximum of 16 guests in 8 cabins, Cachalote Explorer ensures a more personalized and exclusive journey, ideal for meaningful wildlife encounters.
🟢 Stable & Smooth Sailing – Built to navigate the challenging waters of the Canadian West Coast, this yacht offers greater stability, minimizing seasickness and enhancing onboard comfort.
🟢 Spacious Social Areas – Enjoy a large salon with flat-screen TV, indoor dining area, and multiple open decks for relaxation, sunbathing, and scenic views of the islands.
🟢 Comfortable Private Cabins – Each of the 8 cabins includes a private bathroom with hot and cold water, air conditioning, and comfortable queen, twin, or bunk-style beds—perfect for couples, families, or friends.
🟢 Flexible Itineraries – Choose from 6-day, 8-day, or 15-day itineraries, all approved by the Galapagos National Park, featuring highlights like Fernandina, Isabela, Española, and Tower Islands.
🟢 Adventure Activities Included – Complimentary use of kayaks and snorkeling gear allows guests to explore the clear waters of the Galapagos and observe marine life up close.
🟢 Eco-Friendly Operations – The yacht follows strict environmental guidelines to minimize impact on the fragile Galapagos ecosystem. All crew members are fully certified and trained in safety and sustainability protocols.
Cachalote Explorer Offers
✅ Upper Deck Lounge – A relaxing outdoor space with panoramic views, perfect for sunbathing or enjoying the sea breeze.
✅ Private Guest Cabins – 8 cozy cabins featuring air conditioning, private bathrooms with hot showers, and comfortable mattresses.
✅ Indoor & Outdoor Common Areas – Spacious indoor salon with entertainment system, plus shaded and open-air decks for dining and relaxing.
✅ Snorkeling & Kayaking Gear Included – All guests have access to water activity gear to enhance their Galapagos adventure.
✅ Dinghy Transfers – Safe and smooth panga rides to and from island landings.
✅ Tailored Itineraries – Routes crafted to highlight the best of Galapagos wildlife and landscapes, with options to combine for an extended 15-day experience.
✅ Safety First – Equipped with life jackets, GPS, radars, emergency kits, and a trained crew to ensure a safe journey at all times.
Ready to Experience the Galapagos Aboard Cachalote Explorer?
Join a mid-range, intimate, and adventure-filled cruise through the Galapagos Islands aboard the Cachalote Explorer—designed for travelers who want to explore nature in depth without sacrificing comfort.
Quick Overview
Starts: Day 1 (Friday) – San Cristobal
Arrival at San Cristobal Airport, followed by the first excursion to San Cristobal Island – Chatham.
Ends: Day 6 (Wednesday) – Baltra Island Airport
Final visit to Turtle Cove, then transfer to Baltra Island Airport for departure.
*Please check availability with us before booking.
DAY 1 – FRIDAY
DAY 2 – SATURDAY
DAY 3 – SUNDAY
DAY 4 – MONDAY
DAY 5 – TUESDAY
DAY 6 – WEDNESDAY
• Accommodation (sharing double cabins),
Meals
Excursions led by professional Naturalist guide
Use of snorkel equipment
Wetsuit
Use of kayaks
All transport between visitor sites and yacht
Tea, coffee, water and natural juices
Welcome cocktail
Air tickets to and from the Galapagos. Tickets have to be bought with Enchanted Expeditions - US$50 dollars net surcharge per pax if not
National Park fees (US$200)
Transit Control Card (US$20)
Bottled beverages on board
Isabela Municipal dock fee (US$10 per person)
Your Galapagos adventure begins with your arrival at San Cristobal Airport, the gateway to one of the oldest and most ecologically rich islands in the archipelago.
🌿 Afternoon: El Junco Lagoon & Galapaguera
After boarding the Cachalote Explorer, your journey starts with a visit to the highlands of San Cristobal Island (Chatham). You’ll explore El Junco Lagoon, the only freshwater lake in the Galapagos, located 700 meters above sea level in an extinct volcanic caldera. The lagoon is surrounded by lush vegetation and offers scenic views and opportunities to spot frigatebirds bathing in the water.
Continue to the Galapaguera de Cerro Colorado, a semi-natural breeding center where you’ll observe Galapagos giant tortoises roaming freely. This site plays a key role in the conservation of the species and allows you to see the tortoises in a habitat that closely resembles their natural environment.
🌿 Wildlife Highlights:
Giant tortoises, frigatebirds, Darwin finches
Today you'll visit Española Island (Hood), the southernmost and one of the oldest islands in the Galapagos. Due to its remote location, the island is home to a variety of endemic species that evolved in isolation, offering a one-of-a-kind wildlife experience.
🏝️ Morning: Gardner Bay & Osborn Islet
Start your day at Gardner Bay, a stunning stretch of white coral sand beach on the northeast of Española. This area is ideal for relaxing and wildlife observation, especially of the sea lion colonies lounging along the shore.
Afterward, enjoy snorkeling at Osborn and Gardner Islets, where you’ll encounter a vibrant marine ecosystem with reef sharks, sea turtles, and an abundance of tropical fish.
🪶 Afternoon: Suarez Point
In the afternoon, hike along the rocky trail of Suarez Point, a premier wildlife site. Visitors can witness the spectacular blowhole, where seawater is forced 20 meters into the air. The area is also a breeding ground for a number of endemic and iconic species, including:
This site offers unforgettable close encounters with some of the most charismatic wildlife in the archipelago.
🌿 Wildlife Highlights:
Waved albatross, blue-footed and Nazca boobies, Galapagos hawks, lava lizards, reef sharks, sea turtles
Today you’ll explore Floreana Island, one of the most storied islands in the Galapagos. Known for its colorful human history, this island was once home to pirates, whalers, and early settlers—and today offers a blend of cultural and natural wonders.
🏝️ Morning: Punta Cormorant & Devil’s Crown
Your morning begins at Punta Cormorant, where you’ll walk between two distinct beaches—one with greenish olivine crystals, and the other of white coral sand. A short trail leads to a brackish lagoon, home to pink flamingoes, white-cheeked pintails, and stilts.
Afterwards, enjoy snorkeling at Devil’s Crown, a partially submerged volcanic crater just offshore. The area is teeming with marine life, including reef sharks, tropical fish, moray eels, rays, and sea turtles. It’s considered one of the top snorkeling spots in the Galapagos.
📮 Afternoon: Post Office Bay
Later in the day, visit Post Office Bay, where 18th-century whalers left mail in a wooden barrel for others to deliver—an informal mail system that still works today!
You can participate in this quirky tradition and also explore remnants of a Norwegian fishing village, adding a human history layer to your Galapagos experience.
🌿 Wildlife Highlights:
Flamingoes, reef sharks, sea turtles, rays, tropical fish, pintail ducks
Today’s journey takes you to two geologically and ecologically fascinating locations—Santa Cruz Island and Santiago Island—where dramatic landscapes meet vibrant wildlife.
🌴 Morning: Dragon Hill (Santa Cruz Island – Indefatigable)
Begin with a dry landing at Dragon Hill (Cerro Dragon) on the northwestern coast of Santa Cruz. A scenic trail leads past a brackish lagoon, home to flamingoes and other coastal birds. Along the way, you'll walk through Palo Santo forests and encounter Opuntia cacti, Darwin finches, and possibly land iguanas basking on the rocks.
🌋 Afternoon: Sullivan Bay (Santiago Island – James)
In the afternoon, explore the remarkable Sullivan Bay, a site of extraordinary geological interest. This surreal landscape consists of a 100-year-old lava field featuring smooth pahoehoe formations, lava bubbles, and volcanic fissures. Walking across the terrain feels like stepping onto another planet.
Although the terrain is stark, look closely and you may find signs of pioneer plant life starting to emerge through the volcanic rock.
🌿 Wildlife Highlights:
Flamingoes, land iguanas, marine iguanas, lava herons, pioneer vegetation
Welcome to Genovesa Island (Tower), a unique eroded volcanic caldera in the northern part of the archipelago. Its horseshoe-shaped bay, surrounded by steep cliffs, creates a natural haven for seabirds and marine life.
🪶 Morning: El Barranco (Prince Philip’s Steps)
Begin your exploration with a hike at El Barranco, where a trail leads up dramatic cliffs and into a palo santo forest. Keep your eyes open for the elusive short-eared owl, often spotted in this area. Along the way, enjoy breathtaking views and the chance to observe fur seals, Nazca boobies, and storm petrels.
🐦 Afternoon: Darwin Bay
In the afternoon, visit Darwin Bay, a coral beach formed by the island's submerged caldera. A peaceful trail winds past tide pools and mangroves, where you’ll spot a spectacular array of seabirds, including:
This island is a true paradise for bird lovers and nature photographers alike.
🌿 Wildlife Highlights:
Short-eared owls, red-footed boobies, frigatebirds, storm petrels, lava gulls, fur seals
Your final morning in the Galapagos begins with a peaceful visit to Turtle Cove (Caleta Tortuga), a serene red mangrove lagoon located on the northern coast of Santa Cruz Island.
🛶 Morning: Turtle Cove (Caleta Tortuga)
Explore the lagoon aboard a dinghy ride, gliding through a maze of red mangrove forests. These unique trees create a rich and vital marine ecosystem, offering sanctuary for an array of wildlife.
You may spot blacktip reef sharks, spotted eagle rays, green sea turtles, and various species of fish swimming beneath the calm waters. Birdwatchers can keep an eye out for herons, pelicans, and other coastal birds perched on the branches.
✈️ Return to Baltra
After this final nature encounter, the cruise concludes as you return to Baltra Island for your flight back to Quito. Take one last look at the stunning archipelago before saying goodbye to this unforgettable adventure.
🌿 Wildlife Highlights:
Green sea turtles, reef sharks, rays, herons, pelicans, mangrove habitat
