La Pinta Galapagos Cruises
La Pinta is a gorgeous 209-foot expedition yacht, with capacity for 48 guests to enjoy a relaxed yet lavish expedition atmosphere in some of the largest cabins in the Galapagos, plus free WiFi, interconnecting cabins and a kids program.
The gorgeous 209-foot expedition yacht La Pinta is home away from home during 5- and 7-day La Pinta Galapagos Cruises. Enjoy a sophisticated, upscale travel experience aboard the 48-guest expedition yacht, with 24 cabins known to be some of the largest in the Galapagos. Spacious and family friendly for Galapagos family cruises, La Pinta is the result of generations of experience and thoughtfulness by captains, expedition leaders, hotel managers and guests combined.
She is suited for environmentally friendly operation in the Galapagos National Park and the Galapagos Marine Reserve and offers an expedition experience that bonds nature and discovery. Enjoy intimate contact with the natural world; a vast ocean to navigate; activities like snorkeling, swimming, whale and dolphin watching; riding in a glass-bottom boat; and full days of wildlife viewing, led by naturalist field experts. In the quiet evenings enjoy being pampered aboard La Pinta, with dinner followed by naturalist lectures, stargazing on the sky deck, reading a book from the library, emailing loved ones with free WiFi or enjoying a cocktail in the lounge.
The 7-day La Pinta Western Galapagos Islands Cruise aboard La Pinta is the perfect balance of iconic Galapagos highlights. Visit Baltra, North Seymour, Fernandina, Isabela, Rabida, Santa Cruz and Floreana Islands. Highlights include the young western islands with their volcanic landscapes and special wildlife including hawks, penguins and flightless cormorants. Seek out whales in the Bolivar Channel and various species of Darwin’s finches on the red-sand-beach of Rabida. And send a postcard home via the barrel on Floreana’s Post Office Bay.
The 5-day La Pinta Eastern Galapagos Islands Cruise begins in Baltra, visits South Plaza, Santa Fe, San Cristobal, Espanola and Santa Cruz islands. Highlights include swimming from the idyllic white-sand beach of Santa Fe, visiting giant tortoises in the forests of San Cristobal and walking over the lava/boulder terrain of Punta Suarez (where waved albatross can be seen April through January).
The 5-day La Pinta Northern Galapagos Islands itinerary sails round-trip from Baltra and focuses on the islands of Santa Cruz, Santiago, Bartolome and Genovesa with highlights like Pinnacle Rock, Prince Philip’s Steps, Darwin Bay and the Santa Cruz Highlands. Explore the rarely visited Eden Islet with its volcanic debris and blue-footed boobies. Hike the often-photographed Bartolome Island for sweeping views of its Pinnacle Rock. And birders can delight in Genovesa’s abundance of avian species.
La Pinta’s three Galapagos cruise itineraries can be combined in various ways to create longer 9-, 11- or 15-day cruises. View the Itinerary for more details, and contact our Galapagos small ship cruise experts for the inside scoop on which route is best for you. AdventureSmith Explorations’ award-winning crew has personal experience sailing in the Galapagos Islands and can recommend the best options to suit your travel interests and timeline.
Read on for details about this trip, or learn more about AdventureSmith’s Galapagos cruises and Galapagos trips.
7-Day West Itinerary (Darwin's Legacy)
The 7-day La Pinta Western Galapagos Islands Cruise operates round-trip from Baltra and visits North Seymour, Fernandina, Isabela, Rabida, Santa Cruz and Floreana Islands.
This Galapagos adventure begins with a morning flight to Baltra Island and immediate transfer to the dock to board the yacht La Pinta for an introductory welcome briefing, boat drill, cabin assignment and lunch. In the afternoon, enjoy a walk along the coast of North Seymour Island, then to the interior of this beautiful flat island, observing numerous bird colonies as well as sea lions and land iguanas. There are also opportunities for coastal exploration by dinghy. In the evening, enjoy a briefing, welcome cocktail and dinner.
Begin today at Punta Vicente Roca on Isabela Island. Since there is no landing site at this location, the coastal exploration is by dinghy, while a naturalist guide explains the dramatic geology of the area, remains of lava flows and tuff stone layers. There is abundant wildlife and, depending on the conditions of the ocean, possible snorkeling along the cliffs, hopefully in the company of green sea turtles.
In the afternoon, visit the youngest and most pristine island of the archipelago, Fernandina, an all-time favorite. Explore Punta Espinoza with its amazing combination of barren terrain and abundant wildlife. Highlights include seeing hawks, penguins, flightless cormorants and astounding views of the surrounding volcanic landscapes.
After breakfast, disembark at Urbina Bay, on the western side of Isabela Island, the result of an uplifting of the ocean floor. Observe corals, shells and colorful Galapagos land iguanas, as well as (occasionally) giant tortoises. While the yacht navigates the Bolivar Channel, there are good chances of spotting several species of whales.
This afternoon, enjoy the secluded Tagus Cove on the northwest of Isabela, a favorite anchorage for pirates and whalers over the centuries and now a great visitor site. Snorkel or ride kayaks amid the dramatic landscape then hike uphill to the back of Darwin Crater, which is filled with salt water.
In the morning, disembark at Rabida Island’s red-colored beach. Stroll along the beach and observe marine iguanas, mockingbirds, yellow warblers and several species of Darwin’s finches. This is a great place to snorkel from the beach, while non-snorkelers can ride the glass-bottom boat for an exploration of life underneath the waves.
After lunch, explore the north shore of Santa Cruz, which hosts the fascinating landscapes of Cerro Dragon (Dragon Hill). The walk includes circling a brackish water lagoon frequented by lagoon birds, while farther inland, the trail offers a beautiful view of the bay and the western islands of the archipelago, as well as the chance to observe land iguanas.
This morning, visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and the giant tortoise pens within an impressive giant prickly-pear cactus forest. These are the Galapagos’s headquarters of scientific investigation, conservation and the National Park administration. Following this visit, enjoy lunch on the island.
After lunch, head up to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island by vehicle, a great place to look for the emblematic Darwin’s finches and the endemic scalesia trees. The highlands are also great for exploring the exuberant vegetation where giant tortoises roam in the wild. Visit a giant tortoise reserve to meet these lumbering giants up close. There’s more time to explore more of this fascinating ecosystem, before returning to the yacht at the end of the day.
After breakfast, take a panga ride along the maze of channels on Floreana’s north shore. Follow this visit by continuing to Baroness Cove with its breathtaking views of Floreana. Land at Post Office Bay to visit the historic barrel that has been serving as a post office in the archipelago for over two centuries. Here, in 1835, HMS Beagle called on the island’s inhabitants where the acting governor, Nicholas Lawson, shared with Darwin his observations about Galapagos giant tortoises and how they varied from one island to the next—observations that would later contribute to the British naturalist’s theory of natural selection. You can enjoy kayaking and snorkeling here.
This afternoon, snorkel or ride in the glass-bottom boat along the coast of an extinct cone called Champion Islet. Later, visit Punta Cormorant, an olivine-crystal beach for an easy walk by a brackish water lagoon where bird species like greater flamingos may be observed. On the other side of the island, enjoy a white-sand beach where sea turtles come out at night to nest.
End at Baltra Island, where you will be transferred to the airport to take the flight back to the mainland.
Included
Accommodations; all meals; soft drinks (juices and carbonated drinks, not “virgin” cocktails); island sightseeing; naturalist guides and lecture services in English/Spanish only; wetsuit rental; snorkeling gear; internet (due to the Galapagos’ remote location, internet connections are intermittent and low-bandwidth); luggage handling; medical care on board (excluding cost of medication); taxes and transfers in the islands; shared transfers from main hotels in Quito (Casa Gangotena, Hilton Colon, Mercure, Sheraton, JW Marriott, Dann Carlton; for Casa Gangotena, a further feeder service is provided to/from Hilton Colón, this service does not have additional cost) and in Guayaquil (Hilton Colon, Oro Verde, Sheraton, Wyndham) to airport for flights to/from Galapagos.
Exclusions
Air transportation to/from Galapagos and airport taxes (subject to change without previous notice); Galapagos National Park entrance fee (US $200 per adult or $100 per child); TCT-Galapagos Transit Control Card (US $20 subject to change without previous notice); insurance of any kind; alcoholic beverages (there is a corkage fee of US $30(2026 & 2027) +taxes for guests wishing to bring their own bottles of wine and/or spirits); gratuities; laundry; valet service; possible fuel surcharge; gifts and items of a personal nature.
Payment & Cancellation
In order to confirm this trip, a nonrefundable deposit of 15% of the total trip cost is required per person at time of booking. The balance of the trip price is due 90 days before the departure date. Special holiday payment and cancellation terms may apply. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing. Standard cancellations are subject to the following per-person penalties, based on number of days prior to departure:
Up to 61 days – 100% of deposit
60 to 0 days – 100% of total trip cost
Terms & Conditions
This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A Traveler Information Form, which includes a release of liability, must be completed and signed by all travelers. Your Adventure Specialist will send you a unique link to complete this form along with a packing list and extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information upon booking confirmation.
Arrival & Departure
Most flights to the Galapagos will depart Quito or Guayaquil between 6:00am and 11:00am on Day 1 and return between 2:00pm and 6:00pm on the final day. We highly recommend travelers arrive to Ecuador two days prior to their Galapagos cruise. If you would like assistance with international flights, please visit our Booking Flights resource page. Note: Your passport must be valid 6 months after your Ecuador trip concludes.
Internal Flights
Flights from mainland Ecuador (Quito or Guayaquil) to the Galapagos are not included in the cruise price, but are arranged for you by AdventureSmith Explorations through your ship. Your Adventure Specialist will book these flights for you on the scheduled Galapagos flight for your particular departure. Airfares vary by departure; your Adventure Specialist will detail these for you in their proposal and on your invoice. On flights from mainland Ecuador to the Galapagos Islands, baggage weight limits are currently 50 pounds for checked items, and 17 pounds for carry-on plus a small personal item. Subject to change.
Activities
There are numerous opportunities to hike, kayak, swim and snorkel. The underwater experience is an integral part of any Galapagos cruise. We encourage all travelers to try snorkeling. Snorkeling gear (mask, snorkel, fins, floating vest and net bag) are provided. Wetsuits are available, either free of charge or to rent for a fee (see Inclusions and Exclusions), and are recommended from June to December.
Daily excursions from the boat to the islands will be made in pangas (inflatable skiffs). Trip members will hike from the landing point to specific areas for wildlife observation. Hiking time for most landings will be a couple of hours round-trip with lots of time to stop to study, photograph and enjoy the flora and fauna. Some landings are dry but many are “wet,” requiring cautious footing on slippery rocks. The boat staff will be on hand to assist.
Room Configuration
Single travelers wishing to book a double-occupancy cabin may do so at a 100% supplement of the per-person listed rate in select cabins upon availability. 3 Luxury Cabins are available for single use at a 50% supplement of the per-person listed rate, based upon availability. Luxury Plus Triple Cabins for double occupancy incur a 50% supplement per person (100% per person during peak season).
Families & Children
Kids 6 years and older are welcomed aboard the yacht La Pinta. Kids under 12 years old at the time of sailing receive 10% off when sharing the cabin with 2 adults (applies only to one child per adult paying full fare). No child discounts apply on Peak Season dates.
Travel Insurance
Protect your travel investment with insurance. Our partners at Travelex Insurance offer a variety of plans and policies to fit every trip and budget. For best value and coverage for pre-existing medical conditions, consider purchasing a policy at time of booking. Learn more about travel insurance or get a free quote.
We strongly recommend that you travel to Galapagos Province with travel insurance that contains medical coverage. Be certain to bring your insurance plan ID documents with you when you travel.
Itinerary Notes
Use the itinerary as a guide only. Itineraries may be altered due to weather, wildlife, national park regulation or at the captain’s discretion. Due to the active nature of volcanoes in the Western Galapagos, alternate excursions may be offered. The ability to be flexible makes this type of small ship cruising unique.
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La Pinta offers a sophisticated, upscale travel experience for 48 guests in 24 cabins that combines modern design, spacious rooms and gourmet cuisine, with top adventure. The ship offers a wide variety of aquatic activities including snorkeling, kayaking and rides in a glass-bottom boat. She’s a distillation of the wish lists generated by captains, expedition leaders, hotel managers and guests over many years.
Why Sail Aboard La Pinta
Choose La Pinta for her ample social spaces and inclusive size. She is an ideal yacht for Galapagos family cruises, with interconnecting cabins available, fantastic activities and engaging natural history guides. A gorgeous 209-foot expedition yacht, La Pinta offers a relaxed yet lavish expedition atmosphere, with plush cabins, large view windows, the highest standards of service, the very best international cuisine and celebrated Ecuadorian dishes. Also, La Pinta often is the only ship at visitor sites due to her permits.
AdventureSmith Explorations’ La Pinta review includes a detailed description of the small cruise ship including deck plans and a photo gallery. Our Galapagos experts have been aboard La Pinta firsthand. Please read our La Pinta review below then contact our experts to compare La Pinta with other Galapagos ships, yachts and catamarans offering Galapagos cruises.
Sustainability Aboard La Pinta
The La Pinta has been awarded a SmartVoyager accreditation due to her sound environmental, social and safety practices. This certification is awarded by the Rainforest Alliance, along with its Ecuador-based partner group Conservación y Desarrollo (C&D), to tour operators in the Galapagos Islands who meet a set of strict conservation standards. The goal of SmartVoyager members is to continually search for the best environmental practices available; permanently train staff on how sustainability works; and to continue to emphasize the importance of environment and wildlife conservation, natural resources management, and the well-being of workers and local communities. La Pinta is also equipped with a water desalination and treatment systems, waste recycling and energy efficient technologies.
Common Areas Aboard La Pinta
La Pinta is equipped with 8 complimentary double kayaks, snorkel gear, a glass-bottom boat and wetsuits for guests' enjoyment. She boasts an indoor gym, doctor's office, boutique, laundry area, hot tub, outside sky bar and complimentary internet and WiFi (though connections are intermittent and low-bandwidth). Panoramic windows and outside decks ensure the greatest intake of the Galapagos Islands while relaxing in cabins, the sundeck, lounge or library. La Pinta does not carry binoculars, so guests are advised to bring their own.
Dining Aboard La Pinta
A gastronomy director ensures meals are a delightful arrangement of the best international cuisine and traditional Ecuadorian dishes. Breakfast and dinner are offered in the dining room on the Main Deck at intimate tables with plush seating. Lunch is served at the Outside Sky Bar and drinks are readily available at the Outside Sky Bar and Observation Lounge & Bar.
Activities Aboard La Pinta
Daily activity options include snorkeling, sea kayaking, riding in pangas, hiking, swimming and observing the ocean via a glass-bottom boat. Wetsuit rentals are included with La Pinta cruises. The convenient aft platform makes accessing the islands seamless, as does the ability to board La Pinta at sea level. Glass-bottom boats are thoughtfully designed to enhance guest experiences with shaded hand rails and a shaded canopy. A hot tub, wellness area and onboard medical officer ensure true ease of mind. A medical officer is permanently on board and available 24/7.
Families & Children Aboard La Pinta
La Pinta is considered the ideal yacht for families traveling together, with many connecting cabins. A special feature La Pinta offers for its young travelers is a program called Young Pirates, where kids can enjoy specially designed menus, earlier dinner hours, recreational material and a Galapagos booklet full of fun and trivia.
Cabins & Deck Plan Aboard La Pinta
La Pinta boasts some of the largest cabins in Galapagos expedition vessels, with nearly floor-to-ceiling windows, relaxing chairs and private bathrooms. There are 20 Luxury Cabins and 4 Luxury Plus Cabins located on the Cabin Deck. All cabins have beds that can be configured as two twins or joined as matrimonial beds according to guests' needs (with the exception of cabin 312 which is only available with a matrimonial bed). A total of 4 cabins can be interconnected for friends or families traveling together. Bedding is fine cotton, down duvets and soft pillows. Every cabin has air conditioning, reusable water bottles, luggage storage and a closet, extra blankets, 110-volt type A and B electrical outlets and USB ports, a desk and chair, a view window and an in-room safe deposit box. Bathrooms have biodegradable soap, shampoo and conditioner, plus a hair dryer and plush towels.
La Pinta offers a sophisticated, upscale travel experience for 48 guests in 24 cabins that combines modern design, spacious rooms and gourmet cuisine, with top adventure. The ship offers a wide variety of aquatic activities including snorkeling, kayaking and rides in a glass-bottom boat. She’s a distillation of the wish lists generated by captains, expedition leaders, hotel managers and guests over many years.
Why Sail Aboard La Pinta
Choose La Pinta for her ample social spaces and inclusive size. She is an ideal yacht for Galapagos family cruises, with interconnecting cabins available, fantastic activities and engaging natural history guides. A gorgeous 209-foot expedition yacht, La Pinta offers a relaxed yet lavish expedition atmosphere, with plush cabins, large view windows, the highest standards of service, the very best international cuisine and celebrated Ecuadorian dishes. Also, La Pinta often is the only ship at visitor sites due to her permits.
AdventureSmith Explorations’ La Pinta review includes a detailed description of the small cruise ship including deck plans and a photo gallery. Our Galapagos experts have been aboard La Pinta firsthand. Please read our La Pinta review below then contact our experts to compare La Pinta with other Galapagos ships, yachts and catamarans offering Galapagos cruises.
Sustainability Aboard La Pinta
The La Pinta has been awarded a SmartVoyager accreditation due to her sound environmental, social and safety practices. This certification is awarded by the Rainforest Alliance, along with its Ecuador-based partner group Conservación y Desarrollo (C&D), to tour operators in the Galapagos Islands who meet a set of strict conservation standards. The goal of SmartVoyager members is to continually search for the best environmental practices available; permanently train staff on how sustainability works; and to continue to emphasize the importance of environment and wildlife conservation, natural resources management, and the well-being of workers and local communities. La Pinta is also equipped with a water desalination and treatment systems, waste recycling and energy efficient technologies.
Common Areas Aboard La Pinta
La Pinta is equipped with 8 complimentary double kayaks, snorkel gear, a glass-bottom boat and wetsuits for guests' enjoyment. She boasts an indoor gym, doctor's office, boutique, laundry area, hot tub, outside sky bar and complimentary internet and WiFi (though connections are intermittent and low-bandwidth). Panoramic windows and outside decks ensure the greatest intake of the Galapagos Islands while relaxing in cabins, the sundeck, lounge or library. La Pinta does not carry binoculars, so guests are advised to bring their own.
Dining Aboard La Pinta
A gastronomy director ensures meals are a delightful arrangement of the best international cuisine and traditional Ecuadorian dishes. Breakfast and dinner are offered in the dining room on the Main Deck at intimate tables with plush seating. Lunch is served at the Outside Sky Bar and drinks are readily available at the Outside Sky Bar and Observation Lounge & Bar.
Activities Aboard La Pinta
Daily activity options include snorkeling, sea kayaking, riding in pangas, hiking, swimming and observing the ocean via a glass-bottom boat. Wetsuit rentals are included with La Pinta cruises. The convenient aft platform makes accessing the islands seamless, as does the ability to board La Pinta at sea level. Glass-bottom boats are thoughtfully designed to enhance guest experiences with shaded hand rails and a shaded canopy. A hot tub, wellness area and onboard medical officer ensure true ease of mind. A medical officer is permanently on board and available 24/7.
Families & Children Aboard La Pinta
La Pinta is considered the ideal yacht for families traveling together, with many connecting cabins. A special feature La Pinta offers for its young travelers is a program called Young Pirates, where kids can enjoy specially designed menus, earlier dinner hours, recreational material and a Galapagos booklet full of fun and trivia.
Cabins & Deck Plan Aboard La Pinta
La Pinta boasts some of the largest cabins in Galapagos expedition vessels, with nearly floor-to-ceiling windows, relaxing chairs and private bathrooms. There are 20 Luxury Cabins and 4 Luxury Plus Cabins located on the Cabin Deck. All cabins have beds that can be configured as two twins or joined as matrimonial beds according to guests' needs (with the exception of cabin 312 which is only available with a matrimonial bed). A total of 4 cabins can be interconnected for friends or families traveling together. Bedding is fine cotton, down duvets and soft pillows. Every cabin has air conditioning, reusable water bottles, luggage storage and a closet, extra blankets, 110-volt type A and B electrical outlets and USB ports, a desk and chair, a view window and an in-room safe deposit box. Bathrooms have biodegradable soap, shampoo and conditioner, plus a hair dryer and plush towels.
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Learn About the Galapagos Ship on Your Itinerary
La Pinta is a gorgeous expedition yacht. She offers a relaxed yet lavish expedition atmosphere, with large outward-facing cabins and complimentary gear for snorkeling, kayaking and rides in a glass-bottom boat.
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Reviews From Our Experts so You Know What to Expect
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Expert Review: La Pinta Galapagos Cruise
This La Pinta Galapagos cruise review recaps an AdventureSmith expert’s time aboard the 48-guest La Pinta expedition ship and his numerous, incredible Galapagos wildlife encounters, from flying flamingos to algae-eating marine iguanas!
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Inspiration, Education & Travel Journals
Book your Galapagos small ship cruise with AdventureSmith Explorations for our broad knowledge of this famed archipelago. Our Adventure Specialists are Galapagos travel experts, savvy on Galapagos travel news and planning tips, and our travelers are extensions of this team, providing further insight to enhance our guests’ experience.
This series of travel guides and journals will help you learn more about the Galapagos Islands and get inspired. We travel to the Galapagos several times each year and update our guides frequently, so consult these posts regularly for the most up-to-date information.
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Galapagos, An Adventure for the Senses
Sea lions, turtles, tortoises, penguins, iguanas... marvel at the wildlife with this AdventureSmith traveler who recounts her La Pinta cruise in the Galapagos Islands.
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When is the best time to visit Galapagos? Consult this month by month guide for help planning your Galapagos travel with tips on everything from weather, wildlife, water temperature and the benefits of each month.
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Galapagos Travel Tips
Collectively, our crew of experts has been to the Galapagos more than 20 times to travel with our partner small ships and island lodges. Take our insider advice to make the most of your journey.
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