Jonathan Aguas, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
We're a winner of Conde Nast Traveler's 2022 Readers Choice Awards
Best Cruise Line in the Galápagos (Expedition Category)
Sail the iconic archipelago with the pioneers of modern expedition travel
Lindblad Expeditions pioneered expedition travel to the remarkable Galápagos Islands more than 50 years ago. Today, we lead expeditions year-round to this magical archipelago famed for its vibrant wildlife. Encounter giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, playful penguins, and charismatic sea lions in their natural habitats, unfazed by your presence. Enjoy multiple adventures each day on land and undersea, including walks and hikes, kayaking, paddleboarding, and snorkeling, in the company of local expert guides.
In Galápagos, one thing is certain: expect the unexpected! Surrounded by wildlife on land and at sea, you never know what might happen. And that’s been the draw since Darwin landed in 1835.
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A new ship for the Galápagos
Lindblad Expeditions is delighted to welcome the newest member to our Galápagos fleet. National Geographic Islander II, a best-in-class expedition ship, is expertly refitted to facilitate the active exploration at the heart of the Lindblad experience. Guests will enjoy more space and amenities while exploring the Galápagos Islands.
Book by June 30, 2023, for Free Air from Miami—or from $249 and $349 from popular home cities—on select 2022-23 departures. Business class upgrade starting at $750.
Offer on American Airlines only, economy class. Upgrade to Business Class flights starting at $750, subject to availability. Free air offer includes internal flights between mainland Ecuador and Galápagos. All offers are valid for new bookings only, must be ticketed by Lindblad Expeditions and are subject to availability at time of booking. In the case that offered Miami flights are no longer available, Lindblad reserves the right to issue a credit. Baggage fees may be additional.
GALÁPAGOS 2023 FAMILY SAVINGS
On select 2023 departures of Galápagos Aboard National Geographic Endeavour ll, every two full-paying adults are welcome to bring a guest aged 22 and under at 50% off and a second guest aged 22 and under for FREE. Offer applicable only on bookings of two double-occupancy cabins, and second cabin must be in same category or lower as first cabin. An individual full-paying adult is welcome to bring a guest aged 22 and under at 50% off and a second guest 22 and under for free when booking a single double- or triple-occupancy cabin, pending availability. Valid on cabin fare only, not valid on extensions or airfare. Please call for details.
Book by June 30, 2023, for Free Air from Miami—or from $249 and $349 from select U.S. cities—on select 2023 departures and Free Air from Miami, New York, Houston, Dallas, and Los Angeles—or from $249 and $349 from select U.S. cities—on select 2024 departures. All offers are valid for new bookings only, must be ticketed by Lindblad Expeditions and are subject to availability at time of booking.
Remain into the late afternoon at fabled Machu Picchu, introduced to the world by Hiram Bingham in the April 1913 issue of National Geographic magazine
Soak in the scenery and culture of the Sacred Valley of the Inca
Journey between Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu by Inca Rail
Voyage aboard the 48-guest National Geographic Islander II with a team of naturalists
Maximize your time in Galápagos with options to hike, Zodiac cruise, and snorkel every day
Free Round-Trip Air from Miami—or from select U.S. cities from $249/pp or $349/pp—to Galápagos on select Wild Galápagos Escape and Wild Galápagos and Peru Escape 2023 departures. Upgrade to business class from $750/pp. Book by June 30, 2023. New bookings and subject to availability.
FREE AIR IN 2024
Free Round-Trip Air from Miami, New York, Houston, Dallas, and Los Angeles—or from select U.S. cities from $249/pp or $349/pp—to Galápagos on all Wild Galápagos and Peru Escape 2024 departures. Upgrade to business class from $750/pp. Book by June 30, 2023. New bookings and subject to availability.
Free Round-Trip Air from Miami—or from select U.S. cities from $249/pp or $349/pp—to Galápagos on select Wild Galápagos Escape and Wild Galápagos and Peru Escape 2023 departures. Upgrade to business class from $750/pp. Book by June 30, 2023. New bookings and subject to availability.
FREE AIR IN 2024
Free Round-Trip Air from Miami, New York, Houston, Dallas, and Los Angeles—or from select U.S. cities from $249/pp or $349/pp—to Galápagos on all Wild Galápagos and Peru Escape 2024 departures. Upgrade to business class from $750/pp. Book by June 30, 2023. New bookings and subject to availability.
Dive in and experience Galápagos with all your senses. Choose how you want to explore—hike, paddleboard, kayak, snorkel, or arrange to dive (on select departures). Take a long hike or just relax on the beach. Our generous staff-to-guest ratio means you can always find a naturalist whose interests and approach you share whether you want to focus on birding, human history, photography, the undersea, or more. Since the first international tourist expedition cruise to the Galápagos Islands in July 1967 with Lars-Eric Lindblad, we’ve introduced generations of guests to these strange and wonderful islands, the world’s first UNESCO World Heritage site.
Henry David Thoreau called it the “tonic of wildness.” It’s what a cruise to Galápagos, with its beauty and wildness, gives you—a spirit lift. To compound this healthful effect, we provide a quality of shipboard life and a philosophy of wellness to relax and rejuvenate body, mind, and spirit.
National Geographic Global Explorers Program
One of the most rewarding sights on an expedition is witnessing the gleam of discovery in a child’s eyes, whether they’re walking alongside a grazing giant tortoise or watching blue-footed boobies perform an elaborate courtship dance. Moments like these are abundant in the Galápagos—and they’re especially meaningful when complemented with the learning opportunities offered through our exclusive National Geographic Global Explorers Program for kids and teens 18 and under.
See, do and learn more by going with engaging experts who have been exploring this region for decades.
Expedition Leader
Veteran expedition leaders are the orchestrators of your experience. Many have advanced degrees and have conducted research or taught for years. They have achieved expedition leader status because they possess the skills, experience, and the depth of knowledge necessary to continually craft the best expedition possible for our guests.
Our naturalists, passionate about the islands where most of them were raised, illuminate each facet of natural and human history here through their enthusiasm and knowledge. Our guests consistently cite the expertise and engaging company of our staff as key reasons to repeatedly travel with us.
See what lies beneath the waves—even if you choose to stay dry with the help of your undersea specialist. These pros snorkel or dive to shoot footage of sea life and share it in the lounge. They lead snorkeling outings and glass-bottom boat excursions, offering voiceover on all you see.
Every expedition aboard a ship in our National Geographic-flagged fleet offers an exclusive service—a Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic certified photo instructor. This naturalist is specially trained to offer assistance with camera settings and the basics of composition, and to help you become a better, more confident photographer.
Visit itinerary dates to view additional staff and guests
Rich Reid
Award-winning photographer and filmmaker Rich Reid has specialized in environmental and adventure photography for over two decades. North American Nature Photography Association elected Rich as a Fellow for his significant contributions to the nature photography industry, and he was a finalist for the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year for his time-lapse video documenting forest fire ecology.
Underwater photographers David Doubilet and Jennifer Hayes are married partners who work together as a team to produce National Geographic stories from equatorial coral reefs to beneath the polar ice. David estimates he has spent nearly half his life in the sea since taking his first underwater photograph at the age of 12 with a Brownie Hawkeye camera sealed in a bag.
National Geographic Islander II: Take a Virtual Tour
Take a virtual tour of the newest member of our Galápagos Fleet, the all-suite National Geographic Islander ll.
National Geographic Islander II's Maiden Voyage
Enjoy this glimpse of the new, all-suite National Geographic Islander ll welcoming the first guests aboard the August 18, 2022, maiden voyage sailing the Galápagos. She is purposely outfitted to reduce impact, build community on board, and foster authentic connection to the people and culture of Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands.
Embark on a sweeping adventure that encapsulates all the wildness of Galápagos balanced with the cultural and historic experiences of Machu Picchu & Peru's Land of the Inca. Explore Galápagos in depth aboard either of our ships, then discover the culture and history of Peru and the iconic ruins of Machu Picchu.
National Geographic Islander II: A Truly Ecuadorian Ship
Our new ship for the Galápagos Islands, the National Geographic Islander II, celebrates the cultures of Ecuador and the islands themselves. Join Vice President of Hotel Operations Ana Esteves as she finds inspiration around the country—meeting acclaimed local artisans, chefs, and artists who showcase the beauty and wonder of Ecuador.
‘Good Morning America’ Reports Live from National Geographic Endeavour II
In February 2022, Good Morning America's Amy Robach joined Lindblad Expeditions in the Galápagos, where GMA became the first U.S. television show to broadcast live from the islands. View clips from the show, see our daily photo diaries, and explore even more.
A true gem in the crown of conservation and sustainability, the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) has worked for six decades to protect the Galápagos and ensure that its pristine ecosystems and incredible biodiversity will continue to thrive for generations to come.
Lindblad Expeditions supports stewardship efforts in the places we explore, and one way we do that is through the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic (LEX-NG) Fund. Traveler contributions to the LEX-NG Fund in Galápagos currently support our regional partners—the Charles Darwin Foundation, Galápagos National Park Directorate, Island Conservation, and the Scalesia Foundation—in their efforts to research and conserve the unique wildlife of the islands and promote education in the region.
We began our day with a landing on North Seymour, where we encountered hundreds of birds, mostly frigatebirds flying overhead. We followed a path that took us to a breeding site of blue-footed boobies and magnificent frigatebirds. We watched their mating displays in awe as nature showed us its wonderful ways. Male frigatebirds inflated their red gular sacs and stretched out their wings trying to attract a mate. Male blue-footed boobies slowing raising their cerulean feet to show a potential mate that they can fish well and support a nest. We also spotted land iguanas, marine iguanas, lava lizards, and a Galapagos racer snake along the path. We continued our navigation to Rabida Island, famous for its red sand beach, a coloration resulting from iron oxide in its volcanic soil. Those who chose to snorkel were delighted with sightings of sea turtles, sharks, Galapagos sea lions, and colorful fish. As the sun dipped into the horizon, we continued with a casual walk to a brackish pond that has a resurgent population of American flamingos, an excellent way to finish this day.
Today we awoke at Darwin´s Bay near Genovesa Island. This collapsed caldera is a unique place where thousands of sea birds can be observed in different life stages. We disembarked in the morning for a natural history walk at Darwin´s Bay beach where we had a close look of the red-footed booby, one of the three species of boobies that nest in the Galapagos. We also observed Nazca boobies, frigatebirds, swallow-tailed gulls, and lava gulls. We also had the opportunity to snorkel with Galapagos fur seals, the second species of sea lion seen during this trip. In the afternoon, we went for a hike to Prince Phillip´s Steps. We were lucky to spot the short-eared owl, a typically nocturnal species that became diurnal on this island because of the absence of its competitor, the Galapagos hawk. We finished the last full day of the expedition celebrating with a toast onboard National Geographic Islander II .
Our day started with a magical view of this satellite islet of Santiago Island. We went out in the early morning on kayaks and enjoyed perfect light as we encountered a couple of penguins also getting ready to start their day. Later in the morning, it was time to take a dip in these turquoise waters to experience the magnificent wildlife found underwater. The afternoon offered a hike on a moon-like landscape featuring a very young lava field with interesting formations, or a Zodiac ride. The highlight of the day was seeing up to 30 Galapagos penguins throughout the day.
Genovesa Island is a very special place where the animals live in harmony with each other. The volcano itself has an interesting shape due to southeast trade winds creating a mouth in the crater that became Darwin Bay. Genovesa is not a very tall volcano, but it has high cliffs surrounding the sunken caldera, which sea birds use as nesting grounds. The caldera floor is about 900 feet deep. Genovesa is the door to the Pacific Ocean. It is ideal for sea birds that spend a lot of time feeding far out in the ocean. Red-footed boobies are pelagic birds, spending a lot of time feeding and then returning to the nesting site to raise their young. Great frigatebirds nest here between March and June, and the island is also home to the endemic swallow-tailed gull, the only night feeding gull in the world. The island’s isolation has impacted its ecological development. For example, opuntia cactus has developed quite soft spines presumably as a response to the lack of land reptiles that would prey on the cactus. The largest colony of red-footed boobies is found on Genovesa Island. They are found almost everywhere in Darwin Bay. They nest in red mangroves where they built a platform of twigs on which they will lay one single white egg. The reason for laying one egg is due to the distance that the boobies travel to look for food—up to 300 kilometers outside of the Galapagos and back. They will tend to their young for a few months and then it will be completely independent until it reaches sexual maturity. Great frigatebirds will also raise one single offspring, but the young will stay in the colony for a very long period. Young frigatebirds take a few years to become sexually mature and will spend this time learning the unique the piratical skills of adults who regularly steal food from other birds. Genovesa has two visitor sites. Darwin Bay offers a coralline sandy beach where mangroves and saltbushes grow, and Prince Phillip’s Steps, which are cemented rocks and a railing that allow the visitor to climb to the top of a 90-foot cliff for a fantastic view!
This morning National Geographic Islander II anchored near two uplifted islets located on the eastern side of Santa Cruz Island. We started our day with an early morning walk on South Plaza, a .13 km2 islet with a 1-km trail that includes a 30-meter cliff. Here we explored the unique ecology, which included prickly pear cactus, the endemic Galápagos land iguana, pillow lava, and uplifted coral from the islet’s creation. We also witnessed a conservation program by the Charles Darwin Research Station called “Green Galápagos 2050.” This project aims to recover the opuntia plant species. Afterward, our ship navigated for about one hour and 45 minutes towards Santa Fé Island, which was named after a city in Spain. On the way, we received our snorkeling equipment and safety briefing. Soon, we were immersed in warm waters and observing the amazing marine diversity at this heavenly site. Lastly, we concluded the day with a 300-meter walk along a dry forest and we got the chance to admire the endemic Santa Fé land iguana among the tall cacti.
It will never leave you if you go to the Galápagos islands. You will have stories for the rest of your life—I can promise you.
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