P ORT O F CAL L BY LORI EASTES / PHOTOS BY ROYAL GALAPAGOS
Exotic Exploration Lava lizards, blue-footed boobies, giant tortoises, and more: Go wild for a yachting adventure through the mystical Galápagos Islands.
Welcome to the Galápagos Islands—an isolated archipelago of volcanic islands known around the globe as a dream destination for wildlife enthusiasts looking for the experience of a lifetime. Located in the eastern Pacific Ocean near Ecuador, the Galápagos were made famous by Charles Darwin, whose explorations here inspired the theories on evolution found in his work On the Origin of Species. Touring the Galápagos Islands by yacht offers an inspirational experience reminiscent of Darwin’s travels, albeit more luxurious and glamorous. Throughout your journey, you’ll have the opportunity to immerse yourself in a mystical land filled with unexpected inhabitants and unique species. As a double World Heritage site, where both land and sea are protected, yacht routes are monitored by Galápagos National Park officials to ease crowding and environmental stress that result in blissful seclusion and undisturbed waters for cruising. With a lack of natural predators, the wildlife inhabitants are remarkably friendly and welcoming, offering visitors an up close and personal experience: swim with sea lions and Pacific sea turtles, scuba dive among hammerhead and whale sharks, and spot exotic marine iguanas, frigate birds, blue-footed boobies, albatross, and penguins on land. Each island features its own distinctive landscape, ranging from barren grounds with volcanic rocks to stunning white sand beaches surrounded by aquamarine waters; every one of them unique. 84
Santa Cruz A perfect spot to begin your journey, the island of Santa Cruz features lush vegetation, a host of exotic birds, and the legendary giant Galápagos tortoises in their natural habitat. Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and Galápagos National Park headquarters for in-depth and informational look into this mystical environment. When your exploration of the island is complete, your yacht and crew await, ready to transport you on the journey of a lifetime. Española & Punta Suarez Española Island is the most southerly and one of the oldest isles in the archipelago, attracting visitors with its variety of endemic wildlife, including the Española mockingbird, lava lizard, and waved albatross. Punta Suarez, one of the most coveted visitor sites of the Galápagos, is renowned for its albatross breeding colony, as well as “the blowhole,” a proverbial geyser that sprays water some 75 feet into the air. San Cristóbal & Kicker Rock San Cristóbal, the island where Darwin first went ashore, is tranquil and beautiful, and home to Punta Pitt, the only place where all three species of boobies can be seen: blue-footed, red-footed, and Nazca. If snorkeling is on your list, take the tender to Kicker Rock, an underwater paradise
