galapagos
Isabela II
Sleek & well-appointed, the Isabela II is one of the loveliest yachts in Galapagos, offering cruising in elegance and comfort. One of the few mid-size yachts, it holds 40 passengers in 21 outside cabins, with two twin or double berths, and are quite spacious and comfortable.
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One of the first and one of the few mid-size Galapagos yachts, the Isabela II is known for its elegance, comfort and excellent service with a relaxed atmosphere. With three decks and a variety of spacious social areas, it feels like a much larger yacht, yet you receive the personalized service of a smaller vessel. The yacht is fully air-conditioned. All of the spacious cabins have private modern bathrooms complete with hair dryers. Each cabin also has a safe deposit box.
Common areas on the three decks include a dining room, bar-salon, and sun deck with comfortable lounge chairs for relaxation. Also on the sun deck is a bar with plenty of seats, a Jacuzzi, solarium, and an observation area for whale and dolphin watching. Recently a small gym has been added to the Sun Deck.
For snorkelers, the Isabela includes the use of shortie wetsuits and snorkeling gear free of charge. A glass bottom boat, as an alternative to snorkeling, allows passengers another way to view the rich Galapagos marine life. Sea kayaks offer another activity available to enthusiasts.
The library contains a large selection of reference books on Galapagos and Ecuador, as well as excellent nature and conservation videos – a very complete reference library to further enhance your experience. On board you’ll also find a gift shop, facilities for email and faxing, and a full-time medical doctor.
In the evenings, the staff of expert naturalist guides provide delightful and insightful multi-media presentations to complement what you’ve seen, as well as an explanation of the next day’s excursions. Another highlight is the stargazing program at night where you gaze at the black sky blanketed with star formations, accompanied by a naturalist guide.
Use these Activity Level Ratings as a general guide to help determine which of our adventures is best for you. Your perception of level of difficulty may vary from ours according to your own level of fitness and travel experience. Whether or not you stay in your comfort zone on the trip you select may also be influenced by the pacing we build into the itinerary, and your own preparation for the trip. While relatively high elevations are unavoidable when you're traveling in the Andes Mountains, we may judge a trip as "moderate" so long as passengers have sufficient time for acclimation. Our detailed trip itineraries give much more information about what you can expect. If you are unsure which trip is best for you, please call us. We'll help guide you toward the right fit.
Moderate
These adventures involve fairly easy travel. There is no camping: you sleep in hotels and country inns each evening. Trips may include short hikes and/or walks of two to three hours. Our itineraries include excursions in passenger mini-vans, over roads with many curves and potholes. Elevations rarely exceed 12,600'. At Machu Picchu and other Inca sites, we climb and descend relatively steep stone staircases. Trips to Amazon lodges involve travel by boat and canoe, plus hikes on forest trails at a moderate pace. In the rainforest, you may encounter rain, mud, and pooled water. Trips to the Galapagos include optional hikes on sometimes uneven rocky and/or slippery terrain. Passengers must get into and out of dinghies on beaches and at docks.
Active
These adventures include more hiking than in our moderate trips. You negotiate a variety of terrain, at elevations no more than 15,000'. Some trips include long days of overland travel. You sleep comfortably in hotels each evening.
Strenuous
While we rate all of our treks as strenuous, there is a substantial range of challenge between the easiest and the most demanding of our treks. Expect to hike 6-8 hours each day over steep and rugged terrain. You may hike to elevations of 17,000', with options to hike higher from several camps. Many include camping multiple nights at relatively high elevations. On most treks in the Andes, night-time temperatures can drop below freezing on one or more nights. On our Inn to Inn based treks, you'll spend each evening in a comfortable mountain lodge.
Extreme
Our toughest treks are suitable for those that enjoy a good physical challenge. You trek (and in some cases climb) over steep, rugged terrain at high elevations with substantial altitude gains. Some glacier travel requires knowledge of basic climbing techniques including use of crampons, ice axe, and ropes. These trips are in remote wilderness areas and include camping as high at 17,700'. Successful summit bids top out at 18,871' (Nevado Pisco), 19,347' (Volcan Cotopaxi) and 20,945' (Nevado Ausangate).
Departures 8, 5 & 4 Days, Tuesday & Friday, weekly, all year
2011 Rates, per person, on 8 day cruise:
Master Suite with Queen bed, $4,450
Classic Cabin with Twin or Double Beds, $4,238
Standard Cabin with Double Bed, $3,975
Standard Cabin Single, $5,168
Fuel Surcharge: $203
Click "Read More" for 2012 rates & more information
Read More2011/2012
Departures: (2011): 8, 5 & 4 Days Tuesday & Friday, weekly, all year
2012: 7 and 5 Days, Mon, Fri and Tue departures, weekly, all year (scroll down for rates)
2011 Rates, per person
| Cabin Types | 8-Day/7-Night, Tue-Tue | 5-Day/4-Night, Fri-Tue | 4-Day/3-Night, Tue-Fri |
| Master Suite Queen | $4,450 | $2,543 | $1,907 |
| Classic Twin / Double | $4,238 | $2,422 | $1,816 |
| Standard Double | $3,975 | $2,272 | $1,703 |
| Standard Single* | $5,168 | $2,953 | $2,214 |
Fuel Surcharges: $203 (8 days); $116 (5 days); $87 (4 days)
*Special single rates apply only for specific dates, please contact us for more information; only 2 cabins available for single use.
Single Supplement: double cabins for single use cost an additional 50% of the double rate.
Peak Season Surcharges: Additional $130/adult; $100/child. For Single in double cabin: +50% (+100% peak season.) No other discounts apply.
Galapagos Airfare (from Quito or Guayaquil): $325 to $425, depending on the routing and the season, subject to change
Galapagos Park Fee $100; INGALA tourist card $10
Children’s discount: 25% for children 6-11, not applicable during holiday season
2012 Rates, per person
Departures Mon, Fri and Tue, weekly, all year
| Cabin Types | 7-Day/6-Night, Tue-Mon | 5-Day/4-Night, Mon-Fri & Fri-Tue |
| Master Suite Queen | $4,409 | $2,940 |
| Classic Twin / Double | $4,215 | $2,810 |
| Standard Double | $3,974 | $2,649 |
| Standard Single* | $5,067 | $3,378 |
*Special single rates apply only for specific dates, please contact us for more information; only 2 cabins available for single use.
Single Supplement: double cabins for single use cost an additional 50% of the per person rate in double cabin.
Peak Season Surcharges: Additional $130/adult; $100/child. For Single in double cabin: +50% (+100% peak season.) No other discounts apply.
Peak Season dates: Apr 3-9; Dec 21-25; Dec 25-31; Dec 31-Jan 4.
Galapagos Airfare (from Quito or Guayaquil): $385 to $445, depending on the routing and the season, subject to change
Galapagos Park Fee $100; INGALA tourist card $10
Children’s discount: 25% for children 6-11, not applicable during holiday season
Day 1 Tuesday
Morning: Baltra Island – Arrival
Afternoon: North Seymour Island
Day 2 Wednesday
Morning: Española (Hood) Island: Gardner Bay
Afternoon: Española (Hood) Island: Punta Suárez
Read More2011 ITINERARY
Day 1 Tuesday
Morning: Baltra Island – Arrival
Afternoon: North Seymour Island
Day 2 Wednesday
Morning: Española (Hood) Island: Gardner Bay
Afternoon: Española (Hood) Island: Punta Suárez
Day 3 Thursday
Morning: Floreana Island: Point Cormorant
Afternoon: Floreana Island: Post Office Bay
Day 4 Friday
Morning: Santa Cruz Island: disembark yacht and board a bus to visit the highlands
Afternoon: Santa Cruz Island: lunch at Finch Bay Eco Hotel. Visit Charles Darwin Research Station and Puerto Ayora town.
Day 5 Saturday
Morning: Genovesa (Tower) Island: Darwin Bay
Afternoon: Genovesa (Tower) Island: Prince Philip’s Steps
Day 6 Sunday
Morning: Isabela Island: Tagus Cove
Afternoon: Ferjnandina Island: Punta Espinoza
Day 7 Monday
Morning: James Island: Puerto Egas
Afternoon: Bartolome Island
Day 8 Tuesday
Morning: Baltra Island – Departure back to mainland
Included in the Cruise rate: all meals on yacht, daily excursions led by experienced English-speaking naturalist guides, glass-bottom boat outings, snorkeling gear (mask, snorkel, fins, floating device & mesh bag) use of shortie wetsuits, bottled drinking water. Not included: Round-trip airfare (figured separately & prepaid); Galapagos Park Fee, Galapagos Transit Control Card; tips to guide, crew and staff; soft drinks and alcoholic beverages.
Length: 166’
Beam: 38’
Type: deluxe motor yacht
Safety: SOLAS 74 – ISM
Crew: 24+ 3 naturalist guides
Cruising speed: 10 knots
Read MoreLength: 166’
Beam: 38’
Type: deluxe motor yacht
Safety: SOLAS 74 – ISM
Crew: 24+ 3 naturalist guides
Cruising speed: 10 knots
Air Conditioning: Yes, throughout
Diving: No
Number of passengers: 40
Number of Days: 8 days only
Departures: Tuesday
All 20 cabins are located on Cabin Deck, with a combination of 2 twin beds, one double bed, and triples with a double and a twin. All cabins are cheerful, comfortable, with private modern bathrooms, hair dryer, plenty of storage space, and window.
Read More20 cabins are located on Cabin Deck, and consist of 16 cabins with two beds, 2 with one double bed for single or a double; and 2 with double bed plus a single bed for double or triple use. Cabin sizes are either 128 or 139 square feet. There is one master suite, the owner’s cabin, on the Sun Deck. All cabins are cheerful, comfortable, with private modern bathrooms, hair dryer, plenty of storage space, and window.
Quick Facts
- 8, 5, & 4 days (2011)
- 7 & 5 days (2012)
- 40 passengers
- Mon, Tue & Fri departures
- 166 feet long
- Motor yacht
- Naturalist cruises