About Our Destination
Climate
September/October in the Galápagos is nearing the end of the dry season, and is one of the coolest months, staying between 69°-75°F (20°-24°C) during the day, and can go down to 64°F (18°C) at night. The water temperature averages about 70°F (21°C).
Currency
US Dollars are widely accepted. Be sure there are no tears or writing on the bills.
Languages
Spanish is the main language, but English is spoken widely.
Health & Safety
Lindblad Expeditions/National Geographic Protocols
To learn more about Lindblad Expeditions/National Geographic's Health & Safety protocols, please click here.
Before Your Trip
Airfare Discounts
Save up to 15% on your airfare through our partner airlines. Please visit our airfare discount page for the most up-to-date information. .
Cancellation Policy
Unexpected events can cause you to cancel your vacation. Because we are committed to this charter, we must strictly adhere to our cancellation policy as outlined in our Olivia Terms & Conditions.
Transfer funds are nonrefundable and nontransferable from the point of sale forward.
Celebrations – Birthdays, Anniversaries, Honeymoons and more
If you will have a birthday or other celebration during your vacation and have not already informed your Olivia Travel Consultant, please let us know as soon as possible, but no less than 90 days prior to the trip. If you are celebrating a special birthday that does not “officially” fall on the trip dates, please let us know and allow us to choose an appropriate date for the celebration.
You can register at Olivia Honeymoon Wishes for your honeymoon, anniversary, or other special celebration; browse through the selections and let your friends know just how easy it is for them to purchase a gift for you.
Connect with other guests – Join the Facebook Group
If you’d like to chat with people who will be going on the trip, you can join Olivia’s official Amazing Galápagos Adventure Cruise group on Facebook.
Passport and Visa
You will need a passport that is valid for six months past the date of the trip. If you are not a U.S. citizen, please check with both your country’s consulate and the consulates of the countries we will be visiting to make sure that you do not need an entry visa or other additional documentation.
If you are not a U.S. citizen, please check with both your country’s consulate and the consulates of the countries we will be visiting to make sure that you do not need an entry visa or other additional documentation.
Specific Needs—Medical, Mobility, Dietary, and Otherwise
If you have special medical or dietary needs, please advise us at the time of booking. Complex food allergies and/or needs must be submitted to the cruise line 45 days prior to the cruise. Guests with diabetic, lean/light, low cholesterol, low sodium, vegetarian, kosher, gluten-free, lactose-free can be accommodated. Please contact Olivia Guest Services at guestservices@olivia.com if you have not notified us of your dietary needs.
This trip requires a certain level of mobility, including steep stairwells on the ship, walking on boulders, rocky or uneven terrain, gentle hiking uphill and getting in and out of zodiacs from the ship and on shore. There are no elevators on the ship. If you do have limited mobility that requires assistance, you are required to travel with someone who can assist you. For those who cannot do the rocky terrains, we will offer a zodiac ride or a less strenuous option.
Travel Gear Store
To help you get ready for your next vacation, we’ve partnered with New Headings to create Olivia Travel Gear, our own online gear and apparel store, featuring items from leading brands, including Craghoppers, Patagonia, Teva, Outdoor Research, and Eagle Creek. Visit olivia.newheadings.com for more information! To help you get ready for your vacation, we’ve partnered with New Headings to create Olivia Travel Gear, our own online gear and apparel store, featuring items from leading brands, including Craghoppers, Patagonia, Teva, Outdoor Research, and Eagle Creek. Visit olivia.newheadings.com for more information!Travel Insurance
Olivia recommends that you purchase a travel protection plan to help protect you and your trip investment against the unexpected. Visit our Insurance page olivia.com/travel-insurance for more information.
For a travel insurance quote, more information or to purchase a protection plan, please call Olivia at 800-631-6277 and select option 1 for a travel consultant.
Vaccinations
Please check with your local Public Health Department or personal physician regarding immunization requirements for all countries you are visiting. You may also check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website at: www.cdc.gov. Click on the Travelers’ Health tab, then click on Destinations, and choose your destination from the “For Travelers” pull-down menu.
2023 Amazing Galápagos Adventure Cruise |
START DATE | END DATE | CANCEL PENALTY |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancellation Fee 365 days or more prior to trip date | 9/28/2022 | 50% of trip cost | |
| Cancellation Fee 0-364 days prior to trip date | 9/29/2022 | 9/28/2023 | 100% of trip cost (no refund) |
To help you get ready for your next vacation, we’ve partnered with New Headings to create Olivia Travel Gear, our own online gear and apparel store, featuring items from leading brands, including Craghoppers, Patagonia, Teva, Outdoor Research, and Eagle Creek. Visit olivia.newheadings.com for more information! To help you get ready for your vacation, we’ve partnered with New Headings to create Olivia Travel Gear, our own online gear and apparel store, featuring items from leading brands, including Craghoppers, Patagonia, Teva, Outdoor Research, and Eagle Creek. Visit olivia.newheadings.com for more information!
Travel and Arrival
Air Travel
Airport
You will need to fly into and out of Guayaquil, Ecuador (GYE). Most flights arrive in the evening.
Arrival and Departure Times
Arrivals: Flights into Guayaquil can arrive any time on September 28 and hotel check-in begins at 3 pm. We always recommend arriving on earlier flights or coming in a day early to avoid the stress of unexpected delays. Olivia will offer additional hotel nights at the hotel. Please call us approximately 6 months prior to the trip for pricing.
Departures: You can leave any time in the late evening of October 4 (after 8 pm) or on October 5, 2023. A day room will be provided and is included up until the time of departure for your late-night flight October 4. An overnight room will be provided and is included if your flight departs October 5. Check out time at the hotel is 12 pm.
Please note, if your flight departs late evening of October 5, you will need to check-out of your hotel room by 12 pm that day. In this case, you may want to consider booking an additional night with us so you can keep your room up until your departure to the airport.
Luggage Allowances
While there is no luggage limit on the cruise itself, airlines often restrict (or charge) for excess baggage. Because each airline is different, and the regulations change over time, please check with your airline for baggage allowances.
Transfers and Meeting up with Olivia
It is approximately 15-20 minutes from the airport to hotel in Guayaquil, depending on traffic. We will provide transfers from the airport to Hotel del Parque for guests arriving to Guayaquil on September 28. We will be collecting your arrival itineraries to organize these transfers. Otherwise, taxis are available for about $20 USD in Guayaquil.
Check-in at the Hotel del Parque
Our host hotel in Guayaquil is the beautiful Hotel del Parque. This is a beautifully restored luxury hotel; a “tropical oasis”, set in a very exclusive affluent Samborondón neighborhood with a park next door and 10-15 minute walk to local restaurants and stores. Hotel del Parque is a boutique, unforgettable experience of history and elegance.
This historic 19th century property offers refreshing sophistication. Here you’ll find Ecuadorian furnishings in cooling hues, impressive large marble bathrooms, free wifi, and 24-hour room service, plus minibars and full air conditioning.
During your stay, you can dine on fresh seafood in the refined, waterfront restaurant, or enjoy a massage or beauty treatments in a unique setting within the wood-beamed bell tower of the original restored chapel. Enhance your experience with cultural encounters such as chocolate tasting, coffee roasting and wildlife walks in the stunning tropical grounds.
We encourage all guests to arrive a day early to avoid the stress of unexpected delays and to enjoy all the amenities this hotel offers. Should you wish to arrive a day or two early or extend your stay, please contact us for reservations and pricing which will include your airport transfer.
Getting to your ship
On September 29, you will be transferred in the early morning after breakfast from the hotel to the airport for your flight to the Galápagos. Once we arrive in Galápagos, a bus will transfer you a short distance to the dock. Zodiacs will be waiting to transport us to the ship.
Airport
During your trip
What's Included?
What’s Not Included?
NDA charges are not included in the price of the trip but have already been added to your reservation as reflected on your invoice.
Accommodations
Welcome to the newly renovated National Geographic Islander II!
After Lindblad purchased this vessel last year, this luxury ship went through a huge renovation and is replacing the National Geographic Islander which sailed the Galapagos since 2004. Olivia has since done over 20 Galápagos trips with Lindblad and National Geographic on the Islander, and we are thrilled about their new vessel!
All-Suite Accommodations
18 Suites, 4 Solo suites, and 4 Islander Suites accommodating just 47 guests plus your Olivia Expedition Leader.
Suites and Solo Suites are 280 sq. ft.—all with large windows, convertible king/twin beds with 600-thread count bedding, ample closets, sofa, shower and marble double-sink bathrooms with a collection of organic amenities crafted exclusively for Lindblad Expeditions. In addition, a stocked mini-bar, and there’s in-room coffee and tea, wifi, and a flat-screen TV. The TV will have lots of National Geographic content, 26 channels of live TV and more than 200 movies on demand.
New this year—we have spacious solo suites for a very special solo-occupancy rate! Normally to have a room to self is double the per-person rate.
The top suites, the Islander Suites, are a notable 515 sq. ft. and include all of the above! They have a separate living area, table and chairs, four large windows, walk-in closets, a larger bathroom with both a bathtub and glassed-in rain shower, and commissioned art inspired by the island in each suite’s name. Though there are no outdoor balconies, but there are plenty of spaces to enjoy the outdoors around the ship.
The Cove
The newly reimagined Cove is a gathering spot for pre-dinner Recaps, camaraderie with like-minded travelers, and craft cocktails. Four flat-screen TVs are part of a state-of-the-art communications system for engaging and informative audiovisual presentations. A forward-facing viewing platform invites you to step outside to take in the beauty of the islands.
Dining
Fresh, locally sourced, and sustainable farm-to-table cuisine representing all the regions of the country is developed in partnership with Ecuadorian chefs. Plant-based options are available as well and cocktails and mocktails are crafted with ingredients from the islands.
Enjoy meals in the expanded al fresco Patio Café, sophisticated Yacht Club Restaurant on the Promenade Deck, or Grill on the Observation Deck, where there’s also a bar and ample seating to host events. Here, guests gather for wine tastings, chocolate tastings, and Bubble-Qs—BBQs made extra celebratory with Champagne. The convenient 24-hour beverage and snack stations in the Bar and Library are other welcome amenities.
Electricity
Ecuador and the Galápagos operate on US electrical current, 110 volts, 60 cycles.
Elevator
There is no elevator on the ship.
Expedition Tools
National Geographic Islander II carries a fleet of kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, a glass-bottom Zodiac, an expanded flotilla of versatile Zodiac boats, complete snorkel gear, video microscope, Science Hub, and remote ocean view cameras.
The newly refitted teak-appointed marina is spacious and climate-controlled, designed for guests to comfortably get in and out of expedition gear.
Internet
Internet access is available on board.
Gratuities
Gratuities are included in the cost of the cruise. Gratuities are provided for your expedition leader and Naturalists, cabin steward, dining room steward, maître d’ and other behind-the-scenes crew members.
Laundry Services
There is no self-service laundry or ironing. The ship does offer laundry service and pressing.
Medical Services
There is a doctor with a minimal medical center on board. Your first visit is complimentary.
Money: On-Trip Purchases
Upon embarkation, you will register a credit card to your shipboard account to charge drinks, services, etc. You will not be able to get cash advances through your credit card.
Phone
Cell phone coverage is minimal, but it is available in the more populated areas of Santa Cruz, Baltra, San Cristóbal and Puerto Aroyo. Check with your cell phone provider for international rates. Most offer the ability to use this service for $10/day.
Satellite phones are available on board at costs of up to $12/minute.
Pricing
Olivia was able to negotiate a great rate for the 2023 Galápagos cruise prior to the change of ships. They are honoring this price as the cost for this beautiful new luxury ship has risen over 30% across the board. This new ship is a big upgrade to our older version, and we will not see prices this low again. For this reason, now IS the time to cross the Galápagos off your bucket list!
Public Spaces
The ship’s public spaces enhance the connection to the islands. Guests will find an open Bridge, surrounding teak decks, and a forward-viewing area. Two dining areas accommodate all guests in a single seating. The Cove, which has a bar, is the setting for daily Recaps. Other ship features include a reception area with glass doors that lead to an open teak Viewing Deck, a Plunge Pool, a Chart Room, the Global Gallery, Library, Marina, Swim Platform, and Zodiac boarding area.
Science Hub
Outfitted with scientific equipment, the exciting new Science Hub continues the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic legacy of supporting conservation and research. Equipped for underway oceanography, interactive video presentations, and an enhanced photo experience.
Smoking Policy
The ship is completely non-smoking except for a designated area outdoors. Smoking is not permitted on the uninhabited islands. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation to stay within the designated area for everyone’s health and comfort.
Solo Travelers
Solo travelers can mix and mingle with everyone; we often have a few independent travelers on trips of this size, which do not have Solo coordinators. Before the trip, you can start to meet other solos and travelers online in the official Olivia Amazing Galápagos Adventure Facebook group.
Spa Services
Standard spa treatments such as massage are available in the LEX Spa. Pricing will be available on board.
Voyage Expeditions Video, Starring YOU!
Your trip includes a copy of your voyage expedition video. A National Geographic/Lindblad videographer will be chronicling your expedition during the week. Each “household” will receive one copy of this on a special card/thumb drive before departing.
- 1-night hotel stay at the Hotel del Parque in Guayaquil before the trip on September 28 prior to embarkation
- Complimentary hotel transfer from airport to hotel for September 28 arrivals and from hotel to airport for October 4 or 5 departures
- 1-night hotel stay at the Hotel del Parque in Guayaquil on October 4 after returning from Galápagos (or day room for late night departures on October 4)
- Internal Ecuador flights (Guayaquil – Galapagos – Guayaquil)
- 5 nights aboard the newly renovated luxury ship, the National Geographic Islander II
- Water, coffee, tea, soft drinks, house wine, and alcohol throughout the day and at meals (premium brands are additional)
- Voyage Expedition movie of YOUR trip on a thumb drive (one per cabin/household)
- Galápagos National Park entrance fee, port charges and service taxes (subject to increase)
- Use of kayaks, paddle boards, snorkeling gear and wetsuits
- Gratuities to naturalists and ship’s crew
- Olivia staff assistance throughout
- Roundtrip international airfare from the US to Guayaquil, Ecuador
- Incidentals on board
- Premium brands of wine/alcohol
- LEX Spa services
- Internet connection
After Your Trip
Disembarkation
We disembark at approximately 9 am for our transfer to the local Galápagos Airport. Exact flight times from Galápagos to Guayaquil will be in your final documents to be sent 30 days prior to the trip.
Hotels
We will utilize the Hotel del Parque in Guayaquil for our return hotel. Hotel check-in is 3 pm, and check-out is 12 pm.
Transfers to the Airport
Transfers to the Guayaquil airport will be provided for those departing the evening of October 4 after 8 pm or the following morning, October 5.
Vacation Stretchers
Please check back to the Vacation Stretcher page for more information approximately 9 months from the trip dates. Additional Hotel nights in Guayaquil before or after the trip will be offered.
Easy-Strenuous: This trip requires a moderate level of mobility including walking on boulders, rocky, sandy, or uneven terrain, gentle hiking uphill, and getting in and out of zodiacs (smaller boats) on steep stairwells from the ship and beaches on shore. Wheelchairs and scooters cannot be accommodated on this ship or on shore as there are no elevators on board, and each deck is accessible by stairs only. If you have limited mobility that requires assistance to move about the ship or go on any of the excursions you decide to take, you are required to travel with someone who can assist you.
Our Travel Consultants can be reached at USA or Canada: 800.631.6277 or International 415.962.5700, option 1.
