MAGICAL GALAPAGOS ISLANDS: 

 A trip to the Galápagos Island will be the journey of your lifetime. Located 1,000 km (600 miles) from the Ecuadorian mainland, the archipelago consists of 13 major islands, of which 5 are inhabited. The Island’s interesting volcanic history, as well as its rich flora and fauna have been admired and studied by numerous travelers, scientist, and nature-lovers. Scientist still faces a mystery of how such a large diversity of species could develop in a remote location like the Galápagos Islands.

Discover the wonders of the Galapagos Islands aboard our luxurious 16-guest yachts, offering an unparalleled experience amidst breathtaking natural beauty. Immerse yourself in comfort and elegance on our modern ships, equipped with top-notch amenities and First Class service. Our meticulously crafted 8-day / 7-night itinerary is designed to enchant you with a variety of activities, including snorkeling in pristine waters, invigorating hikes across unique terrains, exhilarating panga rides, and intimate encounters with the mesmerizing wildlife of the Galapagos.

Your journey will be expertly guided by certified bilingual Level 3 Naturalist Guides, ensuring insightful explorations and meaningful connections with the island's ecosystem. With kayaks, wetsuits, and snorkel gear at your disposal, you’ll have every opportunity to delve into the underwater marvels and witness the enchanting wildlife up close.

Indulge in comfort at every turn! After each exhilarating excursion, retreat to your ship and unwind in the air-conditioned lounge with a refreshing drink, socialize with fellow travelers on the sun deck, or relax in the Jacuzzi. Supported by a dedicated crew, our ship is designed for safe and efficient island-hopping, ensuring seamless transitions between destinations.

M/C ALYA is one example of Mariah Travel's luxury cruising yachts.  Alya (previously known as the Alia) is one of the newest, most luxurious catamarans to sail the Galapagos Islands. Tasteful decoration, exquisite buffet-style cuisine, ample social areas, and top-notch bilingual naturalist guides make it one of the most sought-after luxury cruising yachts in all the Galapagos Islands.

ALYA has capacity for 16 passengers, featuring 8 spacious cabins equipped with panoramic windows and balconies to enjoy the wonderful landscapes of the islands, private bathroom, hot/cold water, air conditioning with independent controls, and a minibar. Twin beds or one queen bed and connected suites for families. Each berth is elegantly appointed, offering a cozy sanctuary to rejuvenate after days of exploration. Enjoy modern amenities and ample space to relax and unwind. Get ready to fall in love with this exceptional yacht experience!

Local and International dishes especially designed by our chef, are served in the relaxed atmosphere of our dining room. The M/C ALYA offers a large solarium with shaded and uncovered areas, Jacuzzis, and comfortable sun loungers. Social areas include a salon, mini library, and video library. Snorkeling equipment, wetsuits and kayaks are available.

The Galapagos luxury yacht M/C ALYA complies with local and international safety regulations, and sustainable practices to protect the fragility of the Archipelago. 

A trip to the Galapagos Islands will be the journey of a lifetime. Located 600 miles from the Ecuadorian mainland, the archipelago consists of 13 major islands, five of which are inhabited. The islands' fascinating volcanic history and rich flora and fauna have been admired and studied by numerous travelers, scientists, and nature lovers. Scientists still face the mystery of how such a large diversity of species could develop in a remote location like the Galapagos Islands. It’s an amazing ecosystem!

The Galapagos Islands are blessed with pleasant weather year-round, meaning there is no "perfect" time to visit these precious islands. However, you might consider factors like High Season vs. Low Season or the climate when planning your trip. The Galapagos Islands will leave a lasting impression on you. Traveling to the islands offers the journey of a lifetime. You’ll be in awe amidst playful seals, elegant albatrosses, fiery-red Sally Lightfoot crabs, and sneaky frigate birds.

Arrive Quito, Ecuador, transfer to Swissotel Quito or similar for relaxation and dinner. Depending on flight arrival times, optional city excursions are available. 

Transfer to the Quito airport in time for the flight to the Islands, normally departing Quito early morning and arriving in Baltra Island. Arrive and meet your Naturalist Guide who will then take you to the luxury class catamaran M/C ALYA or similar.

All cabins are spacious and feature a private balcony, bath/shower, and air-conditioning. All meals, lectures and shore excursions are included.

The morning will be a wet landing, coral beach, activities for this day: short walks, photography, swimming, snorkeling. Genovesa is a small island in the north of the Galapagos. Our unloading in Darwin Bay will be wet. Near the beach is a mangrove swamp where we will find a colony of frigates, marine iguanas, red-footed boobies and mask boobies, the great terrestrial finch, seagulls, herons, and cactus finch. Following the land visit, our passengers can enjoy a swim in the bay and possibly photograph sea lion pups. Snacks and refreshments are available.

Dock at Barranco with a dry landing, activities: hiking. Also known as Prince Phillip’s stairs. Here, we will go for a walk on the Barranco path. On our journey we will observe tropical birds, petrels, common frigate, red-foot boobies, mask boobies, doves, and finches. Enjoy a delicious dinner specially prepared onboard for guests.

Wet landing and hiking. Description: Virtually uneroded lava flows cover an extensive area of this island. Lava pahoehoe (basaltic lava that has a smooth, billowy, undulating, or ropy surface), hornitos, and mollugo (a lava colonizer) can be seen. 

BARTOLOME ISLAND

Dry landing, wet landing for the beach. Activities on this island include walking, swimming, snorkeling, and photography. We will follow a path to the top (114m) where we can see pioneering plants such as tiquilia, chamaesyce, and scalesia. The island has been formed by cones, lava pipes where lava once flowed. 

Following the wet landing at the beach, we will follow a path through mangrove swamps and sand dune vegetation, to the south beach. At the north beach, guests can enjoy swimming and snorkeling. From the top of Bartolome, we will be able to see the islands of Santiago, Rabida, and Isabela. We will see penguins in the Rock Pinnacle.

Enjoy a delicious dinner prepared specially for our guests.

A small islet located near the south-east coast of Santiago. It’s shaped like a Chinese hat when seen from afar. It is an island consisting of a cone type “Splatter” (lava ejected as drops which fall close to where they came from, which form an inclined cone) that forms the summit and many lava tubes that go down to the coast. On the west side you can see pillow-type lava formations, which are an indicator that the flows were formed under the sea and have been raised upward, which is why coral heads are found on the lava. This visit provides an excellent

opportunity for the interpretation of geological features such as lava tubes and lava flows. The trail is 700 m (round trip) and the minimum time it takes for this trek is around 30 minutes. 

SEA LIONS & MOSQUERA ISLET

This islet is located between Baltra Island and North Seymour. Here, we find the biggest sea lion colony: it is also possible to observe several species of birds. Enjoy the white sand beach.

After breakfast, we will visit Charles Darwin Station which is in the main port on Santa Cruz Island; we will take a private bus to the entrance of the breeding center where we will see Giant tortoises and land iguanas in captivity. 

This center is the main breeding site on the islands. Animals that were in danger of extinction on the various islands are maintained in captivity. Thanks to the dedicated work of several institutions, some species are being saved. Here lived Lonesome George, the famous last survivor of the giant tortoise species found on Pinta Island. 

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Quito. Transfer to your hotel in Quito and later enjoy a genuine Ecuadorian dinner on your own.

Transfer to the Quito airport in time for your flight back home or plan for a remarkable extension to the Highlands, Otavalo, Cotopaxi, or one of many exciting locations.