January plan: Monique, Jan 16–29
Fly down Jan 16, two dive days on Santa Cruz, a honeymoon day, then Monique Jan 21–28. Optional two nights on Isabela for penguins.
Day by day
| Date | Where | What we do | Dinner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat Jan 16 | Boston → Guayaquil | Copa BOS 7:34am → Panama → GYE 5:38pm. TRYP by Wyndham Guayaquil Airport (leave a “city bag” here if doing Isabela). | Hotel restaurant |
| Sun Jan 17 | Fly to Santa Cruz | Avianca GYE ~9:50am → Baltra ~10:50am; pay $200 pp park fee in cash. Bus → Itabaca ferry → taxi → water taxi to Angermeyer Waterfront Inn. Afternoon swim at Las Grietas; fit gear at Scuba Iguana. | Almar — tuna, ceviche |
| Mon Jan 18 | Dive day 1 | Scuba Iguana: Punta Carrión + South Mosquera (sea lions, rays, reef sharks). 6:30am water taxi to the pier. | Charles Binford kiosks — encocado, ceviche |
| Tue Jan 19 | Dive day 2 | Seymour Channel + Seymour Point (sharks, eagle rays) — or Gordon Rocks hammerheads only if Scuba Iguana approves in writing beforehand. | The Point — tuna tataki |
| Wed Jan 20 | Honeymoon day | Optional Tortuga Bay walk & kayak at Playa Mansa. Afternoon unscheduled. | Eloise — the romantic dinner |
| Thu Jan 21 | Board Monique | Hotel-arranged taxi to Baltra airport. Santa Cruz highlands — wild giant tortoises. Welcome cocktail. | Plated Sky Deck dinner + wine |
| Fri Jan 22 | Floreana | Champion Islet snorkel (sea lions, turtles), Cormorant Point flamingos / Devil’s Crown, Post Office Bay. | On board |
| Sat Jan 23 | Española | Punta Suárez boobies + red-and-green marine iguanas at peak color, blowhole; Gardner Bay beach, snorkel, kayak, paddleboard. | On board |
| Sun Jan 24 | San Cristóbal | Interpretation Center; Witch Hill beach; Kicker Rock at sunset. | On board |
| Mon Jan 25 | Santa Fe & South Plaza | Land iguanas, sea-lion & ray snorkel; red sesuvium carpets. | On board |
| Tue Jan 26 | Santiago & Bartolomé | Sullivan Bay lava; Pinnacle Rock summit & snorkel — penguin chance. | On board |
| Wed Jan 27 | Genovesa | Prince Philip’s Steps (owls, Nazca boobies, tropicbirds); Darwin Bay frigatebirds & red-footed boobies. | On board |
| Thu Jan 28 | Disembark | Black Turtle Cove mangroves (rays, reef sharks, turtles) → Baltra. Core plan: fly to GYE, Hotel del Parque; home Jan 29. Isabela option: Emetebe 1:30pm → Isabela, Iguana Crossing. | Casa Julián (core) · Lighthouse Isabela (option) |
| Fri Jan 29 | Isabela (option) | Los Túneles snorkel (turtles, seahorses, often penguins); afternoon free, Concha de Perla or Tintoreras optional. | El Cafetal / The Beach Restaurant |
| Sat Jan 30 | Isabela → Guayaquil (option) | Emetebe 9:30am → Baltra → Avianca ~2:05pm → GYE; collect city bag; Hotel del Parque. | Casa Julián |
| Sun Jan 31 | Home (option) | GYE → Panama → Boston. |
Budget for two
| Core trip (Jan 16–29) | Cost |
|---|---|
| Monique, Golden Double Stateroom | $17,380 |
| Monique domestic-flight non-issuance fee ($100 pp) | $200 |
| Boston ⇄ Guayaquil (Copa economy) | $1,000 |
| Guayaquil ⇄ Baltra (Avianca, bag) | $680 |
| Park fee + Transit Control Card | $440 |
| TRYP + Hotel del Parque | $580 |
| Angermeyer Waterfront Inn, 4 nights | $1,500 |
| Diving: 2 days × 2 people + tips | $1,240 |
| Monique crew & guide tips | $560 |
| Trip insurance (w/ scuba) + DAN | $1,500 |
| Land dinners & lunches | $850 |
| Taxis, water taxis, Baltra transfer, misc | $500 |
| Extra drinks on board | $200 |
| Core total | $26,630 |
| Optional Isabela extension | Cost |
|---|---|
| Emetebe Flex Plus fares, 2 legs × 2 | $1,050 |
| Prepaid extra baggage (if needed) | $60 |
| Iguana Crossing, 2 nights incl. taxes | $740 |
| Los Túneles (+ optional Tintoreras) | $370 |
| Isabela municipal fee ($10 pp) | $20 |
| Isabela meals & misc | $300 |
| Extension total | $2,540 |
Try the options
Rule of thumb: only add Isabela once firm quotes keep the committed total ≤ ~$28,500, so ~$1,500 stays free for surprises.
Before we pay
Questions for Golden Galápagos
- Please confirm our Golden Double Stateroom will be made up as one king bed (a double bed is non-negotiable for us). Which cabin number and deck — lowest, most central preferred for seasickness?
- Is the Wi-Fi Starlink? Is it available in cabins, and are there data limits?
- Dinner: is there a choice of mains each night? How are dietary needs handled?
- Are wetsuits included? What do massages cost?
- Exact Baltra meeting time and point on Jan 21; how is luggage handled?
- On Jan 28, can you get us to Baltra airport by ~12:30 for a 1:30pm Emetebe flight?
- Can you issue our Guayaquil ⇄ Baltra flights (Jan 17 out; Jan 28 or Jan 30 back) to waive the $100 pp fee — at what price?
- Honeymoon: cake, cabin decoration, private dinner on deck?
- Payment & cancellation: deposit, final-payment date (sailing is ~100 days out), refund rules.
| When | Do |
|---|---|
| This week | Hold Monique Jan 21–28 on LiveAboard (obligation-free); send the questions above; book in current passport names. |
| Within 7 days of first payment | Buy trip insurance (pre-existing-condition waivers need it within 7–15 days) + DAN. |
| Next 2 weeks | Copa Boston ⇄ Guayaquil; Avianca Guayaquil ⇄ Baltra (or via Golden Galápagos); hotels. If adding Isabela: Emetebe Flex Plus fares + Iguana Crossing, once quotes pass the budget rule. |
| November | Book Scuba Iguana (Mon Jan 18; Tue Jan 19 Seymour boat); send logbooks; ask about Gordon Rocks. |
| December | Travel clinic for seasickness plan; trial meds at home; pool refresher if needed. |
| Jan 1 | 💍 |
| Jan 13–15 | Buy the Transit Control Card online; file the biosecurity declaration; print insurance; get ~$1,500 in small bills. |
| Before Jan 17 | Reserve Almar, The Point, Eloise; ask the hotel to arrange the Jan 21 Baltra transfer. |