A Day on Expedition in Galápagos

Early Start: Rise and Roam

Greet the day on the top deck, practicing sun salutations with a wellness specialist, or head to the bow to look for early-morning wildlife activity alongside expert naturalists. Young travelers in the National Geographic Global Explorers program can begin recording the day’s sightings in their official field notebooks.

Photo: David Vargas

Morning Excursion: Dive In

Snorkel in the Galápagos Marine Reserve, home to an array of captivating creatures: sea lions, technicolor fish, marine iguanas and feeding penguins. Prefer to stay dry? Join a naturalist in a Zodiac or glass-bottom boat for a cruise through a shallow bay to observe marine life at water level.

Photo: Ralph Lee Hopkins

A Local Lunch

Every meal on your voyage is fresh, sustainable and locally sourced—but one lunch stands out: a special Ecuadorian feast, with dishes from the country’s coasts, islands and highlands. The golden roast suckling pig from Isla Floreana is a highlight, as is the wild-caught fish in coconut milk.

Sunset Equator Crossing

Head to the observation deck at sunset for a celebratory tasting of local wines as the ship navigates across the Equator.

Photo: Douglas Scaletta

Seeing Stars

After a delicious dinner, bring your binoculars to the top deck for a naturalist-led stargazing session. You’ll have the rare opportunity to see the Big Dipper and Southern Cross at the same time—a phenomenon that only happens at the Equator.