Galapagos - Ecuador
First Class
4-8 Days
Included
Easy
16 Passengers
The Tip Top II Galapagos Cruise is a remarkable vessel, marking the first catamaran added to the veteran Tip Top Fleet. With over three decades of experience in Galapagos tourism, the owners are pioneers in the industry. After entering operation in 2016, the Tip Top 2 is now fully refurbished with top-of-the-line amenities and adheres to sustainable practices. The vessel can accommodate up to 16 guests with spacious cabins available across two decks featuring various layouts of singles, doubles, and twins.
The cabins on the Tip Top II Galapagos Catamaran are spacious, chic, and provide bountiful storage space for passengers. Each cabin contains large wardrobes, cabinets, and safety boxes for valuables. Hotel quality linens are fitted on the beds, and air conditioning allows for the perfect temperature control, ensuring guests have a comfortable night’s sleep. Each stateroom has large panoramic windows that provide a well-lit atmosphere with remarkable Galapagos views.
The Tip Top II Galapagos Catamaran offers several lounge areas that passengers can use to relax and take in the breathtaking Galapagos scenery. The upper deck solarium is the customer favorite, with both full sun and shaded areas. It provides guests with the best views of the Galapagos scenery and wildlife, and it’s the perfect spot to sunbathe, sip on tropical cocktails, and marvel at the stars at night.
Itineraries
Browse through the different cruise itineraries below by clicking on each one
FRI Arrival to Baltra, Bachas Beach
SAT Genovesa: Prince PhillipĀ“s Steps & Darwin Bay
SUN South Plaza and Santa Fe Island
MON Santa Cruz: Twin Craters & transfer out to the airport
(4 days)
Day 1: You will be taken to the harbor to board the Tip Top II Catamaran after arriving at Baltra Airport. You will disembark on Bachas Beach after the navigation, where you can see wildlife like sea lions, marine iguanas, white-cheeked pintails, and black-necked stilts, among other species. From November to February, this location is also the favored habitat location for Pacific Green Turtles. Following this activity, return to the yacht for dinner.
Day 2: You will disembark at Genovesa Island specifically for Prince Philip’s Steps, also known as El Barranco, in the morning after breakfast. Additionally, from here, you can see the entire Island in its entirety. You land wet on Darwin Bay later in the afternoon to go for a walk and see, among other things, frigate birds, herons, mockingbirds, boobies, shorebirds, turtles, and marine iguanas. On this island, you can kayak or go snorkeling.
Day 3: Landing on South Plaza Island, where you can see different species of land iguanas, marine iguanas, and hybrids of this species, will be the first activity of the day. You will travel to Santa Fe Island in the afternoon after lunch, where you can snorkel and swim with sea lions. Also found here are native Santa Fe iguanas and endemic species like the Galapagos Hawk. Dinner will be provided onboard following this activity.
Day 4: After a quick drive through the Highlands, you arrive at the Twin Crater where you will conduct a quick visit after making a dry landing on the Puerto Ayora port following breakfast. You ride the bus directly to the airport with your guide by your side.
MON Arrival to baltra airpot, Santa Cruz: Center Fausto Llenera
TUE Floreana: Baroness View Point, Asilo de la Paz, Post Office Bay , Cormorant Point & Devilās Crown OR Champion Islet
WED EspaƱola: Suarez Point, Gardner Islet, Osborn Islet & Gardner Bay
THU Kicker Rock, Witch Hill & Human Interpretation Center Gianni Arismendi
FRI Santa Cruz: Black Turtle Cove & Transfer to BaltraĀ“s Airport
(5 days)
Day 1: The Charles Darwin Station and its Interpretive Center will be the first stop on the trip in the late afternoon. Return to the Port and take a stroll through the quaint community to admire the local crafts. Dinner is followed by a delightful cocktail with the rest of the crew.
Day 2: First breakfast, then, you land in Post Office Bay in the rain. Continue on to Baroness Point View, so named because Baroness Eloisa von Wagner, a particular person, once resided on Floreana Island. Here, you can take in the stunning scenery and the ruins of her home. After lunch, head back to the yacht. You land wet on Cormorant Point in the afternoon and take a short walk to the island’s Flamingo Lagoon.
Day 3: Head to Suarez Point on EspaƱola Island in the morning for a hike along lava beds where you can see sea lions, seabirds, marine iguanas, masked and blue-footed boobies, among other wildlife. The yacht will take you to Gardner Bay in the afternoon so you can observe sea lions and marine iguanas. Then, based on the weather and time of year, we take a panga ride all around Gardner and Osborn islets, where you can swim, snorkel, or kayak.
Day 4: Your seasoned Captain sails effortlessly around Kicker Rock after breakfast. Then you land wet on Cerro Brujo, where you can walk along a white sand beach and observe marine reptiles like marine iguanas and blue-footed boobies. After a brief drive, you end up making a dry landing on San Cristobal port in the afternoon. Enjoy dinner onboard.
Day 5: Following breakfast, the catamaran will transport you to Black Turtle Cove, a sizable mangrove lagoon on Santa Cruz Island’s north coast, where you can observe local wildlife like pelicans and herons and possibly even see turtles or golden rays from the beach. You will be driven to Baltra Airport to catch your flight back to the mainland following this activity.
FRI Arrival to Baltra, Mosquera Islet
SAT Sullivan Bay & Red Beach ā Rabida
SUN Fernandina: Espinoza Point & Isabela: Elizabeth Bay
MON Isabela: Urbina Bay & Tagus Cove
TUE Santiago: Egas Port & Bartholomew
WED Chinese Hat & Dragon Hill
THU Santa Cruz: Highlands & Fausto Llerena Breeding Center
FRI North Seymour & Transfer to BaltraĀ“s Airport
(8 days A)
Day 1: You will be taken to the harbor to board the Tip Top II Catamaran after arriving at Baltra Airport. You will disembark on Mosquera Islet after the navigation. Additionally, you can see the colonies of sea lions, brown pelicans, blue-footed boobies, and sally light-foot crabs that live in tide pools. In this location, you can swim or snorkel as well.
Day 2: The yacht will arrive at Santiago Island’s Sullivan Bay early in the morning, where you can observe the rope lava flows, resting sea lions, and shallow water snorkeling. You will travel to Rabida Island, a red sand beach, after this activity. Dinner and the activities come to an end.
Day 3: You will travel to Espinoza Point on Fernandina Island, one of the newest islands with the most active volcano, after breakfast, in order to see pelicans, marine iguanas, and flightless cormorants. You’ll go on a panga ride to Elizabeth Bay in the afternoon to see a variety of species. After dinner, head back to the yacht to relax.
Day 4: The yacht will take you to Urbina Bay, one of the Galapagos’ more recent examples of geological uplift, early in the morning, where you can see land iguanas. Here, you can snorkel as well. You will then proceed to Tagus Cove, a cove that is situated between the shoulders of two volcanic craters.
Day 5: You will go to Port Egas early in the morning. It is a beach on Santiago Island’s west side, and what makes it special is that it has black sand. After lunch, go to Bartolome Island, which is well-known for its Pinnacle rock and stunning scenery where you can take incredible pictures. On this island, you can also practice snorkeling. Dinner and the activities come to an end.
Day 6: You land wet on Chinese Hat after breakfast, which allows you to see lava structures. Visit Dragon Hill on Santa Cruz Island in the afternoon. There, you can hike along a trail that leads to an ultra saline lagoon that is commonly frequented by flamingos, pintail ducks, and other bird species. Dinner on board and the end of the day.
Day 7: The day will start off with the arrival in Santa Cruz. The Galapagos Tortoises can then be seen in their natural habitat when you are taken to the Twin Craters and a private reserve. You will visit Charles Darwin Research Station in the afternoon. Dinner on board and the end of the day.
Day 8: Make an early dry landing at North Seymour after breakfast to observe the various bird species that live there, such as blue-footed boobies and frigate birds. You will be driven to Baltra Airport to catch your flight back to the mainland following this activity.
FRI Baltra Airport, Bachas Beach
SAT Genovesa: Prince Phillip Steps, Darwin Bay
SUN South Plazas, Santa Fe
MON Santa Cruz: Highlands, Fausto Llerena Breeding Center
TUE Floreana: Baroness view point, Post Office Bay, Cormorant Point, Asilo de la Paz, Champion Islet OR DevilĀ“s Crown
WED Espanola: Suarez Point, Gardner Bay, Osborn & Gardner Islets
THU San Cristobal: Cerro Brujo, Kicker Rock, Interpretation Center
FRI Santa Cruz: Black Turtle Cove, Baltra Airport
(8 days B)
Day 1: You will be taken to the harbor to board the Tip Top II Catamaran after arriving at Baltra Airport. You will disembark on Bachas Beach after the navigation, where you can see wildlife like sea lions, marine iguanas, white-cheeked pintails, and black-necked stilts, among other species. From November to February, this location is also the preferred nesting location for Pacific Green Turtles. Following this activity, return to the yacht for dinner.
Day 2: You will disembark at Genovesa Island in the early morning after breakfast in order to reach Prince Philip’s Steps, also known as El Barranco. As you ascend to this location, which is 100 feet above sea level, you will be greeted by a Palo Santo Forest and species like Nazca boobies. Additionally, from here, you can see the entire Island in its entirety. You land wet on Darwin Bay later in the afternoon to go for a walk and see, among other things, frigate birds, herons, mockingbirds, boobies, shorebirds, turtles, and marine iguanas. On this island, you can kayak or go snorkeling.
Day 3: Landing on South Plaza Island, where you can see different species of land iguanas, marine iguanas, and hybrids of this species, will be the first activity of the day. You will travel to Santa Fe Island in the afternoon after lunch, where you can snorkel and swim with sea lions. Also found here are native Santa Fe iguanas and endemic species like the Galapagos Hawk. Dinner will be provided onboard following this activity.
Day 4: You’ll travel to the Highlands of Santa Cruz early in the morning to see Galapagos Giant Tortoises in their natural habitat at a private reserve. After lunch, you’ll travel to Charles Darwin Research Station to learn about the preservation and conservation of the island and to see the breeding and rearing facility for young Galapagos tortoises as well as the adult tortoises kept in captivity there.
Day 5: You land wet in Post Office Bay, a historical location that evokes the era of the whalers, after breakfast. After lunch, head back to the yacht. You land wet on Cormorant Point in the afternoon and take a short walk to the island’s Flamingo Lagoon. Once we get to “La Picona,” the beach, you can continue walking to see marine turtles and their spawning grounds there. Next, we take a panga ride to Champion Islet, a tiny island off Floreana Island’s coast. Another option is to head to Devil’s Crown, another spectacular snorkeling site.
Day 6: You will take a walk along lava beds at Suarez Point on Espaola Island early in the morning. You can see sea lions, seabirds, Marine Iguanas, masked and blue-footed boobies, among other wildlife, along this trail. The yacht will take you to Gardner Bay in the afternoon so you can observe sea lions and marine iguanas. Depending on the weather and time of day, you can also swim, snorkel, or kayak there.
Day 7: Your seasoned Captain sails effortlessly around Kicker Rock after breakfast (Leon Dormido). For many seabirds, Kicker Rock serves as a place to nest. Then you land wet on Cerro Brujo, where you can walk along a white sand beach and see marine reptiles like marine iguanas and blue-footed boobies. After a brief drive, you make a dry landing on San Cristobal port in the afternoon. After dinner, you return to the yacht for our nightly orientation.
Day 8: After breakfast, the catamaran will take you to Black Turtle Cove, a sizable mangrove lagoon on Santa Cruz Island’s north coast, where you can observe local wildlife like pelicans and herons and perhaps even see a turtle or golden rays from the beach. You will be driven to Baltra Airport to catch your flight back to the mainland following this activity.
2024 PRICES | |||
---|---|---|---|
4 Days | 5 Days | 8 Days | |
Standard (Main Deck) | US$3,024 | US$4,015 | US$5,691 |
Standard (Upper Deck) | US$3,801 | US$4,772 | US$6,589 |
Vessel type
Catamaran
Year built
2004
Year renovated
2016
Length
104 ft
Beam
40 ft
Draft
5 ft
Max speed
12 knots
Engines
2 350HP Detroit Diesel turbo-charged S60-6062HK
Capacity
16 passengers
Decks
3
Crew
8 members: Captain, Multilingual guide, Engineer, International Cook, Barman & waitress, Two Sailors
Cabins
10
Bathrooms
10
Freshwater maker
Yes
Single Cabins
Located on the main deck. One single bed with AC, private bathroom, locker & drawer, hairdryer & safety box
Twin Cabins
Located on the main deck. Two single lower beds with AC, private bathroom, locker & drawer, hairdryer & safety box
Upper Deck Cabins
Two cabins have twin beds, and two have double beds. Each cabin has a balcony, air conditioning, a private bathroom, a drawer and locker, a hairdryer, and a safety box. When booking, kindly specify your preferred bedding configuration
Private bathroom
Air conditioning
Toiletries
Room towels
110v Electricity point in cabin
Lounge Area
Bar
Sundeck