YACHT LA PINTA DARWIN’S LEGACY

Embark on a 7-day adventure to the Galapagos Islands on Yacht La Pinta. Explore the origins of the archipelago, encounter unique wildlife, and snorkel at the best sites in the region.

Duration: 7 days
Cancellation: 6 days
Highlights

Baltra - This adventure begins with your morning flight to Baltra Island and an immediate transfer to the nearby dock to board Yacht La Pinta. After an introductory briefing onboard, we will all partake in an emergency boat drill, after which you will be assigned to your cabin and then be invited to lunch.

What's Included
  • 24/7 coffee station (free coffee, tea, and water)
  • Wetsuits
  • Wifi (Due to the Galapagos’ remote location, connections are intermittent and low-bandwidth)
  • Kayaks
  • Multiple purpose room
  • Pangas (inflatable dinghies for coastal exploration)
  • Snorkeling Equipment
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Breakfast
  • Fitness Room
  • Landing and facility fees
  • Glass Bottom…
What's Not Included
  • Airport transportation to/from Galapagos and airport taxes (A destination expert will contact you).
  • Galapagos National Park Entrance (A Destination Expert will provide more information).
  • Ingala Transit Control Card (A destination expert will provide more information).
  • Gift Pack, tips and gratuities.
  • Soft & Alcoholic beverages, available at an…
Additional Information

We’re thrilled to welcome you on this exploratory voyage to some of the Galapagos’ most picturesque islands. Our expedition leads us to the foundation of the archipelago, to landscapes freshly shaped by Earth’s monumental tectonic activities, with volcano hot spots generating the islands like a blip in geologic timeline. Fernandina Island is known as…

Location
Galápagos Ecologic Airport
After you have processed the Galapagos National Park Entrance Fee, you will see our staff holding signs with La Pinta logo. They will assist you to transfer you to the ship.
Cancellation Policy

If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(30 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
633griern
Mar 10, 2025
The Galapagos through the eyes of those from the Galapagos - Our adventure was incredible....from hiking to snorkeling to paddle boarding to touring the cliffs in the zodiacs. Even the occasional rain could not deter our enthusiasm to get out in nature. The guides were excellent...the boat/small ship perfect...disappointment? Only that it was the wrong season for the albatross....
Review provided by Tripadvisor
B222kjjohnr
Mar 10, 2025
Amazing Galapagos experience - I am extremely happy with Metropolitan. We booked our Galapagos vacation directly with them. Our travel advisor, Melissa, took excellent care of of, taking into account all of our requests and concerns. And the trip could not have been better (well, I did get sea sick the first night, but the doctor on board the La Pinta was amazing so it was only a minor set back). The wildlife was amazing. The only downside of going end Feb/early Mar is that we had a ton of rain. I would do this trip again in a heartbeat and would recommend to anyone who loves nature.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
T5779phkenm
Mar 10, 2025
Galapagos - I researched Galapagos and came across Metropolitan. The reviews convinced me to use them, and I was not disappointed. I worked with Melissa Altamirano, who lives in Ecuador, and she provided tons of information and options. She was very responsive - and patient with me. The trip itself is amazing. We booked the Western Expedition, and saw 10 out of the 11 Galapagos iconic species that we hoped to see. The one that got away was the hawk - but a few folks on the boat did see it. From talking to others, there is no bad route or expedition. We stayed in Quito for several enjoyable days prior to transferring to the boat. Melissa arranged several day excursions for us, which made life easy. All we had to do was show up, smile and soak in the beauty and history of all that was around!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Freedom06522398277
Dec 16, 2024
Last-minute wonderful trip! - This was a phenomenal experience, several very special days with my son; not only the cruise but also the accommodations in Quito beforehand. I was very impressed by the "package"! Melissa answered all my questions and made everything work well for us
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Anneswanva-usa
Oct 21, 2024
First Class in every way--ship, staff, food, naturalists, hikes, information - This was a first-class adventure in every way. We chose the expeditions to the Western Galapagos Islands, Friday through Thursday aboard La Pinta. This was a good way to see different islands with different animals, vegetation, environments. They plainly told us it could be possible to see 12 of the 15 "big" animals during the trip; of course, they can't promise. We did see the 12! Sights included giant tortoises, Blue Footed Boobies, Frigate Birds, Sally Lightfoot Crabs, Sea Lions, Turtles, and much more. La Pinta is a lovely ship with beautiful cabins, a library, a bar/ lounge, fantastic dining area, and full accommodations with pangas (rubber rafts) and a glass bottom boat. For those who want to see the sea creatures (fish, sharks, sea lions, etc.) but don't want to snorkel, you can ride in the boat and look through the glass bottom. There are naturalists onboard who guide you in small groups and inform you about what you are seeing. La Pinta can accommodate about 45 guests; it has several naturalists onboard so that you are in a small group of maybe 10 or so people and you get personal attention. This is a wonderful company to work with. Metropolitan Touring is one of the oldest and largest tour companies. The service and staff are as good as I have experienced with small international touring companies. The food is excellent and they can accommodate special dietary needs. There is even a small shop onboard with sun protective clothing and souvenirs. Know that the expedition is demanding and you should be in fairly good shape to attempt this trip with any tour company. You need to be able to get in and out of the pangas, to wade ashore, to walk on rock. You need to bring clothing to protect you from the equatorial sun.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marcote1
Oct 8, 2024
AMAZING - The crew of La Pinta is amazing. Everyone - from the tour manger and his exploration team (who are so knowledgeable and passionate) , to the dining and room attendant who make you feel so welcome and comfortable. La Pinta isnt a big cruise ship with casino and nightlife - it is a exploration ship - perfect size - big enough to have space and comfort but cozy. Really just perfect. 5 star all around
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Allison
Sep 24, 2024
INCREDIBLE! - A complete trip of a lifetime! My husband recently returned from a a six night Galápagos cruise on Yacht La Pinta. The booking process was very easy and all the logistics went smoothly. The boat itself is the perfect size with great amenities (hot tub!) and spacious rooms. The service is five stars and the staff went above and beyond in anticipating and meeting our needs. There were so many special touches and surprises. The food and drinks were delicious. The naturalists and excursions were incredible. We loved having a variety of activity options between hikes, kayaking, snorkeling, cruising in the glass bottom boat, etc. We can’t recommend Metropolitan Touring enough and we can’t wait to return one day!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
N1817ncjordanr
Aug 1, 2024
Amazing customer service, trip of a lifetime - Maria Luisa and Melissa at Metropolitan Touring helped us set up an incredible trip. We loved our 3 nights at Casa Gangotena, and our day tour of Quito. The Galapagos cruise exceeded all of our hopes and expectations. We are a "food allergy" family, and travel can be a bit stressful and challenging, but we were in good hands with Metro Tours. We will consider them for future family adventures. THANK YOU!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Drjill24
Jul 21, 2024
What a fantastic trip! - Fantastic trip. We had a tour of Quito with Katherine our first day. She was a super guide and did a brilliant job of showing us the city. The company took care of all arrangements: hotel, tour, flights, baggage, etc. The yacht trip was very personal with the staff learning everyone's name and room number- no keys or ID required. Excellent service and food. The Galapagos is unique with wonders to behold. the guides made sure we missed nothing.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Q6093cbcarlosv
Jun 24, 2024
Great Experience - Back in Jan 2024, my family wanted me to coordinate a trip to Galapagos islands. I knew the planning would be a little more challenging since access to Galapagos is closely monitored by the government. I researched many touring companies and discovered Metropolitan Touring. From my first call, I dealt with Melissa Altamirano through the whole process. The expertise, service, and guidance she provided was excellent (surpassed my expectation by a mile). I explained what my family & I were looking for and Melissa handled the details. This included ALL the connections with flights to/from Quito & Galapagos as well as all other transportation (car, bus, ferry, hotels, airport). What we really appreciated was at every stop there was a Metropolitan representative waiting for us ensuring we had everything we needed to continue our trip safely, and to answer all our questions. We could not have been more impressed with how well Melissa organized all the details that made this trip the best one we have ever taken as a family. It included: Quito, Ecuador – 2 nights + city tour Finch Bay Hotel – 3 nights in beautiful hotel/location + Santa Fe Island tour La Pinta Cruise – 6 nights visiting various islands Whether it was the tour guides in Quito, the staff at Finch Bay Hotel, or the La Pinta team (Indie, Roberto, & Pedro especially), the service was the highest quality from top to bottom. I put my faith & trust in Melissa and Metropolitan with this trip and both delivered excellent results. I would highly recommend Melissa and Metropolitan Touring for any trips to Galapagos and/or South America. You will not be disappointed...
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Select Date and Tickets
up to 4 guests
1
Adult
April 2025
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Today