Celebrity Xploration is an outstanding catamaran that combines adventure with comfort. She can accommodate 16 passengers in 8 spacious fully air-conditioned staterooms. There are four staterooms on the Upper Deck and four staterooms on the Main Deck with private Verandas.
In addition to an indoor dining room and lounge, Celebrity Xploration provides ample outdoor space, including a large sun deck, an open-air bar and an al fresco dining area, where you can take in the islands’ spectacular scenery.
On board, the atmosphere is relaxed, intimate and friendly. Stateroooms are well-appointed, meals delicious, and the service reminiscent of a private yacht.
7-NIGHT AND 5-NIGHT ITINERARIES
SOUTHERN LOOP ITINERARY
DAY 1
Arrive at Baltra Island
Upon arrival at Baltra airport, you will clear immigration and be met by your guide, who will escort you on a short bus ride to the harbor. A motorized dinghy will then transfer you to the Celebrity Xploration, where the captain and crew will welcome you aboard.
Sombrero Chino Island
Sombrero Chino means “Chinese Hat”, a name that makes perfect sense as soon as you take a look at its unique shape. There are several interesting geographical formations that are ideal for scenic photos, and these are home to various marine species, such as Sally Lightfoot crabs and sea lions. Keep an eye out for different species of Darwin’s finches as well.
DAY 2
Santa Cruz Island - Dragon Hill
As the name implies, Cerro Dragon (Dragon Hill) is known for its healthy population of land iguanas. Other locals include common stilts, pintail ducks and occasionally flamingos. A short walk up the hill leads you to a land iguana nesting site, with breathtaking views of the bay. You will have the chance to go snorkeling after the walk.
Rábida Island
Rábida is a small island with red volcanic rocks surrounding a beautiful red sand beach, where there is a colony of sea lions and a pelican nesting site. The trail leads to a salt-water lagoon where shore birds can be seen. Activities include snorkeling, swimming, kayaking or dinghy ride.
DAY 3
Isabela Island - Puerto Villamil
There are many unique and exciting opportunities on your visit to Puerto Villamil and its spectacular surrounding areas. Hike up to Sierra Negra Volcano, visit the tortoise breeding center, the wetlands or the infamous “Wall of Tears”. You can stroll through town and mingle with the locals, or just lie on the beautiful beach and do nothing at all.
DAY 4
Floreana Island - Post Office Bay & Baroness’ Viewing Point
Post Office Bay is home to a unique “post office” inspired by 18th century pirates and buccaneers who used a wooden barrel as an unofficial mailbox. The tradition continues today as visitors leave addressed postcards in the barrel and sort through left mail to deliver at home. The Baroness’ Viewing Point is the ideal place to take in the unique scenery that defines Floreana.
Floreana Island - Champion Islet & Cormorant Point
After snorkeling at Champion Islet, you will visit Cormorant Point, where there is a beautiful lagoon that is home to flamingos, stilts and pintail ducks. A great site for bird-watching.
DAY 5
San Cristobal Island - Cerro Brujo & Leon Dormido
In addition to the magnificent scenery, there is wonderful swimming and a dinghy ride at this visitor site. Cerro Brujo’s spectacular beach is home to a large colony of sea lions, and it is famous for being the first place in the archipelago that Charles Darwin visited. Later, you will sail by Leon Dormido, a 500 ft high rock formation that is a hangout for many bird species.
Lobos Island
Visitors may have close encounters with sea lion pups, especially while snorkeling. However, this small islet offers much more, including blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds and even a glimpse at the second type of sea lion species found in the Galapagos: the fur sea lion.
DAY 6
Santa Cruz Island - Puerto Ayora & Highlands
On your visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station you will gain insight into the extensive efforts underway to preserve the Galapagos Islands. You will also encounter the famous Galapagos tortoises that are the islands’ namesake. After the visit we will drive to the lush highlands of Santa Cruz to search for giant tortoises in their natural surroundings. In the afternoon you will have free time for shopping or mingling with the locals, or you can simply relax on board.
For those on our 5-night itinerary, this will be your departure day. In the morning you will visit the highlands of Santa Cruz to see giant tortoises in the wild, followed by a transfer to Baltra airport for your flight back to the mainland.
DAY 7
Española Island - Punta Suarez
Punta Suarez is home to large populations of Nazca and blue-footed boobies, as well as the beautiful waved albatross (seasonally). The 10,000 to 12,000 pairs of albatross on Española represent the entire population of this species on the planet. They perform one of the most spectacular courtship rituals of the animal world.
Española Island - Gardner Bay
Gardner Bay offers the chance to enjoy a pristine white sandy beach. In addition to being a nesting site for sea turtles, it is home to one of the most important colonies of sea lions in the archipelago. Activities include swimming snorkeling and kayaking.
DAY 8
Daphne Island
Visitors are not allowed on this island due to its fragile ecosystem, but your guide will point out the island's birdlife from the vantage point of the yacht's deck and explain the important research that is underway.
NORTHERN LOOP ITINERARY
DAY 1
Arrive at Balta Island
Upon arrival at Baltra airport, you will clear immigration and be met by your guide, who will escort you on a short bus ride to the harbor. A motorized dinghy will then transfer you to the Celebrity Xploration, where the captain and crew will welcome you aboard.
Mosquera Islet
This tiny islet is home to a huge population of sea lions, as well as many shorebirds. Keep your eyes peeled, as there are occasional reports of dolphins and orcas around Mosquera.
DAY 2
Santiago Island - Sullivan Bay
Sullivan Bay is renowned for its spectacular volcanic formations, relatively young pahoehoe lava flows and unique geological scenery. Due to Sullivan’s relatively recent volcanic activity, few plants have been able to take root here, much less be successful, so pay particular interest to the low-lying pioneer plant known locally as “mollugo”, as well as the lava cactus.
Bartolomé Island
Bartolomé, one of the most iconic sites in the Galapagos, is a small island with two very different visitor sites: on the beautiful beach you can hang out with sea lions and snorkel, while the hike up to the peak offers jaw-dropping scenery.
DAY 3
Isabela Island – Urbina Bay
Located in the west of Isabela, at the foot of Alcedo volcano, this site is famous for its large land iguanas, and keep your eyes peeled for Galapagos tortoises, flightless cormorants and penguins.
Isabela Island – Tagus Cove
Tagus Cove was historically used as an anchoring place for pirates, buccaneers and whalers. The trail up from the cove goes through an area of vegetation, leading to a spectacular view of Darwin Volcano Lake. Activities include snorkeling, kayaking and dinghy ride.
DAY 4
Fernandina Island - Espinoza Point
Fernandina Island is one of the most pristine and dynamic ecosystems in the entire world. La Cumbre Volcano, which last erupted in April 2009, dominates the landscape, with lava fields stretching towards the ocean from its base. Espinoza Point is home to unique Galapagos species such as the Galapagos penguin, flightless cormorant, Galapagos snake and huge marine iguanas.
Isabela Island – Vicente Roca Point
Punta Vicente Roca is a wonderful snorkeling site, where you can usually see turtles as well as all kinds of fish. For those who don’t snorkel, a dinghy ride will give you the opportunity to study some of the Galapagos spectacular geography. Nazca boobies, pelicans, swallow-tailed gulls, marine iguanas, flightless cormorants and penguins are often seen in the area
DAY 5
Santiago Island - Puerto Egas
The trail leads to tidal pools that are home to a variety of invertebrate organisms, including sea urchins, octopus and starfish. You will also see marine iguanas, finches and possibly the Galapagos hawk, as well as the less common Galapagos fur sea lion. After the walk, you will have time to swim or snorkel from the beach.
Santiago Island – Espumilla Beach
In addition to a beautiful beach, which is a nesting site for sea turtles, there is a palo santo forest that boasts some of the tallest specimens in the islands. Later, Bucaneer Cove’s awe-inspiring scenery will take your breath away. Activities include snorkeling, kayaking and a dinghy ride
DAY 6
Santa Cruz Island - Puerto Ayora & Highlands
On your visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station you will gain insight into the extensive efforts underway to preserve the Galapagos Islands. You will also encounter the famous Galapagos tortoises that are the islands’ namesake. After the visit we will drive to the lush highlands of Santa Cruz to search for giant tortoises in their natural surroundings. In the afternoon you will have free time for shopping or mingling with the locals, or you can simply relax on board.
For those on the 5-night itinerary, this will be your departure day. In the morning you will visit the highlands of Santa Cruz to see giant tortoises in the wild, followed by a transfer to Baltra airport for your flight back to the mainland.
DAY 7
Genovesa Island – El Barranco
El Barranco, also known as Prince Phillip’s Steps, is a steep path with stairs carved into the rock, which leads to a plateau full of bird life among a palo santo forest. You will see Nazca boobies, Galapagos doves, mockingbirds and petrels. With some luck, you may spot a short-eared lava owl.
Genovesa Island – Darwin Bay
Darwin Bay’s soft, coralline white sand is only the beginning of a spectacular excursion. A trail from the beach takes you into lush mangroves where red footed boobies nest. Other locals include sea lions, swallow-tailed gulls and frigatebirds. Kayaking or snorkeling are a must here, since sharks, colorful reef fish, rays and sea turtles are often seen.
DAY 8
North Seymour Island
North Seymour may very well be the perfect way to say goodbye to the Galapagos Islands. Although the island is characterized by arid vegetation, fauna abounds and you will soon find yourself surrounded by sea lions, blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas, frigatebirds and more.
Celebrity Xploration offers accommodation in eight stylishly decorated cabins, equipped with private facilities, air conditioning, and ocean-view picture windows. The spacious cabins feature twin beds that can be converted to king-size beds upon request. The well-appointed bathrooms include biodegradable toiletries, as well as the complimentary use of bathrobes. All cabins come with a complimentary one-time fully stocked minibar, and they are serviced three times a day.
Located near the al fresco dining area, our Upper Deck cabins are ideal for families, since Cabins 302 & 303 and 300 & 301 have interconnecting doors.
Situated on the Main Deck, near the lounge and dining room, these cabins feature a private balcony.
