Galapagos Islands Cruise

January 15–24, 2026

Join the Purdue President’s Council on a Galapagos expedition and discover the diverse species that inhabit the famous archipelago. Experience the living museum of 9,000 varieties of flora and fauna including giant tortoises, sea lions, penguins, iguanas, red- and blue-footed boobies, frigatebirds, and much more! Enjoy this unforgettable journey aboard the ultra-luxury and all-inclusive, 100-guest Silversea Silver Origin.

Your participation supports the
President’s Council Enrichment Fund
Your travel-package registration fee includes support for ongoing adventures, events, and lifelong educational opportunities with the President’s Council family. As a part of your overall price, a $500-per-person, tax-deductible donation to the President’s Council Enrichment Fund helps underwrite the involvement of Purdue educators and administrators to enhance your personal travel experiences—a benefit exclusive to Purdue President’s Council members.

Itinerary Highlights:

  • Arrive in Quito and explore the city’s colonial architecture
  • Discover San Cristobal Island’s dormant volcanoes and visit the capital, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno
  • See the two towering formations of Kicker Rock, renowned for its rich marine life
  • Hike Prince Philip’s Steps and explore Darwin Bay, Genovesa Island’s bird paradise
  • Experience North Seymour Island’s sea lions, frigatebirds, and blue-footed boobies
  • Walk the lunar-like lava fields of Sullivan Bay on Santiago Island
  • Enjoy a scenic cruise through the breathtaking landscapes of the Bolivar Canal
  • Bird-watch and snorkel in the mangroves of Punta Mangle on Fernandina Island
  • Hike the vast pahoehoe lava fields and spot wildlife on Isabela Island
  • Explore Santa Cruz Island’s highlands and visit the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center
  • On Española Island, relax on the white sandy beaches, and discover seabird cliffs and marine iguanas
  • See sea lions and observe birdlife in the pristine waters of Isla Lobos
  • Visit the beautiful white sand beaches and coastal lagoon of Cerro Brujo on San Cristobal Island

President’s Council Package Includes:

  • 7-night ultra-luxury Galapagos Islands Cruise aboard the all-suite, all-inclusive, 100-guest Silversea Silver Origin
  • 2-night pre-cruise hotel in Quito featuring a Quito by Night Tour
  • President’s Council Welcome & Farewell Receptions
  • In-Program charter flights roundtrip Quito, Ecuador to and from San Cristóbal, Galapagos Islands
  • State-of-the-art technology aboard Silver Origin, with the highest crew-to-guest ratio in the region, 1:1.11
  • Gourmet dining in two open-seated restaurants, serving diverse cuisine both indoor and outdoor, plus 24-hour room service and in-suite dining
  • All-inclusive beverages throughout the ship, including select wines, premium spirits, and more
  • Butler service in every suite
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi and included onboard gratuities for butler, housekeeping, bar, and dining staff
  • Largest Expedition Team of guides certified by the National Park of the Galápagos
  • Enhanced onshore exploration via guided Zodiac, kayak, land and sea tours with the highest Zodiac®-to-guest ratio (9 zodiacs with max. 12 guests)
  • Complimentary expedition gear including snorkeling mask, snorkel, backpack, and water bottle, plus complimentary use of wetsuits and snorkeling fins
  • Innovative public venues including Basecamp, the exploration and destination hub, plus a fitness center and spa
  • Enrichment lectures by the Silversea Expedition Team
  • National Park and immigration fees
  • $500-per-person, tax-deductible donation to the President’s Council Enrichment Fund
  • $300 shipboard credit per suite
  • Purdue President’s Council and Global Tracks staff

What to Expect

This Galapagos expedition will be active, requiring you to be in good health and physical condition. The schedule will include long days, with some early departures, and activities scheduled throughout the day and into the evening. Daily activities usually include two shore excursions each day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, each lasting two to three hours. On some days the shore excursions can require up to two hours of walking, often over loose rocks and uneven terrain where stairs are unavailable or do not have handrails, and standing, often in the warm sun. Travel from the ship to the landing sites will be in zodiacs and each guest must be able to step from the ship to the zodiac with the assistance of the crew. There will be wet landings where you step off the zodiac into the water and walk a short distance through shallow water to shore. During the shore excursions, there will be opportunities to hike, kayak, swim, and snorkel. The degree of difficulty will be described in daily briefings, and all activities are optional, so each guest may choose the activity level that best suits your ability.

Optional Pre-Cruise Package: Peru
January 10–15 // 2026

Join the Purdue President’s Council on a five-night pre-cruise package exploring Peru’s World Heritage sites, including historic Cusco, the sites of the Sacred Valley, and the “lost city” of Machu Picchu.

Itinerary:

Thursday, January 15, 2026 | Arrive Quito, Ecuador

From the Mariscal Sucre Quito International Airport (UIO), transfer to the 5-star JW Marriott Quito. Check in to the hotel where the remainder of the day is at leisure.

After enjoying breakfast at the hotel and spending the day at leisure, set out this evening on a Quito by Night Tour. As the sun sets, the city’s colonial architecture, illuminated plazas, and historic landmarks like the Basilica del Voto Nacional and Independence Square come to life with a soft, golden glow.

This morning, board a group flight from Quito to San Cristobal, and embark onboard the Silversea Silver Origin. Like so many of the islands in the Galapagos, San Cristobal is formed by dormant volcanoes. It lies to the east of the archipelago and is one of the oldest islands in the group. Approximately 8,000 people live on the island, making their living from tourism, fishing, in government offices, or off the rich volcanic soils with some limited farming existing in the highlands. Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on the southwestern tip of the island is the capital city of the Galapagos Islands. A statue of Charles Darwin graces the harbor, marking one of the first places he likely stepped ashore in the 1830s.

Set sail and arrive at Kicker Rock, the vertical remnant of a former tuff cone less than 3 miles to the west of San Cristobal. Both its Spanish name “Leon Dormido” (Sleeping Lion) and English name Kicker Rock imply that it is one rock only, when in fact it is composed of two towering formations separated by a narrow channel. When approaching Kicker Rock, blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, and frigatebirds can be observed in the air, while sea lions can be seen along the shore. Snorkelers and divers have reported manta rays, hammerhead sharks and turtles. The Spanish name implies that the geological formation seen from the south resembles a sleeping lion. An interesting explanation for the English name suggests that in 1794 James Colnett likened it to famous landmarks in Portsmouth.

Genovesa is one of the northernmost islands of the archipelago. Genovesa’s southern side of the shield volcano’s crater collapsed, and a protected bay known as Darwin Bay was formed. The island is often referred to as the “Bird Island” as the numbers and species of land and seabirds on Genovesa are quite extraordinary. There are two visitor sites, and Prince Philip’s Steps give access to the flat plateau above the bay. Named after Prince Philip who visited the Galapagos on two occasions, the “steps” are mostly natural. The steep cliffs are home to red-billed tropicbirds, while magnificent frigatebirds, Nazca and red-footed boobies prefer the top. The plateau above Prince Philip’s Steps has a palo santo forest and an extensive lava field. This is an area where one of the Galapagos’ top predators, the short-eared owl, hunts storm petrels. The short-eared owls are extremely well camouflaged and are not always easy to spot in between the rocks.

Later, at Genovesa Island the ship tucks into Darwin Bay, an ancient volcanic crater now flooded by the sea. Zodiacs land on a picturesque sandy beach where Galapagos sea lions often rest on the fine, white sand. Explorations along the shore may reveal marine iguanas looking like prehistoric dinosaurs in miniature. By heading inland a short distance, visitors could encounter seabirds of all shapes and sizes nesting in the vegetation. Scores of immature red-footed boobies perch on branches within an arm’s reach of the path. In addition, watch for great frigatebirds and yellow-crowned night herons along the walk. There is also fantastic snorkeling in the waters of Darwin Bay with the opportunity to see large schools of reef fish and brightly colored sea stars.

The landing at North Seymour Island is onto black lava rock. After a short climb, visitors arrive on the island’s flat plateau where a number of sea lions nurse pups and frigatebirds nest. The island is dry, and so the predominant tree is the prickly pear cactus favored by the Galapagos land iguanas that live here in number. The undulating terrain is littered with red-brown volcanic boulders and large male Magnificent Frigatebirds can be seen inflating their vivid red gular sacs in hopes of impressing females flying overhead. At certain times of the year, pairs of blue-footed boobies dance here in a ritualized mating dance that reinforces their pair bond and shows off their vivid blue feet. The snorkeling here is well-known for schools of colorful creole wrasses and parrotfish.

Later, sail for Santiago Island. The lava fields of Sullivan Bay on Santiago Island will inevitably remind visitors of the surface of the moon. As brilliant red Sally Lightfoot crabs scuttle along the black volcanic shores, learn about the formation of the islands through geological forces from your guides. The lava flows here are over one hundred years old and date back to 1897. The lava took on a rope-like appearance and geologists have adopted a Hawaiian word, pahoehoe, as the technical name for this kind of volcanic rock.

This morning, a scenic cruise through the Bolivar Canal offers breathtaking views of rugged cliffs, crystal-clear waters, and abundant wildlife, providing an unforgettable journey through one of the Galapagos Islands’ most picturesque landscapes.

Our next stop is Fernandina Island. Among the impressive new lava fields of Fernandina Island hides a cove surrounded by mangroves. A rewarding place for bird-watching as the bay is the point where the land meets the sea, joining the two environments, with sea birds, shorebirds and land birds all in the same place. The different species of mangroves: Red, White and Black, formed a root system that serves as a nursery for many species of fish, including juvenile sharks and green sea turtles. Snorkeling is just as rewarding with marine iguanas feeding on algae, or flightless cormorants diving for their prey.

Next, visit the impressive and vast pahoehoe black lava field located on the south coast of Isabela Island. The field lies between two soaring active volcanoes, Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul, visible in the distance. Hike over huge other-worldly landscapes of corrugated lava which have been there for millennia. You can picture the lakes of hot lava as they poured from the mouth of the volcanoes now frozen in time. The rich blue waters of Cromwell Current wash the shores, and as a result, you can see the largest marine iguanas of the archipelago basking on the rocks. Watch flightless cormorants and Galapagos penguins diving for food. Other wildlife to be found here includes great blue herons, white tipped reef sharks, and pelicans who nest in the emerald mangrove forest near the coastal lagoon.

Santa Cruz Island reaches a maximum altitude of 2,835 feet above sea level. At high altitudes, weather changes creating microclimates. The species of flora and fauna found near the shoreline are extremely different from those on the highlands. Life in the highlands is much easier due to the presence of fresh water, from the constant drizzle that happens during the dry season to heavy rains that occur during the wet season. Local people take advantage of this climate to cultivate various crops, and giant tortoises thrive in this ideal weather to mate, feed, and rest before their next long migration to the shorelines.

Later, Silver Origin will anchor in front of Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz, where the prestigious Charles Darwin Research Station is located. The station also houses the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center for giant tortoises and land iguanas where guides interpret the center’s captive breeding and reintroduction programs. In addition to these star species, throughout the station there are huge prickly pear cactus trees being fed upon by the pretty Galapagos cactus finch. To round out the stay in Puerto Ayora, enjoy free time in town where local artists have created charming art galleries and corner cafés.

On the northern coast of Española at Gardner Bay, the turquoise-colored water and white sandy beach stand out from far away. This beach is made out of pulverized shells and corals. Española Island is considered one of the oldest in the Galapagos and has thus developed species that are endemic. Along the coast, a subspecies of colorful marine iguanas are living among hood mockingbirds. The apex predators, Galapagos hawks, commonly visit the coastline, and occasionally a giant tortoise has been seen here.

Punta Suárez lies at the western point of Española. Sheer cliffs provide superb thermals for seabirds, and you may spot swallow-tailed gulls, Nazca boobies and blue-footed boobies on the breeze. The largest seabird to nest in the Galapagos Islands is the waved albatross. These ocean wanderers can be seen seasonally here from April through December, when pairs reunite on Española, going through an elaborate pair-bonding display. Mockingbirds, doves, and occasional Galápagos hawks can also be seen on the point, along with sea lions and colorful marine iguanas.

Near San Cristobal, Isla Lobos is renowned for its pristine waters, teeming with sea lions, marine iguanas, and a vibrant array of birdlife, making it a paradise for snorkelers and nature enthusiasts.

Back on San Cristobal Island, visit Cerro Brujo, an impressive tuff cone carved by erosion into an outstanding natural sculpture. It is a resting place for marine birds such as blue-footed boobies and brown pelicans and is one of the most beautiful white sand beaches of the Galapagos – a wonderful place for a swim or snorkel. Behind the dunes, you find a coastal lagoon, which was visited in the past by the locals to extract salt, today it is home to some shorebirds such as stilts and plovers.

Disembark the Silversea Silver Origin. Your cruise package includes an in-program group flight from San Cristobal to the Mariscal Sucre Quito International Airport (UIO) in Quito, Ecuador with tickets issued by Silversea. The return flight is scheduled to depart San Cristobal at 11:00 am and arrive Quito at 1:55 pm. It is recommended for flights to depart Quito (UIO) after 4:30 pm. Alternatively, you can spend one night in Quito and depart the morning of January 25, 2026.