MV Isabela II

Location

The Isabela II brings guests on five and seven day tours of the Galápagos, taking in the northern, central and southern islands. Spot land iguanas, lava lizards and sea lion colonies on Santa Fe, look out for blue-footed boobies on Española and summit Bartolomé for penguins and sunset views. Make the most of it with included excursions such as island treks, snorkelling and kayaking. To get up close to some of the smaller islands, a dinghy will bring you past sea turtles to giant tortoises and the finches that inspired Charles Darwin. Itineraries begin from either Santa Cruz Island or San Cristóbal.

Accommodation

Regularly refreshed, the Isabela II sleeps 40 guests in contemporary cabins. Accommodation is arranged around outdoor corridors with 18 Classic Cabins featuring parallel or perpendicular beds and one standard cabin with a double bed. For a special occasion, the queen-size Master Suite comes with a picture window and is well located for access to the yacht’s social areas. Amenities in each room include hair dryers, telephones, safes and US power plugs; the ship is air-conditioned throughout.

Dining

All meals are included, and are served in the ship’s expansive, open-seating dining room. Breakfast and lunch are buffet affairs, while dinner is served course-by-course; expect a combination of traditional Ecuadorian fare and Western favourites. After returning from a sunset hike or a morning snorkelling trip, post-excursion snacks of fresh juices and canapés are put on to welcome you back. In sunny weather, meals are often taken al fresco on the semi-covered deck.

Facilities

To introduce you to the unique geography of the Galápagos and its menagerie of wildlife, the ship’s resident naturalist delivers informative lectures and presentations throughout the trip. They’ll also be on hand to answer all questions and even advise on the excellent stargazing. More tangibly, you’ll also find two full-service bars, a boat deck hot tub, an exercise centre and a gift shop on board. Guests also have use of snorkelling equipment (including towels), kayaks, a glass bottom boat and the ship’s internet access. There are even wet suits to rent and a digital camera complete with underwater housing available to borrow.