HX Expeditions Unveils 2027-28 Galápagos Itineraries

Image: MS Santa Cruz II (Photo Credit: John Chardine/HX)
Image: MS Santa Cruz II (Photo Credit: John Chardine/HX)
Claudette Covey
by Claudette Covey
Last updated: 1:40 PM ET, Fri December 5, 2025

HX Expeditions introduced its roster of 2027-28 Galápagos itineraries and extended its partnership with Metropolitan Touring, which owns the 50-passenger MS Santa Cruz II, the vessel HX operates in the destination.

Bookings for the 2027-28 season are scheduled to open on Dec. 22, 2025.

“The original five-year charter agreement will now continue through 2029, reaffirming both organizations' shared commitment to responsible, science-led exploration in one of the planet’s most ecologically significant regions,” said HX Expeditions, which holds a minority stake in Metropolitan Touring.

For the 2027-28 season, HX will sail on itineraries that begin or end in Quito or Guayaquil, Ecuador, including the nine-day “Eastern Route: In Darwin’s Footsteps,” which will visit Santa Cruz, Española and San Cristobal; and the 14-day “In Darwin’s Footsteps Plus Machu Picchu,” coupling the Eastern Route with a five-day pre-cruise stay in Machu Picchu.

The 11-day “Northern & Western Route: Nine of the Best Isles” out of Quito will visit nine of the islands, while the 16-day “Nine of the Best Isles Plus Machu Picchu” will depart from Lima and include a visit to Machu Picchu along with nine Galápagos islands.

“As we celebrate 130 years of exploration next year, our ongoing partnership in the Galápagos reflects exactly what HX stands for: connecting guests with the world’s most remarkable environments through responsible, science-focused travel," said HX Expeditions CEO Gebhard Rainer. “The wildlife, conservation work and immersive experience our guests can have there are truly like nowhere else on the planet."

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