Cruising the Galapagos Islands
We organize cruise packages to satisfy the travel styles of every modern explorer. All cruises offer great itineraries, but there might be just one that is the perfect one for you!
There will be twice daily excursions with expert Galapagos National Park guides that consist of either trail walks, kayaking or snorkeling adventures. They will explain the wildlife, ecosystem, and history of the Galapagos Islands and answer all your questions. Accommodation is usually in double cabins, size depending on the ship. Meals are all served on board the boat and can be buffet style, à la carte or BBQ.
If you are traveling alone and want to save the single supplement, you can buy a space in a shared double cabin on some of the cruises. Contact us for your tailor-made Galapagos vacation!
Not sure how to get started? Check out our personal recommendations:
- The Cormorant Catamaran is a great luxury option which offers excellent value. The cabins are fairly large with floor-to-ceiling windows and private balconies and common areas are very spacious and comfortable. See our offers for 4, 5 and 8-day cruises.
- The Yacht Treasure is an affordable first-class option that offers a very comfortable cruise experience. Spacious cabins, beautiful social areas and a whirlpool make for a perfect 5-day or 6-day cruise.
- The Nemo is a small sailing catamaran, making for a unique and adventurous experience. Cabins are small but cozy and a lot of time is spent in the ample social areas. Find the details for your itinerary of choice.
Our favourite Galapagos cruise programmes
Luxury Class
M/Y Infinity
This beautiful ship was designed especially for families and small groups. With two large suites and eight cabins, some of which are interconnecting, all with panoramic windows and private balconies, guests will feel right at home while they enjoy the cruise.
M/Y Natural Paradise
Natural Paradise is a new luxury yacht for travelers with high expectations. This comfortable, custom-designed vessel accommodates 16 passengers. Discover the magnificent Galapagos Islands with the yacht on eight-, five- and four-day excursions.
M/C Ocean Spray
The new mega catamaran Ocean Spray combines excellent performance and the best comfort. The elegant design includes a very large sun deck with comfortable chairs, a Jacuzzi and spacious cabins - each with its own balcony and private bathroom with warm and cold water.
M/V Sea Star Journey
The luxury yacht M/V Galapagos Sea Star Journey combines luxury, comfort and privacy in the Galapagos Islands. It offers two Jacuzzis and a mini Spa, a dining area, lounge, bar and an extensive sundeck combined with an elegant interior.
M/Y Calipso
The motor yacht Calipso was modernized in 2019. This ship is perfect for all adventure seekers. With a professional crew, open dining and social areas and free WiFi, travelers can enjoy the 4, 5 and 8 day tours in a comfortable and convenient way.
M/V Santa Cruz
The ship Santa Cruz can accommodate 90 guests and is one of the larger ships offering Galápagos cruises. On three decks and offers from master suites to standard cabins for every need of comfort the suitable accommodation, also for families.
M/V Isabela II
Aboard the motor yacht Isabela II, guests are treated to delicious cuisine, impeccable service and excellent recreational facilities, such as Jacuzzi, gym, cozy bar and an outdoor deck to enjoy meals and drinks or sunbathing. Isabela II is one of the biggest Galapagos expedition ships.
M/C Endemic
Galapagos Endemic is one of the the newest and most luxurious cruise yacht in the Galapagos archipelago. Guests will make themselves at home in one of its eight luxury panoramic suites, all of which feature either one king-sized bed or two twin beds and spacious bathrooms.
M/C Petrel
The motorized catamaran Petrel offers a true luxury Galapagos cruise. Named after a sea bird common to Galapagos, the Petrel is like its namesake: elegant, swift and silent at sea. The catamaran features spacious cabins with private balconies, ample social areas, a comfortable lounge, and Jacuzzi.
M/C Elite
The sleek, twin-hulled catamaran allows for more space per guest on board, including integrated social areas that blend indoor and outdoor designs and experiences. The spacious and comfortable suites with grand windows for panoramic ocean views are the perfect place to relax and recharge after a day spent exploring the islands.
M/Y Tribute
Sail the Galapagos aboard Tribute the first sustainable superyacht under the Ecuadorian flag. Every journey is an intimate blend of luxury, adventure, and ecological responsibility. Discover pristine islands on expertly crafted itineraries, indulge in world-class cuisine, and relax in whisper-quiet comfort.
M/C Hermes
The Hermes mega catamaran combines an exclusive ultra-luxury experience with personalized service, spacious suites featuring private balconies and jacuzzis, as well as first-class amenities in an intimate atmosphere for a maximum of 20 guests. The elegant, spacious suites each feature private balconies and their own jacuzzis.
First Class
M/C Seaman Journey
The expedition motor catamaran Seaman Journey offers upscale amenities. There are many retreat possibilities on board, or you can relax in your spacious cabin. A bartender in the bar and lounge area ensures a relaxed atmosphere and your well-being.
M/C Treasure
The expedition motor catamaran Treasure of Galapagos invites you to show you the unique Galapagos Islands. The comfortable catamaran will take you through the archipelago and also offers many opportunities to do unforgettable activities on the islands.
M/V Solaris
Arriving in the Galapagos in 2019, the First Class Yacht M/V Galapagos Solaris is a fantastic option for everyone! It was built in Guayaquil until early 2019, so it has all the amenities of modern standards. There is a dining room and an extensive sun deck. Solaris offers space for 16 passengers.
M/Y Galaxy
The Galaxy is a First Class motor yacht and offers a great exploration of the Galapagos Islands. It offers 9 comfortable double cabins that will give you a comfortable stay on board. On board there is the spacious lounge with bar and the dining room, TV, a small library and sun deck.
M/T Horizon
The Galapagos Horizon is an elegant first-class trimaran offering a comfortable and stable way to explore the Galápagos Islands. Spacious cabins, excellent service, and guided excursions create a luxurious yet nature-focused cruise experience for up to 16 passengers.
Tourist Superior Class
M/C Archipel I
Pioneers of Galapagos cruises, the motor catamaran Archipel I and its sister ship Archipel II arrived in the Galapagos in 2002. They have spacious decks and common areas. The recently renovated double cabins have ocean view windows that invite you to relax and dream.
M/SC Nemo II
The Nemo II is a motor and sailing catamaran for 14 passengers. Spectacular nets between the hulls invite you to sunbathe and observe the water world. Nemo II is one of the fastest sailing catamarans and also one of the most ecological alternatives in Galapagos.
M/S Samba
The motor sailer M/S Samba was built in the late 1960s as a private luxury yacht including teak paneling. Today Samba is a Galapagos expedition ship designed for special needs and has been converted for this purpose. It offers room for 14 Galapagos travelers.
M/Y Fragata
The motor yacht Fragata is a 16-passenger, upscale tourist class vessel. A spacious dining room and living room as well as bar, library with TV and DVD, music system, a sundeck and a diving platform are among the common areas of the motor yacht Fragata.
M/Y Bonita
The Bonita is a charming, modernized motor yacht in the upper tourist class for a maximum of 16 guests and offers a personal, relaxed cruise experience. Comfortable cabins, air-conditioned interior spaces, and spacious communal areas create a pleasant atmosphere on board.
M/Y Monserrat
The Yacht Monserrat offers an intimate and comfortable Galápagos cruise experience for up to 16 guests, with experienced naturalist guides and modern onboard amenities. The yacht combines comfort, safety, and environmental responsibility, making it ideal for travelers of all ages.
M/Y Letty
The renovated Yacht Letty combines relaxing comfort, space, and a personal atmosphere for a relaxing Galápagos cruise. With eight outside cabins for up to 16 guests, including family-friendly options, the yacht also offers complimentary Wi-Fi on board.
Tourist Class
M/Y Aida Maria
The Aida Maria offers a great combination of comfort and style for touring the Galapagos. It has a large outdoor deck to enjoy sunny days. It was completely handcrafted in the Galapagos Islands and is one of the most traditional and classic boats in the Galapagos
M/Y Golondrina
The M/Y Golondrina is a 16-passenger tourist class vessel operating in the Galapagos Islands. Common areas include a dining room, lounge with TV and DVD, music system and sundeck. The Golondrina is equipped with air conditioning also in each cabin.
Diving Ships
M/Y Aggressor
The goal of the Aggressor dive ship is to offer you the ultimate Galapagos Islands diving experience. A maximum of four dives are offered daily, two in the morning and two in the afternoon. In addition, two night dives and two shore excursions are offered per week.
M/V Galapagos Sky
The dive yacht Galapagos Sky is a luxurious live-aboard dive yacht and offers dive cruises for 16 passengers. It has a spacious lounge area and dining area. Two dive masters are on board and you can expect up to 4 dives per day, depending on the program.
M/Y Humboldt Explorer
A diving cruise aboard the Humboldt Explorer offers you a unique vacation experience and discovery of the fascinating underwater world of the Galapagos Islands. Sea lions, turtles, hammerheads, dolphins, whale sharks an manta rays are just a few impressive wildlife sightings.
M/Y Aqua
The Galapagos Aqua is the ideal boat for divers and adventure seekers of all ages! It offers a unique combination of both. One-week liveaboards are offered every 14 days to the best dive sites in the archipelago. The liveaboards alternate with the natural history cruises, which are also one week long.
M/S Nautilus
Nautilus is a motor sailor and is used for land based dive trips in Galapagos. This means that you will stay in a hotel on Santa Cruz Island and set sail in the morning, do one dive each morning and afternoon, and return to Santa Cruz in the evening. Lunch is served on board. Each dive you will do with a Dive Master.
Five good reasons for a Galapagos Cruise
1. Your hotel is travelling with you
Transportation and accommodation in one can be a great advantage: you travel relaxed overnight and have enough time during the day for the island tours. Afterwards, small boats will take you back to the ship and the journey continues. During the entire cruise you will also be accompanied by a professional guide who will also take you on the excursions to the islands.
On a Galapagos cruise you also have the opportunity to get to know the more remote uninhabited islands. For example, Española Island, which is famous for the Galápagos albatrosses that nest and raise their nestlings almost exclusively on this island between April and December. Española is also home to Gardener Bay, a beautiful white sandy beach where seals and sea turtles can often be seen. Genovesa Island is also worth a visit with its incredible variety of birds, including the red-footed booby, which is mainly found here. These islands and most of the others are not visited by speedboats on an islandhopping trip, or are even forbidden for them. If you want to experience Galápagos’ beauty and uniqueness, we recommend an expedition cruise!
2. Visit remote islands
3. The feeling of being a sailor
Looking at the inhabited islands of Galapagos today and the hustle and bustle in the stores of the port towns, one can hardly imagine how it must have looked here 250 years ago. What feeling Alexander von Humboldt, Charles Darwin, the first settlers like the German families Angermeyer and Wittmer must have had when they reached the then still untouched islands after a very long sailing trip (always depending on the mercy of the wind). With a cruise you can perhaps get a glimpse of this feeling, inhaling the scent of the salty sea air at the railing and letting the wind blow around your nose…
The Galapagos archipelago is a group of islands consisting of 13 islands with an area larger than 10 km², 6 smaller and over 50 tiny islets. What makes it special is that the islands differ greatly among themselves in their landscapes and flora and fauna. Therefore, not all Galápagos islands are the same, each island has its own special charm and its very own flora and fauna. Especially the uninhabited islands are a completely different experience. Although some of these uninhabited islands are also developed for tourism, i.e. there are signposted paths that may not be left and there is sometimes a jetty when there is no beach to dock, a cruise is the only way to escape the mass tourism on the big islands and experience a somewhat larger part of the Galápagos archipelago.
4. Get to know the “real” Galapagos
5. Cooperation with the Galapagos National Park
There is only a limited number of cruise ships in the Galapagos, all of which follow a strictly prescribed route. The national park sets the routes and ensures that as few ships as possible are at a visitor point at a given time. This way, the fragile natural environment is not excessively impacted and travelers have a much more intimate nature experience. Cruise ships are also very heavily inspected in terms of your safety and service standards. If safety standards are not met during regular inspections, the ship is removed from service. In addition, the guides on board must be certified by the national park and have completed the appropriate training.
More Galapagos Options
Are you interested in last minute offers, specific Galapagos ship trips, a combination of cruise and island hopping or hotel extensions in special hotels on Santa Cruz, Isabela or San Cristobal?
Write or call us and let our travel experts advise you individually. The testimonials of our Galapagos travelers give you a first innsight of the natural paradise Galapagos.
You can also combine your vacation in Galapagos with a trip to mainland Ecuador. Of course, you can determine the duration of the trip and the itinerary in Ecuador yourself and tell us your ideas and wishes in a travel request. We will also be happy to advise you about vacation with children in Ecuador and Galapagos!