Are you planning to visit the Galapagos? Let me be your guide in choosing the best cruises and tours. The Galapagos Islands are 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador. It is located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and is perfect for wildlife lovers and adventure seekers.
While talking about the Galapagos Islands, this wildlife sighting is a must-have on your Galapagos cruise itinerary. However, cruise ships have different descriptions and directions. For example, if you want to enjoy volcanic landscapes, you can choose the north and west. Whereas, on the southern or central Galapagos Islands, you will find bays and beaches.
Most cruise companies are in partnerships with the Ecuadorian government. Galapagos is one of the largest marine reserves in the world. Thereby, the government ensures that the island and its species are protected. The National Park has restrictions on each cruise to not carry more than 100 passengers at a time.
However, wildlife is available all around the islands, and you can enjoy a swim with the sharks and sea lions. So, you can choose according to your preference to explore these islands.
Here is a list of some of the best Galapagos cruises I experienced during my trip to certain islands. Moreover, in this article, I will discuss the companies that have passed the Ecuadorian subsidiary and are functional in the area.
Galapagos Island Tours in 2023
Metropolitan Touring
It is a well-known company in the Galapagos islands with a fleet of three cruise ships. Metropolitan touring includes Santa Cruz II, La Pinta, and Isabella II.
The company was started in the 1950s and has helped people explore the islands for many decades. All its ships have provided guides and lectures while passengers are on board.
However, if you want to enjoy a longer stay, you can head to the Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel for a few nights. It will give you an excellent experience right outside Puerto Ayora.
La Pinta
La Pinta is a yacht that can accommodate 48 passengers at a time. You can enjoy the famous six-night and four-night itineraries with Metropolitan Touring. Therefore, if you have limited time, pick this yacht and explore these islands peacefully.
Moreover, you can enjoy the views in the spacious cabins of this yacht. The cabins are connected for families or friends traveling together. In addition, you won’t miss a view even while relaxing or getting ready for an adventurous day.
The sun deck on this yacht has a hot tub and a bar to make your trip full of memories. Further, they have an expedition guide and naturalists on board with you to clarify any questions you have about the tour.
The guests are allowed to use kayaks and a glass-bottom boat. If you are thinking about the price and packages, Metropolitan Touring provides the best ones. You can have a four-night cruise for $5,525 per person and a six-night cruise for $7,001 per person.
You should also know that another company, UnCruise Adventures, also uses La Pinta for tours. The company is famous as a specialist in small ship expeditions. Their package includes a seven-night stay for $9,595 per person. However, it is a six-night cruise and one night stay in Guayaquil.
Hurtigruten Expeditions
Hurtigruten also operates on other coasts along South America. It has branches that are famous for scenic voyages on the Norwegian Coast. However, for the Galapagos islands, this company has membership with Metropolitan Touring and uses their Santa Cruz II for voyages.
Santa Cruz II has space for almost 90 passengers and can accommodate up to 100 people, according to local law. Moreover, it has comfortable and beautifully decorated single, double, and triple cabins.
In addition, if you want to enjoy outdoor fun on the ocean, you can take advantage of their activity equipment. It includes snorkeling gear, a glass-bottom boat, and kayaks. However, you can also hire wetsuits along with snorkeling gear.
Santa Cruz II
Santa Cruz II also has two hot tubs, so if you don’t want to stay in your cabin, you can enjoy the view from there. Moreover, it also has a top-deck fitness room for gym enthusiasts. So, if you are afraid of routine disturbance, you can go there to keep yourself healthy and active.
The Hurtigruten Expeditions is suitable for people above 12 years. Moreover, it is family-friendly and has different packages for stays. For example, the package of eight nights includes a six-night cruise and a two nights hotel stay. It starts at $8000 per person.
In addition, they also provide a four-night cruise stay package for $4,551 per person. However, if you want to avail yourself of six-night itineraries, they start at $5735 per person. You should check the official website for updated packages.
G Adventures
The name of this company indicates the idea behind its establishment. The G here stands for Good Project. They provide smaller yachts to visit the Galapagos Islands.
G Adventures provides a package where you can visit the locals on Florena, which is typically a small but ancient community. They are descendants of eccentric German settlers who came to this island in the 1930s and decided to set up a utopian society.
The famous ships of G Adventures are Eden and Reina Silvia Voyager. Both can carry 16 passengers on the trip. Moreover, you can select them according to your trip period.
G Adventures has ships suitable for 16 years old and above. However, if you need a family-friendly yacht or ship, you should consider another company for cruise ships.
If you want to learn more about their packages, visit their official website. However, they have a package for ten days around the central and east Galapagos islands. In addition, it costs $5685 per person on Reina Silvia Voyager.
Royal Galapagos
It is a cruise line that is family-friendly and provides yachts suitable for those above six years old. The company has a luxury catamaran named Cormorant II, which can accommodate sixteen passengers.
Royal Galapagos offers personalized packages such as classic four, five, and eight-night cruises. They have family-friendly yachts, and one of them runs in the archipelago. Their longer itineraries cover most of the ocean, such as the eight-day “B” itinerary.
In this package, you visit most of the ocean and wilder parts of Isabela and Fernandina Islands. Moreover, you also go to the opposite side of the archipelago, which is Española.
You can also choose the package based on the wildlife you want to see. For example, Espanola has albatross, whereas westernmost islands have Galapagos penguins. Most cruise lines specify their destinations along with the wildlife so it won’t be a problem for you.
Their yachts include Natural Paradise Yacht, Infinity Luxury Yachts, Grand Majestic Yacht, Calypso Yacht, Galapagos Horizon Trimaran, and Cormorant II Catamaran.
Moreover, their combined tour packages include 15, 11, and 12-day packages. In addition, you can choose from luxury, first-class, and mid-range options. Their Group and Cruise Charters offer special discounts and personalized trip planning.
Avalon Waterways
If you want to cover the continent’s greatest assets, the Galapagos and breathtaking Machu Picchu in one program, Avalon Waterways has your back.
South America has these two assets in a magnificent neighborhood. Therefore, Avalon Waterways has brought you a 220-day program that covers these destinations. Moreover, their ships are good for people above 16.
It is a river cruise famous for sailings in Europe, the Mekong, and the Galapagos. They charter a 16-passenger small yacht in the Galapagos islands which sails to the Treasure of the Galapagos for the seven-night trip.
The yacht has a 430-square-foot master suite. Moreover, all the cabins in the yacht have balconies. In addition, the decor has provided more space outdoors, with a bar near the jacuzzi and alfresco dining.
In addition, indoors also has a dining area and a lounge. You can also enjoy wine and beer at every meal. The cost of a seven-night cruise includes a two-night stay at Quito for $5,251 per person.
Aqua Expeditions
The company provides a 16-passenger yacht with specialized guides. The Aqua Mare yacht has dark wood finishings and brass which is polished and shiny. It was first built in 1998 in Italy, but the recent renovation has changed the look.
It is suitable for people above twelve years of age, which makes it one of the best family-friendly cruise lines. Moreover, the jacuzzi has space for almost six guests. In addition, it has kayaks and paddleboards too.
So, if you want to visit Santa Cruz island, Aqua Expeditions is the best choice. Santa Cruz island is 2.5 hours away from San Cristobal island, and a ferry leaves twice a day for this destination.
However, the cost for a seven-night cruise is $9,450 per person. You can also charter the whole yacht for $196,000.
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity cruises is an award-winning luxury cruise line because they sail to the world’s best locations. They help you discover more than eight countries in one voyage where you would wake up every day in a new place.
They believe that travel makes everyone better. Celebrity Cruises has a cruise named Celebrity Flora which can accommodate 100 people at a time. The other one is Celebrity Xpedition which is 48-berth and 16-berth also.
They have many itineraries that cover shore landings, motorized dinghy rides, and wildlife experiences. Moreover, they provide expert guides to enhance your knowledge about the wildlife in the Galapagos islands.
National Geographic
Endeavour II is the famous cruise of National Geographic. It has the capacity for 96 passengers and accommodates them easily. Galapagos islands are a perfect spot for wildlife explorers like National Geographic. Therefore, Endeavour II has operated here for years and usually routes towards the archipelago.
They focus on photography of wildlife and their fascinating ecosystem. It is best if you want to explore the Ecuadorian isles.
These facilities place this cruise among a few cruises that have glass-bottom boats. The cruise has kayaks, snorkeling gear, a glass bottom boat, and a Zodiac landing craft.
Endeavour II is fully air-conditioned with the facility of a half-covered deck, and it has a table and chairs for sitting. In addition, you can also enjoy a full-service bar in the lounge, along with the facilities to watch movies, documentaries, presentations, and slide shows.
Moreover, if you do not want to skip leg day, they have a fitness center to keep you active. Further, a spa can help you relax your mind and body during the journey.
You can also read the books through their library and enhance your knowledge from the global gallery on the cruise. They have basic facilities like a clinic, internet connection, video chronicler, laundry service, and a wellness program that will accompany you on your journey.
The upcoming trips of National Geographic are 10 and 16 days which will cost $7,940 and $14,140. Both packages have premium services to make your Galapagos trip memorable.
Journey Latin America
You should book now with Journey Latin America holiday packages for Galapagos tours. They have different itineraries to match your requirements. Moreover, they have the flexibility to make your journey to Latin America memorable.
Their motorized catamaran Treasure of Galapagos has an itinerary of an 8-day cruise option. You can cover some Ecuadorian highlands, Quito, and the mighty Cotopaxi.
Moreover, you will also visit the Las Cajas National Park near Cuenca and enjoy the exciting views of blue-footed boobies and giant tortoises.
In addition, their yachts are family-friendly, and you can take your children with you to enjoy this large ship. Further, you can enjoy diving and snorkeling in their holiday packages. If you dive, you will swim with spotted eagle rays, sunfish, whale sharks, manta rays, and hammerhead sharks along with marine iguanas.
They have both group and private packages for different destinations and budgets.
Galapatours
It is one of the largest cruise networks and works with many local-origin ships in the Galapagos islands. Their most famous cruise is The Master. You can visit different diving sites with this cruise, such as Darwin islands and far-flung Wolf.
These areas are famous for underwater hammerhead sharks. Galapatours offer different cruises which are suitable for people above 16 years.
Their packages start from $1768 per head and change according to the destination and cruises.
How to Find the Best Cruise on the Galapagos Islands in 2023 & 2024
Availability
You should check beforehand whether your ideal cruise is available during your vacation. Moreover, keep in mind that at certain times of the year, you won’t find any cruises.
Therefore, you should check it before departure and book your berth several months before. I suggest booking in April and May as they are dry seasons and attract most tourists to Galapagos Islands. So, watch out for discount packages.
However, these seasons can be jam-packed and require you to book six months before travel.
Internet Connection
Most cruises don’t provide an internet connection as they catch signals through satellites. Therefore, it’s an extra service that will charge you extra money while on a cruise that provides WiFi.
If you want to have a constant WiFi connection, check these services and prepare money for them.
Best Travel Time
You should check the seasons of the Galapagos islands before visiting. December to April is usually a rainy season, whereas May to November is dry. However, you can also enjoy the rainy season on these islands as there is no significant temperature change.
Almost all cruises provide activities according to the weather. However, you can check if the one you selected is suitable for your stay.
Food
One thing you should keep in mind while selecting the cruise is food. Check the menu and recipe and select the cruise that caters best to your taste and diet.
It will help you comfortably enjoy your journey without any stomach issues.
Extra Activities
Many cruises provide extra activities such as diving, snorkeling gear, kayaks, etc. You can find the one that has all the activities you need. Ensure that you join as many activities as you can as it will make your journey memorable
Takeaways for the Best Galapagos Cruise
If it is your first time on a Galapagos Cruise, ensure that you bring all necessary documents especially if you plan to disembark on the islands.
Since the Galapagos weather is usually warm and sunny, always use sunblock to protect your skin from damage. Moreover, bring enough cash since there are limited ATMS on the islands. Bring your outdoor gear if permitted since renting can be quite expensive.
Always have a first-aid kit with you while diving, hiking, etc. Lastly, always keep a safe distance from wildlife to protect yourself.
I hope this article has helped you find the best cruise to visit your next travel destination. Moreover, you can find the packages through the official websites as the costs and itineraries keep updating with time. Safe travels!
