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Adventure Cruises in Galapagos

Explore the amazing Galapagos Islands aboard a small ship cruise. Discover the birthplace of Darwins 'Theory of Evolution'.

A Galapagos small ship cruise should be high on most people's destination bucket list. For many, the Galapagos Islands hold a certain amount of intrigue to those seeking one of the few remaining spectacular wildlife encounters on Earth. With its raw, natural beauty and amazing wildlife, the isolated Galapagos Islands are best visited by boat, and more specifically, a luxury cruise or liveaboard boat offering different levels of accommodation onboard. Taking a Galapagos small ship cruise ensures you will gain access to some of the best visitor sites, most of which are close to bigger cruise ships.

To preserve the natural beauty of the Galapagos Islands, the Galapagos National Park has reduced the number of guests to the visitor sites by requiring boats to wait 14 days before returning to the same area. This means that most boats offer alternating itineraries to cover as many of the best Galapagos sites as possible. Escape the crowds and explore the islands on a Galapagos Cruise in small groups and with experienced naturalist guides. All Galapagos small ship cruises have 12 - 100 passengers, ensuring a more personalized service and experience.

The Galapagos Islands were first made famous when British scientist Charles Darwin based his ‘Theory of Evolution’ on his findings there. Made up of a cluster of around 13 volcanic islands, around 95% of this area is now part of the Galapagos National Park system and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A Galapagos cruise will offer a truly unique experience. From the stunning landscapes, which look like something from the Jurassic Age, to the endemic wildlife with up to 26 species native to these islands and in their natural habitat, there is nowhere else on earth like the Galapagos Islands.

Best Galapagos Tours

While there are many things to see and do in the Galapagos, some of the best Galapagos tours involve visiting the below destinations;

Baltra Island - The home of the first airport in the Galapagos Islands, Baltra Island is where many Galapagos cruises start and finish.

Charles Darwin Research Station - Located close to Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island airport, a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station is usually at the start or the end of the trip. The station is an information center, library, museum, and breeding ground for tortoises that will be introduced into the wild.

Tortuga Bay - located on Santa Cruz Island- gets its name from the black sea turtles that lay their eggs here. With a beautiful white sandy beach, Tortuga Bay also offers amazing snorkeling in the Galapagos Islands.

Darwin Bay - located on Genovesa Island, this white sand coral beach is a great place to snorkel and appreciate the abundant wildlife in the water. Darwin Bay is the perfect way to see amazing wildlife up close!

El Chato Tortoise Reserve - Also located in Santa Cruz, the El Chato Tortoise Reserve is divided into 2 areas, Chato & Caseta. During the dry season, the reserve offers visitors the chance to observe Giant Tortoises in the wild.

Floreana Island - located at the south of the Galapagos Islands, Floreana is home to the ‘Post Office Bay’, where whalers placed an unofficial post box in the hope their letters would get sent home, as well as a great place to spot flamingos and sea turtles.

Isabela Island - the largest island in the archipelago, Isabela was formed by 5 young volcanoes joining together. With extensive lava fields in the north, dense vegetation, and unique red mangroves in the south, Isabela Island offers many great visitor sites in the Galapagos.

Best Time to Cruise Galapagos

Due to its proximity to the equator, the Galapagos Islands see very little rainfall, and there is no best time to visit the Galapagos Islands to see wildlife. The area has 2 main seasons: the warm, wet season from late December to June or the cool, dry season from July to early December, which means there are amazing Galapagos itineraries year-round. Galapagos in January - May is the time when green sea turtles and marine and land iguanas start nesting. In contrast, June marks the start of when California Sea Lions start breeding, August for Fur Seals to start breeding, and tortoises in Santa Cruz island to lay eggs in the wild. Nutrient-rich waters from the strong Humboldt current in August offer excellent opportunities to snorkel with sea lion pups. Dolphin and whale spotting is very common in September & November on the crossing to Fernandina Island, and December marks the start of the warm season in the Galapagos and offers many wildlife encounters. Many wildlife species breed and nest year-round, such as the red-footed and masked boobies, flightless cormorants, penguins, and greater flamingoes.

With the Galapagos Islands being hugely popular, it’s recommended to plan ahead for your Galapagos trip, as spaces can fill up fast.

How to get to the Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos Islands are located in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, 600 miles (1000km) off the coast of Ecuador in South America. International flights will usually arrive at either Quito or Guayaquil international airports located on the Ecuadorian mainland. Direct flights from US cities are available, as well as from some European cities. A domestic flight from Quito or Guayaquil is required to get to the Galapagos Islands. These flights are usually not included in the advertised tour cost but can be arranged when booking with Liveaboard.com. It is strongly advised that you make your domestic travel arrangements at the time of booking your Galapagos cruise so that you ensure you arrive on time for the cruise departure.

Where do Galapagos Cruises depart from?

Most Galapagos cruises will either depart from Baltra Island, San Cristobal Island, where 2 domestic airports are located or Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz). Your cruise operator will then arrange to collect you from the airport and take you to your ship.

Very few boats sail directly from Ecuador, as most of the action and adventure lies within the Galapagos Islands themselves, so you will get more out of your trip if you start it in the heart of the action.

Galapagos Cruise Tips

When planning your Galapagos trip, there are a few things to take into consideration...when to book? how many days? what to take? etc. Below are some tips to help you to get the most out of your trip of a lifetime;

Plan ahead - To avoid disappointment, planning your Galapagos Small Ship cruise well ahead of time is best. Most Galapagos yachts sell out at least 6 months in advance, so try to book early. That being said, sometimes there are good deals due to cancellations. So if you are planning a spur-of-the-moment Galapagos cruise, it’s a good idea to check for some last-minute Galapagos cruise deals. This is one way to see Galapagos on a budget, but you risk the chance of the cruises being sold out.

Arrive early - it is recommended to try and arrive at least 1 to 2 days before your cruise departure date in case of flight delays. The last thing you want is to miss a few days of your long-awaited Galapagos cruise and have to join the tour later.

Choosing the right trip - As mentioned earlier, yachts are restricted from returning to the same visitor site within 14 days. For that reason, you will see many different itineraries, ranging from East, West, North, South, A, and B. Most boats have put a lot of effort into scheduling the itineraries, so no matter which one you pick, you will have a memorable experience. Galapagos itineraries can be as short as 4 days, but most are 8 days long. However, the best way to see the Galapagos and all it has to offer is to do 2 back-to-back, 7-night itineraries; his way, you will cover most of the islands and visitor sites. Various boat sizes are available for cruising the Galapagos Islands. See our Best Small Ship Cruises in Galapagos page for more information.

Cruises versus Island Hopping - While you can still explore some of the visitor sites and islands of the Galapagos by staying in a hotel and moving from island to island, only a few areas in the Galapagos National Park are accessible by day boat. Taking a liveaboard is the only real way to explore the 40 National Park landing sites, with the added benefit of arriving early before anyone else arrives.

What to pack - While on your Galapagos expedition, there are a few things you want to take with you to get the most enjoyment out of your Galapagos cruise. A good, comfortable pair of hiking or walking shoes is essential for the trails you will explore. The second set of waterproof type sandals is also ideal for beach walks and wet landings from the panga. Regarding clothing, you don’t need to worry about bringing too much. It’s recommended to bring a light raincoat or poncho, sunglasses, a hat, a lightweight sweater for cooler evenings, mosquito repellant, and some long, lightweight clothing for sun protection. Also, a good SPF is essential because the Galapagos Islands are close to the equator. For the evenings, the dress code varies from boat to boat, but at the most will be smart-casual.

Snorkeling Gear - most Galapagos yachts will provide a full set of snorkel gear, but it is recommended that if you do have your own, and it is comfortable, then take it with you. Particularly if you have your mask or you need a prescription mask. Wetsuits are generally not included in the cost of the trip, and it can be a good idea to arrange to rent one of these to keep you warm in the water and to protect you from the sun.

Galapagos Travel Advice - You will need a valid passport to visit the Galapagos, with at least 6 months still available. Most countries do not require a visa to enter Ecuador, but checking with your local embassy before making travel arrangements is a good idea. The local currency is the US dollar, but most yachts accept major credit cards. If taking cash, try to bring smaller notes, as many restaurants and stores do not accept $100 bills. It is also recommended to bring US$ cash to tip the guides and crew aboard your Galapagos cruise.

Book your next Galapagos cruise adventure to the amazing Galapagos Islands online today.

Galapagos Reviews

9.1 Superb
165 Verified Reviews

8.0 Very good
SANDRA L
United States

Wish I could spend more time!

Cruising Galapagos in March on the Nemo III

9.2 Superb
John S
United States

We would highly recommend the Legend. We are prone to seasickness, so we took a large boat. I don't think we missed out on anything compared to the smaller boats except the ship had to anchor a little further out than the smaller boats and tender us in to shore.We also spent 5 days on land based activities in the Galapagos after the cruise. You will see much more wildlife cruising and visiting the uninhabited islands than you will visiting the human-populated islands.

Cruising Galapagos in March on the Galapagos Legend

8.8 Fabulous
robert F
United States

5 star! We absolutely loved it

Cruising Galapagos in March on the Infinity

8.0 Very good
Laura S
United States

This trip was definitely a bucket list trip and it did not disappoint! We look forward to returning soon to visit the other islands....

Cruising Galapagos in July on the Monserrat

8.8 Fabulous
Maureen B
United States

Wonderful, amazing adventure. I would recommend it to all my friends.

Cruising Galapagos in September on the Galapagos Legend

6.8 Review score
Michael W
United States

Snorkeling was good lots of fish decent visibility

Cruising Galapagos in February on the Natural Paradise

10.0 Exceptional
Meng Y
United States

Didn't dive on this trip, but snorkeling certainly met our expectations. Conditions on the last few days of the trip weren't too good due to low visibility, but the first several sessions were wonderful. Wish I had seen more sharks and hammerheads especially.

Cruising Galapagos in February on the Grand Majestic

10.0 Exceptional
Nancy T
United States

Didn’t dive but the snorkeling was fabulous.

Cruising Galapagos in March on the EcoGalaxy

10.0 Exceptional
FRANK L
United States

Excellent - lots of sitings of the 2 dozen or so must see animals. Even had over 100 galapagos sharks circling the boat one night chasing flying fish.

Cruising Galapagos in April on the Natural Paradise

10.0 Exceptional
Walter W
United States

The winds reduced visibility a bit, but I would do it all again in a heartbeat!

Cruising Galapagos in May on the Archipel I

9.6 Exceptional
Erica R
United States

We did not dive. Snorkeling was such a fun adventure that allowed us to see many marine animals in the wild!

Cruising Galapagos in June on the Infinity

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Adventure Cruises in Galapagos

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