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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. See our Best Small Ship Cruises in Galapagos page for more information.
Best Galapagos cruise for adventure seekers
Windstar Heads to South America and Galapagos in 2025 - Cruise Industry News
Windstar Heads to South America and Galapagos in 2025.
Posted: Wed, 15 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Big on creature comforts and luxuries, our intimate all-suite Silver Origin feels personal and convivial. Accommodating just 100 guests, Silver Origin has been designed especially with the bio-diversity of the Galápagos Islands in mind. You do not need a visa for the Galapagos Islands per se, but you may require a visa for entry into Ecuador dependent upon your nationality. There are, however, several entry requirements for the Galapagos (see below).
Best Time to Cruise Galapagos
The Cerro Colorado Tortoise Breeding Center, on the south part of the island, focuses on mitigating threats to the islands' giant tortoise population. It's another location where giant tortoises are bred in captivity and released into a monitored natural habitat to be protected and studied. The island's Puerto Ayora is where you'll find the Charles Darwin Research Station, home to a center that protects, hatches and studies giant tortoises. With a capacity for up to 100 passengers, Silver Origin, which debuted in 2021, is arguably the most luxurious vessel sailing in the region.
National Geographic Endeavour II
This is one way to see Galapagos on a budget, but you risk the chance of the cruises being sold out. Most Galapagos cruises depart from Baltra Island, San Cristobal Island, where two 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. El Chato Tortoise Reserve - Also located in Santa Cruz, the El Chato Tortoise Reserve is divided into 2 areas, Chato & Caseta.
Pampering ensues — even for young guests who are on board select family departures during which added activities include a cultural exchange with local students. Check out the rare Galapagos publications in the library when you're not in the outdoor Jacuzzi, on the kayaks or on paddleboards. When you aren't in your cabin you might catch views from the ship's two hot tubs. Activity equipment includes snorkeling gear (with wet suits available to rent), a glass-bottom boat and kayaks, plus a top-deck fitness room.
Horizon is a luxury trimaran that provides an intimate experience on board with a touch of elegance and comfort. Visit the breeding enclosures where you can see baby tortoises in incubators, and look upon Darwin’s famous finches with your own eyes - these are the birds he used as a basis for his theory of evolution. As night falls, take a look at the sparkling city lights that spread up the surrounding hills and mountains – truly a mesmerising sight! You’ll spend your first night in South America at your Quito hotel and wake up rested and refreshed for the journey ahead. Cruising the Galapagos Islands is an experience everyone should get to have. It provided me with a greater respect of the effect people have on the environment and its creatures.
Conscious travel
As we explore on our Galápagos cruises, we ensure we do nothing that might disturb the wildlife and ecosystems and leave as small a footprint as possible. Almost 600 miles from the mainland, the Galapagos Islands are one of the remotest places in the world. Home to an astonishing 9,000 species of flora and fauna, the 19 island-archipelago was the world’s first UNESCO Heritage Site and is by far the strangest, most wonderful place on Earth. Our destination specialists have compiled the definitive Galápagos Islands travel guide to help you plan your cruise.
Also operated by Metropolitan Touring, the 90-passenger Santa Cruz II is an expedition ship with contemporary decor and comfortable single, double and triple cabins. Birdwatchers may want to do a full 14-night trip to touch every corner and add many species to their Life List. For the rest of us, a week or less can provide enough brag-worthy wildlife encounters to last a lifetime.
The catamaran cruises two routes, a northern route and a southern route, both lasting seven nights. Reflective of the golden age of travel, it's all about luxury on board — polished woodwork, gourmet meals and service from a crew of 10, plus two naturalist guides. This intimate, 48-passenger yacht is operated by Metropolitan Touring and offers popular four-night and six-night itineraries. Eden Islet, off the coast of Santa Cruz Island, is a sliver of volcanic cone poking up through the sea. There’s an abundance of wildlife here, and in the clear, shallow waters we’ll hope to spot Galápagos green turtles, rays and some friendly reef sharks.
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. Some islands are home to giant tortoises, while others house blue-footed boobies, Galapagos penguins and flightless cormorants. Still, others were packed with marine iguanas, Sally Lightfoot crabs and sea lions, all coexisting harmoniously. I also saw plenty of others — fur seals, Sally Lightfoot crabs, great blue herons — that weren't on the list. Join us on a once-in-a-lifetime voyage of discovery as we witness the iconic wildlife and spectacular landscapes of the Galápagos Islands.
We loved all aspects of our cruise except one night of unavoidable rocky seas. We enjoyed 8 days (no regrets) but would have been satisfied with 5 days as things began to repeat. We kept thinking the next island couldn't get any better than the last one, then it did. Even had over 100 galapagos sharks circling the boat one night chasing flying fish. Snorkeling Gear - most Galapagos yachts will provide a full set of snorkel gear, but it is recommended that if you have your own and it is comfortable, take it with you. All luggage is thoroughly scanned and sniffed by dogs at the Baltra airport to prevent people from sneaking in contraband — think fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds that aren't native to the Galapagos.
Animal sightings on Bartolome might include Galapagos penguins, herons and elusive Galapagos hawks. Should you choose to snorkel at the nearby beach, you're likely to see sharks, rays, sea lions and red-lipped batfish. Punta Cormorant offers an easy trail that leads to a stunningly serene beach, where you're likely to see sea turtles bobbing in the water nearby.
Centrally located Santa Cruz Island, which is inhabited, tends to show up on several itineraries, as does Isabela Island, which is the largest in the group. Lindblad Expeditions, which has partnered with the National Geographic brand for several years, operates two vessels in the Galapagos. The first, National Geographic Endeavour II, has room for up to 96 passengers across 52 outside cabins, some connecting to accommodate groups. G Adventures runs a few ships in the Galapagos; your chosen itinerary will determine which ship you sail.
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