Moment 01
Fearless wildlife
Walk among giant tortoises, marine iguanas, and blue-footed boobies that simply ignore you.
The Galápagos.
Ecuador · The Enchanted Isles
The Galápagos Islands are a living laboratory of evolution, where the wildlife evolved without fear of humans and lets you walk among it. Giant tortoises, marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, and sea lions share the trails and beaches as if you weren't there.
A small-ship cruise is the ideal way to experience the archipelago, reaching the outer islands that day-trips never see and waking up at a different landing each morning. Every excursion is led by a licensed naturalist guide, and time in the water, snorkeling alongside sea turtles, rays, and playful sea lions, is as memorable as anything ashore.
We pair your sailing with the Ecuadorian logistics (flights, Quito or Guayaquil stays, and the right class of vessel) and can add a few days in the Andes or the Amazon to round out a remarkable South American journey.
- The region
- Ecuador · Pacific
- Classic sailing
- 7 nights
- The ship
- Small ship & naturalist guide
- Season
- Year-round
What you'll remember
Moments along the way.
Moment 02
Underwater encounters
Snorkel with sea turtles, rays, and sea lions in some of the world's clearest water.
Moment 03
Naturalist-led days
Every landing guided by a licensed expert who reads the islands like a book.
Moment 04
Giant tortoises
The ancient, lumbering giants that gave the islands their name, in the misty highlands.
Moment 05
Volcanic landscapes
Lava fields, craters and the surreal moonscapes of the younger western isles.
Moment 06
Blue-footed boobies
The comic courtship dance of the islands' most beloved bird.
The route
A sample sailing.
6 stops · Santa Cruz to Fernandina
Tap a stop to jump to that day · drag to explore
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1 Day 1Santa Cruz & Baltra
Fly in and board, meeting giant tortoises in the highlands and the Charles Darwin Research Station.
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2 Day 2Bartolomé
Climb to the iconic Pinnacle Rock viewpoint, then snorkel with penguins and sea turtles.
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3 Day 3Genovesa
Bird Island: red-footed and Nazca boobies, frigatebirds, and a sea brimming with life.
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4 Day 4Española
Waved albatross, marine iguanas and blowholes on the oldest and richest island.
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5 Day 5Isabela
Volcanic calderas, flightless cormorants, and snorkeling along the seahorse coast.
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6 Days 6-7Fernandina & home
The youngest and most pristine island, then back to Santa Cruz to fly out.
Every sailing we book is tailored: this is a starting point, not a package.
When to go
The best time to sail.
The Galápagos reward you in every month — the question is which season suits you. December to May runs warm and wet: calm seas, the best snorkeling, and hatchlings on the beaches. June to November turns cool and dry under the garúa mist, with the Humboldt feeding the richest wildlife of the year and choppier water to cross. Neither is better; they're different islands.
December–May
Warmer water and air, calm seas and sunny days with brief showers; superb snorkeling.
June–November
Cooler, dry garua season with rich seas, active wildlife and the clearest diving.
Holidays & summer
Peak demand around the holidays and the northern summer; we book well ahead.
Good to know
The Galápagos cruise questions.
How long is a Galápagos cruise?+
Most are 4 to 8 nights. A week lets you reach both the central and outer islands. We often pair it with Quito and the Andes or the Amazon.
When is the best time to visit?+
The islands reward visitors year-round: December to May is warmer with calm seas, June to November cooler and dry with the richest marine life.
Big ship or small ship?+
Only small ships of roughly 16 to 100 guests sail here, all with licensed naturalist guides. We match you to the vessel and cabin class that fit.
How active is it?+
Days mix easy walks, snorkeling, kayaking and Zodiac rides, with something for every fitness level. The wildlife comes to you.
From the journal
Reading on The Galápagos.
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The Galápagos?
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