
The Galapagos Islands are best visited on a small cruise ship. Almost all vessels carry a maximum of 16 passengers. During the cruise, you eat and sleep on board, and sailing usually takes place at night. This allows you to reach the more remote islands. All ships have one or more professional English-speaking guides permanently on board.
During the day, at least two visitor sites are visited. You get up early, have breakfast on board, and then go ashore where the guide leads you around. At midday, you return to the ship for lunch. The vessel then sails to the next site, where you go ashore again for another visit. Depending on the program, there may also be swimming, snorkeling, or kayaking.
Only around 80 ships are authorized to operate visitor cruises in the Galapagos Islands, and their permits are reviewed every year.
The ships are divided into 4 different classes based on comfort and amenities.
Please note: ships in different classes visit the same sites. The difference lies in the level of luxury (the cabins, the food, the amenities) as well as in the quality of the guides.
We have selected the best ships for each class.
Sometimes it’s more interesting to search using a different category.
Here you’ll find all catamarans, all large ships (that carry more than 16 passengers), all dive cruises, and all sailing ships in separate sections.
You sleep in a hotel and don't suffer from seasickness. You can discover restaurants.
Cruise ships follow fixed routes. At a hotel, you can plan more flexibly.
The four islands with hotels are sometimes crowded due to visits from domestic tourists.
The Galapagos is large. A ship sails at night, allowing you to visit remote islands.
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