Tuesday, April 23, 2024

6 Best Galapagos Cruises For Every Kind of Traveler 2023

galápagos cruise

The modern expedition ship also offers a glamping experience that includes a naturalist-guided stargazing session and a luxurious night of glamping under the stars. Have dinner under the stars at the ship’s restaurant before heading back to your suite. The Celebrity Flora’s Galapagos itineraries range from seven to 16 nights. Galapagos cruises are about experiencing nature and wildlife while limiting environmental impact as much as possible.

What to Pack for the Galápagos: A Complete Checklist - Travel + Leisure

What to Pack for the Galápagos: A Complete Checklist.

Posted: Fri, 06 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

UPPER DECK

With pleasant temperatures all year long, the best time to visit the Galapagos Islands is whenever you’re ready to go. While you can see wildlife all year, December is hatching season for the giant tortoises, and July is mating season for blue-footed boobies and short-eared owls. Sea turtles lay their eggs early in the year and fully formed marine iguanas typically hatch in April and May. 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.

Dream Galapagos Vacation

With their rare and unique wildlife, the Galapagos Islands invite you to entertain your most childlike curiosities. One glimpse of the endemic land iguanas and you’re left wondering if dragons really do exist. Read on to find out more about these remarkable animals which look like they belong in an epic fantasy. We’ve taken care of the details so you can focus on spotting wildlife. All our cruises include all meals onboard, tea and coffee, water, beach towels and snorkeling equipment. An expedition leader along with onboard naturalists will guide you through your trip.

galápagos cruise

How to choose the best Galapagos cruise for you?

As the evening sun begins to lower, meet at the bar to unwind and talk with fellow explorers about your experiences. Take in a briefing about what the next day holds before settling down for a gourmet dinner, full of fresh seafood and incredible local flavors. Relax, and get ready to rest up in the haven of your room for tomorrow’s adventures. Once, volcanos spat and lava flowed, creating an archipelago of 19 islands with a marine reserve that serve as a living museum of evolution. Extreme isolation and the convergence of three ocean currents developed the most unusual wildlife. Since the animals here don’t fear humans, you can truly get up close and personal, looking into the eyes of a Galapagos marine iguana, and walking among penguins – the only penguin species north of the equator.

Whether traveling with your family or a group of friends, on a vacation or honey moon, Galapagos Travel Center will help bring your dream of a Galapagos cruise to life. All-inclusive 8-, 5- and 4-day cruises are available to visit the Galapagos Islands' remote and untouched points of interest, all in comfort and with high quality service. Explorer Ventures' two live-aboard vessels, the Humboldt Explorer and Tiburon Explorer, accommodate 16 passengers each. The Humboldt has a large dive deck, which makes it easier to get into and out of your dive gear.

How to get to the Galapagos Islands

If you'd prefer a small group and aren't overly concerned with your onboard surroundings, you'll want to avoid Silver Origin and Celebrity Flora, both of which are larger vessels. Due to government restrictions, it's not easy for cruise lines to break into the Galapagos market. A few well-known brands have done it, including Avalon Waterways, Celebrity Cruises, Hurtigruten Expeditions and Silversea Cruises. During the hot, rainy season, which runs from December to June, the weather is warmer and cloudier, but the snorkeling and diving conditions are also better.

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galápagos cruise

During the dry season, the reserve offers visitors the chance to observe Giant Tortoises in the wild. For a limited time only, Golden Galapagos is offering value packages that make the once-in-a-lifetime experience of visiting the stunning Galapagos Islands more accessible. Discover top-quality vessels featuring single cabins with no added cost. When selecting the best Galapagos cruises, our main goal is ensuring that you make the most of your vacation. We believe that better boats, manned by our highly-qualified and friendly crew, will result in an incredible experience. Keep an eye out for sales around Black Friday and Cyber Monday, as well as wave season — the period during the first three months of each year when cruise lines offer deep discounts, added perks or a combination of the two.

What To Pack For Galapagos: The Ideal Galapagos Packing List

However, that's often just fine for adventurous travelers who know the focus is on the destination and not the ship. Three other ships — Origin, Theory and Evolve — are luxury expedition yachts rented from Ecoventura, part of the Relais & Chateaux family of luxury brands. Each carries just 20 passengers in a plush, high-end atmosphere that contrasts beautifully with the Galapagos' rugged terrain.

G Adventures runs a few ships in the Galapagos; your chosen itinerary will determine which ship you sail. Yolita, which has room for 16 people plus crew, features eight cabins, each with a queen bed or side-by-side twin beds. Treasure of Galapagos is a yacht-style motor catamaran that carries up to 16 travelers. What's interesting about the ship is that it's also marketed and sold by other operators, including Galapatours, Audley Travel, Rainforest Cruises and Vaya Adventures.

However, if you're unable to find a direct flight from your hometown to Quito or Guayaquil, it's possible a third (or even fourth) flight could be necessary. Frigate bird eggs start hatching, and flamingos and flightless cormorants initiate the mating process during this time of the year. If you'd like to time your trip to see certain animals or animal behaviors, below are some timeframes to keep in mind. From your pre-cruise stay in Quito to optional post-cruise visits to a nearby cloud forest, you'll marvel at the variety of species, foods and climates you'll encounter in just a week or two on a Galapagos cruise. Meals will be prepared by your on-board chef for breakfast, lunch and dinner, using fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. For breakfast, expect toast, spreads, muesli and eggs with fresh fruit and juices.

The Silver Origin sails the north, central, and western loops of the Galapagos Islands. This 8-day luxury North Central Galapagos cruise expedition explores the North Central islands of the Galapagos, sailing roundtrip from San Cristobal aboard the brand new 100-passenger Silver Origin. Enjoy nature walks with educational guides, swimming with turtles and sea lions and Zodiac trips to see endemic flora and fauna the likes of which you’ve never even imagined. Few destinations are more iconic than the Galápagos Islands, where Lindblad Expeditions brought the very first group of citizen explorers more than 50 years ago. Sail among the varied landscapes of this magical archipelago to encounter giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, playful penguins, and charismatic sea lions, all unfazed by your presence. With multiple ways to explore on land and at sea, including hikes, photo walks, kayaking, paddleboarding, and snorkeling, every day reveals new discoveries interpreted by a team of expert local guides.

However, even during the so-called rainy season, rainfall in the Galapagos is minimal. The Galapagos Islands are very arid, meaning that, even in the rainy season, you can enjoy the equatorial sun, accompanied by short and light drizzles, known as garúa. These Galapagos cruises will allow you to explore the archipelago with comfort and security. Prioritizing a minimal to nonexistent impact on the delicate environment of the Galapagos, these getaways embrace the style and charm of truly nautical experiences, like in days past. Not all lines offer visits to all of the islands, and there can be some overlap, with islands showing up on itineraries in more than one region.

Baltra Island - The home of the first airport in the Galapagos Islands, Baltra Island is where many Galapagos cruises start and finish. Our fleet complies with the official requirements of the Galapagos National Park as well as local and international maritime authorities. We adhere to a strict policy of ethical treatment and protection towards the fragile environments in which we operate. The modern motor catamarans like the Endemic, Elite, Ocean Spray, and Petrel are safe, comfortable, and offer the premium amenities expected from a luxury cruising vessel.

The comfortable ship has the rare-in-the-Galapagos feature of a swimming pool, plus a hot tub. When Disney is on board, its trained Adventure Guides lead special Junior Adventurers activities for kids, in addition to the usual snorkeling, kayaking and glass-bottom boat rides. Select sailings invite special guest experts on board to give workshops and presentations in their area of expertise.

We make sure that all Galapatours cruises, whatever their length, will give you a fantastic experience of the Galápagos Islands, their unique wildlife and incredible habitats. However, if you are planning a trip to Galápagos as your sole destination, then we really recommend choosing an 8 to 15 day itinerary for your cruise. Because of the longer time you'll have in the islands, a cruise of this length will typically allow you to visit up to three times as many islands and visitor sites as a shorter trip. As one of the older islands, Espanola Island is often regarded as one of the most interesting of the Galapagos Islands due to its high percentage of endemic fauna.

Some may be lucky enough to experience no symptoms at all while others may suffer headaches, dizziness and vomiting. Usually all symptoms of seasickness resolve after some time adjusting to life on-board. If you are prone to experience motion sickness, we recommend consulting with your doctor before arriving to see what medical solutions might work for you. Expect to do some island-hopping during the day, but the longer hours of travel will likely take place in the evening.

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