GALAPAGOS CRUISES

Galapagos Cruises cater to nature lovers from all over the world and are the classic way to visit the Galapagos Islands. A Galapagos Cruise combines the romance of an ocean voyage, the spirit of adventure, and the spectacle of exotic and uninhibited wildlife, making a Galapagos Cruise a dream vacation. When you begin researching your cruise to the Galapagos it can seem overwhelming. We have broken down the options into easy information to help you plan your cruise.

GALAPAGOS CRUISE LENGTHS

Starting in 2012 all Galapagos Cruises will be on a 15-days rotation. This means the cruise will visit a different site each day over a 2-week period.

The longer 15-day Galapagos Cruises are a wonderful way to see most of the Islands. However, if you have time or budget constraints shorter Galapagos Cruises are a great option.

When planning your trip you, depending on the Galapagos cruise you select you can choose between 3-days and 15-days in the Galapagos. The classic 8-day Galapagos Cruise is still available, however in many cases it has been replaced with the increasingly popular 6-day cruise.

The longer 15-day Galapagos Cruises are a wonderful way to see most of the Islands. However, if you have time or budget constraints shorter Galapagos Cruises are a great option.

GALAPAGOS CRUISE ITINERARIES

All Galapagos Cruises have been granted cruise itinerary by the Galapagos National Park. The cruise itinerary is designed to offer travelers with the best experience while minimizing the effect that tourism has on the Galapagos.

When selecting between Galapagos Cruises the most important factor to compare is the cruise itinerary. The best cruise itinerary is one that offers the broadest range of diversity. Most travelers decide on a Galapagos Cruise to see how the wildlife evolved differently between islands. A good cruise itinerary will let you see evolution in action. It is in witnessing firsthand how these animals evolved differently from each other you can observe Darwin's Theory of Evolution up close.

The Galapagos Islands can be divided into four different areas within the archipelago: Western, Southern, Northern and Central. Each region of Galapagos has distinguishing features showcasing both the geological features and the wildlife that lives there. Many Galapagos Island's have their own endemic wildlife - species found there and nowhere else in the world. Our Galapagos Islands section provides details as to each region and the different Galapagos Islands to help you decide between Galapagos Cruises based on the cruise itinerary.

WHEN TO GO ON YOUR GALAPAGOS CRUISE

The Galapagos Islands is a year round destination. Deciding what time of year for your cruise you should be aware Galapagos has two different seasons offering two different experiences. From December to June is the warm season better for snorkeling and June to December is the cooler season better for wildlife viewing.

TEMPERATURES BY MONTH (in Fahrenheit)

CRUISE SIZE

Unlike cruises to other destinations where your ship is a small moving city, Galapagos Cruises are restricted to yachts and cruise ships carrying 100 passengers or less. To seasoned travelers a 100-passenger cruise ship may seem like a small boat, yet the average number of people on board Galapagos Cruise is 16. You might question why the small size, it has to do with the fragile environment that is Galapagos. Smaller cruises have less impact on the environment.

Galapagos Cruise sizes can be qualified into three categories based on the number of passengers on board - Small Galapagos Cruises, Mid-size Galapagos Cruises and Galapagos Cruise Ships. There are advantages and disadvantages in each choice.

GALAPAGOS CRUISE COMFORT

Comfort at sea is a consideration for most travelers. When you are selecting your Galapagos Cruise you will want to think in terms of both stability of the boat as well as the amenities and services offered on board.

GALAPAGOS GUIDES

One of the single biggest factors that can make the difference between a good cruise and a great cruise is the quality of the guide. All Galapagos Cruises have a licensed Galapagos Naturalist Guide on board. Galapagos Guides are local residents who are bilingual and have completed the Galapagos National Park training program. The Galapagos has a ranking system based on education and training ranging from Level I to Level III.

After a decade without any new Galapagos Guides, in recent years the Galapagos National Park began new training courses. There are now many new young enthusiastic Level I and II Galapagos Guides. Quality Galapagos Guides are in demand, making it possible for the best guides to pick and choose the cruises where they work. Our years of experience working in Galapagos, gives us a firm understanding of Galapagos Guides and how to insure you the best cruise experience.

GALAPAGOS DIVING CRUISES

Diving in the Galapagos is an incredible experience. The Galapagos Islands are one of premier dive destinations in the world. In recent years the national park has increased the restrictions on diving in the Galapagos.

Current regulations allow cruises to either offer a Galapagos Naturalist Cruise or Galapagos Diving Cruise. Naturalist Cruises offer land visits to the Galapagos Islands and combine those visits with swimming, snorkeling and other activities. Galapagos Diving Cruises are 90% underwater. These cruises typically offer 1 to 2 land visits during your week, while the rest of your cruise is diving. The same cruise cannot offer both a land or Naturalist Cruise and a Dive Cruise during the same week.

The Galapagos Cruises shown on this page are all Galapagos Naturalist Cruises. If you are interested in a Galapagos Diving Cruise please see our sister site dedicated to Galapagos Diving.

If you are interested diving in the Galapagos, but do not want to spend a full week on a Diving Cruise there are options available ? contact us for more details.

OUR SELECT GALAPAGOS CRUISES

We have carefully selected our top Galapagos Cruise choices to feature on our site. Each of these Galapagos Cruises has consistently received excellent feedback from fellow travelers.

Our select Galapagos Cruises are designed so you can explore the Galapagos with minimum impact on the environment without compromising comfort. Each cruise has climate-controlled cabins with lower twin beds or a matrimonial style double bed, picture windows or portholes, as well as private facilities with hot and cold water.

The professional crews onboard the cruise are there to make your experience enjoyable. Expert guides will accompany you on you cruise providing you with insight to all you see while making your Galapagos Cruise both fun and interesting.

Each day while in Galapagos you will explore the islands enjoying a combination of wildlife hikes and water based activities like swimming, snorkeling, kayaking and panga rides. At night your cruise will navigate through the archipelago so you will awaken ready for your next day's adventure.

We have divided our Galapagos Cruises by the level of service provided on board we offer Luxury Galapagos Cruises, which offer the very best service and amenities. Our First Class Galapagos Cruises like our luxury Galapagos Cruises provide good service and wonderful English speaking guides. These cruises offer varied cruise lengths and offer an excellent value for your money.