Galapagos Islands Cruise

Days

9+

Activity Level

Easy

Host City

Quito/Guayaquil, Ecuador

From

$8,895 USD

Customize This Trip

Galápagos Cruise Adventure

Join The Explorer’s Passage (TEP) on the adventure of a lifetime through the tropical and biodiverse Galápagos Islands. On your 9-day Galápagos adventure, you will board the Integrity yacht, hopping from island to island whilst taking part in activities such as kayaking, snorkeling, and enjoying the beautiful beaches of the region. Considered to be one of the world’s premiere destinations for wildlife viewing, you’ll get the chance to see a wide array of animals including sea turtles, Galápagos penguins, marine iguanas, sea lions, and many more beautiful creatures. This beautiful Galápagos region will draw you in and undoubtedly make it very hard for you to have to go back home at the conclusion of your trip!

Explore the galápagos with TEP

Trip Highlights

Sail through the major islands of the Galápagos, getting a taste of the unique experiences each island has to offer. Begin your journey by exploring San Cristóbal, home to the capital city of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno and the renowned Cerro Brujo beach, where sea lions bask in the sun and marine iguanas blend with the volcanic rocks.

Immerse yourself in the wildlife of the region through daily snorkeling, kayaking, and hiking excursions. Explore the archipelago’s diverse ecosystems, from lush highland forests to rugged volcanic landscapes and pristine beaches, all teeming with endemic flora and fauna found nowhere else on Earth.

Relax in the comfort of The Integrity, equipped with spacious lounge areas, meals prepared by an on-board chef, and presentations by the naturalist guide on board. Nestled in the heart of one of the world’s most pristine and biodiverse archipelagos, The Integrity offers discerning travelers a blend of comfort, sophistication, and unparalleled access to the wonders of Galápagos wildlife and landscapes.

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Let’s Plan Your Trip Today:

TRIP COST

From $8,895 per person
We can handle all domestic flights in Ecuador for you. The additional cost for domestic flights in Ecuador is approximately $580 USD per person.

*More info. on pricing

More questions? Read more about pricing here

Start dates

Weekly Departures All Year

To inquire about a custom date,
please contact us!

Duration

Starts at 9 Days / 8 Nights

Accommodations

1 Night on Land / 7 Nights Aboard the Integrity*

*Various Options

choose between 5 different cabin categories

max. group size

16 people

*All Private Groups

ACTIVITY LEVEL

Easy*

Primary activities:

Hiking, snorkeling, and kayaking

*Please refer to our Trip Activity Level Guide for more information

9 Day / 8 Night Trip Daily Overview

Sample Trip Itinerary

Custom trip itineraries are available for any size group. Please contact us for a complete detailed itinerary.

Want more information? Download a detailed itinerary.

Itineraries include detailed descriptions of each day, tips on travel arrangements, regional highlights, and more. It’s the perfect resource to help you choose!

Request Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Ecuador

Upon arrival in Ecuador, you will be met and escorted to your hotel for an overnight stay. Whether you land in Quito, the high-altitude capital nestled in the Andes, or Guayaquil, the bustling port city on the Pacific coast, your transfer will be smooth and efficient. In Quito, you’ll experience the charm of its colonial architecture and vibrant culture, while Guayaquil offers a more modern urban experience with its dynamic waterfront and lively markets. Your guide will ensure a warm welcome, providing you with an overview of your itinerary and answering any questions you may have about your upcoming adventures in Ecuador. Enjoy a restful night at your hotel, setting the stage for an exciting exploration of this diverse and beautiful country.

Accommodations: Wyndham Quito or Oro Verde Guayaquil

Day 2: Santa Cruz Exploration & Boarding the Yacht

After an early breakfast, head to the airport for your flight to Baltra Island, Galápagos. Your flight will take approximately 3 hours from Quito or 1.5 hours from Guayaquil. Upon arrival in Baltra, you enter the Galápagos National Park and meet your guide for Santa Cruz island activities including a private bus tour to view the native plants and animals of the islands and a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn about conservation issues and the tortoise hatching and rearing program.

This afternoon you will have your wetsuit fitting at a local dive shop. In the late afternoon, you will meet with your Naturalist and board Integrity. You’ll have the evening to settle in while the yacht gets underway and you will awaken just as you anchor at the southernmost island you’ll visit.

Accommodations: Integrity Cruise Ship

Day 3-8: Cruising the Galápagos Islands

Each day aboard Integrity will begin around 7:00 am with a prepared breakfast including fresh fruit, a selection of cereals and breads, eggs made to order, fresh-squeezed juice, and coffee or tea. While you enjoy breakfast your guide will take a moment to explain what the morning’s activities will bring.

After breakfast, you will take a short panga ride to the shore and explore the island on a morning walk. The walks are taken at a comfortable pace allowing time for bird watching, taking pictures, learning about the wildlife and environment, and simply listening to nature. Before lunch, there will be time to explore the water via snorkeling and kayaking.

In the afternoon, lunch will be served on the boat before you are free to enjoy the afternoon napping, reading, and taking in the views and ocean breeze. In the late afternoon, you will once again take the panga to shore for more explorations along marked trails before retreating to the boat for dinner and an excellent sunset view on the top deck.

Accommodations: Integrity Cruise Ship

Day 9: Disembark & Return Home

You’ll have breakfast on board Integrity, then disembark at Baltra Island. Fly back to the mainland and, depending on your flights, either connect to your international departure, have an extended day use room for your late-night departure, or for overnight if your flight is in the following morning.

Accommodations: N/A

Create your OWN Unique Experience

Customizing Your Galapagos Trip

Are you interested in another activity or destination in Ecuador? Planning to spend extra time in the region, or interested in specific travel dates? No problem. As experts in tailored trip planning, we can weave your interests and your timeframe into our customizable itineraries so that every detail of your extraordinary trip unfolds precisely the way you want it to. Click the options below to learn more:

With The Explorer’s Passage, you can choose between a variety of trip options in the Galapagos:

Land based lodge with daily boat excursions to Islands
Snorkeling
Kayaking
Scuba diving

While in/around the Galapagos, you can choose to add on one or several of the following:

Quito City Tour
Otavalo Day Tour
Guayaquil City Tour
Mashpi Cloud Forest
Amazon Jungle Cruise

In addition to their time in the Galapagos, many travelers choose to add in other destinations to their trips, including (but not limited to) some of the following:

Argentina
Chile
Bolivia
Brazil
Uruguay
Paraguay
Peru
Antarctica

Contact us today to get started customizing your dream trip to the Galápagos!

Hear what travelers are saying:

5-Star Review Average on TripAdvisor! Read More >

“Just book with these guys, they are the best and I work in the industry! Had an amazing trip with Explorers Passage. Everyone from the start was so friendly and courteous and this got even better when we arrived in Chile. Guides, drivers and hotel staff were out of the world.
Couple this with the stunning scenery and it’s one of my top vacation ever!”

– Richard B.

“Explorer’s Passage made our W trek adventure not only possible but seamless and amazing. It was clear from the start that they had thought of everything – from the transfers to tickets to gear. We were very prepared from all their detailed checklists and training guide. And we knew what to expect from all our pre-trip calls and emails. The level of detail in all they do is remarkable. We were able to enjoy the adventure that much more because we had so much trust in their guidance as well as execution of all those details.”

– Kate W.

“My wife and I just got back from Patagonia after completing the W Trek that Explorers Passage had arranged for us. From our first contact with Jeff Bonaldi to our last transfer, our experience was stellar. Jeff guided us through the rather complicated logistics and was very responsive to concerns before and during the adventure. His focus was always on how to make the adventure memorable not on the bottom line for his company. I rarely write reviews but felt compelled to do so because our experience was beyond 5 stars.”

– Steve B.

relax in comfort and luxury

Trip Accommodations

The Integrity is equipped with a variety of room plans to accommodate your needs. In order to keep all guests comfortable while on board, the yacht is equipped with unlimited wifi, laundry service, bar, spa, library, and a full crew to assist you with anything you may need.

Land Accommodations
Cabin Types

Land Accommodations
Depending on if you land in Quito or Guayaquil you will stay in one of the below hotels.

Wyndham Quito | Quito, Ecuador

Located conveniently right outside Quito’s international airport, you will immediately feel welcomed once you arrive in Ecuador. Wyndham Quito provides comfortable accommodations for your first night in Ecuador.

Wyndham Quito website

Oro Verde Guayaquil | Guayaquil, Ecuador

Oro Verde is centrally located in the vibrant heart of Guayaquil, offering the perfect starting point for your Ecuadorian adventure. As you arrive in this bustling city, Oro Verde provides a warm and sophisticated welcome, ensuring that your first night in Ecuador is both comfortable and memorable. The hotel’s prime location allows you to easily explore the dynamic surroundings, from the lively waterfront and cultural landmarks to charming local eateries and shops. Oro Verde’s attentive service and luxurious accommodations will help you unwind and prepare for the exciting journey that lies ahead.

Oro Verde website

Cabin Types

Integrity Cabin Options

Stateroom # 1: Owner’s Suite
The owner’s suite spans the width of the yacht and is 350 square feet. It has 1 king bed and a spacious bathroom.

Stateroom #2: Single Accommodation
Stateroom #2 is ideal if you are traveling alone as it has one single bed.

Stateroom #3-7: Standard Suite Stateroom
Saterooms 3-7 can be configured with either one king bed or 2 twin beds.

Stateroom #8: Standard Twin Stateroom
Stateroom #8 has two twin beds and can accommodate 2 people.

Stateroom #9: Standard Queen Stateroom
Sateroom #9 has a queen bed and can accommodate 2 people.

we’re always happy to help

Frequently Asked Questions

Looking for something?

Check here for our Frequently Asked Questions for the Galápagos, and if you can’t find the answer you are looking for then send us a message.

Click the button below to access our general FAQ section!

SEE ALL FAQS

The Galápagos Islands are famed for their rugged volcanic landscapes and – most of all – their incredible biodiversity. The archipelago is particularly noted as the place that inspired Charles Darwin during his research into the theory of evolution in the 1830s. Today, the islands are still home to certain species that have evolved unlike any others on earth, such as the Galápagos penguin, marine iguanas, and the iconic giant tortoise.

The Galápagos Islands are located roughly 600 miles (965 km) off the coast of Ecuador. They’re surrounded on all sides by the central Pacific Ocean and straddle the equator; some in the Northern Hemisphere, some in the Southern Hemisphere. The island group is officially a part of the Republic of Ecuador, where it forms the Galápagos Province.

There are a total of 127 islands and rocks in the Galápagos group. Of those, just four are currently inhabited by people: Isabela, Floreana, San Cristóbal, and Santa Cruz. Of the four, only San Cristóbal is dedicated to hosting a regional airport. Only 19 of the group are considered large islands, with Isabela Island coming in as the largest in terms of area and Santa Cruz as the most populous. The rest are little more than clusters of rocks that poke out above the Pacific Ocean

This part of Ecuador is great to visit year-round, but there are two distinct seasons. The warm and wet season from approximately January to June is widely seen as the best time to visit the Galápagos Islands for sunseekers. Average temperatures range from around 71-88°F (22 – 31°C). Calmer oceans mean comfier sailing conditions, which are backed up by relatively sunny days that see only occasional bouts of tropical rain. That said, there’s no such thing as a low season in the Galápagos. The water will be rougher in the cool and dry season from mid-June to December, but it’s better for whale watching and hiking. Expect average temperatures to hit around 67-80°F (19-27°C).

Nine days is ideal for exploring the Galápagos Islands by yacht. It’s the perfect amount of time to pick either the Western Route or the Eastern Route, the first of which covers the more rugged, rocky islands, while the latter goes through the lusher, greener islands. Although we recommend nine days, you can certainly fit your Galápagos cruise itinerary into a few less days, just remember to count for travel days to and from the Ecuadorian mainland on either side

There’s no question that the best way to travel around the Galápagos Islands is by boat. More specifically, choose a mid-sized or small touring yacht, which are usually adapted for use in the archipelago itself. Our boat, the Integrity, is a prime example. It hosts groups of no more than 16 people across comfy staterooms and boasts open decks for wildlife viewing as you sail. If you prefer to sleep on land however, we also offer a flexible and amazing adventure at the luxurious Galapagos Safari Camp. This allows you to stay in the highlands of wild Santa Cruz and take day trips by boat to the various islands

Bask in the views

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we’re Here every step of the way

Trip Support

Galapagos TRIP Support

There is no other operator in the travel industry that will provide the same level of personal attention to your travel experience.

Personal Attention & Preparation Before Every Trip

There is no other operator in the travel industry that will provide the same level of personal attention to you before your adventure in the Galápagos Islands. We get very involved with our clients before each trip by offering a series of pre-planning calls in the months and weeks before departure. This provides you with an opportunity to hear directly from us on preparation, trip experience, and more. It also gives you the platform to ask questions about any aspect of the trip.

Staff Support & Logistics

Our knowledgeable support staff take care of the details of your in-country transportation, lodging, meals, tours, park fees, and activities. We’ve even scheduled in a bit of free time for you to explore, relax, shop, or eat on your own.

Additional Trip Information

Check out our detailed educational content on the destinations that we explore, written by our adventure team. These articles provide a complete overview of everything that you need to explore the world with The Explorer’s Passage.