Photo: Mike Janke/Shutterstock

G Adventures is a Canadian tour operator that organizes affordable, small-group trips all over the world, including in the Galápagos Islands. G Adventure operates three small, 16-passenger ships in the archipelago: the Eden, the Yolita, and the newest and most comfortable of them all, the Reina Silvia Voyager, a motorized catamaran. The tour operator offers a large variety of itineraries, with voyages ranging from seven to 17 days.

Price: Starting at $1,444 per person for a seven-day trip.

Galagents is an Ecuadorian travel operator that runs a fleet of eight vessels, from well-equipped, no-frills ships that offer day trips, to catamarans and luxury yachts that propose up to eight-day voyages. All the ships on the fleet are small and can host a maximum of 14 to 16 passengers. The newest vessels on the fleet are the opulent Galaxy Sirius (16-passenger capacity) and the scuba diving-focused Galaxy Diver II (16-passenger capacity). All eight ships offer various itineraries and activities, including, but not limited to hiking, snorkeling, and scuba diving.

Price: Starting at $1,500 per person for a four-day sailing on board the Galaxy Orion.

Ecuadorian cruise line Royal Galápagos is one the biggest operators in the Galápagos Islands with no less than seven ships in its fleet — the Galápagos Angel being the latest addition as of 2024. All the yachts are on the small side, accommodating a maximum of either 16 or 20 guests. There are four itineraries to choose from, all of which vary according to the length of the sailing — four, five, seven, or eight day-voyages are available. All ships have at least one naturalist guide on board, except for Infinity which hosts two of them. Six out of the seven ships in the fleet are equipped with individual underwater cameras for travelers to use.

Price: Starting at under $2,000 per person for a four-day trip.

Go Galápagos offers four, five, and eight-day cruises around the Galápagos Islands on board their three ships: the Galápagos Legend (100 guests), Coral I (36 guests), and Coral II (20 guests). There are four main itineraries per ship for the shorter voyages: North Expedition, West Expedition, East Expedition, and South Expedition, while the eight-day voyages are a combination of two itineraries. Activities include Zodiac rides, hiking, snorkeling, swimming, kayaking, and even scuba diving. Guests on the Galápagos Legend can also take rides in a glass-bottomed boat. Naturalist guides, dive masters, and instructors are on board to guide activities and provide expert commentary.

Price: Starting at $2,019 per person for a four-day trip on board Galápagos Legend.

The Ecuador-based Andean Travel Company (also known as Oniric) is a travel operator that offers tours throughout Ecuador, including cruises in the Galápagos Islands. Andean Travel Company/Oniric owns the Treasures of the Galápagos (chartered regularly by AvalonWaterways), as well as the Tribute, Archipel I, Polaris, Estrella, and Aqua, all of which can host a maximum of 16 guests. While Aqua’s sailings focus on scuba diving adventures, the rest of them offer various four-to-eight-day itineraries during which you can hike and snorkel accompanied by experts.

Price: Starting at $2,095 for a four-day trips on board Archipel I or Aqua.

The Anahí Catamaran Yacht is a 16-passenger motorized catamaran that offers multiple itineraries around the archipelago, ranging from five to 15-day voyages. Activities includes guided hikes, snorkeling, kayaking, and Zodiac rides, all of which are supervised by a naturalist guide.

Price: Starting at $3,150 per person for a four-day trip, but last-minute sales are available.

Metropolitan Touring is a tour operator that organizes trips in Peru, Colombia, mainland Ecuador, and in the Galápagos Islands. Metropolitan Touring owns three ships that sail around the archipelago: La Pinta (occasionally chartered to UnCruise Adventures), Santa Cruz II (currently chartered to HX), and Isabela II. While La Pinta and Isabella can accommodate a maximum of 48 guests, Santa Cruz II is much larger and can host up to 90 passengers. No matter what vessel you choose, you’ll be partaking in hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, paddleboarding, and glass-bottom boat rides accompanied by a naturalist expert. The naturalist-to-guest ratio with Metropolitan Touring is one to 16.

Price: Starting at $4,514 for a four-day trip on board Isabela II.

Golden Galápagos Cruises is a cruise line that owns a fleet of four ships: the Galapagos Endemic, Elite, Ocean Spray, and Petrel, all of which are luxurious catamarans with a maximum capacity of 16 guests. While the Petrel is currently being operated by Natural Habitat,Golden Galápagos Cruises runs the other three vessels and offers sailings of varying lengths (four to eight days) and itineraries around the archipelago year-round. No matter the vessel you opt for, you’ll enjoy guided hikes, snorkeling sessions, kayak and SUP tours, and Zodiac rides led by expert naturalists.

Price: Starting at $4,190 per person for a four-day trip on board Ocean Spray

Galápagos cruises under $10,000

HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions)

Photo: HX / Dennis Balleteros

HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions) offers cruises around the Galápagos Islands year-round and operates only one vessel, The MS Santa Cruz II. The ship, which was refurbished in 2021, can accommodate up to 90 guests. The cruise line offers travelers three main itineraries: the Northern Route, Eastern Route, and Western Route, as well as combinations of two for longer voyages. Some of the sailings, which range from seven to 16 days, include guided tours in Peru and mainland Ecuador, too. HX offers cruisers the chance to snorkel, take nature walks, and go on Zodiac outings. HX even has a glass-bottomed boat for guests who want to observe marine wildlife without actually getting wet.

Price: Starting at $5,734 per person for an seven-day trip.

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Celebrity Cruises

The Celebrity Flora. Photo: Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises operates two ships in the Galápagos Islands: the Celebrity Flora, an all-suite vessel that can host up to 100 guests, and the Celebrity Xpedition, able to accommodate 48 guests. While bigger, the Celebrity Flora is the greener ship of the two; its dynamic positioning system allows it to remain stationary without dropping anchor, therefore protecting the seafloor, and it uses solar panels for part of its power needs. The cruise line offers four different itineraries around the archipelago: the Inner Loop, the Outer Loop, the Northern Loop, and the Southern Loop, all ranging from seven to 16 days. Both ships host certified naturalist guides from the Galápagos National Park for the duration of the sailings. Note that the Celebrity Xpedition will be leaving the operator’s fleet at the end of 2024, and as of January 2025, Celebrity Flora will be the only ship in the fleet with scheduled calls in the Galápagos Islands.

Price: Starting at $6,403 per person for a seven-night sailing on the Celebrity Flora.

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National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions

The National Geographic Delfina. Photo: National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions

National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions has been taking travelers on cruising adventures around the Galápagos Islands for over 50 years. Today, the expedition cruise line operates four ships in the archipelago: the National Geographic Endeavour II (96 guests), the National Geographic Islander II (48 guests), National Geographic Gemini (48 guests), and the National Geographic Delfina (16 guests). Each sailing includes naturalists, photographers, and expedition leaders to supervise and enhance all the activities you partake in, including hikes, photo walks, kayaking, SUPing, and snorkeling. National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions operates in the Galápagos Islands year-round and offers a variety of itineraries, ranging from seven to 16 days.

Price: Starting at $6,605 per person for a 10-day sailing on the Geographic Endeavour II.

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Galápagos Sky

Photo: Ecoventura

Owned by Ecoventura, the Galápagos Sky is a dedicated scuba liveaboard sailing seven and 10-day voyages in the Galápagos Island. The luxury vessel operates year-round and can host up to 16 passengers. The itineraries run by Galápagos Sky include three land-based outings, one night dive, and up to four dives per day, including around the remote islands of Wolf and Darwin, where sharks are abundant.

Price: Starting at $7,395 per person.

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Natural Habitat Adventures

Natural Habitat Adventures is a travel operator that collaborates with WWF (World Wildlife Fund) to organize wildlife and conservation-focused trips throughout the world, from the Arctic to Antarctica to the Galápagos Islands, and more. Natural Habitat Adventures operates three ships in the archipelago: The Petrel, a motorized luxury catamaran that can hosts up to 16 passengers; the M Y Tip Top IV, a yacht that can accommodate up to 16 passengers; and the S/C Nemo III, a motorsailing catamaran that can have up to 14 guests on board. There are six 10-day itineraries possible (two per ship), and all of them include hiking, snorkeling, and kayaking accompanied by naturalist guides.

Price: Starting at $8,395 per person for a 10-day trip on board the Nemo III.

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AvalonWaterways

AvalonWaterways charters one ship in the Galápagos Island: the Treasures of Galápagos, a catamaran that can accommodate up to 16 passengers. All the AvalonWaterways sailings in the archipelago are part of bigger itineraries that include guided tours on mainland Ecuador and/or Peru. That means that while the voyages are advertised as lasting between eight and 20 days, travelers only spend four nights in the islands. AvalonWaterways offers two itineraries in the Galápagos, one starting from San Cristóbal Island and one from Baltra Island, both of which offer snorkeling. As required by law, a naturalist guide is present throughout the sailing.

Price: Starting at $8,811 per person for an eight-day trip that includes guided tours in Quito prior to reaching the Galápagos Islands.

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Galápagos cruises $10,000 and above

Quasar Expeditions

Photo: Quasar Expeditions

Quasar Expeditions is a luxury, family-owned operator that offers overland guided safaris in Patagonia and safari cruises in the Galápagos Islands. Quasar has two ships: the Grace Yacht (Grace Kelly’s honeymoon yacht, hence the name), which can host 16 guests, and the Evolution Yacht, equipped to accommodate 32 guests. The operator’s guest-to-guide ratio is maximum 10 to one, but can be as low as eight to one when sailing on the Grace Yacht. On all of its six itineraries (three per ship), the operator offers activities such as snorkeling, SUPing, kayaking, walking, hiking, and Zodiac outings. Quasar proposes travelers with sailings tailored to their needs and wants, including voyages specifically designed for honeymooners, couples and solo travelers, photographers, families, and even for families with children with autism.

Price: Starting at $9,500 per person for an eight-day sailing on the Evolution Yacht; $10,550 per person for an eight-day sailing on the Grace Yacht.

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Ecoventura

The Theory. Photo: Ecoventura

Ecoventura is a luxury Relais & Château-labeled operator that only sails in the Galápagos Islands. The cruise line’s fleet consists of three identical expedition yachts: Origins, Theory, and Evolve. Ecoventura offers two seven-night itineraries around the Galápagos Islands: Beaches and Bays, the southern and central route, and Volcanic Wonders, the western and northern route. The itineraries alternate every week throughout the year so guests can combine both for a 14-day adventure. All Ecoventura ships can accommodate up to 20 guests, and always have two naturalist guides on board to supervise all activities, including snorkeling, wildlife-watching hikes, kayaking, SUPing, Zodiac rides, and swimming.

Price: The rate for double occupancy in 2024 is $9,950 per person for a seven-night sailing. In 2025, it will increase to $10,500 per person.

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andBeyond

Photo: andBeyond

New to the Galápagos cruising scene (June 2024), luxury tour operator andBeyond runs one ship in the archipelago. The Galápagos Explorer can host up to 12 guests and sails two seven-night itineraries: Best of the Galápagos East, and Best of the Galápagos West. Activities include snorkeling, kayaking, hiking, and visiting the Charles Darwin Research Station. andBeyond also offers trips that combine tours in Peru and/or mainland Ecuador with a Galápagos cruise.

Price: Starting at $10,950 per person.

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Aqua Expeditions

Photo: Aqua Expeditions

Aqua Expeditions specializes in luxury, small-ship cruises in Indonesia, Peru, and the Galápagos Islands, among others. In the archipelago, the operator sails the very elegant Aqua Mare superyacht, a vessel that can host a maximum of 16 guests. Aqua Expeditions offers seven and 14-night sailings and two itineraries: the East itinerary and the West Itinerary, with the 14-night sailing being a combination of both. Activities include snorkeling and diving, guided hikes, kayaking and SUPing, and Zodiac excursions. Aqua Expeditions offer an exceptional one-to-one crew-to-guest ratio, and a one-to-eight guide-to-guest ratio.

Price: Starting at $11,300 per person for a seven-day trip.

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UnCruise Adventures

Photo: SL-Photography/Shutterstock

UnCruise Adventure sails La Pinta — a vessel capable of hosting up to 48 guests — around the Galápagos Islands most of the year. All the voyages are the same: seven days of expert-led nature walks, snorkel sessions, Zodiac rides, glass-bottom boat tours, as well as a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station. Guests on board La Pinta get to set foot on seven islands during the sailing, namely: Baltra, North Seymour, Isabela, Fernandina, Rabida, Santa Cruz, and Floreana. All trips start from and end in Guayaquil on the mainland and Baltra Island in the archipelago.

Price: Starting at $11,600 per person for a seven-day trip.

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Silversea

Silversea operates one ship in the Galápagos Islands year-round: the Silver Origin. The vessel, which was built specifically for this particular destination, can host up to 100 guests. Silversea offers two itineraries, one of seven days (visits to 15 ports) and one of 14 days (visits to 27 ports), both of which start and end in San Cristóbal Island. Guests on board the Silver Origin can take part in activities such as hiking, snorkeling, kayaking, and Zodiac rides, all of which are supervised by the expedition team members.

Price: Starting at $13,450 per person for an seven-day trip.

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