Galapagos Islands Cruise Holidays

A Galapagos Island cruise is a true once-in-a-lifetime experience, with passengers coming face to face with nature at its finest and discovering all the beauty that this year-round destination boasts. Home to its rare collection of mammals, reptiles, fish and birds, the area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a Galapagos Island cruise giving nature-lovers and enthusiasts the chance to study and learn more about this unique environment and its inhabitants, which served as the inspiration for Charles Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection. Lying off the coast of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean, a cruise to the Galapagos Islands is the perfect adventure for those looking for more than sun, sand and sea, and offers an insight into this remarkable and extraordinary region, as well as a relaxing and often luxurious holiday at sea. 

 

Generally taking place on a smaller more intimate ship, Galapagos Island cruises are offered on sailing or motor yachts, and usually have capacity for between 10 and 30 passengers, although some larger cruise liners, holding up to 100 passengers do make the journey. A Galapagos Island cruise features snorkelling, diving, hiking, bird-watching and wildlife viewing, including some of its famous giant tortoises, iguanas, dolphins, whales and penguins. Galapagos Island cruises also include the fee for entering the Galapagos National Park, which is a flat rate, and generally include a naturalist guide, who can impart their knowledge of the region and its history, wildlife, flora and fauna.

 

A cruise to the Galapagos Islands can be anything from a 3 or 4-day trip to a week long journey, and can also be combined with a longer trip to Quito, Machu Picchu or the Amazon. There is a good choice of independent cruise lines offering a small-scale Galapagos Island cruise, with some of the bigger names being Celebrity Cruises (upon its adventure ship, the Xpedition), Princess Cruises, and Silverseas. Places tend to fill up quickly, so booking a Galapagos Island cruise well in advance is highly recommended.