TripsEcuadorGalápagos Islands

Galápagos Islands Tours: Cruises, Land Trips & Diving

Cruise on a small ship, hop from island to island by hotel, sleep in a highland tented camp, or dive from a liveaboard on Galápagos Islands tours of 5 to 8 days, led by naturalist guides certified by the national park.

8 trips found

A twin-hulled vessel from a Galápagos expedition cruise rests at anchor on calm turquoise water under a wide blue sky with scattered clouds.

Galápagos Expedition Cruise: 8 Days in the Eastern Islands

5.0· 10 reviews

Seven nights on a 16-guest yacht in Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands, from North Seymour’s boobies to the Bartolomé viewpoint, snorkeling almost every day.

7 nights

from $ 5,863

Galápagos Expedition Cruise: 8 Days in the Eastern Islands
A Nazca booby glides low over crashing surf beside dark volcanic cliffs, the kind of wildlife encounter every 5 day Galápagos cruise promises.

5-Day Galápagos Cruise: Bartolomé, Rábida & Santa Fe

4.9· 11 reviews

Four nights on a 16-guest yacht in the eastern Galápagos: Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, South Plaza, Bartolomé, and Rábida, with snorkeling most days!

4 nights

from $ 3,463

5-Day Galápagos Cruise: Bartolomé, Rábida & Santa Fe
Dozens of hammerhead sharks seen from below as dark silhouettes against bright blue water, swimming together in a large school, a classic scene of galapagos liveaboard diving.

Galápagos Liveaboard Diving: 7 Nights at Wolf and Darwin

4.7· 18 reviews

Spend a week on a 16-diver yacht built for the Galápagos, with 18 dives, three full days among the sharks of Wolf and Darwin, Nitrox, and an open bar.

7 nights

from $ 7,495

Galápagos Liveaboard Diving: 7 Nights at Wolf and Darwin
A curious Galápagos sea lion swims straight toward the camera underwater, whiskers spread wide against bright turquoise water on this family adventure tour.

Galápagos Family Tour: 8-Day Adventure on Santa Cruz & Isabela

5.0· 1 review

Kayak next to sea turtles, snorkel through lava tunnels, and stand eye to eye with giant tortoises in 8 days of Galápagos with kids ages 7+.

7 nights

from $ 3,999

Galápagos Family Tour: 8-Day Adventure on Santa Cruz & Isabela
Aerial view of a sleek white yacht cruising deep blue Pacific waters on an 8 day Galapagos yacht cruise, sunlight glinting across the surface.

8-Day Galápagos Yacht Cruise: Luxury Island Trip

5.0· 4 reviews

Snorkel with penguins, kayak and hike Genovesa and Española, then unwind in a designer suite aboard a 16-guest luxury superyacht in the Galápagos!

7 nights

from $ 11,900

8-Day Galápagos Yacht Cruise: Luxury Island Trip
Tall volcanic rock pinnacles rise from the ocean under a glowing sunset sky on this 6 day Galapagos land tour.

6-Day Galápagos Land Tour: Santa Cruz, Isabela & San Cristóbal

5.0· 13 reviews

Kayak Tortuga Bay, snorkel Los Túneles and Kicker Rock, then hike the Sierra Negra volcano on a 6-day Galápagos tour with flights from Quito included!

5 nights

from $ 4,999

6-Day Galápagos Land Tour: Santa Cruz, Isabela & San Cristóbal
A snorkeler in a yellow bikini and fins glides through clear blue water on this 8 day Galapagos adventure tour as dolphins swim in the distance.

8-Day Galápagos Adventure Tour: Island Hopping & North Seymour

5.0· 22 reviews

Island-hop the Galápagos by small plane and boat, snorkel Kicker Rock, kayak with sea lions, hike to sulfur vents, and explore North Seymour!

7 nights

from $ 5,599

8-Day Galápagos Adventure Tour: Island Hopping & North Seymour
Aerial view of canvas safari tents tucked into misty highland forest at sunrise on this galapagos islands safari, with cloud drifting over green canopy.

5-day Galápagos Islands Safari & Luxury Camp on Santa Cruz

5.0· 18 reviews

Walk with wild giant tortoises, snorkel off uninhabited islands and come back each night to a luxury tented camp on this 5-day Galápagos safari!

4 nights

from $ 5,480

5-day Galápagos Islands Safari & Luxury Camp on Santa Cruz

Traveler reviews

What guests say about our Galápagos tour packages, in their own words: verified reviews, published unedited.

4.9 out of 5 · 97 reviews

Filter by rating
Justin HUnited States

Galapagos was a bucket list trip and it did not disappoint. We experienced so many iconic dive locations and saw so many species, it was an amazing experience.

Scott SUnited States

Great ship, diving and staff. Good communication, safety consciousness, and dive site knowledge. Land excursions were amazing too.

Stephanie H

We were totally thrilled with our experience. The crew was amazing- they were extremely nice and helpful. (Special shout out to Victor!) The food was excellent. Our guide was first rate. Only a couple of suggestions: have a few more games for families, slightly larger trash cans and washcloths.

Olivia

The food and service is unmatched. The staff is so incredibly helpful and makes you feel so comfortable. Don't miss the View Point for the sunset. We had a magical time staying here.

Warren SUnited States

This cruise delivered one of the most extraordinary diving experiences of my life. From the moment we boarded at San Cristóbal, the crew made it clear this was going to be a very special trip. If you are a serious, experienced diver looking for world-class big animal encounters, this liveaboard belongs on your bucket list. The staff are simply outstanding. They went out of their way at every turn to ensure your comfort and wellbeing. They helped you put your dive gear on before every dive, cleaned and rinsed your equipment after each one, and remained genuinely attentive to your needs throughout the trip. This level of personal service is rare and made a real difference after long, physically demanding days in the water. The dive masters were exceptionally knowledgeable - about the dive sites, the marine life, the currents, and the conditions. Safety was always top of mind. Dive briefings were well conducted, thorough, and highly informative, giving you everything you needed to know before entering some of the most challenging water in the world. You always felt confident and prepared.

Boyd Legett

We are all "active seniors" (60-78 years of age). She answered every email, returned my phone calls, and sent timely and detailed information about what I would need for the trip. We stayed in the local hotels and ate the local cuisine. Every single meal was fresh and delicious and amazing! And being with Fabricio (our amazing naturalist tour guide, who knows everyone) made us feel welcome and like family. The hotel accommodations were upscale and lovely. (the Cormorant, right on the beach, was especially delightful). We snorkeled, hiked, swam, kayaked, and of course, did a lot of wildlife viewing. We especially appreciated all of the different snorkeling experiences (off the beach, in the open (Kicker Rock), and through the rocks (Los Tunneles). Swimming at Los Grietas was a favorite. I also like to hike, so enjoyed the "break" from the water with the hike to the Sierra Negra sulfur mines. Also enjoyed excursions to see the wildlife (the reserve, North Seymour, breeding center, interp center). Another "activity" I was not expecting was the eating - omg, best food ever! Exploring all of the local restaurants was so much fun! Fabricio, our naturalist tour guide, was the best - a lot of fun and the perfect guide. He was passionate about his subject and truly loved sharing his beloved Galapagos with us. As a naturalist, he was exceptionally knowledgeable. As a guide, he was patient, kind, caring, organized, approachable, and clear with his communicationsThis was my first "guided tour", and, for me, this trip was wonderful. I loved the great customer service from beginning to end, the high level of activity, the comfort of feeling well-taken care of and safe in a foreign country, staying in local hotels and eating local cuisine, and having a top-notch tour guide!

C RutherfoordUnited States

Wonderful staff, great views, excellent accommodations. I highly recommend to other travelers.

Katherine K

My teen daughter and I did a 7 night cruise. It exceeded all of our expectations. The boat was sparkling clean, comfortable, and well-appointed. Service was top notch, from the food, to the friendly crew with a helping hand every step, to turn-down service with a chocolate every night. More about the food -- buffet breakfast with omelet station, local fruit juices, fresh fruit and cheese platters, cereals, and hot selections changing daily. Lunch and dinner were elegantly plated, included many local specialties, and were absolutely delicious! We received detailed information from the crew and guides every day, and felt well taken care of. Saving the best for last - our guides, Karla and Fernando made the experience magical! Aside from being incredibly knowledgable, they were fun and entertaining, and catered to our interests throughout. The itinerary included a lot of options for the daily activities, so we could adjust the experience to how we felt each day. The whole trip was so well planned, we felt safe and cared for, which enabled us to just enjoy the experience!

M Clark

We just returned from a Galapagos trip which included three nights at the camp, and I truly wish we had stayed there longer! What a beautiful, peaceful oasis in the Santa Cruz highlands. It truly felt like a luxury experience from the moment we stepped off the plane in Baltra, and every need was anticipated and met. The tents are beautifully appointed, very private and comfortable, and had surprisingly strong Wi-Fi and great water pressure in the shower. We made good use of the infinity pool after our daily excursions, and there were so many special and personal touches. An added bonus is the tortoises roaming freely around the property. And the food! We truly didn't expect a five star food experience in a remote camp in the Galapagos but WOW. Every meal was absolutely delicious and featured traditional Ecuadorian food which we loved. The only thing I would mention I want to mention is that there is a fairly steep, uphill walk from the tents to the lodge, which is doable for anyone who is fairly fit but this would not be a great place for anyone who is struggling with health or mobility issues. I would absolutely stay here again, and hated to leave!

Jane AUnited States

It was fantastic! The agency was very helpful in advance (arranging for an extra hotel night and instructing the shuttle to pick us up). Then, the trip itself was excellent. 11 guests total with one dedicated official guide, Pepo, and one assistant guide, Paolo, the whole time. They were excellent, kind and helpful, and fun to be with. Being land-based with guides who live full time in Galapagos meant we got a good glimpse of life on the islands, even meeting Pepo's parents. The snorkling trips and other excursions were smoothly planned, and the equipment we had for the week was good quality (I didn't use the mask I brought because theirs was better), and the local restaurants we were taken to were fun and tasty.

Galápagos Islands tours: cruise, island hopping or dive boat?

Located along the equator approximately 1,000 km (620 mi) from mainland Ecuador, the Galápagos Islands have preserved 97% of their land area as a national park since 1959. Recognized as UNESCO’s inaugural World Heritage site in 1978, the archipelago’s protected status expanded in 2001 with the inclusion of its surrounding marine reserve.

What makes Galápagos wildlife extraordinary is proximity. Here, blue-footed boobies nest right along the paths, marine iguanas bask across black lava rocks, and sea lions comfortably sleep on harbor benches. Ecotourism is strictly enforced: certified naturalist guides accompany all walks, the national park regulates every vessel’s landing schedule and sites, and visitors must stay at least 2 m (6 ft) from animals at all times.

Galápagos Islands tours fall into three distinct travel styles, allowing you to choose based on your preferred accommodations and itinerary goals.

Galápagos cruises: wake up at a new island

By sailing overnight, a Galápagos cruise brings you to a brand-new destination each morning, reaching remote outer islands like Española and Genovesa that are inaccessible to day trips.

On our 8-day Galápagos yacht cruise, two naturalist guides accompany up to 16 guests hosted across 7 spacious suites. Additionally, two 16-guest first-class boats run the eastern route: an 8-day expedition cruise to North Seymour, Española, San Cristóbal, Santa Fe, Bartolomé, and Rábida, and a 5-day cruise that covers its second half.

Galápagos island hopping and land-based tours

Land-based Galápagos tours offer comfortable hotel accommodations on shore instead of boat cabins.

Explore Santa Cruz, Isabela, and San Cristóbal via speedboats and small aircraft on our 6-day Galápagos land tour or the 8-day island-hopping adventure. These itineraries feature family-run hotel stays, hikes to the 9 km-wide Sierra Negra caldera, and snorkeling excursions at Los Túneles and Kicker Rock.

For families traveling with children ages 7 and up, the 8-day Galápagos family tour includes round-trip flights from Quito. Alternatively, guests seeking a single home base can opt for the 5-day Galápagos Islands safari, spending 4 nights at a highland tented camp on Santa Cruz alongside two day trips by boat to uninhabited islands.

Galápagos diving: hammerheads at Wolf and Darwin

For experienced scuba enthusiasts looking for world-class underwater encounters, a 7-night liveaboard trip departing from San Cristóbal offers 18 dives. This includes 3 full days immersed among massive schools of hammerhead sharks surrounding the Wolf and Darwin Islands. Due to strong ocean currents, this option is tailored for advanced divers aged 15 and up.

Best time to visit the Galápagos

All of our expeditions are available year-round. Ocean conditions are calmer with water temperatures around 25°C (77°F) from December through May, whereas the period from June to November brings cooler waters near 22°C (72°F) and peak marine biodiversity.

Frequently asked questions