Galapagos Tours

Galapagos Islands Cruises & Tours

On any Galasam yacht, your day begins after breakfast when you go ashore in small boats, "pangas". The well marked paths will lead you to discover the most fascinating wildlife, from blue-footed boobies, iguanas, sea lions to the rate Galapagos penguins. All yachts carry snorkeling equipment and there is an opportunity to explore underwater daily. Returning to your yacht at midday, a delicious lunch awaits and perhaps a short "siesta." After dinner, the naturalist guide will offer a briefing of the next day's activities.

Since each island has its own unique landscape and diverse species of animal and plant life, every day is a new adventure.

Paradise Huts accommodates up to 36 people in six individual guest lodges; every lodge has three double bedrooms, each with its own private bathroom and shower.

For many travelers that go to Galapagos, yachts are the preferred way to see the islands, offering planned flexible itineraries with multilingual naturalist guides, licensed and trained at the Darwin Research Station.

Galasam offers various choices in accommodations aboard their four (4) yachts, custom designed for cruising the Galapagos.

Their 3 first class 16 passenger yacht feature air-conditioning, a spacious dining room, lounge area, full-service bar, private facilities and sun decks.

The 1 economy type yachts are ideal for passengers seeking an alternative to the more luxurious type ships, but without sacrificing comfort and privacy.

All Galasam yachts offer fine cuisine, ranging from international to local specialties in an atmosphere perfect for making new friends, while discovering nature at its best in your Galapagos Islands Tour & Cruise.

Galapagos Island Cruise Millenium

The Millenium is the most elegant and comfortable catamaran cruise in Galapagos. It has a high standard security because it has two hulls, and was constructed with non flamable materials, that make of it a very stable vessel.

The wide spaces in cabins, living rooms and bathrooms fit the elegance and comfort required by passengers.

The power of the engines (800 HP) make the trip very quick providing good performance, and the atmosphere of a small group of 16 passengers, mixed with the features of a big vessel, turns it also into an unforgettable journey.2

Services

• (nights on board)
• All meals
• Guide service
• Ground transportation on islands

Specificacions

• Length 82 feet
• Beam 33 feet
• Speed 12 knots
• Crew 9 + guide
• Class De Luxe Passengers 16 persons
• Accommodation 6 double cabins with private baths, air conditioner and 2 owner's suits with jacuzzi
• All the cabins with balcony and sea beautiful view

Itinerary is subject to be modified without previous notice due to weather conditions, policies of the Galapagos National Park, or due to operational reasons.

Tour Itinerary

Galapagos Island Cruise Estrella de Mar I

The Estrella del Mar Galapagos Island Cruise was built in 1990. All cabins have windows, air-conditioning and a private bathroom.

The yacht features wide sun-decks, bar and comfortable dining / lounge areas.
Accomodation: 8 Double cabins with private baths.
Air-conditioned cabins with hot shower.

Services

• (nights on board)
• All meals
• Guide service Ground transportation on islands.

Specificacions

• Class: "First Class"
• Length: 75 Feet
• Beam: 21.3 Feet
• Speed: 09 Knots
• Crew: 7 plus naturalist guide
• Passengers: 16

Itinerary is subject to be modified without previous notice due to weather conditions, policies of the Galápagos National Park, or due to operational reasons.

Tour Itinerary

Galapagos Island Cruise Estrella de Mar II

Liberty was designed for travelers who want to enjoy eco-tourism and diving in a complete comfort.

Accommodation: 8 Double cabins with private toilet and shower. All cabins with air conditioning, bar, dinning room, living room, the social areas have direct view to the sea.

Services

• (nights on board)
• All meals
• Guide service
• Ground transportation on islands.

Specificacions

• Length 66 feet
• Beam 20 feet
• Speed 9 knots
• Crew 7 + guide
• Class First
• Passengers 16 persons
• Accommodation 8 double cabins with private baths

Itinerary is subject to be modified without previous notice due to weather conditions, policies of the Galápagos National Park, or due to operational reasons.

Tour Itinerary

Galapagos Islands Map and islands information

The Galapagos Islands are located in the Pacific Ocean in front of the West Southamerica coast, 1.600 miles away form the coast direct in front of Ecuador. For more information about Galapagos Islands check out this overview

Isabela (Albemarle Island)

The largest island of the Galapagos Islands is over 100 kms long and extremely narrow. Six volcanoes are found on Isabela, of which two are over 1,700 meters which are Wolf and Cerro Azul. The most commonly visited sites are Punta Garcia to watch for the Flightless Cormorants, Volcan Alcedo for Land Tortoises, Tagus Cove for Blue Footed Boobies, Flightless Cormorant, Galápagos Penguins and Marine Iguanas, and Urbina Bay for Marine Turtles.

Fernandina (Narborough)

Located on the west side of Isabela Island, it is the western most island in the Galapagos and is one of the most volcanically active.
The main volcano is 1,500 meters high with a diameter of 6.5 kms and a depth of about 800 meters.

Punta Espinoza is visited to see the black lava rock, mangroves, a variety of herons, Yellow Warblers, Pelicans, Frigates, Mangrove Finch, petrels, shearwaters and Marine Iguanas.

San Cristobal (Chatham)

Home to the capital and administrative center of the Galápagos Islands, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, located on the west side of the island. The airline TAME operates from the airport. The two main visitor sites, are Kicker Rock and Isla Lobos. On approach to Puerto Baquerizo it is not unusual to see a school of dolphins swimming alongside your yacht.

Santiago (James)

Located to the north-west of Santa Cruz Island, the island is famous for its earlier human use, such as attempts to mine salt and its natural resources: a flamingo lagoon, lava flows at Sullivan Bay and fur seal grottos, to name a few.

James Bay is the most visited point on the west side of the island for its salt crater (Puerto Egas), Sugarloaf Volcano (450 m), fur seal grottos and Espumilla Beach with its flamingo lagoon.

On the east side of Santiago you will visit Sullivan Bay famous for its conical volcano and for the study of various types of lava rock, some of which is as young as 90 years.

Hood Island (Espanola)

The southernmost island and the only nesting site of the Waved Albatros. At Punta Suarez, see mockingbirds, Blue-footed and Masked Boobies, Darwin Finches, Galapagos Doves and Hawks, red and green marine iguanas, sea lions and the famed Blow Hole.

Floreana (Charles)

Punta Cormorant: more than 50 volcanic cones in a 80 mile area, pink flamingos, clear water and interesting coral formations, make this a perfect spot for snorkeling. Post Office Bay, where 18th century whalers used a barrel as an unofficial mail drop, this habit continues today.

Santa Cruz (Indefatigable)

The central island in the Galapagos and home to the main port, Puerto Ayora and the Charles Darwin Research Station, which you will visit during your tour. The largest town in Galapagos hosts numerous hotels, restaurants, shops, a post office, a small supermarket and two diving companies.

A 21/2 km walk will bring you to one of the best beaches in the Galapagos, Tortuga Bay. Trips can be made to the "Parte Alta", or the high ground behind Puerto Ayora to visit the incredible lava tunnels, the tortoise reserve at Bellavista and the Gemelos, two twin craters.

A paved road now crosses the island connecting the port with the main airport in the archipelago, used by the airline TAME, on the island of Baltra. A five minute boat crossing between Baltra and Santa Cruz completes the bus journey.

North Seymour

Located directly to the north of Baltra Island, Seymour is famous for its colony of Frigates found on the south west side of this small island. Also found on this island are Blue Footed Boobies, Land Iguanas, Swallow-tailed Gulls, pelicans and Red-billed Tropic Birds.

Jervis (Rabida)

A small island just over 2 kms in width and 400 meters at its highest point, located to the south of Santiago Island. Rábida is known for its unusual red colored beaches.

The vegetation consists mainly of Opuntia Cactus, Palo Santo trees and scrubby bushes. Upon your wet landing you will probably see various sea lions and after a short hike you will reach the lagoon to see flamingos and pelicans.

Bartolomé (Sullivan)

This is probably the most photographed island in the Galapagos due to its 350 feet high summit and fabulous 360° views, which is reached after a 60 meter hike.

Subject to weather conditions, the following islands may be seen from here: Santiago, Santa Cruz, Baltra, North Seymour and Rábida.

The best view is from the PINNACLE ROCK, rising 70 meters from the cove below where your yacht is probably anchored.
The main attractions are a small colony of the indigenous Galapagos penguin and a colony of sea lions, both found in the cove where you will make a wet landing. Behind the beach it can be found the red and white mangrove, salt bushes, morning glory and the prickly pear cactuses.

Other animals that may be seen here are the Great Blue Heron and possibly sea turtles as they lay their eggs from January to March.

Plazas

Located directly east of Santa Cruz Island this is the smallest of the large islands at 1 km by 130 meters. After a dry landing your hike will take you from the shore, which is usually covered in sea lions, to the other side of the island to see the Land Iguanas. On your return, you may see various Sea Iguanas.

Tower (Genovesa)

A small island (10.5 km²) in the shape of a horseshoe - the interior bay is an old imploded volcano.

A wet landing on Darwin Bay beach starts your tour with colonies of Frigates, Red Footed and Masked Boobies. Just behind the beach you will see inland tide pools and outcrops of black rock and salt bushes, frequented by feeding Wandering Tattlers, Turnstones, Whimbrels, Lava Gulls and Fiddler Crabs.
Not so common but still seen are the Yellow-crowned, Lava and Black-crowned Night Herons. Flying around the cliffs you may see Swallow-tailed Gulls, and on the beach a Yellow Warbler.

Your second visit today will be to Prince Phillip's Steps on the south tip of Genovesa.

This is the major breeding ground for the tree loving Red Footed Booby and the ground Masked Booby, whose breeding season is from September to July.

This is also home to four species of the finch; the Large Ground Finch, the Sharp-beaked Ground Finch, the Large Cactus Finch and the Warbler Finch. Genovesa is also home to the indigenous Galapagos Mockingbird and to the Galapagos Dove.

If you're lucky, you might even see a Short Eared Owl. Time permitting you will snorkel in the afternoon in on the west side of Darwin Bay.

Santa Fe (Barrington)

This may well be the oldest island in the Galapagos. You will anchor at one of the most beautiful and most sheltered bays in the archipelago.

Some of the best snorkeling is here due to crystal clear and shallow waters. Certainly one of the best locations for swimming with sea lions and for a glimpse of the Galapagos White-tipped Shark and a sea turtle.

After a wet landing you will walk up to a nearby cliff to see the land iguanas through an area of Opuntia Cactus. Other animals present are the Galapagos Hawk, owls, Frigates, Pelicans, Manta Rays and mockingbirds.

When to travel to The Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos are located directly over the equatorial line and it has a tropical climate all year long.

There are some months when the weather is great with long sunny days and good weather conditions.

The months of June, July, August and early September have the trend to be relatively cold with some drizzle and an average temperature of 22º C/ 72º F.

At this time of the year the sea seems to be relatively calm, and the highlands use to be dry.

The best time of the year to visit the Galapagos is between the months of January and May, because there is a tropical weather, with warm air, endless blue skies and occasionally light blizzards.

The rain that falls during this time of year convert great extensions of the Galapagos highlands into green and flowery lands.

During summer and Christmas vacations the flow of tourists is at its best, it is so crowded that sometimes it is impossible to find a peaceful place around the cruise.

Fares are high for cruises, hotels and flights, and there should be reserved with at least four months notice..

The months of March, April and May with a few tourists around and a great weather are the best months to go and visit the Galapagos Islands.

Galapagos Island Diving

Galapagos Naturalistic Expeditions + Occasional Scuba Diving & Full Live-Aboard Galapagos Island Diving Cruises

We highly recommend our 8 days trip to the North Islands Darwin and Wolf. an impressive biodiversity which goes from the tiny and always timid Barnacle Blenny to the large and graceful swimming of the Spotty Whale Shark (Mr. Big).

We are ready to show all the beauty of the Galapagos Island Ocean with the professionalism you are looking for.

Dive Level

Live aboard including Darwin and Wolf islands are recommended for intermediate and advanced divers with experience in strong currents and 7 mm. wet suit.

Galapagos Diving Itinerary

• Day 1, Monday: Baltra Airport, Check out Dive and land visit at North Seymour.
• Day 2, Tuesday: Wolf (4 dives)
• Day 3, Wednesday: Darwin (4 dives).
• Day 4, Thrusday: Darwin (4 dives)
• Day 5, Friday: Wolf – Darwin (3 – 4 dives)
• Day 6, Saturday: Cousin¨s Rock (2 dives) & Bartolome land visit
• Day 7, Sunday: Puerto Ayora: Charles Darwin Research Station
• Day 8, Monday: Baltra (Airport)

Galapagos Diving Cruise Specifications

• Category: First Class Yacht
• Length 80 feet
• Beam 21,3 feet
• Speed 8 knots
• Electricity: 110 Volts
• A large Staging area, air compressor, tanks, weights and diving equipment
• 8 double cabins with private bathroom, air conditioner and hot water.
• Fully Air Conditioned Social Areas.
• TV – DVD
• 7 crew members plus a naturalistic dive master,
• All safety equipment complies with international coast guard and dan regulations.

What is Included in the Galapagos Diving Cruise?

• Accommodations on Board
• All the meals
• Purified Drinking Water, Coffee, Tea
• Naturalistic Bilingual Guide Level 3
• All the transfers in Galapagos

What is not Included?

• National Park Tax Fee: $ 100 USD
• Flight Ticket to Galapagos : From Quito: $ 389 USD (RT) , From Guayaquil $ 344 USD (RT)
• Personal Diving Equipment: Wet Suit, Regulators, BCD, fins, mask, etc..

Insurance and Safety in Your Galapagos Island Diving Cruise

There is no insurance included in the programs and we highly recommend all divers to have their DAN insurance before going to Galapagos Island. We also recommend to bring dive alert.

Galapagos Naturalistic Expeditions + Occasional Scuba Diving

Combining your naturalist Expeditions with Occasional Scuba Diving: the great combination.

The perfect mix between diving and land visit, you have now the opportunity to enjoy your regular 4, 5 and 8 days cruise and combining the underwater world of the Galapagos . You can have two dives per day without affecting your regular cruise.

This option is perfect if you are traveling with family of friends that don’t dive.

Itinerary

• Day 1, Monday: San Cristobal Airport, Check out Dive, and land visit at Lobos Island. Check Out Dive.
• Day 2, Tuesday: Española: One dive during the morning, land visit to Point Suarez , in the afternoon land visit to Gardner Bay. Possibility up to 2 dives this day.
• Day 3, Wednesday: Floreana: One dive during the morning at Enderby, land visit at Point Cormorant. During the afternoon: Dive at Devil`s Crown and Post Office Bay land visit. Possibility up to 2 dives this day.
• Day 4, Thrusday: Isabela Islands, full day land visit at Port Villamil
• Day 5, Friday: Santa Cruz Island, Full day land visit to Charles Darwin Research Station and the High lands of the island.
• Day 6, Saturday: North Seymour Island in the morning: Dive and Land Visit. At the afternoon Bartolomé Island, dive and land visit. Possibility up to 2 dives this day.
• Day 7, Sunday: Dive at Gordon Rocks land visit to South Plazas , During the afternoon Santa Fe Island, dive and land visit. Possibility up to 1 dive this day.
• Day 8, Monday: San Cristobal Island: Interpretation Center visit and finish at the airport.

Galapagos Cruise / Boat Specifications

• Category: First Class Yacht,
• Length 80 feet
• Beam 21,3 feet
• Speed 8 knots
• Electricity: 110 Volts
• A large Staging area, air compressor, tanks, weights and diving equipment
• 8 double cabins with private bathroom, air conditioner and hot water.
• Fully Air Conditioned Social Areas.
• TV – DVD
• 7 crew members plus a naturalistic dive master,
  All safety equipment complies with international coast guard regulations.

What is Included in the Cruise?

• Accommodations on Board
• All the meals
• Purified Drinking Water, Coffee, Tea
• Naturalistic Bilingual Guide Level 3
• All the transfers in Galapagos

What is not Included?

• National Park Tax Fee: $ 100 USD
• Flight Ticket to Galapagos : From Quito: $ 389 USD (RT) , From Guayaquil $ 344 USD (RT)
• Each dive has a cost of $ 70 USD, including all the equipments and dive master.

Insurance and Safety

There is not insurance included in the programs and we highly recommend all divers to have their DAN insurance before going to Galapagos. We also recommend to bring dive alert.