The best way to experience the Galapagos Islands is aboard a small-ship cruise. With the many cruises for the Galapagos, it can be difficult to choose a vessel for your experience. The larger vessels that accommodate 50 to 100 visitors can seem crowded and lack the personal touch of smaller vessels.
A small-ship cruise keeps the experience intimate and provides a more personal tour of this incredible region.
The following tours are our selection of small ship Galapagos Cruises defined as accommodating 20 people or less. These include luxury-class, first-class and adventure-class ships to suit a diversity of preferences.
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The Elite Galapagos Cruise
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Baltra Island, Ecuador
With its first voyage in 2019, the Elite is one of the newest and most modern luxury vessels for the Galapagos Islands. Imagine exploring the Galapagos with skilled guides to see iconic wildlife and returning to the modern opulence of the Elite.
Specifically designed for the Galapagos, the Elite was crafted for performance, comfort and stability for you to focus on enjoying this remarkable destination.
The Elite offers you:- Golden Suites
- Cozy exterior and interior bars
- Al fresco dining area
- Super-structure of 38 meters (124 feet) by 14 meters (46 feet) wide
- All suites have private outdoor balconies and panoramic sliding glass doors
- All convertible suites: king size bed or two double beds
- Adjoining accommodations available on both decks
- Suites' restroom with frosted glass wall for plenty of natural light
- Two panoramic doors to access the catamaran's main areas
- 180-degree panoramic view from the interior lounge
- Integrated social areas blend indoor and outdoor designs and experiences
- Social areas feature extended outdoor balconies
- The sky deck is generously proportioned, featuring a whirlpool bath and exterior bar
- Partially covered sky deck
On Elite itineraries, enjoy guided tours of the islands, diverse wildlife, beautiful scenery and some fascinating bays, beaches and marine areas.
Check availability for your dates and send your request to the Elite Cruise using the button below.
4, 5, 8 daysThe Elite Galapagos Cruise
Baltra Island, EcuadorThe Elite Cruise invites you on an extraordinary exploration of the Galapagos Islands. With modern luxury, the Elite had its maiden voyage in 2019 and...
- High Luxury Cruise, Guided Galapagos Tours
From $ 4,690
/ person -
The Endemic Galapagos Cruise
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Baltra Island, Ecuador
The sister vessel to the Elite above, the Endemic offers the same level of comfort and luxury. Enjoy spacious suites, delicious cuisine and expertly guided Galapagos excursions.
The opulent vessel offers spacious staterooms with private balconies, lavish communal spaces, and delectable culinary delights. Embarking on this magnificent vessel, you will enjoy exciting tours under the guidance of knowledgeable naturalist guides.
Surpassing the majority of Galapagos cruises in terms of stability and comfort, the Endemic showcases masterful craftsmanship, ensuring your enjoyment over your island-hopping cruise.
Each cabin boasts air-conditioning, a private balcony offering breathtaking vistas, an expansive and flawlessly appointed bathroom, and the choice between a king-size bed or two twin-size beds.
From the luxurious Endemic, you will embark on meticulously designed excursions to different Galapagos Islands. Accompanied by your guide, you will discover the iconic giant tortoises, graceful frigate birds, playful sea lions and famous marine iguanas.
You can send the Endemic a request for your travel dates using the button below.
4, 5, 6, 8 daysThe Endemic Galapagos Cruise
Baltra Island, EcuadorThe Endemic Galapagos Cruise is a luxurious modern catamaran designed to offer you a fantastic experience of the Galapagos Islands. The luxury yacht ...
- High Luxury Cruise, Guided Galapagos Tours
From $ 4,690
/ person -
The Petrel Galapagos Cruise
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Baltra Island, Ecuador
The Petrel Galapagos Cruise is a 16-passenger luxury catamaran to explore the Galapagos Islands. Enjoy incredible up-close experiences with iconic Galapagos wildlife. And you will explore on island walks, kayaking tours and snorkeling the waters guided by some of the best naturalist guides on the Galapagos. In addition to incredible wildlife, learn about the fascinating history and see some iconic and beautiful landmarks, beaches and scenery.
The Petrel is a motorized and luxurious catamaran designed for performance, comfort and stability. This means you will enjoy a comfortable cruise as you move from island to island to exploring the archipelago.
Aboard the Petrel, you have a choice of different itineraries available with two alternative itineraries for each of their 6-day and 8-day cruises. The also offer a cruise of 4-days and 5-days for those who have less time available.
To give an example of what to expect, here is a summary of the 4-day cruise aboard the Petrel:You will begin the cruise by exploring San Cristobal Island. Enjoy a visit to the giant tortoise breeding center for an introduction to these iconic animals. The next day will be spent on Espanola Island for the famous Gardner Bay for some amazing experiences of sea lions, marine iguanas and pelicans. You will then head to Floreana. Here, you will explore the famous Devil’s Crown, Cormorant Point and the Post Office Bay. Enjoy some fantastic animal sightings, such as sharks, rays and hundreds of tropical fish as you snorkel wildlife-rich areas. Visit the saltwater lagoon to see flamingos then learn about the human history of Post Office Bay.
After Floreana, you will visit Santa Cruz Island and the Charles Darwin Research Center before returning home with a transfer to the airport.
Check availability for your travel dates, view more itinerary options and send the Petrel Cruise a request using the button below.
4, 5, 6 & 8 daysThe Petrel Luxury Cruise
Baltra Island, EcuadorThe luxurious Petrel Galapagos Cruise offers you an extraordinary journey of the Galapagos Islands. Over 3, 4, 5 or 7-night itineraries, you will cru...
- Luxury Cruise, Guided Galapagos Tours
From $ 4,190
/ person -
The Ocean Spray
The Ocean Spray is another luxury-class catamaran and is the sister vessel of the Petrel above. And aboard the vessel, you will explore the Galapagos Islands in a high levels of comfort. The cruise is designed to maximize comfort and performance as you travel from island to island. Enjoy guided tours around the islands to find incredible wildlife. In addition to wildlife walks, you can enjoy snorkeling and kayaking tours to explore different reefs and bays.
The Ocean Spray offers spacious and comfortable accommodation, a sundeck and a jacuzzi. You will then enjoy delicious cuisine in the vessel’s elegantly designed dining room. The private balcony of your accommodation then provides a way to maintain connection to this incredible environment. Aboard the Ocean Spray, you have a choice of 4-day, 5-day, 6-day and 8-day cruises for in=depth exploration of the Galapagos. To provide a summary of the islands and wildlife you will enjoy, here is a summary of the Ocean Spray 8-day cruise ‘B’ itinerary.
The Ocean Spray Cruise B itinerary begins on San Cristobal Island to enjoy the sea lions and the famous Leon Dormido Galapagos land-form. You will also enjoy beautiful bays, beaches and some fantastic wildlife sightings, including sharks, rays and tropical fish.
You will then visit Floreana Island to see the wildlife-rich Devil’s Crown where you can snorkel to spot a diversity of colorful fish. After this, enjoy a beautiful bay on Santa Cruz Island to see diverse marine life before visiting Pinnacle Rock, which is another iconic landmark in the Galapagos. The next day, explore the beautiful coral beach at Darwin Bay and the Prince Phillip’s Steps, which lead you through Galapagos birdlife up a steep path.
The next day will be spent exploring the island of Genovesa, including Espumilla Beach, Buccaneer Cove and Puerto Egas. Around Genovesa, enjoy hearing stories about pirates, view the beautiful black-sand beach, and see some incredible wildlife.
On the last two days, you will explore North Seymour Island, the highlands of Santa Cruz and Mosquera Island. While here, you can spot iconic giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, orcas and other Galapagos wildlife.
4, 5, 6 & 8 daysThe Ocean Spray Cruise
Baltra Island, EcuadorAboard the Ocean Spray Cruise, you will embark on a memorable journey through the mesmerizing Galapagos Islands. The 16-passenger luxury catamaran of...
- Luxury Cruise, Guided Galapagos Tours
From $ 4,190
/ person -
The Eco Galaxy Galapagos Cruise
Although not as opulent as some of the above luxury Galapagos cruises, the Eco Galaxy Galapagos Cruise offers a comfortable experience aboard a first-class vessel. Enjoy spacious and comfortable cabins and well-equipped bathrooms. The vessel offers comfortable accommodation, social areas, the bar, sundeck and balconies. In addition to enjoying the Eco Galaxy vessel itself, head out from the main vessel on guided island tours. See some incredible wildlife and beautiful scenery as you cruise from island to island. Aboard the Eco Galaxy Cruise, you have a choice of the 4-day, 5-day, 6-day and 8-day itineraries.
As an example, the 6-day cruise ‘B’ itinerary begins on Santa Cruz Island and a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Center to learn about the islands and for an introduction of what to expect on your cruise.
The itinerary then includes Isabela Island, Fernandina, Santiago and Rabida Island. Enjoy some incredible wildlife and beautiful scenery.
The Eco Galaxy Galapagos Cruise
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The Alya Galapagos Cruise
The Alya Galapagos Cruise offers a luxury catamaran to enjoy a cruise of the Galapagos Islands. As one of the newest vessels for the islands, the Alya offers comfort, personalized service, spacious suites and elegantly styled living areas.
In addition to enjoying the comfortable suites and social areas, you will also enjoy delicious cuisine in the Alya’s dining room. The dining room is surrounded by windows to keep you connected to this incredible environment. You can then enjoy a variety of drinks in the bar.
You can then enjoy a choice of itineraries dependent on where you wish to explore and how many days you have available on the Galapagos Islands. Enjoy guided island walks to find incredible wildlife, visit beautiful beaches, and kayaking and snorkeling opportunities to see abundant marine life. -
The Galaxy Galapagos Cruise
The Galaxy Galapagos Cruise offers a comfortable cruise of the Galapagos Islands. The vessel has Smart Voyager Certification and offers spacious cabins, private bathrooms and comfortable social areas. You will then enjoy a delicious selection of foods in the dining room while enjoying fantastic views. The bar then divides the social areas from the restaurant.
On your Galaxy Galapagos Cruise, enjoy guided island exploration and different activities to appreciate this unique environment. Visit some of the iconic landmarks on the Galapagos and enjoy beautiful scenery and many different animals. You can choose a variety of itineraries aboard the Galaxy Cruise, including 4-day, 5-day, 6-day and 8-day cruises.
To provide an example of where you will visit, the Galaxy Galapagos Cruise 6-day ‘C’ itinerary includes a visit to Santa Cruz, Rabida, Sombrero Island, Seymour, Mosquera, Santiago, Bartolome, Genovesa and San Cristobal. You will visit some of the favorite destinations on each of these islands to enjoy the best the Galapagos has to offer.
The Galaxy Yacht Cruise
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The Nemo III Galapagos Cruise
The Nemo III offers a motor-sail catamaran to enjoy guided tours of the Galapagos Islands. In addition to hopping from island to island, enjoy guided tours of the islands themselves to find iconic Galapagos wildlife.
The Nemo III vessel itself offers comfortable accommodation, private bathrooms, jacuzzi and a sundeck. In the dining room, you will then enjoy three meals each day between your island excursions. The vessel is also air-conditioned to keep you comfortable on cruise. To give you an idea of what to expect, the 8-day Nemo III Galapagos Cruise itinerary includes a visit to:- Bachas Beach on Santa Cruz
- The Prince Phillips Steps and Darwin Bay on Genovesa
- Sullivan Bay on Santiago Island
- Dragon Hill and the highlands on Santa Cruz
- The Giant Tortoise Breeding Center
- Moreno Point and Urbina Bay on Isabela
- Espinoza Point on Fernandina
- Taguz Cove on Isabela
- Egas Port and Buccaneer Cove on Santiago
- Daphne Island
The Nemo III Cruise
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The Nemo II Galapagos Cruise
The Nemo II is a motor-sail catamaran offering an island-hopping cruise of the Galapagos Islands. Enjoy a cruise of the northern or southern islands over either 4, 5 or 8-days.
The Nemo II offers double cabins with a personal bathroom. In the dining room, you will then enjoy 3 meals each day prepared freshly by talented chefs. The rooms on the Nemo II are air-conditioned to keep you comfortable on your cruise.
You will then enjoy guided tours around the islands themselves to find fantastic wildlife, beautiful bays and enjoy stunning scenery.
On your Nemo II Cruise, you can choose between two itineraries that visit either the northern or the southern islands. To provide an example, here’s a summary of the 8-day northern itinerary aboard the Nemo II Cruise:You will begin your cruise on Baltra Island where you will first cruise to Seymour Island. Here, you will find a diversity of Galapagos birds, including the royal frigates.
The next day, you will visit the highlands of Santa Cruz Island, which offers a fascinating landscape and viewing the famous giant tortoises. You will also visit the Charles Darwin Research Center in the afternoon to learn a little more about the Galapagos and the wildlife.
The evening will be spent on cruise to Isabela Island ready for the following morning.
The next day, you will enjoy some beautiful scenery with a visit to Punta Moreno with its fascinating volcanic landscape. Enjoy spotting different birds, marine iguanas and see the coral reef.
After this, you will spend the following day at Tagus Cove to learn the history of pirates, buccaneers, and whalers visiting the islands. The area is also inhabited by Galapagos penguins, pelicans and flightless cormorants.
The afternoon will be spent at Punta Espinoza on Fernandina. The area is rich in wildlife, such as sea lions, flightless cormorant and one of the largest populations of iguanas on the islands.
On the itinerary, you will also enjoy sea turtles at the beautiful Espumilla beach and the dark red sand of Rabida Island. Here, you can also watch and snorkel with playful sea lions.
The final day will be spent around Daphne Island to enjoy different birds and the scenery before a delicious breakfast and your return journey home.
The Nemo II Cruise
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The Galapagos Habit Hotel Package Tours
You can also enjoy island hopping packages from the Galapagos Habitat Hotel (previously called the Red Mangrove). Enjoy luxury accommodation in your Galapagos Habitat suite then board a cruise vessel for exploring the nearby islands. Enjoy a choice of itinerary options or customize your experience to your interests.
The Galapagos Habitat hotel offers tailor made itineraries to explore the islands with a combination of the hotel and island-hopping by cruise vessel. You will enjoy guided hiking tours on different islands to find Galapagos animals. The Galapagos Habitat Hotel itself is positioned on the island of Santa Cruz next to the Charles Darwin Research Center, which is one of the island’s top attractions. The hotel is home to one of the highest rated restaurant on the islands and is also nearby many more, as well as art galleries, souvenir shops, cafes and other attractions. Even at the Galapagos Habitat hotel itself you can find marine iguanas visiting the deck and sea lions lounging on deckchairs.
The Red Mangrove Hotel
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Ash
Tour Advisor at TourTheTropics.comAsh Card is a frequent visitor to the Tropics and has a passion for helping visitors get the best experiences from tropical locations. Ash is a contributor and tour advisor at TourTheTropics.com. Feel free to contact Ash for tour help in the tropics. When not helping tourists with tours and info, Ash can be found traveling, on wildlife tours or salsa dancing. Ash has completed a BSc in Biology, a Master’s degree in Zoology, and has undertaken a research scholarship at a world-class university on animal behavior. He has published scientific research in the Australian Journal of Zoology and the Journal of Behavioral Ecology. His goal is to help a global society live in balance with the natural world.