First-class Galapagos Cruises

Highlights

• Waking up each morning, docked at a new and different site brimming with nature at its best
• Dazzling vistas of otherworldly landscapes
• Luxurious onboard amenities, highly personalized service, and delectable gourmet dining
• An astounding ecosphere bursting with exotic wildlife found nowhere else
• Expert naturalist guides providing insightful narratives on all aspects of the islands  
• Sea kayaking, nature-trail hiking, snorkeling, onboard wildlife-watching, motorized “panga” rides and more

What you’ll experience at on a first-class Galapagos Cruise

Roomy, comfort-filled accommodations are par for the course on a 1^st-class Galapagos cruise. These are provided in cabins with individualized climate controls, fully appointed private bathrooms, and ample storage space. For observing the spectacular Galapagos scenery roll by, you’ll typically have your own balcony as well as large, ocean-view windows (NOT the tiny portholes in a small cabin on a tourist-class boat). Upscale social areas include a lounge, a library, a bar, sundeck, a Jacuzzi, and both indoor and al fresco dining areas, while sea kayaks are also available for use. The services of friendly well-trained crew members — including experienced, bilingual, naturalist guides who will lead you on daily excursions onto the islands — are complemented by delicious Ecuadorian and international cuisine. These pure comforts combine to make a 1st-class Galapagos cruise a great choice for your ultimate Galapagos vacation.

Are cruises through the Galapagos Islands safe?

Passengers on a Galapagos cruise should know that the yachts and ships sailing the waters of the archipelago are operated by trained and experienced professionals. These are teams of highly-skilled crew members and guides with first-aid and CPR training; and, as you’ll see, each cruise begins with a comprehensive safety briefing to familiarize you with all of the ship’s safety equipment and protocols.

The ships that Surtrek selects are all outfitted with the most up-to-date safety equipment, as well as satellite phones for emergency calls, life vests for all passengers, smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, and lifeboats. In addition, all of our boats are regulated and checked in dry-dock for maintenance, with regular safety and performance assessments to ensure the boats are completely secure. 

Therefore, when cruising through the Galapagos islands, safety should not be a major area of concern, as the vast majority of trips occur with no problems whatsoever.  In fact, most safety issues are those related to protection from sunburns, taking common-sense precautions around animals (e.g. male sea lions), safe swimming and diving practices, and perhaps overdoing it at the ship’s bar.

Concerning crime, the few towns and villages in the Galapagos are known to be safer than those on mainland Ecuador. Still, to prevent opportunistic wrongdoing, levelheaded measures should be taken, such as keeping an eye on your belongings, not flaunting valuables, etc. – the same precautions that should be taken when traveling anywhere in the world.

When passing through the big cities of mainland Ecuador en route to the islands, you’ll be accompanied by experienced local guides during any time spent here. In any case, travelers should avoid going out alone at night, take registered taxis, and walk in groups – just to be sure.

All of this being said, Ecuador is a relatively safe country overall, especially its Galapagos Islands. Therefore, you shouldn’t let the slight potential for crime keep you from enjoying all that this amazing county has to offer.

Best Time to experience the Galapagos Islands

There’s really no “bad” time to visit the Galápagos Islands. Whenever you visit, the adventure is sure to be unique and eye-opening.

With that said, the sunny season extends from January through May, and is generally considered the best time to visit the Galapagos. This season has warmer air and water temperatures, though the period is also characterized by frequent but brief afternoon rains.

From June to December, cold ocean currents from the south bring cooler weather and the “Garua,” an almost perpetual light mist and fog. The upside is that these cold currents bring in large quantities of plankton that attract hungry marine life, making this time especially great for snorkeling and diving experiences. Also, for land excursions, you won’t have to worry so much about rain during this drier season. Read more about the best times to travel to Galapagos.

What should I pack for traveling to the Galapagos Islands?

When packing for a cruise in the Galapagos Islands, keep in mind that you’ll be visiting not just those tropical and semi-arid islands, but also the South American continent. With no direct flights to the archipelago, you’ll touch down first on the cooler Ecuadorian mainland, where most travelers choose to spend at least a day or two in Quito to arrive in the Galapagos fresh and ready to hit the ground running.

Dressing for the spring-like weather of the Andean city of Quito means you’ll need to wear and pack a few warm and water-resistant items (e.g. a jacket, long-sleeve fleece or sweater, and long pants, as well as bring along a travel umbrella). 

Later, when landing in the Galapagos Islands, you’ll have to dress for warmer weather and geographies that range from sandy beaches to cactus-dotted deserts and volcanic-rock-strewn fields. In any case, for your daily land expeditions, pack a wide-brimmed sun hat or a cap with a strap, short-sleeve breathable T-shirts, long-sleeve expedition-style shirts, convertible cargo pants, comfortable walking shoes and open-toe sports sandals with non-slippery soles (which are great for “wet landings,” where you’ll have to step directly out of from your dingy into angle-deep water and sand on the beach). Don’t forget shorts, swimwear, and some reef-friendly sunscreen for your ship’s sundeck and the shore, and if you’re prone to motion sickness, bring some Dramamine.

For the cool evenings on the water, some of the warmer items that you packed for the mainland will serve you well. Also, most yachts don’t have a formal dress code, so casual clothes are fine, even at dinner time.

Since you’ll sometimes be traveling to uninhabited (meaning store-less) islands, be sure to pack plenty of memory cards or film, batteries, recharging cords, and personal toiletries. Then too, though most ships provide wetsuits and snorkeling gear, you may want to bring along your own equipment if these are special-sized items or simply preferable.

Worried about leaving anything out? Don’t fret – after you book your tour, you’ll receive a detailed packing list from Surtrek as a part of your information packet.

How to get to the Galapagos Islands?

As there are no direct international flights to the Galapagos Islands (an Ecuadorian province), you’ll fly into mainland Ecuador*, choosing to land either in Quito (which is the county’s capital and located in the Andes) or in the hot and steamy coastal Ecuadorian city of Guayaquil.

While flights to both cities are plentiful, Quito is generally considered a more compelling stopover option. With its stunning colonial center, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, it’s easy to spend a couple of fascinating days here in the Ecuadorian capital. In either city, you’ll be welcomed at the airport by Surtrek representatives, who will assist you with your luggage and privately drive you to your upscale hotel.

From the airports in Quito (UIO) and Guayaquil (GYE), there are three daily flights to the Galapagos Islands, landing at the airport on Baltra Island (GPS) or San Cristobal Island (SYC). These take approximately 3 hours and cost between $300 to $500 USD per person for a round-way ticket, depending on the time of year you fly.

Like with your stay in mainland Ecuador, from the moment you touch down in the islands and until it’s time to leave, you will be accompanied by experienced, bilingual, Surtrek representatives and guides who will accompany throughout your cruise and when traveling to and from your boat.

Therefore, during your Galapagos experience, you’ll be welcomed upon your arrival at each airport, assisted with your luggage and checking in at all domestic and international airports, provided ground transportation to your boat, and finally seen off on your flight home or onward.  So don’t worry – Surtrek’s soup-to-nuts services make travel and getting around a breeze.

(*) Note: Direct non-stop flights fly to both Quito and Guayaquil from several US cities, including Houston, New York, and Miami. Likewise, such flights arrive from European cities such as Madrid.

Why go on a 1st-class Galapagos cruise with Surtrek?

We here at Surtrek have over 25 years of experience helping travelers find the best upscale Galapagos cruise that suits their specific needs and preferences. We personally inspect the quality of each yacht, catamaran, and cruise ship that we recommend, in addition to confirming that each boat meets our exacting standards and our environmentally friendly Green Philosophy. In fact, before we give any boat the thumbs up, we have previously traveled on that ship – sleeping in its beds, rating the coffee, tasting the cuisine, getting to know the guides, and yes, even doing the “heavy lifting” of sampling the cocktails on board. For assistance in planning your once-in-a-lifetime trip to the Galapagos Islands, contact one of our expert Galapagos trip planners.