Galapagos Islands Cruise Information

Tourism in the Galapagos Islands developed slowly in the 60s. However, Ecuador has come a long way in financing the planning and development of the Galapagos Islands for Tourism. The National park authorities, as well as the tourism board, decided that the best way to open the Galapagos Islands for tourism is for visitors to explore the islands with a cruise. The cruise minimises the impact of tourism on the islands to the lowest.

At the moment, 67 ships are in operation, and they come in different sizes. Some smaller yachts offer a private and exclusive atmosphere, with room for only 12 passengers. Bigger cruises can carry up to 100 passengers, and this is an excellent option for families with children and those who are prone to seasickness. Each ship and cruise offer different styles, facilities and services. You can check out our selection of luxury cruises and yachts or check out all cruise options here.

Galapagos Islands Cruise – The complete experience

For travellers and explorers who want the full Galapagos experience, a cruise tour is integral to achieve that. Most islands are only reachable by cruise especially the remote islands such as Darwin Island, Wolf Island and  Bartolomé Island, Fernandina Island just to name a few. Therefore we highly recommend you to explore the Galapagos Islands with a cruise.

The best option is to combine a cruise with island hopping. This means spending a few days to explore the remote islands by cruise and staying on inhabited islands for a few days while exploring nearby islands on day tours. This way you will not miss out on the exciting adventures that the Galapagos Islands have in store for you. Furthermore, some species can only be found on specific islands. For example, Albatrosses are only found on Española Island, which is only accessible by cruise.

What to wear?

For you to unwind and relax on the cruise, our advice for anyone is to dress comfortably. The dress code on the cruise can vary from formal to casual. However, the best attire for day trips and excursions are sandals or trekking shoes, breathable long bottoms, lightweight tops, a hat for sun protection and a windbreaker or sweater for the cool windy evenings. Not forgetting swimsuits for the many snorkelling and swimming opportunities! You can also check out our printable checklist here.