Our Galapagos vacations
Just one of the many reasons to recommend our Galapagos Islands vacations is their flexibility. You can enjoy island-hopping aboard small ship cruises piloted by local skippers, land-based multi activity vacations (perfect for families), or a combination of the two. What they all have in common is a focus on the wildlife. The Galapagos Islands are a model of ecotourism, and Darwin would probably approve of the efforts that go into protecting their natural heritage. Our partners follow strict rules to ensure that the tortoises, sea lions and iguanas remain as friendly and fearless of humans as ever.
Our top Galapagos Islands vacations
Ecuador & Galapagos tailor made tour
From
£6800 to £7900
22 days
ex flights
Private in-depth tour of Ecuador and The Galapagos
Tailor made
Tailor made
Galapagos land based adventure vacation
From
US $3394 to US $4600
10 days
ex flights
Amazing wildlife, both on land and underwater
Small groupTwo or three departure dates each week
Galapagos luxury nature cruise
From
£3750 to £4750
10 days
ex flights
Boutique expedition cruise around the Galapagos Islands
Tailor made
Galapagos and Machu Picchu vacation
From
£3595
14 days
ex flights
Cusco, Short Inca Trail & Galapagos Island Hopping
Tailor made
Galapagos cruise plus Ecuador and Peru
From
US $9660
14 days
ex flights
Combine two truly outstanding places in South America
Small group
Classic Galapagos Island hopping
From
US $3679
8 days
ex flights
Discover the highlights of the main islands in Galapagos
Tailor made
Tailor made tours Ecuador and Galapagos
From
£1885
10 days
ex flights
Explore Quito, Cloud Forest, Santa Cruz & remote islands
Tailor made
Luxury Galapagos Islands cruise, 10 days
From
£5149 to £7449
10 days
ex flights
A fantastic, in-depth Galapagos experience
Tailor made
About our Galapagos vacations
Wildlife vacations in the Galapagos
Galapagos comes from the word ‘giant tortoise’ in Spanish – and these gentle animals have become the symbol for the island’s friendly, easy-going wildlife. But there is a wider cast of strange beasts on the islands: a belligerent chorus of sea lions and fantastically coloured iguanas on the beaches, and birdlife – from the world’s only nocturnal gull to the charming albatross and flightless cormorants. Charles Darwin realised the significance of the wildlife here when he arrived in 1835, but it was 100 years later, in 1934, that the islands’ wildlife was officially protected – and they remain remarkably free of invasive species.
How to choose a Galapagos cruise
If you’re taking the time and effort to make the great leap to the Galapagos, then you’re likely to be agonising over how to choose a cruise. First thing to know is that passenger numbers are small: by law, the maximum capacity for a vessel is 100 passengers, and you can find really small, boutique trips in eight-cabin motor yachts and little catamarans. Most cruises visit the central islands of Isabela, Santa Cruz and San Cristóbal. Then you need to decide whether you want to add on remoter islands in the north, like Genovesa, or south, like Española and Floreana.
Land based tours in the Galapagos
Less popular than going by boat, but really worth considering, land based tours can be great if you don’t want to confine your family to a cabin. You might find locally owned accommodation is a lot cheaper than a boat, and you’ll get home cooking and a taste of the area – something you can miss out on when you’re anchoring at night. Staying on shore doesn’t mean never leaving dry land – in fact, there are plenty of speed boat excursions and snorkelling trips and it’s a great way to have a more adventurous, activity-based vacation of hiking and biking.
Family vacations in the Galapagos
There’s the joy of watching your kids discover something for the first time. Then there’s the very special joy of discovering the world together – and on a Galapagos family vacation, you get just that. These safe, friendly islands are amazing for children. Whilst many wildlife vacations require a good deal of patience and quiet – frustrating and boring for kids – Galapagos wildlife is more likely to be found right at their feet posing for a photograph. Congratulations: your children will now be spoilt for life. You can go on a specialised family cruise, or opt for land based accommodation.
Where to go in the Galapagos Islands
You’re likely to plan to visit more than one island on your Galapagos vacation, and there around 50 to choose between. If you choose to cruise on a small ship or yacht, you can see a different island every day, including smaller islands like Bartolomé, famous for penguins, or Santa Fe, with its strange forests of cacti. Most people will make stops in Santa Cruz for the Charles Darwin Research Station, and to see giant tortoises. If you choose to be land based, staying on Isabela, the largest island, means you can hike volcanoes and enjoy fantastic snorkelling from the shore.
Types of cruises & vacations to Galapagos
The standout reason for stopping in the Galapagos is for a wildlife vacation. Like Darwin before you, you can study unique animals – though the baby sea lions are far too playful to sit still for long. Small ship cruises visit a different island every day, but for a family vacation you may prefer land based accommodation so you all have a bit more space. Being land based also works well for multi activity vacations. Discover all the different ways you can get up close to nature – by hiking and kayaking, or by diving in the marine reserve.
[Wildlife in the Galapagos : Vince Smith]
[How to choose a cruise : vau902]
[Land based tours : Michael R Perry]
[Families : Jeremy T. Hetzel]
[Where to go : David Ceballos]
[Types of vacations : Derek Simeone]
