The Galapagos Islands. You’ve dreamt of it for a lifetime.

For centuries, home to pirates and whalers, but mostly to highly unusual fauna, inspiration for Darwin’s theory of evolution as presented in On the Origin of Species. And one of the few places on Earth where the wildlife shows no fear of humans, meaning you can observe unique and magical creatures from just a few metres away. You want to see and do everything. But with so many options available in this exhilarating, iconic destination, you know there will be many things to consider before choosing a vessel.

This then begs the question - how to determine which cruise or vessel is right for you? So, to help you answer this, we have listed some of the perceptions many people have below, to answer some questions, get you on the right track and ultimately help you decide.

Perception #1. Cruise ships (exploration vessels) are too large for exploring Galapagos Islands.

Reality. In other parts of the world, cruise ships can be massive. In Galapagos, the largest ships hold a maximum of 100 passengers and are perfect for exploring the islands. The options range from single-guided boats, with approximately 6-10 cabins, to two different types of multi-guided ships: Expedition yachts (approximately 16-24 cabins) and expedition vessels (over 24 cabins).

Perception #2. I’ve done sailing in calm harbours and seas, so I guess in the tropical waters of the Galapagos my boat won’t move enough to cause me discomfort?

Reality. Stability can make all the difference for an enjoyable cruise vacation and it is a strong feature of an expedition vessel. Contrary to popular belief, tropical waters are not always calm and an expedition vessel, by its very nature, reduces movement experienced at sea. Single-guided boats often face interesting challenges when sailing between islands and can become uncomfortable due to their smaller size.

Perception #3. I can go on any ship. After all, they all cover the whole archipelago

Reality: Not all ships reach all the islands you might want to visit, such as Genovesa, Fernandina, Española and North Seymour Island. The archipelago covers a vast area of 138,000 km² (about half the size of Great Britain!) and the ship and the itinerary that you choose will largely determine how much access you should the wildlife in the National Park.

Perception #4. If I want to go ashore for activities in a small group, I must go on a small ship.

Reality: The Galapagos National Park official regulation authorizes 16 or fewer guests per guide. On expedition vessels, the number of guests per guide comes down to an average of just 12.

Perception #5. With so few guests on board a single-guided boat, I´ll never feel cramped.

Reality: If it’s space and freedom you want, you need to consider the guest space ratio, an industry benchmark designed to show how much room each guest has on a ship and provide a common number that can be compared from ship to ship. Anything above a GSR of 20 is considered comfortable. The average GSR on an expedition vessel or yacht is 28. Small ships usually have a GSR of around 14, less space per person.

Perception #6. I can do any Galapagos National Park approved activity I want, whenever I want, no matter how I visit the islands.

Reality: With land-based travel, you have more options for activities occurring outside the park boundaries. But if you want to visit any sites within the park limits, it’s important to remember that the National Park Authorities require that you do so accompanied by a licensed Naturalist Guide, which means you will have the greatest flexibility with activities on multi-guided expedition vessels and yachts.

In a nutshell – Galapagos Cruising is by no means of the imagination a cheap affair. It can be, in fact, very costly. But more than that - it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and you want to get it absolutely right. Please do talk to us to get the best advice for your journey as there is much more to consider.