BEFORE YOUR BOOK

Most travelers pick the wrong Galapagos cruise

Not because they’re careless — but because 90% of what they read online was written to sell them one specific yacht. Here are the three questions you should actually be asking.

01

“Is this really the best yacht for me?”

Most Galapagos cruise websites only sell one ship — so of course it’s “the best.” We’ve inspected 40+ yachts across every category. The right one for your traveler profile is rarely the most advertised.

We’ll match you to the right yacht in one call.

02

“Am I paying reseller markup?”

US and European agencies typically add 10–25% on top of the operator price. When you book directly with an Ecuador-based Galapagos cruise operator like us, you pay the same source price — often less, thanks to allotment agreements.

Yes, you’re likely overpaying. Let’s check.

03

“What’s the itinerary actually cover?”

Not all Galapagos cruise itineraries are equal. Eastern route sees waved albatross. Western sees penguins. Northern is a bird paradise. The National Park caps every yacht to a fixed 15-day itinerary — so choosing right is a one-shot decision.

We’ll walk you through every option.

CHOOSE YOUR STYLE

Which Galapagos cruise fits your trip?

Four cruise categories, one archipelago. Click your style — each opens the full ship lineup, availability, and pricing.

Luxury

Luxury Galapagos Cruises

Ultra-luxury yachts with private balcony suites, Michelin-level dining, and 1:8 guide ratios.

First-Class

First-Class Yachts

The sweet spot: excellent guides, comfortable cabins, unbeatable value. Most travelers pick here.

Diving

Galapagos Diving Cruises

Liveaboard cruises to Wolf & Darwin — hammerhead schools, whale sharks, and the world’s top dive sites.

Alternative

Prefer to Sleep on Land?

Island-hopping tours with hotel nights on Santa Cruz, Isabela & San Cristóbal. Cruise-adjacent flexibility.

1993

BOOKING GALAPAGOS CRUISES SINCE

ECUADOR-BASED SINCE 1993

Why book your Galapagos cruise directly with Ecuador’s experts

We’re not a US-based marketplace reselling what we’ve never seen. Surtrek is a Quito-headquartered Galapagos cruise operator with three decades of firsthand relationships with every ship in the archipelago.

Direct operator agreements. No reseller layers. You pay the source price for every Galapagos cruise we book.

We’ve been on the yachts. Every ship we recommend, our team has slept on, eaten on, and cruised on.

Real-time cabin availability. Our system pulls live inventory from operators — not stale allotments.

4D / 3N

This beautiful, modern luxury-class motor yacht features comfortable cabins, excellent cuisine, and ...

Seymour, SantaFe, Plaza, Genovesa, DarwinBay, Barranco, Highlands, Bachas,

from

US$ 3,900

Discover

View All 40+ Galapagos Cruises

2027 DEPARTURES AVAILABLE

Every Galapagos cruise delivers this.

You’ll be within arm’s reach of species that exist nowhere else on Earth — and completely unafraid of you. This is what an actual Galapagos cruise vacation looks like.

30+

ENDEMIC SPECIES

18

ISLANDS VISITED

2x

DAILY EXCURSIONS

Blue-Footed Boobies

Courtship dance at arm’s length. North Seymour.

Marine Iguanas

Only marine lizard on Earth. Fernandina.

Giant Tortoises

Older than your grandparents. Santa Cruz.

Sea Lions

They’ll swim to you underwater. Every island.

REAL TRAVELER REVIEWS

15,000+ travelers, 4.9★ verified rating

Every review is Tripadvisor or Google verified. We’ve been booking Galapagos cruises since 1993 — reputation compounds.

      EXCELENTE  
   A base de 146 reseñas 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Publicado en Tripadvisor  
   
   Nicole C 
 24 Junio 2025
 
 
 Verificada Wonderful trip
We were so taken care of by Surtrek on a recent family trip to Equador and the Galapagos (travelers ages 8-77). Our Surtrek guide Maite worked with us to design a trip that focused on the items we wanted to be sure to see, and our timeframe and budget. Local guides and the boat tour she outsourced were wonderful. We felt so comfortable every step of the way for what would have otherwise been confusing travel. We definitely would recommend this company to others!
  
 
      Publicado en Tripadvisor  
   
   Journey12963557311 
 25 Febrero 2025
 
 
 Verificada Unforgettable sensitive experience.
Excellent!!!An unforgettable journey accompanied by the cordiality and professionalism of the company.Highly recommended, willing to repeat!
  
 
      Publicado en Tripadvisor  
   
   Edgardo Marcelo M 
 25 Febrero 2025
 
 
 Verificada Beautiful experience. Wonderful places. Very well explained by guides of admirable training.
All very well. There are no details to improve. The absolute good disposition and kindness were unbeatable. Makes you want to return soon
  
 
      Publicado en Tripadvisor  
   
   Elsa M 
 25 Febrero 2025
 
 
 Verificada A dream trip
The views was amazing. I took a lot of photos. Never seen animals, dream landscapes, amazing sea color. Luxury hotels, in Isabela by the beach, just steps from my room!!
  
 
      Publicado en Tripadvisor  
   
   Nick V 
 17 Diciembre 2024
 
 
 Verificada Ultimate fun, minimized hassles, amazing tour operation and travel agency
I've had several people ask me what the highlight of our Quito, Ecuador and Galapagos Islands trip was, and frankly it's hard to pinpoint anyone thing so I tend to tell them: all 8 days! Our trip started with being greeted and picked up by our amazing travel agent, Maite. She was delightful from start to finish. Easy to communicate with via email, phone, and whatsapp. Maite consistently made sure we had what we needed. Surtrek supplied our driver, Christian, and our tour guide in Quito, Juan. Christian was a great driver. He knew the roads inside and out and we always felt safe. Juan probably knows everything about Ecuador -- and interestingly also Chicago! The time in Quito was fabulous. We enjoyed seeing the sites of the city and the cloud forest nearby. We ate delicious food and really had a treat with great weather. Maite and Christian got us to the airport for our trip to Galapagos and made sure we were smoothly through security. I've never had such personal service!Our time on the Horizon was fabulous. The staff onboard were top to bottom great. From the tour coordinator to the housekeeping to the culinary to the guide and of course the folks who drove the dinghys that got us to and from every activity. The food was top knotch with a lot of variety. The activities were fun and not overly strenuous, but also not lethargic. A nice balance.I was pleasantly surprised that in November there were no bugs, so no need for bug spray. Of course plenty of need for sun screen still! But the temps were great. High 70's and low 80's Fahrenheit. We saw basically everything in the Galapagos: penguins, blue and red footed boobies, frigate birds, owl, land and marine iguanas, sea lions everywhere, and of course the giant tortoises! During snorkeling we had [small and hammerhead] sharks in the water with us, sea lions in the water, schools of brilliant fish, and 1 amazing encounter with a sea turtle only feet away from my mask. It was breathtaking. Some folks say later in the summer is the best time because the water is clearer, but in our case the water was still quite clear and the animals were much closer to the surface, so it worked great. And the crew provided us with wet suits, so that helped with buoyancy and with warmth. After Galapagos we were shocked to have Maite and Christian back with us at the airport. We expected since our planned activities with Surtrek were done that we wouldn't see them again, but no they were there to meet us again and make sure we transited to our final hotel for a few hours sleep before the final trip home. It was a very pleasant surprise, and frankly just made it so much simpler than being "on our own".The coffee, the chocolate, the hummingbird sanctuary, all the beautiful sites. Dessert all the time. Just a really great trip!I'd go back to Ecuador in a heartbeat, and Surtrek is absolutely how I'd organize my trip to make it hassle free!
  
 
      Publicado en Tripadvisor  
   
   TravelerPatch 
 20 Noviembre 2024
 
 
 Verificada Oh, were there to be Six Stars to give!
My friend and I were looking to do a boat-based Galapagos trip, as well as a few days in and around Quito. Normally, I don't much use tour companies, preferring to plan the trip mostly on my own. However, for a few reasons, and after some research, we ended up working with Maite at Surtrek to plan this trip. It was, simply, fantastic.From the start (and all the various questions over email) to the end (meeting us at the airport as we were headed back to the U.S., Surtrek (and, specially, Maite - and our guide, Juan and driver, Christian) was 100% top-notch, full recommend, no-doubt-about-it wonderful.Assuming you can book a flight to and from Quito, the rest you will not have to worry about one bit. They will work with you to tailor a trip exactly to your liking (we had a grand time doing just what we hoped to do) and, while on that trip, you'll have a blast. The enthusiasm and passion with which Juan lead the tours was unsurpassed. Christian was a great driver and, also, such fun. Maite was a true joy with which to work.I know this sounds a bit over the top, but it's also accurate. I fully recommend - trust me - you won't be disappointed.
  
 
      Publicado en Tripadvisor  
   
   Laura M 
 9 Noviembre 2024
 
 
 Verificada Galapagos, Machu Picchu, and Easter Island!
Everything about this trip was absolutely amazing. Surtrek arranged and organized everything for us - it was one of the best travel experiences we've had. We had guides and drivers who took very good care of us and made sure we got to see and do absolutely everything. I would HIGHLY recommend Surtrek for any South American travels!
  
 
      Publicado en Tripadvisor  
   
   Sangeetha M 
 21 Octubre 2024
 
 
 Verificada Amazing honeymoon trip to the Galapagos!
We loved our trip with Surtrek! We worked closely with Fernando to plan our honeymoon to the Galapagos. We didn't know exactly what we wanted to do; whether it was a cruise or a land tour. But, we knew we needed to plan it relatively soon or the opportunity would slip through the cracks as we got busy with work travel and the holiday season that was approaching. Fernando provided several options to choose from with a combination of cruise and land options; all within our budget. He provided his insight and suggestions along the way, which was much appreciated! We ultimately chose a 7-day, 6-night luxury yacht with an additional 3 nights on the island to explore by ourselves. It took a little more than a week from the time I contacted Surtrek to the time we finalized/booked the trip, There was always someone to guide us every step of the way, which was also appreciated as neither of us spoke Spanish. All the logistics worked out perfectly. 10/10 would recommend!
  
 
      Publicado en Tripadvisor  
   
   Donalyn R 
 28 Septiembre 2024
 
 
 Verificada The trip of a lifetime!!
We just had the most amazing adventure and it was all thanks to Maite at Surtrek! She patiently listened and crafted the very best experience for my husband and I! We visited Mindo, Cotopaxi, Baños, the Napo Cultural Center in the Amazon, and took a cruise around the Western Galapagos islands. From start to finish, Maite was so kind, so patient, and attended to my every question and concern. This was to be a celebratory vacation for many reasons, but principally our 25th wedding anniversary. Maite shared this with some of our hosts and we experienced beautiful celebrations at the restaurants and hotels we stayed at. It was the trip of a lifetime and we were so well cared for. When I expressed concerns regarding the reported unrest in Ecuador, Maite was able to reassure me that all would be well and that we would be very safe. We always felt very secure and comfortable. The private transportation and guides, the beauty and nature we witnessed, everything was amazing!! I cannot recommend Surtrek highly enough. We came home with over 1,800 pictures! Absolutely incredible! While you may be able to find cheaper options for travel, the quality of our experience with Surtrek was absolutely worth the price. If you want a quality experience, Surtrek is a fantastic choice!
  
 
      Publicado en Tripadvisor  
   
   Trail777667 
 21 Julio 2024
 
 
 Verificada Surtrek is Awesome
When my wife & I were planning a trip to Galapagos and Peru, we contacted 3 or 4 different travel agencies. I found Surtrek to be the most helpful, knowledgeable, flexible and offered competitive pricing. I dealt directly with Ligia at Surtrek and cannot find enough words to describe the friendly and superior services she provided us. We had specific cities and sights we wanted to visit and Ligia mapped out an excellent itinerary for us, including hotels, flights, restaurants and sightseeing. We visited Quito, Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca, in addition to an 8-day luxury cruise of the Galapagos islands. All arrangements, including flights, cruise, hotels, ground transportation, sight-seeing and guides were arranged by Surtrek. We were met at each arrival city by an expert guide and driver and the guide also helped us check in for our on-going flights at the end of each city tour. The guides were very knowledgeable, experienced and friendly, treated us very well and catered to our every need. Surtrek even helped secure reservations at high end restaurants in Lima, which are difficult to get unless booked well in advance. Surtrek made us alternate arrangements when one of our flights was canceled for mechanical reasons. Our trip lasted 18 days and all arrangements were flawless.To add a personal touch, Ligia treated us to a very nice lunch on our arrival in Quito. Thank you, Ligia, for making our Ecuador/Galapagos/Peru trip such a memorable, enjoyable and stress free one. I look forward to contacting you at Surtrek for our future South America travels.

HOW IT WORKS

Booking your Galapagos cruise in 4 simple steps

No forms-inside-forms. No 12-email exchanges. This is how a real Ecuador-based cruise operator gets you sailing.

Free consultation

30-minute call. We ask 8 questions to understand travel style, dates, and budget.

Curated shortlist

Within 24 hours, 2–3 ships and itineraries matched to you — with honest trade-offs.

Book & customize

Pay a deposit to hold your cabin. We build the full trip: flights, hotels, extensions.

Sail with support

24/7 WhatsApp support from our Quito office throughout your entire trip.

COMMON QUESTIONS

Galapagos cruise vacation FAQ

The 8 questions we get asked most. Straight answers — no fluff.

How much does a Galapagos cruise cost in 2027?

Galapagos cruise prices in 2027 range from $2,600 per person for tourist-superior yachts to $10,000+ for ultra-luxury small ships. Most travelers spend between $4,500 and $6,500 per person for a first-class 5-night cruise, which includes accommodation, all meals, naturalist guides, and shore excursions. The $200 Galapagos National Park fee and $20 transit card are always additional.

When should I book my Galapagos cruise?

Book luxury Galapagos cruises 8 to 14 months in advance for peak season (June–August, December–January). Standard cruises can be booked 3 to 6 months out with good availability. Real last-minute deals sometimes appear 4 to 6 weeks before departure, but selection is limited. Booking too close to departure typically means paying more for less choice.

Are Galapagos cruises safe?

Yes. Every Galapagos cruise operates under strict Ecuadorian Navy and National Park regulations, with certified crews, mandatory safety drills, and modern navigation. Small-ship yachts are especially stable in the archipelago’s calm inter-island waters. Since 1993, Surtrek has never had a safety incident on any cruise we’ve booked.

What's the best length for a Galapagos cruise?

8 nights (7 full days) is the ideal Galapagos cruise length. It covers 2 island regions, meets the Big 5 wildlife species, and matches the National Park’s most complete itineraries. 5-night cruises work as add-ons to Machu Picchu or Amazon trips. Anything under 4 nights sacrifices most of the archipelago’s magic.

What is included in a Galapagos cruise tour?

Standard Galapagos cruise tours include: your cabin, all meals, snacks, non-alcoholic drinks, twice-daily naturalist-led shore excursions, snorkeling gear, wetsuits (on most ships), and transfers on the islands. Not included: international flights, the $200 in park fees, alcoholic drinks beyond house wine, tips, travel insurance, and optional add-ons like scuba diving.

Can I take kids on a Galapagos cruise?

Yes — most Galapagos cruises welcome children from age 7, and select family-friendly yachts accept kids from age 5. A few luxury ships are adults-only or have age 12+ minimums. We’ll match your family to the right ship based on kids’ ages, cabin needs, and desired activity mix. Family-only departure dates run during North American school holidays.

Do I need to book my Galapagos cruise vacation through an Ecuador-based operator?

You don’t have to — but working directly with an Ecuador-based Galapagos cruise operator like Surtrek eliminates reseller markups (often 10–25%), gets you real-time cabin availability, and gives you a local expert who has personally inspected the yachts. US-based agencies typically resell what we sell — but at higher prices with less direct control if something goes wrong on the ground.

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

There is no bad time for a Galapagos cruise — every month offers wildlife highlights. January–May: warmer air and water, calmer seas, courtship displays. June–December: cooler weather, more marine wildlife, highest sea lion pup activity. Peak booking months are June–August and December–January.

READY WHEN YOU ARE

2027 Galapagos cruises are filling up now.

Luxury departures for June–August 2027 typically sell out by December 2026. First-class yachts sell out 4–6 months ahead. Talk to a Surtrek expert today — no obligations, no pushy pitch.

Get My Personalized Quote

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Call US Toll-Free

+1 (866) 978-7398

Email Our Experts

info@surtrek.com

Galapagos Cruises, curated the honest way.