You’ll find some destinations beautiful, others historically or culturally significant, and yet others that are relaxing. The GALAPAGOS Islands will change the way you see the world.
WHY Go To GALAPAGOS?
- To experience things not available anywhere else. This is the ultimate bucket-list trip.
- The wildlife has not learned that humans are a threat. It’s like being at the world’s largest zoo, but on the side of the fence with the animals.
- Raw Natural Wonder at every turn. You’ve never seen scenery and wildlife like this.
WHERE Is It? Hint: It’s CLOSER than you think.
- Galapagos straddles the equator, and are 600 miles off the Pacific Coast of Ecuador.
- It’s a 5 hour flight from Houston or Atlanta to Quito, and Ecuador is in the same time zone as Atlanta (Galapagos is one hour earlier) – so jet lag is minimized.
WHO Goes to Galapagos?
- If you loved going to the zoo as a child, you’ll love Galapagos.
- Outdoor Enthusiasts — These trips are active and busy. You’ll be walking, snorkeling (or a glass-bottomed boat), sea kayaking, and taking zodiac boat rides.
- Photographers – You won’t STOP taking pictures.
- You DON’T have to be an Olympic athlete. You DO have to be curious about the world.
- Darwin’s Research. If you’re a science geek, this destination is already on your list. Charles Darwin was here in 1835, and his research is still being discussed today.
WHAT You’ll Do in GALAPAGOS:
- Geology & nature walks, hikes, snorkelling, glass bottom boat rides, zodiac-safari, beach walks, visits to ecological reserves, and sea kayaking.
- You’ll see marine iguanas, sea lions, giant tortoises, and a huge variety of birds and fish.
CRUISE or Land Stay?
- In Galapagos, you’ll have the best experience, and see more on a ship.
- The biggest ship here is small – 100 guests maximum. Many are as few as 16.
- Every stop on a Galapagos cruise is different, so you’ll get to see a wider diversity of plant, wildlife, and geology, than if you stay at a hotel.
- You’ll be escorted by a Park Ranger guide, who will bring your visit to life.
A Typical Day in GALAPAGOS
- Get up at dawn, and go for a walk. Come back to the ship for breakfast.
- Go for a zodiac ride, or perhaps sea kayaking for wildlife spotting before lunch.
- Set off snorkeling, or for those that prefer a glass bottom boat ride in the afternoon.
- Come back, have a shower, have a cocktail on deck to watch the sunset.
- Dinner followed by a lecture by one of the on-board expert guides.
If you’re more inclined to shopping and cruise ship production shows, then Galapagos is not a great choice for you. If you love the idea of learning something new, seeing things you haven’t seen before, and taking in a spectacular natural setting, then give us a call.
UNPACKED Podcast – GALAPAGOS
Check out our UNPACKED PODCAST where Kim & Bob talk about what travelers can truly expect when visiting the Galapagos, and about Bob’s trip there last year. We explore the wildlife encounters, the different expedition cruise styles, and how to choose the right experience for YOU.
In Case You Missed It:
HX CRUISES for the Curious: Learn more about HX Expeditions, where they go, and what you can expect on board:
https://pamperedcruiser.com/hx-remote-cruises-for-curious-souls/
OVERTOURISM: There are many more opinions than there are solutions to this problem, but ultimately we’re going to have to find a middle ground:
https://pamperedcruiser.com/over-tourism-and-what-you-can-do/
WHEN VACATION is YOUR JOB: You have asked how our travels might differ from yours:
YOUTUBE Videos to Help Plan Your Trip to GALAPAGOS ISLANDS:
GALAPAGOS ITINERARY Video: Follow along with us, when we visited Galapagos last year:
GALAPAGOS SNORKELING: Here’s what you’ll see in Galapagos UNDER the water. If you’re not into snorkelling, you can get similar views from a glass-bottomed boat:
DEMYSTIFYING EXPEDITION: If you think you need to be an Olympic athlete to enjoy an expedition cruise, then you’ll want to watch this interview where Bob chats with Alex McNeil – the Chief Expedition Officer for HX Expeditions. You might be surprised who goes on Expedition Cruises, and what they’re all about:
https://youtu.be/niB-OWhUSSs?si=TNZxSuQJsdjU57gU
Remember to SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel while you’re there. It really helps us, and we can produce more content for you!
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Today’s Travel Opportunities to GALAPAGOS
Here are some options if you’re feeling inspired by the information above. Keep in mind that Galapagos cruises often have add-ons for Machu Picchu, the Amazon Headwaters, and/or Quito.
HX Expeditions
HX is a great choice for the Galapagos Islands, and their ship holds 90 people. All the cabins have a large picture window (not that you’ll be in your room much!)
GALAPAGOS & QUITO for 8-nights with departures year round
- Start with 2-nights in Quito, then fly to Galapagos (included in fare) for 6 nights. Visit Mosquera Inlet, Santa Fe, South Plaza, Santa Cruz, Charles Darwin Research Station in Port Ayora, Espanola Island, Eden Islet.
- 2026: Fares from $6,843
- 2027: Fares from $7,050
GALAPAGOS & PERU with Machu Picchu for 12-days
- Start in Lima, then fly to Cusco, and take the TRAIN to Machu Picchu (the lost city of the Incas). Next it’s on to Quito where you can stand on the equator, visit the UNESCO world heritage site old town, and then on to Galapagos Islands, where you’ll spend 4 days on a ship
- Departures July through December from $9,725 (includes on-tour air)
SILVERSEA in the GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
If you want to experience the Galapagos in luxury, then look no further than the Silver Origin yacht, with all-veranda suites, carrying 100 guests.
SILVERSEA GALAPAGOS departing September 5 for 7-days
- Visit San Cristobal, Kicker Rock, Isla Bartolome, Santiago, Isabela, Punta, Espinoza, Tagus Cove, Elizabeth Bay, Floreana, Champion Islet, Punta Comorant, Santa Cruz.
- Fares from $11,200
- OR depart in January 2027 from $13,770
SILVERSEA GALAPAGOS departing for 14-days (explore even further!)
- Start in San Cristóbal and visit Kicker Rock, Isla Bartolome, Buccaneer Cove, Punta Vicente Roca, the Bolivar Canal, Punta Espinoza, Tagus Cove, Elizabeth Bay, Post Office Bay, Champion Islet, Punta Cormorant, Santa Cruz Highlands, Fausto Llerena Breeding Center, Cerro Dragon, Isla Guy Fawkes, Bahia Bowditch, Darwin Bay, North Seymour, Sullivan Bay, Punta Mangle, Punta Moreno, Cerro Brujo, and finish back in San Cristóbal.
- Fares from $20,800 with all inclusive plus
CELEBRITY GALAPAGOS departing year-round for 7-nights
It’s the same company that runs the mega-ships but these Celebrity Cruises are vastly different on Celebrity FLORA, a brand new yacht carrying only 100 guests.
Celebrity GALAPAGOS Outer Loop departing year-round for 7-nights
- Start in Baltra, and visit 12 different spots around the Galapagos including the Puerto Ayora for the Charles Darwin Research Center.
- Fares from $7944
Celebrity GALAPAGOS Inner Loop (with Quito) departing year-round for 10-nights)
- Start in Quito and visit Baltra, Santiago Island, Rabida Island, Elizabeth Bay, Isabela Island, Bartolome Island, Santa Cruz Island, Daphne Major and North Seymour Island.
- Fares from $10,594
INTREPID TRAVEL: departures year-round from Quito round-trip for 10-days
If you’re travelling with a group / family, or like a really intimate experience, then INTREPID offers itineraries on its 16-passenger yacht:
- Start in Quito and visit San Cristobal, Isla Isabela, Isla Floreana, Santa Cruz, and finish back in Quito.
- 2026: Departures July through December with fares from $4,120
- 2027: Year-round departures from $4,315
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC in the GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
Galapagos Islands by Catamaran (with only 16-guests) for 10-days
- Eight-days exploring the Galapagos by 16-passenger catamaran, with book-end nights in Quito or Guayaquil for flight logistics to/from home.
- Departures weekly from $8190 per person.
Galapagos Islands and Machu Picchu for 16-days
- Start in Quito or Guayaquil before spending 6 days on board National Geographic’s expedition yachts carrying between 48 and 96 guests. Next spend 2 days in Lima, and then on to Cusco for 3-days in the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. Return to Cusco, and then Lima for your journey home.
- Departures weekly from $12,109 per person
Today’s OTHER Travel Opportunities
RIVER CRUISES with AMA WATERWAYS
There aren’t any river cruises in Galapagos, but Colombia is nearby, and AMA has a one-week itinerary there:
COLOMBIA: Barranquilla to Cartagena for 7-nights
- Take in a Carnaval celebration, take a stilt-house village tour, enjoy a jazz street performance, and San Felipe Castle and Walled city tour. Enjoy the Latin music, sample the famous coffee, and take in the tropical rainforest.
- Only a 4 HOUR FLIGHT from many US Gateways.
- Pre/post available to Medellin and/or Panama.
- Departures year round. Pricing starts at $2999
Here’s a short video of a MOTHER-SON trip with AMA in Colombia that perfectly captures why you have Colombia on your radar:
https://youtu.be/tGbLg6R7mfI?si=YLDqAyklNozmvlM2
EASTERN EUROPE: Budapest to Bucharest departing for 7-nights
- Travel through Hungary, and then visit Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania.
- Optional extension to Transylvania/Dracula’s Castle and Bucharest.
- 2026: Departures June – December from $3,199
- 2027: Departures March – December from $3,179
Here’s a link to our video from when we did this trip: https://youtu.be/-OhF7PSrj0c
ATLAS YACHT EXPERIENCES
SPAIN & PORTUGAL: Las Palmas to Lisbon departing April 27, 2027 for 10-nights
- Start in Las Palmas and visit Canary Islands, Agadir, Casablanca, Tangier, Seville, Portimão and finish in Lisbon.
- Fares from $5,019
NORTHERN EUROPE: Dover to Oslo departing May 23, 2027 for 9-nights
- Start in Dover and visit Amsterdam, Harlingen, Kiel Canal, Wismar, Copenhagen, Skagen and finish in Oslo.
- Fares from $6,599
Do You Have an Upcoming Viking Cruise?
Viking’s BON VOYAGE incentive allows you to book your next Viking cruise in the 35 days BEFORE you board, and get some extra goodies for doing so:
- $100 per person on board credit
- 6-month final payment date
- $100 per person OFF one-week cruises, and bigger discounts for longer itineraries.
We made a short video about the Bon Voyage Program if you’d like more details:
https://youtu.be/gBM8IvjIb3U?si=Vy9UDiSqZQYHWR32
Contact us to book your NEXT VIKING CRUISE
If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sue Bradley
Sue Bradley
