A Cruise Is the Best Way to See the Galapagos Islands-Here's How to Choose the Right One

"In the Galápagos Islands, you will find wildlife unlike anywhere else in the world and ideal weather year-round. And what is the best way to explore this area of the world? By taking a fantastic small-ship, expedition-style cruise. But with dozens of cruise options, deciding which is best for you can feel daunting without an expert to parse the differences. I am the founder of Knowmad Adventures, a tour operator specializing in custom travel to South America."

"In the Galápagos Islands, there are three different classes of ship to consider: luxury, first, and tourist superior. To simplify, you could compare it to five, four, and three-star hotels. Luxury cruises generally have the most spacious cabins (many with balconies), excellent on-board dining, a low passenger-to-crew ratio, and superb customer service and guides. Generally, prices range for an experience like that range from $900 to $1,500 per person, per day, though they can occasionally dip a bit lower than that."

The Galápagos Islands offer unique wildlife and favorable year-round weather best explored by small-ship, expedition-style cruises. Cruises fall into three classes: luxury, first, and tourist superior, comparable to five-, four-, and three-star hotels respectively. Luxury ships offer spacious cabins, many with balconies, superior dining, low passenger-to-crew ratios, and high-end guides, typically costing $900–$1,500 per person per day. First-class vessels offer slightly smaller cabins and less emphasis on food at $700–$900 per person per day. Tourist superior yachts provide comfortable, mid-range accommodations at $500–$700 per person per day. Eight days is the traditional full-length program; five days is generally the minimum for an immersive experience, and shorter trips are possible for travelers who prefer less routine or fewer in-water activities.

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