✓ Animal spotting on secluded islands
✓ Memorable snorkelling experiences
✓ Small-scale cruise aboard a boat with a maximum of 16 people
Galapagos Cruise: what to expect
A Galapagos Island cruise is a bucket-list trip, and there are numerous boats available at varying levels of price and quality. In true Rickshaw style we can offer an affordable, short (5-day) cruise through this unique region. We prefer to partner with small-scale boats with a maximum of sixteen passengers, to offer an intimate experience. You’ll sleep in a cabin with bunk beds and a private bathroom. We can arrange an upgrade with more spacious cabins and single beds if you’d prefer.
Tip For the Christmas and summer holidays, we advise you to book your Galapagos trip as far as a year in advance to guarantee availability.
At night you’ll be sailing and by morning, you’ll wake up in a totally new location. Sometimes you’ll sail during lunch so you can explore a different area in the afternoon. Every day after breakfast and lunch you will have an excursion. One day, you could be hiking with giant tortoises on Santa Cruz, and the next, you might be snorkelling with playful sea lions at Santa Fe. Weather permitting, you go snorkelling almost every day. There are various sailing routes that differ per boat. The exact itinerary is also subject to change depending on weather conditions. These changes may be made before and during the cruise. Check out a sample route below to give you an idea of what to expect.
Wildlife you’re likely to see includes sea lions, sea turtles, giant tortoises, flamingos, frigate birds, blue-footed boobies, albatross, manta rays, Galapagos sharks, reef sharks, pelicans, iguanas, and various tropical fish. There’s also a small chance of seeing a hammerhead shark.
Example day 1
You’ll fly into Isla Baltra in the Galapagos from Quito or Guayaquil. A minibus will be waiting to take you to the port of Puerto Ayora where you’ll board your floating home for the next five days. On the way to the harbour, you usually make a stop at the tortoise reserve to see giant tortoises. This evening is all about getting settled in and enjoying a couple of drinks as you get to know your fellow shipmates a little better.
*You’ll need to pay some local taxes today – US$20 at Quito Airport and US$100 when you arrive in the Galapagos – so make sure you’ve got some cash!
Example day 2
This morning you’ll likely arrive at the island of Floreana. You’ll have your first chance to glimpse the underwater world at Devil’s Crown. This volcanic cone is home to pelicans, frigates and boobies, whilst underwater you may find rays, turtles, sea lions and small sharks. Later on, you’ll head to Punta Cormorant. This narrow headland has beaches on both sides and is a popular hangout for sea lions and a nesting site for turtles.
Example day 3
On your Galapagos island-hopping adventure, breakfast always comes with an amazing view. Today you’ll typically wake to a view of Espanola – one of the archipelago’s most famous islands, with a huge variety of wildlife to see. First you’ll hike 3km along rocky trails to a clifftop where you’ll have a spectacular view of your surroundings. Boobies and frigates line the shore, whilst huge albatross perform elaborate mating dances or launch into flight from the cliff edge. You’ll continue to Bahia Gardener – a long, sweeping beach where sea lions and mockingbirds commune, and offshore you can snorkel amongst turtles, reef sharks and a huge variety of colourful tropical fish.
Example day 4
On this penultimate day of your Galapagos adventure, you’ll explore two unique islands tucked between Santa Cruz and San Cristobal. The morning starts with a visit to Santa Fé, home to a species found nowhere else on earth, not even on the other Galapagos islands – the Santa Fé land iguana. While you enjoy lunch back on board, the captain sets sail for Isla Plaza Sur. This tiny island is known for its bright red and green volcanic landscapes, and rugged cliffs that are home to tropicbirds and gulls.
Example day 5
Today is your last chance to soak up the magic of the Galapagos and get a final look at its incredible wildlife. Sadly, your trip is almost over, but there’s still one more highlight to enjoy. Just north of Baltra, North Seymour is often the last stop before heading home. It’s the perfect place to spot blue-footed boobies and frigate birds, with the males proudly puffing up their bright red throat pouches.
Back on board, you’ll enjoy lunch while the boat makes its way to Baltra. A minibus will be waiting to take you to the airport in time for you onward flight. If you want to spend longer exploring the islands, check out our other bite-sized trips and combine this cruise with a short stay on one of the inhabited islands.
Accommodation
For this bite-sized trip we offer the following options
Extend to an 8-day Galapagos cruise
If you’d like to explore more of the incredible Galapagos Islands and spend a little longer on board, we can arrange an 8-day cruise for you. You’ll visit a handpicked selection of islands, depending on the conditions, and discover the iconic wildlife of Española, the dramatic landscapes of Fernandina, and the vibrant red sands of Rabida – all enjoyed from the comfort of an intimate ship, with only a handful of other passengers.
The exact activity schedule is determined on-site and depends on weather conditions and local authorities, but this is an example itinerary:
Day 1: Santa Cruz Island Baltra Island – Bachas Beach
Day 2: Genovesa Island – El Barranco – Darwin Bay
Day 3: Bartolome Island – Santiago Island
Day 4: South Plazas – Santa Fe Island
Day 5: San Cristobal Island – Kicker Rock – Witch’s Hill – Lobos Island
Day 6: Española Island – Suarez Point – Gardner Bay – Gardner Islet
Day 7: Floreana Island – Cormorant Point – Devil’s Crown – Charles Darwin Station
Day 8: North Seymour – Baltra
Galapagos Cruise upgrade
If you’re looking for a little extra comfort on board a larger, more modern and luxurious yacht, then we can arrange this for you. You’ll sleep in a spacious cabin, with the option of a private balcony or even a suite. Relax in the jacuzzi on the sun deck, enjoy freshly prepared meals either inside or out in the sea air, and get adventurous by making use of the snorkel gear, kayaks and paddleboards available to hire on some vessels. With a larger and slightly faster yacht, the journey between the islands is more comfortable, yet the experience is still intimate with only around 16 guests on board.