3 cruises found
In the Galápagos, a cruise brings you remarkably close to wildlife: land on a beach where sea lions sleep in the sun, walk among marine iguanas and lava cacti, then set off again by Zodiac for a cove where turtles, rays or penguins swim, depending on the island.
The experience feels immediate and almost hushed, as every landing centers on observation, respect for each site and guidance from naturalists.
The experience varies by itinerary across Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal, Isabela, Fernandina and Genovesa: some routes are easier to access, more volcanic, more marine-focused or more expedition-oriented.
Your search criteria:
Galapagos
Itinerary : Baltra, Gardner Bay, Punta Suarez, Cormorant point, Floreana, Punta Moreno, Isabela, Punta Espinoza, Ponta Vicente Roca, South Plaza, Daphne Island, Dragon Hill, Puerto Ayora, Baltra
47 other departures
Celebrity Flora
8 d
Suite
Baltra
08/08/2027
from
$ 10,320
Other departures:
15 Nov 2026
24 Jan 2027
07-21 Feb 2027
Other departures
Itinerary : North Seymour, islote mosquera, Puerto Baquerizo, Punta Pitt, Santa Fé Island, South Plaza, Santa Cruz Island - Galapagos, Punta Suarez, Gardner Bay, Eden Islet, North Seymour
7 other departures
MS Santa Cruz II
7 d
Ocean view Stateroom
North Seymour
11/06/2026
from
$ 6,784
Other departures:
11-25 Sep 2026
09-23 Oct 2026
20 Nov 2026
Other departures
Itinerary : North Seymour, islote mosquera, Punta Pitt, Puerto Baquerizo, Santa Fé Island, South Plaza, Puerto Ayora, Punta Suarez, Gardner Bay, Eden Islet, North Seymour
34 other departures
MS Santa Cruz II
7 d
Ocean view Stateroom
North Seymour
01/15/2027
from
$ 7,409
Other departures:
01-29 Jan 2027
12-26 Feb 2027
12-26 Mar 2027
Other departures
Santa Cruz
Puerto Ayora
Las Grietas
Puerto Ayora
Las Grietas
Santa Cruz
Las Grietas
Santa Cruz
Puerto Ayora
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno
Cerro Tijeretas
La Lobería
Cerro Tijeretas
La Lobería
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno
La Lobería
Puerto Baquerizo Moreno
Cerro Tijeretas
Puerto Villamil
Las Tintoreras
Fernandina
Las Tintoreras
Fernandina
Puerto Villamil
Fernandina
Puerto Villamil
Las Tintoreras
Genovesa
Prince Philip’s Steps
Santiago
Prince Philip’s Steps
Santiago
Genovesa
Santiago
Genovesa
Prince Philip’s Steps
Weather & swimming
Calmer seas and warmer water. Higher temperatures, possible brief showers, greener landscapes and good snorkeling conditions.
Expert advice
An excellent choice for a first cruise, especially if you want gentler seas, brighter beaches and a more relaxed atmosphere during shore landings.
Weather & swimming
Nutrient-rich waters support more marine life. Seas can be rougher, temperatures are cooler and nutrient-rich currents create favorable conditions for underwater observation.
Expert advice
A fascinating period for travelers drawn to marine wildlife, more intense snorkeling, penguins, active sea lions and an expedition atmosphere.
Weather & swimming
The archipelago teems with life. Wildlife-viewing opportunities are excellent, but the sea is cooler and demand is higher during vacation periods.
Expert advice
Choose this period if you are comfortable with a busy pace and more dynamic conditions. Bring a wetsuit to make the most of the snorkeling.
Weather & swimming
A more peaceful atmosphere. Crowds are often moderate, the water is still cool and wildlife sightings can be excellent.
Expert advice
A good time for travelers who want to avoid the busiest periods while still enjoying outstanding wildlife experiences.
| Season | Weather & swimming | Expert advice |
|---|---|---|
January - May & December | Calmer seas and warmer water. Higher temperatures, possible brief showers, greener landscapes and good snorkeling conditions. | An excellent choice for a first cruise, especially if you want gentler seas, brighter beaches and a more relaxed atmosphere during shore landings. |
June & September | Nutrient-rich waters support more marine life. Seas can be rougher, temperatures are cooler and nutrient-rich currents create favorable conditions for underwater observation. | A fascinating period for travelers drawn to marine wildlife, more intense snorkeling, penguins, active sea lions and an expedition atmosphere. |
July - August The archipelago teems with life. Wildlife-viewing opportunities are excellent, but the sea is cooler and demand is higher during vacation periods. Choose this period if you are comfortable with a busy pace and more dynamic conditions. Bring a wetsuit to make the most of the snorkeling. | ||
October - November | A more peaceful atmosphere. Crowds are often moderate, the water is still cool and wildlife sightings can be excellent. | A good time for travelers who want to avoid the busiest periods while still enjoying outstanding wildlife experiences. |
In the Galápagos, hotspots are not chosen as they would be in a typical destination: each site is protected, fragile and associated with a species, landscape or natural phenomenon. Their appeal lies in the combination of wildlife, geology and guidance from naturalists.
On Santa Cruz
The highlands are a great place to see giant tortoises in an environment that is greener and more humid than the coast.
On San Cristóbal
La Lobería and Playa Mann offer easily accessible encounters with sea lions and marine iguanas.
On Genovesa
Darwin Bay and Prince Philip’s Steps are particularly rewarding for seabird watching.
On Santa Cruz
The highlands are a great place to see giant tortoises in an environment that is greener and more humid than the coast.
On San Cristóbal
La Lobería and Playa Mann offer easily accessible encounters with sea lions and marine iguanas.
On Genovesa
Darwin Bay and Prince Philip’s Steps are particularly rewarding for seabird watching.
On Isabela
Sierra Negra Volcano offers a spectacular perspective on the archipelago's geology.
On Fernandina
Recent lava flows and colonies of marine iguanas form one of the wildest settings in the Galápagos.
On Santa Cruz
The highland lava tunnels offer a firsthand understanding of the islands' volcanic origins.
On Isabela
Sierra Negra Volcano offers a spectacular perspective on the archipelago's geology.
On Fernandina
Recent lava flows and colonies of marine iguanas form one of the wildest settings in the Galápagos.
On Santa Cruz
The highland lava tunnels offer a firsthand understanding of the islands' volcanic origins.
On Bartolomé
The view of Pinnacle Rock is one of the archipelago's most recognizable scenes.
On San Cristóbal
Cerro Tijeretas offers elevated views for photographing the bay, frigatebirds and blue waters.
On Isabela
Puerto Villamil's lagoons, flamingos and volcanic silhouettes create a gentler, evocative scene.
On Bartolomé
The view of Pinnacle Rock is one of the archipelago's most recognizable scenes.
On San Cristóbal
Cerro Tijeretas offers elevated views for photographing the bay, frigatebirds and blue waters.
On Isabela
Puerto Villamil's lagoons, flamingos and volcanic silhouettes create a gentler, evocative scene.
See giant tortoises in the Santa Cruz highlands
Giant tortoises remain one of the most memorable highlights of a Galápagos cruise. In the Santa Cruz highlands, travelers enjoy watching them move slowly through a natural setting of tall grasses, ponds and landscapes greener than the coast.
Swim with sea lions, turtles and fish in volcanic coves
Snorkeling is frequently mentioned in reviews because it offers a different perspective on the archipelago. Depending on the site, travelers may encounter curious sea lions, sea turtles, rays, colorful fish, penguins or reef sharks, always in a supervised setting that respects viewing distances.
Walk across the lava landscapes of Isabela and Fernandina
Isabela and Fernandina impress travelers with their raw, rocky character. Lava flows, marine iguanas, flightless cormorants and volcanic silhouettes create the sense of seeing the archipelago in a wilder, more primitive form.
Stop at the Puerto Ayora fish market on your way back
In Santa Cruz, travelers often enjoy this simple stop after a naturalist outing. Sea lions, pelicans and frigatebirds gather around the stalls, creating a vivid slice of local life just steps from the waterfront.
Swim among San Cristóbal's sea lions at La Lobería
In San Cristóbal, La Lobería is often praised for being easy to visit and quintessentially Galápagos. Travelers find a simple beach, sea lions all around, marine iguanas on the rocks and a more natural, less staged atmosphere than at the best-known sites.
Look for flamingos in the lagoons of Puerto Villamil
On Isabela, the lagoons near Puerto Villamil offer a gentler break from the major volcanic sites. Travelers enjoy strolling there, watching flamingos and waterfowl, and taking in the flat landscapes before returning to the beach or village.
Luxury cruises to the Galapagos are punctuated by nature. Each port of call reveals a different aspect of the archipelago's natural wealth. During a stopover on Baltra Island, which was home to an American base during the Second World War, you can wander through the labyrinth of coves in the area. You'll see sea turtles, herons, egrets and brown pelicans. After Baltra, your luxury boat will sail to Seymour Island, an uninhabited island with a cactus forest and palo santos trees. If you're an avid birdwatcher, this stopover will satisfy all your expectations. Here you can see blue-footed boobies nesting, watch frigate birds on a 2 km-long runway or get up close and personal with colonies of swallow-tailed gulls, the world's only nocturnal gull. While the birds are fascinating, they are not the only sights of the Galapagos. Surrounded by a sparkling blue sea, the Sombrero Chino volcano seems unreal. Once ashore, you'll be fascinated by the intertwining craters and lava. As you stroll along, you'll come across sea lions and marine iguanas enjoying the cool spray. This surreal landscape, straight out of a Jules Vernes novel, is home to wild beaches and diving spots, perfect for snorkelling.
While most of the Galapagos islands are uninhabited, Santa Cruz is home to a few villages. Despite the human presence, nature remains well preserved and still reigns supreme throughout the island. Santa Cruz's main attraction is the Charles Darwin Scientific Station. This houses an information center, a library and a turtle breeding facility. Some endangered species of iguana and tortoise are housed here to breed before being reintroduced into their natural habitat. Santa Cruz also promises a gourmet getaway. Most Galapagos restaurants are located in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz's main town. Isabela Island is home to the fishing village of Puerto Villamil, where flamingos and migratory birds have also made their home. If you spend enough time on land, you can climb the Alcedo volcano or enjoy the saltwater lagoons close to the fishing village.
Thanks to the confluence of numerous ocean currents, the Galapagos enjoy a unique microclimate, with a mix of dry and temperate climates. In winter, from the end of May to the end of December, the water temperature varies from 18 to 22°C, and the air is somewhat cooled by light rainfall. In the warmer seasons, the temperature rises, but the air remains cool due to high humidity. Water temperatures are also more pleasant, ranging from 24 to 30°C, depending on the island. This means that even the fussiest divers can enjoy diving, which remains one of the Galapagos' most popular activities. As you can see, temperatures are pleasant all year round, so you can enjoy a prestige Galapagos cruise in any season. However, if you want to see this destination at its best, the ideal time to plan your prestige cruise is between July and November. During this time of year, the sun is often out, nature is in full bloom and the birds and other animals that inhabit the Galápagos are easy to spot through the mangroves and volcanic landscapes.
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