7 Day Galapagos Cruise: The Adventure of a Lifetime

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Are you considering visiting the legendary Galapagos Islands but unsure of how to enjoy them? We highly recommend a 7 day Galapagos cruise! My husband and I visited the Galapagos Islands for our honeymoon and dream vacation in February 2014. We chose a Galapagos cruise because we wanted to see as many islands as we could in the little time that we had. The trip, while expensive, was worth every penny!

About the Galapagos Islands

The Galapagos Islands are located in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador in South America. The Islands have a rich history, particularly in relation to Charles Darwin and his theory of evolution. In 1835, Charles Darwin visited the Galapagos as part of his famous voyage on the HMS Beagle. Darwin was particularly intrigued by the unique species of wildlife that he encountered on the islands, which he found to be remarkably different from those on the South American mainland.

Darwin spent several weeks exploring the Galapagos and collecting specimens of plants and animals, including the famous finches that would later play a key role in his theory of evolution. He observed that the different species of finches had evolved distinct beak shapes and sizes depending on the type of food available on each island. These observations, along with other research and data that Darwin gathered on his voyage, led him to develop his theory of evolution by natural selection. Darwin’s book “On the Origin of Species,” which was published in 1859, laid out his ideas and revolutionized the field of biology.

The Galapagos Islands are geologically interesting as well. The Islands are a volcanic archipelago that formed through a series of volcanic eruptions over millions of years. The islands are located at a tectonic hot spot in the Earth’s crust, where molten magma rises from deep within the mantle and creates a chain of volcanic islands as the plate underneath slowly moves.

Old lava flows at Espinosa Point on Fernandina Island.

The oldest islands in the Galapagos archipelago, including Española and San Cristobal, are estimated to be around 4 million years old, while the youngest islands, such as Fernandina and Isabela, are still active and continue to grow through ongoing volcanic activity.

My husband and I both studied geology in school, so we learned a lot about the history of the Islands, which sparked our interest in wanting to visit the exotic location. After getting married in the fall of 2013, we decided that a Galapagos cruise would be a great honeymoon and final trip before we started a family.

Starting in Quito, Ecuador

To begin, our specific cruise had a meeting point of Quito, the capital of Ecuador. Everyone participating in our cruise met in Quito, had a debriefing session one evening and left for the Islands together the following morning on the same flight. Of course, each cruise and cruise company may do things differently.

After we arrived on the island of Baltra in the Galapagos, we met our guide, Pedro, at the airport. He led our group to the 100-foot ship that served as our home base for the course of our journey. These ships normally accommodate 16–20 passengers and provide cozy quarters, food, and entertainment. Although I can’t speak for all cruise ships, ours had private bathrooms in each cabin. (Huge plus in our opinion!)

Typical Daily Itinerary

Each day had a somewhat different schedule, but in general, our days were planned as follows:

• 7:30 am Breakfast

• 8:15 am Land excursion

• 10:00 am Back on board

• 10:40 am Snorkel excursion

• 11:30 am Back on board

• 12:00 pm Lunch

• 2:00 pm Land excursion

• 3:00 pm Snorkel excursion

• 4:30 pm Back on board

• 6:45 pm Briefing for the following day

• 7:00 pm Dinner

The days were packed full of activity, and we were welcome to join in as many or as little as we wanted. Our entire group participated in every single land and snorkeling excursion. Apparently, this is rare, as Pedro referred to us as his “tigers”, because we all had enough energy to do all the excursions.

Land and Snorkel Excursions

Land excursions

During our cruise, we had the opportunity to explore several different islands in the Galapagos archipelago, each with its own unique landscapes and wildlife. We hiked through volcanic terrain, walked around animals hanging out on the walkways, and visited breeding grounds for blue-footed boobies.

Snorkel excursions

For the snorkeling excursions, sometimes we boarded the dinghies to be dropped off at the snorkel destination. Other times, the snorkeling would take place from a beach that we were already visiting during the land excursion.

We snorkeled with amazing sea life such as turtles, colorful fish, penguins, sea lions, and marine iguanas. On one of our first days snorkeling, my husband and I had a playful sea lion that came VERY close and seemed to want to play with us! Check it out below. But that was nothing compared to what we experienced just a few days later!

One day, we crossed from Isabela Island to Fernandina Island and Pedro told us this is a good time to watch for whales, as the waters between the islands are quite deep. We climbed to the top of the boat after lunch to start looking for sea life. Not long after, my husband and Pedro were able to spot a very large animal in the water. (I don’t know how they saw it; I couldn’t see anything but water!)

They concluded it was a whale shark! Pedro yelled, “Get to the boats!” There was a mad dash to get all supplies as quickly as possible and get to the dinghies for the opportunity to snorkel with a whale shark.

The dinghies dropped us off in what appeared to be the whale’s path, and after a few misses, we were finally successful. And how!! This 40-foot female whale shark swam with us for about 40 minutes; ascending and descending throughout the water column.

At times, she came so close to us that we could have easily reached out and touched her (but NOT allowed!). At times she went down so far, it was hard to see her at all. She eventually descended to the depths where we could no longer see her, so we got back on the dinghy to head to the boat. It was truly the most amazing thing I have ever experienced!

Obviously, this kind of encounter won’t happen for everyone. In fact, Pedro told us that in all the years he had been a guide, he’d never seen a whale shark so large that swam with a  group for so long. We were truly lucky!

Other Attractions

Arnaldo Tupiza-Chamaidan Giant Tortoise Breeding Center

There were also visits to research centers, such as The Arnaldo Tupiza-Chamaidan Giant Tortoise Breeding Center operated by the Galapagos National Park Service, located on Isabela Island. The center’s primary goal is to help conserve and restore populations of the endangered Galapagos giant tortoise, which is one of the most iconic and unique species in the archipelago. The center works to breed tortoises in captivity and then release them into the wild to help repopulate areas where they have become extinct or endangered.

Charles Darwin Research Center

We also visited the Charles Darwin Research Center, a scientific institution located on Santa Cruz Island. It was founded in 1959 and is dedicated to the study and conservation of the unique biodiversity of the Galapagos Islands.

The center conducts research on a wide range of topics related to the Galapagos, including the ecology, evolution, and genetics of the islands’ endemic species. The station is home to several research facilities, including laboratories, a library, and a tortoise breeding center, where scientists study and work to protect the endangered giant tortoises of the Galapagos.

Guidelines and regulations of the islands

In order to protect the fragile ecosystem of the Galapagos, visitors are required to follow strict guidelines and regulations. For instance, you are only permitted to visit specific regions of the islands, you must always stick with your guide, stay on the designated trails, and keep a safe distance from the wildlife. Throughout our time on the islands, we frequently had to avoid wildlife, such as a seal lion mother nursing her pup right on the walking path!

Pricing

One of the main concerns many people have about embarking on a 7 day Galapagos cruise, is the price. Yes, they are often pricey, with costs ranging from several thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the level of luxury and the time of year. But if you’ve always wanted to go to this enchanted place, think of it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that’s well worth the cost!

Which Company to Use

While there are different travel companies that offer a 7 day Galapagos Cruise, our experience was guided by G Adventures, a Canadian adventure travel company that specializes in small-group tours to destinations all over the world. G Adventures offers a wide range of tour types to suit different travel styles and budgets. These include active tours, family tours, cultural tours, wildlife tours, and more. The company’s tours are typically designed for small groups of 12 or fewer travelers, which allows for a more personalized and immersive travel experience.

Overall, a 7 day cruise to the Galapagos Islands is an incredible opportunity to witness some of the world’s most unique and fascinating wildlife in their natural habitat. It’s important to plan ahead, follow the regulations, and respect the fragile ecosystem to ensure that this incredible destination can be enjoyed by future generations.