Choosing the Best Galapagos Cruise For You

A trip to the Galapagos Islands is no ordinary vacation; that’s why planning that trip is no ordinary task. There’s so much to consider when thinking about your vacation to the Galapagos, so let us help you figure out what the best option is for you.

Step one: Choose the trip type, cruise and land-based options

There are two options for a Galapagos vacation: Cruises or land-based tours (known also as “island hopping” or “hotel-based tours”). Some people like to combine both these to get the most out of their island experience, but really either one is a great way to see what the Islands have to offer.

• • GALAPAGOS CRUISES

Seeing the Galapagos on a cruise is the quintessential Galapagos experience. Most people decide to tour the Galapagos on a cruise for several reasons including the opportunity to visit more islands and National Park visitor spots in less time, and excellent quality of services upon higher end yachts.

• • LAND-BASED GALAPAGOS TOURS

Land-based tours have distinct advantages, such as lower costs and freedom to maintain your own schedule. They are especially attractive for folks who don’t quite have their sea legs and are prone to sea sickness. They can also let you experience other activities not available on cruises such as hiking to the top of volcanos, bicycling and SCUBA diving day trips.

Here’s an excellent article that measures the pros and cons of cruises vs. land-based trips.

Once you’ve decided that a cruise is the right choice for you, here are a few other things to consider.