Encantada Galápagos Cruise

Danubio Azul

The Danubio Azul is a budget class yacht with amazing service on board. She offers some superb naturalist and diving itineraries, including some of the more intimate and less frequented sites the Galápagos have to offer. The vessel carries complimentary snorkels and wetsuits, and is equipped with two tenders (or "pangas"). With a maximum of 14 guests, as opposed to the more common 16, the Danubio Azul really does give you are more intimate and friendly experience. We personally cruised with this vessel. Featuring 5 double cabins, each with air-conditioning and en suite bathrooms, the Danubio Azul features modern, bright and comfortable decor throughout. The cabins were spacious and clean, and all of them had functioning air-conditioners and hot water, and we slept wonderfully on comfortable beds. We chose an eight-day cruise that included South Plaza, Santa Fe, San Cristóbal, Floreana and Bartolome - an exceptional itinerary for a short cruise. The captain, cook and guide were extremely friendly and very attentive, as were the two other staff on board. The food was first class with a really excellent variety - something you would only expect on much more expensive classes of vessel. At Galapatours we were impressed by the Danubio Azul and its staff The Danubio Azul Yacht is one of the smallest and most intimate vessels on the Galápagos Islands with only 5 cabins (up to 14 people) that makes for an ideal cruise experience for families or friends. All in all, this ship, the cabins, the meals, the itineraries and the staff are a perfect combination to visit the Galápagos Islands with an intimate setting.

Aida Maria

What better way to experience the Galápagos Islands than on board a yacht that was designed and built right here in the islands from local materials and using local craftsmen? The Aida Maria was launched in 1997, and her owner's family have been a part of Galápagos life since the 1930s. A Galápagos cruise aboard Aida Maria gives you a unique perspective on these unique islands. We think Aida Maria gets the balance just right between affordable Galápagos cruising and having an enjoyable, comfortable and stylish experience. When you step on board, it's remarkable to think that the entire ship was made using local Galápagos timbers and that beautifully polished wood takes pride of place in Aida Maria's decor. She boasts 8 double cabins with traditional-style bunks. The cabins are decorated in lovely light and airy style, and they all have a private bathroom with shower, air conditioning, and classic porthole windows. The communal areas on board have simply stunning polished wood floors and ceilings, but the ship doesn't feel dark because of this. In fact, her saloon boasts large panoramic windows that span the entire length of this deck, flooding her with equatorial light, and providing you with first-class views of the islands as you dine or relax with fellow guests. Unusually for a ship of this class, Aida Maria has 2 sundecks where you can soak up the Galápagos rays. The upper sundeck gives delightful views and has a canopy for shade, but you can also choose to relax on the bow of the main deck - but don't forget your sunblock! As befits a boat with so much local provenance, the dining experience sees your chef use the freshest ingredients to prepare a wide range of delicious local and regional specialties in addition to a great variety of international favorites. Wonderful wildlife Aida Maria's owners have used their intimate knowledge of their home to design a range of superb itineraries for you to choose from. The Aida Maria's itineraries are among the most flexible in her class in terms of sites visited and length of Galápagos cruise - there are currently 6 different options you can take! You can even choose the combine her two best itineraries into one 15-day Galápagos cruise of a lifetime. Whichever you choose, you can be assured of seeing a wide range of stunning [Galápagos wildlife](https://www.galapatours.com/animals) and remarkable [Galápagos islands](https://www.galapatours.com/en/island/). Her onboard naturalist guides are all highly experienced National Park approved locals, and they speak English and Spanish. They will go out of their way to bring you closer to the wildlife and habitats of the islands, and they will be a fascinating source of information for you throughout your trip. Our comments This is a genuinely local ship, and her crew are one of the most dedicated in the fleet. With 8 members to serve a maximum of 16 guests, you are ensured of levels of service beyond your expectation for a Galápagos cruise of this class. We love to sit on her bow sundeck as we cruise along, and we can't help but have a soft spot for her as a true Galápagos "local". However, her crowning glory is the wonderful range of itineraries. If you need help to choose the perfect one for you, contact one of our expert Galápagos travel advisors today.

Angelito

The Angelito is a lovely budget-class Galápagos cruise yacht that has been family-owned and operated since her launch in 1992. She's been lovingly cared for, and the dedication of her owners is visible in everything she does. This is a budget-class cruise with first-class passion from the operator. \- Family-owned and run \- Superb naturalist guides \- Complete refit in 2013 **Dedicated to your experience** Angelito isn't just a business, she's part of a family - and that shows. From her beautifully clean exterior to the stunning waxed wood interior fittings to the quality of service - everyone on board is obviously proud of the yacht. Every trip has at least one member of the family on board to ensure that their exacting standards never slip. Her accommodation is made up of 8 double cabins that are bright and airy - and remarkably for this class of Galápagos cruise, all enjoy lovely big windows for stunning sea and island views. Angelito is fully air conditioned, and every cabin enjoys a private bathroom with shower and hot and cold water. All this combined with the lovely decor makes her cabins charming places to retire to at the end of the day. **Great food, great company** Communal areas on board are no less charming. Angelito's main saloon and dining room is comfortable and cosy and flooded with Galápagos sunshine thanks to large windows throughout. Beautiful wood finishes and comfortable furniture make this a great place to chat with like-minded fellow travelers, enjoy a superb meal, and relax with a well-deserved drink from the bar. As well as a rich array of meals from the kitchen, covering Ecuadorian specialities and international favorites, there is a never-ending supply of complimentary tea, coffee and water available at all times. If you would like something a little stronger, your dedicated barman will be only too pleased to assist, and he'll even be happy to deliver your drinks to the substantial upper sundeck if that's where you'd prefer to take them! **Take the time to take it all in** Angelito's philosophy is not to rush. They would much rather you had wonderful long and intimate encounters with the islands' wildlife than hurry you to try and "tick off" as many islands as possible. On Angelito, quality is more important than quantity. Given this philosophy, it's no surprise that one of your naturalist guides may well be Maya, who has been a member of Angeito's crew for over 30 years experience. First she worked as a Tour leader and Translator on board and has the licence as a National Park naturalist since 1992. With a maximum of only 16 guests per trip and a total of 8 crew, Angelito will provide you with an extraordinary experience that can't be bettered by any other ship in her class. The Angelito offers two different 8-day itineraries, each of which has it's own attractions in terms of wildlife and habitat. For advice on the best one for you, contact one of our Galápagos specialist travel advisors today who can help pick the perfect itinerary for you. As a flavor, the Angelito “A” itinerary visits Espanola, Bartolome, North Seymour, and Genovesa Islands, and gives the opportunity to snorkel with [penguins](https://www.galapatours.com/animal/galapagos-penguin), walk among hundreds of [Blue-Footed boobies](https://www.galapatours.com/animal/blue-footed-booby) and witness the mating dance of the endangered [Waved Albatross](https://www.galapatours.com/animal/galapagos-waved-albatross). The “B” itinerary stays in the western part of the archipelago to explore [Fernandina](https://www.galapatours.com/island/fernandina) and the many diverse sites on [Isabela](https://www.galapatours.com/island/isabela), without missing snorkeling at Floreana or exploring the white-sand beaches of Santa Cruz. Isabela is the largest Galápagos island and is home to 60% of the region’s land wildlife, as well as beautiful snorkeling with green sea turtles, penguins, flightless cormorants, and [Galápagos sharks](https://www.galapatours.com/animal/galapagos-sharks). **Our comments** Angelito is all about passion, quality, and a love and respect for the islands - and this shines through from the moment you step on board. We adore the full-length sundeck on this yacht - it's one of the biggest in her class and is a stunning place to drink in the Galápagos ambiance. Her naturalist guides are among the most experienced, most qualified and most knowledgeable in the Galápagos, and their emphasis on long and intimate wildlife encounters means this is a "must do" Galápagos cruise for nature lovers.

Darwin

The Motor Yacht Darwin is the perfect example of how you can enjoy an intimate experience of the Galápagos without needing a huge budget. This charming little motor Yacht was built here in Galápagos in 1995 and offers all you need to be comfortable combined with superb wildlife itineraries, making a Galápagos cruise on Darwin the ideal choice for budget-conscious travelers. - Great value Galápagos cruise - Sundeck - Excellent choice of itineraries - Relaxed and cosy ambience Small, but perfectly formed Darwin's reputation as a friendly boat with a family feel is well known in the Galápagos cruise fleet. She even looks friendly, with our guests commenting to us that she has a "cute" design when they arrive on the dockside! Although she's one of the smaller yachts in her class, Darwin offers [Galápagos wildlife](https://www.galapatours.com/animals) lovers a really comfortable yet affordable way to experience the extraordinary animals and birds that call Galápagos home. To maximise use of space, the 8 cabins are arranged across all decks. We would advise that guests who may be prone to [motion sickness](https://www.galapatours.com/faq/i-m-prone-to-motion-sickness-is-there-anything-i-can-do-to-avoid-seasickness-on-a-galapagos-cruise) should opt for cabins on the lower deck. However, if you are after stunning views, the upper deck cabins next to the sundeck are perfect! The 8 double cabins are laid out as traditional bunks, but every cabin enjoys a private bathroom with hot shower, environmentally-friendly toiletries, linens, and air conditioning. Lower deck cabins feature traditional portholes, but their decor is bright and fresh which makes them light and airy. Upper cabins enjoy larger windows and external doors, giving you a fantastic sea view as you wake ready for a hearty breakfast. All the cabins feature traditional wood fittings and ceiling panels, and this warm, natural theme is continued throughout the whole boat. This gives Darwin a really cosy feel, and it makes it easy to share stories with your fellow guests in the lovely lounge area at the end of a day of Galápagos adventure. The lounge also features 110v power for charging your devices and a TV/DVD system. You'll also find the bar here, with it's wonderfully carved wood panels. A taste of the islands Darwin's chef has a passion for local and Ecuadorian cuisine alongside a superb repertoire of international dishes. He's particularly happy to cater to vegetarian guests - just let us know your dietary requirements when you book. Meals are served in the cosy dining room on the main deck, and you can enjoy sharing breakfast, lunch and dinner with your fellow guests around the dining tables. After dinner, why not relax with a drink at the bar? Or perhaps take it up to the large upper sundeck where you can watch the remarkable Galápagos stars? On this relaxed Galápagos cruise, you can make yourself entirely at home. Adventure or Discovery? Choice of itineraries Darwin's owner, Manuel Villacís, came to Galápagos in the 1940s and fell in love with their incredible wildlife and remarkable habitats. It was this passion that led him to enter the responsible tourism industry and led to the design and build of Darwin. His enthusiasm shows in the two styles of cruise you can choose from on Darwin, named the Adventure and Discovery itineraries. Both styles have multiple variants, and each will allow you to get a different flavor of the unique volcanic islands that make up the Galápagos and the stunning wildlife that you can find there. For the ultimate value-for-money Galápagos cruise why not combine Adventure with Discovery for a [2 week Galápagos cruise](https://www.galapatours.com/trips/15-day-galapagos-cruises) of a lifetime? As well as island excursions and landings by “panga” (the inflatable boats used as tenders in Galápagos) you can also go snorkeling with [Galápagos sea lions](https://www.galapatours.com/animals/galapagos-sea-lion) and green turtles. Quality snorkel gear and wetsuits are available to hire on board for a small additional charge. Our comments With attentive staff and great itineraries, Darwin is a really popular choice for those looking for an affordable yacht with an intimate feel. Having 7 crew for a maximum of only 16 guests, you are always well looked after, and the owner Manuel treats his staff very well which is reflected in their attention to detail, friendliness and passion for their jobs. You also have the services of a bilingual Level III Galápagos National Park naturalist to guide you on all your excursions, meaning your understanding and appreciation of Galápagos will be more profound and more enjoyable. We love her cute styling, her warm and cosy interiors and her exceptional value for money.