Yolita II Galápagos Cruise+Flights

Humboldt Explorer

The Humboldt Explorer is a specialist Galápagos dive vessel that believes that divers should enjoy a touch of luxury! Her 8 air-conditioned cabins are located on the main and lower decks for maximum stability. Each of them has a private bathroom, flat screen TV and panoramic windows that provide stunning ocean views. Most rooms can be converted to either one queen bed or two twin beds. Communal spaces are equally delightful, and highlights include a partially shaded sun deck with a Jacuzzi and ample comfortable seating, and an extremely comfortable salon area with dining, bar and entertainment area. The large dive deck is extremely well-equipped and features include a bathroom, a large camera table with charging station, individual storage areas, and rinse bins for cameras and another for gear. All diving operations are conducted from two large pangas (tenders), easily boarded from the dive deck, and conducted by one of 8 specialist dive guides who work on board in rotation. The Humboldt may be luxurious, but she's definitely a dive ship first, and her dives are often at an advanced level, against currents, challenging and therefore more rewarding than many on offer in the archipelago. Because of this, guests will need to be certified as open water scuba divers by an internationally recognized and certified organization and should be experienced (they recommend that you have more than 100 logged dives) and must have logged at least one dive within the 6 months prior to boarding the vessel. Our Comments Captains Carlos and Jorge are very experienced sailors and they lead an expert crew, including great naturalist divers. Roberto, the chef produces a really varied menu, and there's something different at every meal. Unusually, local beers are included in your package, but the bar has a good variety of other drinks to suit all tastes. We really like the combination of serious dive boat and luxury cruise vessel - usually you have to choose from one or the other, but in our opinion the Humboldt Explorer is the best of both worlds, and it's a fantastic place to relax after a day of incredible diving.

Aggressor III

Galápagos is one of the most exciting destinations in the world. Guests will have the opportunity to dive with playful Sea Lions, travel to the famous Darwin and Wolf for thrilling diving to see Hammerhead Sharks, Whale Sharks, clouds of Tuna and much more on their Galápagos Islands liveaboard scuba diving trip. The scenic view of the Darwin Arch is as picturesque as you can imagine. The GALAPAGOS AGGRESSOR® liveaboard departs from Baltra every Thursday afternoon. In 2016, Ecuador created a marine sanctuary in the area of Darwin and Wolf that includes 15,000 square miles as off limits to all fishing to conserve the sharks that congregate there and the ecosystem on which they rely. 32% of the waters around the Galápagos islands will now be protected from fishing. Our goal is to provide you with the ultimate Galápagos Islands liveaboard scuba diving experience. The GALAPAGOS AGGRESSOR® offers a brand new itinerary in compliance with the Galápagos National Park regulations which requires companies with permits to follow the exact itinerary below. A maximum of four dives will be offered daily; two in the morning and two in the afternoon. In addition, two night dives and two land excursions per week will be offered. The new diving areas added to the itinerary are: Bartolome Punta, Cousins Rock and Cabo Douglas. The Galápagos National Park grants approval for normal itineraries and accepts requests for special itineraries.

Grand Daphne

A Galápagos cruise on board the Grand Daphne proves that you don’t have to have a huge budget to see the best the Galápagos has to offer in comfort. Built in 1979 and fully refitted in 2015, Grand Daphne and her crew pride themselves on offering a 1st Class service and experience at a superb price. **Traditional Motor Yacht** Grand Daphne is a traditional motor yacht design, and she’s proud of this heritage. Yet despite this, she offers comfortable accommodation with some features you wouldn’t necessarily expect on a cruise vessel this class. Cabins are located on the upper or lower decks, with communal areas on the main deck between. Guests who are prone to motion sickness will appreciate the cabins on the lower decks, as they will have less movement. These are laid out as twin bunk beds, although the lower bunks are big enough for a cozy couple if you prefer! All the rooms feature traditional porthole style windows, wood finishes, en suite bathroom with complimentary toiletries, and individual air conditioning for your comfort. Upper deck cabins are a mix of twin bunk and traditional beds, and they offer lovely panoramic windows, giving you stunning views of the Galápagos Islands and the sea. All the cabins feature 110V outlets for charging your devices, as well as reading lights and plenty of storage. **Eat, Drink and Relax** Grand Daphne’s main deck hosts her dining room and salon. These areas feature a stunning polished teak floor, and lots of other beautiful real wood fixtures and fittings. Two dining tables set for eight people each ensures a delightful, sociable mealtime experience, allowing you to share the memories of your day exploring Galápagos with like-minded travelers while you enjoy the view from the huge picture windows. Delicious local and international dishes are served her, and the chef uses only the freshest local ingredients, so you can enjoy three wonderful meals as well as plenty of tasty snacks throughout the day. Also located here is the ship’s well-stocked bar, which can serve you a variety of local and imported beers, wines and spirits. Water, tea, and coffee are always available, 24 hours, free of charge to all our cruise guests. The lounge features a wonderful U-shaped couch, which again sums up the social focus of this relaxed boat. Here you can chat, unwind with a drink, or watch a movie on the flat screen TV with DVD player. This is also where your expert bilingual naturalist guide will give you amazing briefings about the islands and their unique flora and fauna, and outline the next day’s activities on your Galápagos adventure. Outside, you can climb the stairway up to the stunning sundeck. This runs the whole length of the boat and offers wonderful views. There is plenty of seating and comfortable loungers up here, and for those who don’t want to get too much sun, there’s a shaded area to cool off in. If you’re looking for a little more privacy, Galápagos Grand Daphne has a small shaded terrace at the stern end of the main deck with comfortable seating for three or four. **Fantastic Itineraries** Grand Daphne’s expert Galápagos naturalist guide will really make your trip come to life, thanks to their knowledge of the islands and the best places to see what the archipelago has to offer. Grand Daphne has a choice of two eight day itineraries and two shorter for or five day itineraries. Each of Grand Daphne’s cruise itineraries have been carefully planned to give you a real flavor of a key area of the Galápagos archipelago. For the ultimate experience, why not join the two eight day itineraries into a complete Galápagos experience - this would make a fabulous trip of a lifetime at a really superb price. As well as island excursions by “panga” (inflatable boat) you will also go snorkeling with sea lions and turtles thanks to the complimentary snorkel gear carried on board Grand Daphne. For guests who wish to hire a wetsuit, these are available for only $5 per day. **Our comments** Experiencing the Galápagos aboard the yacht Grand Daphne is a superb option for those who are looking to enjoy an amazing Galápagos experience on a budget, but would like to enjoy more space and comfort than is usually available on a budget class boat. Grand Daphne’s crew are consistently highly rated - they go above and beyond to make sure you have an amazing time. We really like her itineraries, they have been cleverly put together - but if you can stretch to it, joining the two eight-day trips would make for a remarkable “special occasion” trip of a lifetime.

Xavier III

- National flights + Hotels before cruise included; - Excellent value ship; - More spacious than most in class; - Free snorkel and wetsuit hire; - Highly rated crew. Sometimes choosing a Galápagos cruise that is more towards the budget end means sacrificing some comforts and making some compromises like bunk beds or no private bathroom. The Xavier III bucks this trend by offering spacious, comfortable accommodation and really pleasant surroundings at a superb price point. When you combine this with a really friendly crew who consistently get great feedback from guests, you’ve got a fantastic option to see the best of Galápagos. Cosy cabins with twin beds No bunk beds here! The Xavier III has eight lovely cabins, all with proper twin beds. You have a choice of lower or upper decks. Upper deck cabins enjoy large windows providing a lovely view, but for those prone to motion sickness we recommend the lower deck cabins where the ship’s motion is not felt so much. You don’t have to worry about the lower deck cabins being dark on a Xavier III cruise as they have traditional portholes that let natural light in. Like all the cabins, they are also well decorated in light color shades and have a really airy feel. Every cabin enjoys a private bathroom with hot shower, and each is equipped with air conditioning for your comfort. They all have storage for your clothes and personal items. Relaxed, comfortable, communal The rest of the ship has a lovely relaxed feel. The main lounge is edged by comfortable communal couches, and is the perfect place to relax with a drink and relive your Galápagos adventures with fellow guests, or to listen to an inspiring talk from your expert naturalist guide about the Galápagos islands, their wildlife and habitats. Outside there are two sundecks, one shaded on the main deck, and one open to the full equatorial sun on the upper deck. This last is an absolutely perfect place to come as darkness falls, and simply lie on one of the comfortable loungers whilst watching the stars come out in the stunning Galápagos night sky - a “must do” on any Xavier III cruise! Eat, drink and be merry Xavier III’s chef cooks a wide range of tasty and filling local and international dishes, all freshly prepared using local ingredients. You can enjoy your meals in the dining room, filled with light from its panoramic windows, as well as enjoying snacks on the sundeck. You won’t go hungry on this Galápagos cruise! The lounge also houses the ship’s bar, which is well stocked with local and imported beers, wines and liquors. You can even enjoy a cocktail or two. Snorkel masks, fins and snorkels are yours to enjoy at no charge, as are wetsuits - usually an additional charge item on most vessels of this class in the Galápagos cruise fleet. The wonderful Galápagos Of course all this is a bonus when compared to seeing first hand the wonders of the Galápagos islands themselves. Xavier III offers a range of cruise itineraries, including five and eight day cruises, as well as the very popular extended 12 and 15 day options, for those who want to make the very most of their time cruising the Galápagos. Your on-board naturalist guide will give daily briefings about the next day’s locations, their history and geology, as well as the plants and animals you are likely to encounter on your Xavier cruise. The various itineraries take in different parts of the archipelago, so if you need help finding the perfect one for you, simply contact one of our Galápagos experts today and we’ll advise you. Our thoughts We have a soft spot for a cruise on Xavier III. We really like that she doesn’t force you to choose bunks for your budget-friendly Galápagos experience, and her lovely lounge is one of our favorites among all the ships in this class. Guests frequently comment on the great service they receive on board, and unlike other ships in this price range you have a really good choice of itineraries, showing you the very best of the Galápagos. Oh and they have free wetsuit hire - something most of the first class and luxury boats could learn from!