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For most families, visiting the Galapagos is a remarkable adventure that will leave you with memories that last a lifetime. In our opinion, a Galapagos family cruise is the perfect way to experience the islands, and is preferable to a hotel-based stay. With a hotel-based trip to Galapagos, you will spend most of your time on boats to reach the visitor points and islands that have the most amazing sites, animals, and habitats. On a cruise, you travel between islands mainly at night while you sleep, meaning you wake up to a new vista every day. And because you don't waste any daylight traveling, you can enjoy far more excursions than a hotel-based stay—perfect for keeping younger family members interested and engaged.
The naturalist guides on Galapatours cruises are bilingual, and more than happy to explain the wonders of the Galapagos to younger guests. All our cruise ships contain a library with books, maps, and other materials to help guests of all ages learn about the archipelago. Some larger cruise ships have dedicated learning centers and briefing rooms where guides use audiovisuals to illustrate the unique nature of the islands.
A Galapagos family tour is the perfect way for children to learn, discover, and join you in the adventure of a lifetime!
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Galapagos cruises with kids—are they suitable?
We certainly think so! However, every family is different and only you know whether a Galapagos cruise is suitable for your children. We think all children older than 12 will enjoy themselves on a Galapagos family tour and, in our experience, adventurous and inquisitive 7-year-olds have also had amazing Galapagos cruise adventures. You might find that younger children get a little restless on a cruise, especially on boats that are smaller. As a lot of sailing between islands happens at night, this might not be an issue for your family.
Some boats are fully geared towards family adventures, offering interconnecting cabins or suites with additional sofa beds. There are also some larger cruise vessels that have a dedicated "Kids' Corner" on board. These larger vessels are often better for younger children, with more public space and a few more distractions!
At Galapatours, we work directly with the boat owners and operators, and have personally visited every ship we list. Ask our Galapagos experts to help you choose the right ship when it comes to finding the best Galapagos cruise for your family.
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Which Galapagos cruise ships have dedicated children's areas?
Most of the larger Galapagos cruise vessels have a dedicated children's' area. Some even offer special guides who present information in a child-friendly way. You can also find ships with children's libraries on board, and selections of family-friendly movies.
Look for ships with interconnecting cabins, or those with suites offering sofa beds. These are great options for a Galapagos family tour as you can keep smaller children close, while older children can have their own cabin without being completely separate.
When it comes to the sights, sounds, and experiences of the Galapagos Islands, there's very little that children can't participate in. Most of the excursions are suitable for people of all ages. If your children can swim, they can enjoy snorkeling and kayaking where available. Some Galapagos cruise ships offer glass-bottomed boats, known as "pangas," so that even the youngest guests can see the underwater life. Be aware that the equatorial sun is very strong all year-round, even through the clouds. Ensure you bring plenty of sunblock and that it is applied to kids regularly.