Aqua Galápagos Cruise

Danubio Azul

The Danubio Azul is a budget class yacht with amazing service on board. It offers some superb naturalist and diving itineraries, including some of the more intimate and less frequented sites in the Galápagos. The social areas and cabins were renovated in 2026 for greater modernity and comfort! 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.

Encantada

Unfortunately, the beautiful "Encantada" was decommissioned in March 2018 and will sail other parts of the world now. Please click here for comparable [economic cruises to the Galápagos Islands](https://www.galapatours.com/fr/trips/budget).If you still want to read on about the Encantada, this was our product description of this beautiful sailship: Previously known in the Islands as “The Little Red Sailboat”, visiting the Galápagos on this 69ft schooner is pure romance! With a maximum of only 12 guests - yet a crew of 6 - you get luxury levels of service and attention at a budget-friendly price. Almost all the boats in the Galápagos fleet accommodate 16 guests, some higher end vessels have 14 guests, but a cruise on Encantada will see you among only 12 companions for a truly intimate view of the archipelago. You’ll get a very personal view of the Islands from your bilingual National Park naturalist guide who would normally work with larger groups, and the crew on board become more like friends as they look after you during your trip. There are 6 cabins on Encantada, all living up to your expectations of the age of sail with traditional wooden bunks and hand-crafted wooden furniture and fittings. Despite her smaller size and traditional looks every cabin enjoys air conditioning and a private en suite bathroom with hot water. Culinary secret The lounge and dining area are full of natural wood and classic example of the boatbuilders craft. Dining onboard is relaxed and sociable, with all guests enjoying one large table the conversation flows as easily as the beer and wine! There is also an al fresco dining table on the stern deck where you can eat and enjoy the cool sea breezes. What Encantada’s kitchen may lack in size it more than makes up for in the talents of its chef. The food on Encantada is consistently praised by our guests, and some who’ve traveled on the luxury boats in the Galápagos fleet have felt it was just as good! The sun deck is large enough for sitting and relaxing as well as simply lying in the sun. When the night comes, there is nowhere better in Galápagos to be than on the open deck of “The Little Red Boat” with the sails up and the stars out. The naturalist itineraries are varied, and some venture further north than most of the fleet. Thanks to her smaller size, Encantada can visit places larger vessels can’t. Our comments The romance of a traditional motor sailboat, the intimacy of only 12 guests, the ability to visit places larger boats can’t, and budget friendly prices… this a lot to this little red boat! We can’t get enough of the food on Encantada, and in our opinion we think the “sacrifice” of a smaller cabin is more than worth it considering the benefits

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.

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.