Aqua Galápagos Cruise
This small yacht offers amazing value for money
A Galápagos Cruise on board the Aqua
8 Reviews
100% CO2 carbon footprint offset
English guide
- Affordable and comfortable adventure cruising;
- Also offers fantastic diving tours (see below)
- Fantastic chef that everyone loves;
- Plenty of space, with a 3 deck layout.
Comfortable cabins
Aqua is a spacious, traditional motor yacht that offers excellent value for money. Uniquely she offers both naturalist and diving itineraries - some guests stay on board to do both! (See below)
Aqua offers light and airy cabin accommodation to a maximum of 16 guests, and her charming and well appointed communal areas are lovely places to relax after the day’s excursions. Fully refurbished in 2015, her cabins are based on comfortable traditional bunks, individually air conditioned, and offer private bathrooms. Lower deck cabins feature traditional portholes, whilst upper deck cabins have windows. All are decorated in a clean, bright style with natural wood and light walls.
Food for thought
Aqua’s meals are a highlight. Her kitchen staff cook excellent international and Ecuadorian dishes served in the air conditioned dining room. Guests frequently single out their dining on board as a highlight of their trip.
Other amenities on board include a communal TV & DVD player, ship’s library and a selection of tabletop games. There’s also a well-stocked bar, and the upper sun deck is a perfect place to take your drink and soak up the Galápagos warmth.
Diver’s paradise
Did you know the M/V Aqua is the ONLY authorized cruise ship to offer both naturalist tours and diving tours? For more details on the diving tours, please see: http://www.galapatours.com/aqua-galapagos-diving-cruise.html
Our comment
The Aqua is great value for money, a naturalist adventure option, and a “must do” diving option. Her chef is her secret weapon - we’ve yet to hear anything except high praise for the kitchen staff! Comfortable accommodation and a relaxed and friendly atmosphere make the Aqua an ideal candidate for dive fans or for naturalists on a budget.
What we love about the Aqua
Affordable and comfortable adventure cruising
Also offers fantastic diving tours (see below)
Fantastic chef that everyone loves
Plenty of space, with a 3 deck layout
Pictures and Deckplans of Aqua
Dates & Prices on board the Aqua
When do you want to travel?
Available
A few spots left
One spot left
Sold out
Book now, pay later: You can easily place your booking online. We will then hold the spaces for you, and you can confirm with a payment later. Prices are per person, based on double occupancy, include taxes, and can be subject to fluctuation and change. The routes are fixed, but can be changed due to weather or breeding behavior of the animals. Could not find your preferred date?
Cabins categories on board the Aqua
The sailing routes of Aqua
Amenities on board the Aqua
Transfers to and from ship
Snorkel gear (free of charge)
100% CO2 carbon footprint offset
Air conditioning & private bathroom
Water, Coffee, Tea & fresh juices
German guide possible
Wetsuits
English guide
Nitrox Course (approx. 200 USD)
Complete set of Scuba gear (approx 250 USD)
Nitrox fills (appprox. 150 USD)
All meals
Sustainability on board the Aqua
At Galapatours we love and respect the pristine ecosystems and fascinating wildlife of the Galápagos Islands, and we insist that our cruise partners do too. To protect the archipelago all our cruise vessels must have sophisticated water filtration systems, modern efficient engines, and strict maintenance schedules to minimize pollution.
The Galápagos National Park authority also defines exact cruising routes that dictate which ships can visit highlights at specific times, as well as limiting passenger numbers. These measures ensure that animals and habitats are not disturbed by too many visitors.
But at Galapatours we like to go even further. We voluntarily offset all the CO2 emissions of every cruise we sell - at no cost to you. And you can also play your part by traveling responsibly and following our Eco Guidelines during your stay. Click here to find out more about these guidelines, our commitment to sustainable tourism, and the Galápagos National Park rules.
Technical details of Aqua
Category
Budget
Type
Small Yacht
Main Engines
2x Caterpillar (250 HP)
Length
25 m
Electricity
110 Volts
Cruising speed
8 noeuds
Beam
5.5 m
Capacity
16
Food & Drinks on board the Aqua
The food on our Galapágos Cruises is among the very best you will find in South America. Most of the on-board chefs are internationally trained and have prior experience working in the best hotels and restaurants in Ecuador and indeed around the world.
You can expect a first-class selection of food, including a good variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, locally sourced poultry and fish/seafood, rice and pasta dishes. Most boats will always include some typical Ecuadorian dishes on the menu during your cruise. If you have specific dietary requirements then these can usually be accommodated by the chef providing you have given advance notice. Please make sure you tell us about any allergies or dietary requirements you have at the time you book with us. If you leave it until you arrive at the dockside, then it may well be impossible to accommodate your needs.
Most boats serve a range of options at meal times in a relaxed buffet-style. At the first class and luxury end of the market, some boats have more formal dining where you will be served at your seat. However the atmosphere is always relaxed on board our cruises, and never stuffy or formal.
Reviews of Aqua
Stef H. - Berlin, Germany
5/5
Best cruise on the best yacht Die Astrea-Yacht hat die höchstmögliche Bewertung verdient. Wir verlebten im Rahmen der Naturalist Cruise eine wunderbare Woche, wurden von einer tollen, sympathischen Crew rund um die Uhr hervorragend versorgt (besonders vom Koch, der eine super Arbeit geleistet hat). Unser Guide war Jimmy, der einen tollen Humor hat und alles über die Insel wusste und unserer Gruppe dieses Wissen in angenehmer Weise vermittelt hat. Täglich sind wir 1-2 an verschiedenen Stellen an Land gegangen sowie außerdem 1-2 täglich schnorcheln gewesen. Jede der Inseln ist eine Welt für sich und sehr sehenswert. Man begegnet Eidechsen, Leguanen, Vögeln, Seelöwen und anderen Tieren hautnah und kan beim schnorcheln Schildkröten, Rochen und auch Haien begegnen. Das Schiff an sich ist ebenfalls super, die Kabinen sind klein, aber fein, jede verfügt über ein eigenes Bad. Es gibt ausreichend Sitzmöglichkeiten im Freien (überdacht und nicht überdacht), neben dem Speisesaal gibt es eine kleine Lounge mit Fernseher und Büchern. Es sind maximal 16 Passagiere an Bord, sodass es keineswegs überlaufen ist und man ausreichend Möglichkeiten hat, sich der fantastischen Natur zu widmen. Wir würden diese Reise jederzeit wiedermachen, es gibt keinen vergleichbaren Ort auf der Erde und die Astrea Yacht hat uns dieses Erlebnis besonders versüßt.
Treveire - Sydney, Australia
5/5
5 Stars with best diving ever Overall I am now going to give 5 stars, I would have gave 3 but everything was sorted in the end by Dennis, his response time I found to be very good.The actual trip represented good value for money as I got an inclusive deal. The diving overall even with average visibility was out of this world. The guide Luis was good, the food was very nice and the crew made a lot of effort. ACTUAL DIVING : I can only say that Wolf and Darwin Island is the best diving I have ever experienced in the World for "Big Stuff" ..massive schools of Hammerhead Sharks, Galapados Sharks, more Turtles than you can shake a stick at :-) Playful Sea lions with unreserved energy and beautiful eyes dancing through the water. The best underwater experience with 8 or 9 Dolphins, we could hear them before they torpedoed through the water... and more and more life everywhere. Then the ultimate underwater arrival that literally landed on us at 30 m @ Darwin island was a giant female Whale shark ..the biggest fish in the sea... she gracefully said her hello and was gone within less than a minute, aqua gliding away with no chance of keeping up in the current and depth. Words cannot describe this week of diving and the connection to this raw beauty in this volcanic wonderland. This was worth all the $ and effort to get here. Put it on your bucket list and if you don’t dive, perhaps consider learning but make sure you get your experience up or maybe the Wolf might swallow you whole. I can say hand on heart, I will have to return some day.. it was that good
Catherine LeBlanc
5/5
Decided for a Cruise above Island Hopping and don't regret it! I have dreamed of coming to the Galapagos Islands. When we were then staying in the Hotel "The Roof Galapagos" Enno, the Hotel Manager of, recommended us to book a stay on a boat if we wanted to make most of our stay in Galapagos. His hotel was booked out anyway, so we contacted his friend Benno (the names!) and he found a great Last-Minute Deal for us! We don't regret it at all, this was such a magical experience! The Boat itself is a bit older and the cabins are small but me and my wife enjoyed the fact that we could also do a few dives. Apparently, this is not possible on other boats at all, who would have thought! Thanks again, Benno, for the organization!
Gordon Slohan
5/5
Once in a lifetime trip Best trip of my life! I am still very thrilled about the decision to go the Galapagos Islands. I chose the Astrea (Naturalist Programme) because of its size. It was a cozy boat with everything you need. Staff was very friendly and spoke very well English. The food was very delicious and more than filling!
Henry Wolfham
5/5
Great trip I went with my wife and son on the Naturalist Cruise of the Astrea. We all loved it so much and hope to be able to come back to the islands one day. My son still thinks he saw dinosaurs! Nature there is magnificent. The Astrea is a relatively small boat compared to the other ones you can find around Galapagos, but we didn't mind at all. Everyone was very nice and helpful. The food was great and the kitchen could deal with my wife's allergies (nuts and certain fruits). If you want to get to know the Galapagos Islands on a lower budget, I can definitely recommend the Astrea Cruise!
WGMitch
5/5
Affordable Diving in Galapagos I stayed on this live-a-board during my recent visit to the Galapagos (July 12-19). The Astrea is not a luxury cruise, but an affordable very comfortable live-a-aboard with an exceptional cook, outstanding crew, and awesome guides. Just to name a few of the events experienced, we dove with whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, galapagos sharks, mola mola, orca whales, dolphins, and playful sealions. If you are looking for an affordable diving experience in the Galapagos then book a week on the Astrea. Everything a diver needs to enjoy diving the Galapagos you will find on the Astrea. I booked my Astrea tour through Dive the Galapgos. They were awesome in setting everything up including flights from Guayaquil to Baltra. I highly recommend booking your Galapagos trip on board the Astrea.
