Galapagos Sailing Catamarans

Maximum capacity: 12-16 passengers

Advantages of travelling by sailing catamaran

Sailing on a catamaran in the Galapagos has many advantages over other forms of transport. Firstly, catamarans are more stable and comfortable than traditional monohull boats, providing a smoother sailing experience even in rough waters. Secondly, they offer more space and room, with several outdoor areas for lounging, sunbathing and enjoying the scenic views.

Catamarans also tend to have larger cabins and more modern facilities, giving guests a more comfortable and luxurious experience. They also have a shallower draft, which allows them to navigate in shallower waters, allowing for more intimate and up-close encounters with the island's wildlife.

Catamarans are more environmentally friendly, with a smaller carbon footprint, making them the ideal choice for those looking to minimise their impact on the environment. They are quieter and produce less waste, helping to preserve the delicate ecosystem of the Galapagos Islands.

All in all, catamaran sailing in the Galapagos is a unique and unforgettable experience, offering the ultimate blend of comfort, adventure and environmental awareness.

Nemo II

Action-packed days and relaxing nights under sail

Nemo I

“We couldn’t have seen more during our amazing trip”

Nemo III

The romance of sail, the luxury of a modern catamaran

All Galapagos Cruises aboard Sailing Catamarans

What to expect from a sailing catamaran?

Sailing catamarans are designed for comfort, stability and speed on the water. They typically have two parallel hulls, providing more interior space and stability than monohull sailboats. Catamarans are known for their spacious decks, which offer plenty of room for outdoor activities and relaxation, and often have multiple lounge and dining areas. They also tend to have larger cabins and heads, making them ideal for longer trips and liveaboard cruises.

Catamarans also have a shallower draft, allowing access to shallow waters, and typically perform better in light winds than monohulls. Disadvantages include a higher initial cost, more complex rigging systems and less manoeuvrability in confined spaces. Ultimately, sailing catamarans are a good choice for those who value comfort and stability and are looking for a unique sailing experience.

Victoria Tran

Golondrina Galapagos Cruise

Budget

We booked an 8 days boat tour of the Golondrina (15 tourists and 8 crew members boat) for our family of 8 (4 adults, 4 boys ages 9-12) from July 12, 2019 to July 19, 2019 with Thomas Richmond from Galapatours. We booked in May 2019 so it was kind of late planning on our part but everything went smoothly and Thomas and Andino were prompt and very helpful, even returning our calls and emails on the weekend. We had a wonderful time on the Golondrina. Everything was easy and was as expected. The crew picked us up at the airport. We booked our own airlines as we were coming from Machu Picchu and Lima, Peru through Quito. We went on a wonderful adventure of the Galapagos on the Golondrina with its fantastic crew for 8 days, hiking and snorkeling everyday and seeing amazing landscape and animals and the kids learned so much and it was great healthy living. The ocean can be rough at night as the boat traveled for 5-6 hours across miles to get to the next island destination but you can't control the ocean and we were deep asleep after all the exercises every day anyway. Kids had no problem with any part of the trip and participated in the hiking and snorkeling in the middle of the ocean fine. We brought our own wetsuits for the kids. All the crew on our boat were fantastic. The other 7 passengers on our boat were 3 adults from Washington state, 2 from Texas, and 2 from Switzerland, and they were friendly, well-educated, fit, and engaging. At the end of our 8 days tour, the tour guide walked us to the correct bus transport at the airport (the only way to do it: bus for 5 minutes, ferry across, then taxi to town), to get into Santa Cruz town as we were staying on this main island for extra days (must do as the town is wonderful!). From the first time I emailed Thomas at Galapatours, he emailed me back and called me right away and he presented me with boat options and all the information was there to make the boat decision. I paid by credit card and everything was set and we just showed up at the airport in Baltra and the crew took care of us from there, as in the itinerary. The 8 days boat tour is the way to see the Galapagos, as most islands are far apart and boat can travel at night. As it is, we only saw the Eastern part of the Galapagos archipelago, but we saw all the animals as expected, so maybe we were very lucky (saw humpback whales too). Next time, we will do another 8 days to see the Western side and we will use Galapatours to book our trip!

Bruna Schmitt

Grand Majestic Galapagos Cruise

Luxury

We booked a 3 night cruise on the Grand Majestic which was just wonderful! Mr. Thomas Richmond helped us with the entire booking process and answered all of our questions that we had before the trip. The boat was extremely comfortable, the staff were very kind, especially Mayra and Salomão! The food was wonderful, everything was always fresh and very tasty. Every day we had activities in the morning and in the afternoon, always accompanied by our guide Gustavo, who had a vast knowledge of the islands, fauna and flora of the region. We started our trip in San Cristobal, went to Floreana, Española and ended the trip in Santa Cruz. Our days at the Grand Majestic were fantastic, and we will definitely return to the Galápagos one day to visit other islands.

Diederik Quint

Cachalote Explorer Galapagos Cruise

Premium

Took a fabulous 8-day cruise aboard the Cachalote Explorer that I would easily rate a 5-star experience. Great crew and excellent cook! I booked thru Galapagostours.com as I found their website the easiest to use and most detailed with respect to information on ships, the islands, animals and itineraries. And Tom was always available when I had additional questions about my booking. Highly recommend you use them!

Shane Dolan

Natural Paradise Galapagos Cruise

Luxury

Finally got to complete our trip to the Galapagos Islands which was canceled days before we were to set off in March of 2020 due to the Covid pandemic. Finally, two years later we were ready to set off again and Galapatours were very helpful in working with us and our needs to rescheduling our cruise itinerary. All in all it was well worth the wait as we got to experience nature and the unique wildlife that you will never see anywhere else in the world. What a trip

la pinta yacht galapagos cruise - gal0104

Richa D

Grand Majestic Galapagos Cruise

Luxury

The trip was beyond magical! The snorkeling near Chinese hat and also the beach walk at the Lobos island was breathtaking. What a trip! It was very well planned with quality snacks and meals provided throughout.

Brian S

Aida Maria Galapagos Cruise

Budget

Our week on the Aida Maria was fantastic, exceeding expectations. The crew and guide were fantastic, and the meals were really good - again, better than expected. The highlight was, of course, all of the animals we got to see up close and personal, on land and in the water.