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To plan an Ecuador liveaboard trip to the nature-lover's paradise of Galapagos is to be giving yourself a once-in-a-lifetime gift. The nutrient-rich waters that surround these islands are densely populated with a huge variety of wonderful creatures. You will see sea lions, penguins, eagle rays, Galapagos sharks, sea turtles, hammerhead sharks, mola mola, iguanas, golden rays, seals and whale sharks! No exaggeration, this is one destination where you can believe the hype.
The beauty of liveaboard safaris is that you can access remote areas, beyond the reach of land-based operations. At its best, this means diving in places far from human contact where marine life is diverse and plentiful. Nowhere in the world is this more evident than when you set foot on a Galapagos liveaboard and set off for a cruise around this legendary archipelago.
Those that find themselves in this fortunate position tend to be experienced scuba divers who have been to various destinations and been diving in a range of conditions. To such divers, Galapagos liveaboards are something of a Holy Grail, a destination they knew they would get to ‘one day’ and they finally made it happen. It is certainly not a beginner destination since the conditions require a certain level of experience and composure in the water. When those elements are present, diving cruises in the Galapagos Islands can be mind-blowing.
Each adventure below the waves promises extraordinary sightings. Commonly you will come back from the Galapagos with underwater memories of schools of hammerhead sharks, pods of dolphins, manta rays, sea lions, penguins and marine iguanas. The excited post-dive chatter in the islands is like nowhere else.
As if this were not enough, while on a liveaboard cruise here, you will also enjoy fascinating land tours of the Galapagos Islands to learn about the endemic birds and land creatures of the region, and pay homage to the brilliance of Charles Darwin and his work. What a thrill to be in a place of such scientific and historic relevance, walking in the footsteps of the great naturalist who changed the way we think about life. The memories you make, both above and below water, will stay with you forever.
Due to the special attractions of the Galapagos liveaboard cruises being both underwater and on land, we offer both diving and non-diving natural history liveaboards. Dive safaris are allowed to include just one land visit (to the Santa Cruz Highlands, Santa Cruz's Puerto Ayora or San Cristobal Island) so we highly recommend a scuba trip followed by a back-to-back wildlife/nature tour. If you're ready to join us on this r-evolutionary journey in Ecuador, check out your liveaboard options:
You simply must visit Wolf and Darwin in order to dive the best of the Galapagos Islands. These 2 islands in the north-west of the archipelago are the undoubted stars of the show. The top liveaboards focus their cruise around them and they follow largely the same route. Daytrips from resorts cannot give you access to these remote islands, which is why a liveaboard charter is the only option.
Choppy seas, current and surge are all common is this area. However, the marine sightings are such that these discomforts can easily be forgiven. At Wolf and Darwin, you can expect to see huge numbers of sharks including innumerable hammerheads, Galapagos sharks, and whale sharks in season. Often you will witness all this from your stationary position on a rocky slope at a depth of about 66 ft (20m). Elsewhere the dives involve drifting along walls or sloping reefs. These are also the warmest waters in the archipelago so the reef fish and corals (albeit limited) are more tropical than further south.
But liveaboard diving in the Galapagos is not all about Wolf and Darwin. Other areas in the central Galapagos Islands will likely play an important role on your liveaboard tour. The most sought-after sites in this region are around the north of the island of Isabela, where sites like Roca Redonda and Cabo Marshall are found. There is also the unforgettable Punta Vincente Roca, which is like suddenly diving in a different country. You may also likely dive at the highly photogenic Cousin's Rock near Santa Cruz.
Here the water is always cooler than in the far north, so there are fewer warm water species. Punta Vincente Roca is always the coolest site in more ways than one. Chilly temperatures combine with amazing sightings including sunfish, Galapagos horn sharks, penguins and red-lipped batfish, making it an undoubted highlight. You can expect amazing encounters with rays (manta, mobula, and cow nose) at Cabo Marshall. Throughout the central region there are opportunities for diving with hammerhead sharks, Galapagos sharks and sea turtles, as well as sea lions and, occasionally, fur seals. [More details on these dive sites: Galapagos].
The central islands are where your shore visits will take place, and you can expect to experience such varied locations as lava flows, research centers, booby sanctuaries and shorelines where penguins, iguanas, pelicans and sea lions compete for space.
Trips are 7 nights in duration. To make sure you get a space, we recommend you book 12 months in advance since the Ecuador liveaboard spaces fill up early. Diving conditions can be difficult in the Galapagos, with water temperatures, current and surge all posing potential challenges to the less experienced scuba diver.
> [More details: Galapagos Liveaboard Diving Safaris]As an alternative to a full week of Galapagos liveaboard diving, you could join a 5 night trekking and diving tour. This allows you to do 2 days of diving at the best sites of central Galapagos, plus you get to sample some of the archipelago's most interesting land activities. Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, the marine iguanas of Tortuga Bay, check out Flamingo Lagoon, trek to the crater of Sierra Negra on Isabela Island, and snorkel at Concha Perla. What an action-packed few days! What a great way to sample what the islands have to offer, if time, budget or liveaboard cruise availability issues require an alternative.
These packages are 5 nights in duration and require a minimum of 2 guests. Diving in central Galapagos may be a little less challenging than on remote islands but still requires a reasonable level of experience. The trekking on this tour means that a reasonable level of fitness is required.
> [More details: Galapagos Diving and Trekking]There are not many places where we would recommend a liveaboard without diving, but the Galapagos Islands are different. Here a tour from one island to the next, with on board naturalist guides and the company of fellow nature-lovers, can greatly enrich your experience of this unique Ecuadorian archipelago.
We recommend to avoid the poor quality and low value-for-money daytrips from towns like Puerto Ayora and San Cristobal and instead choose the comfort and quality of a non-diving liveaboard nature tour. You will see much more of the archipelago, experience different habitats, encounter a wide range of creatures and learn from some of the best guides in the Galapagos Islands. Day trips will take you where they want to go, but onboard wildlife safaris make it their business to take you to the most fascinating places. We suggest that you aim for a high quality experience to enrich your once-in-a-lifetime vacation in the Galapagos.
Wildlife charters run up to 7 nights so they are easy to add on to your diving trip and are suitable for everyone.
> [More details: Galapagos Wildlife Cruises (non-diving)]
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You can dive all year round in the Galapagos but the best time to visit on a liveaboard cruise would depend on your own reasons to travel and your degree of aversion to cold water.
The Galapagos Islands experience equatorial weather with a wet and dry season. The wet season, from approximately January through June, is when you can experience more frequent showers, often with sunny spells either side of the brief but impressive showers (average air temps 75 to 82°F (24-28°C). Water temperatures hover in the range of 68 to 77°F (20-25°C) during this time, and January through April can even see highs of 81 to 82°F (27-28°C) at some of the dive sites. This can be the period with warmer water, calmer seas and better experiences with hammerhead sharks and manta rays, but whale shark sightings are rare.
Dry season, roughly from July through December, has clear skies and occasional afternoon showers, but also tends to be cooler (average daily air temperature 70 to 75°F (21-24°C), and the water temperature is lower, usually between 66 to 73°F (19-23°C). This is whale shark season in Galapagos and is the most popular period for a liveaboard diving trip, despite the discomfort of the lower sea temperature.
Of course this is not an exact science and some sites always experience colder water so you are advised to bring exposure suits and equipment on Galapagos liveaboards to cover the wide range of temperatures you will experience.
Guayaquil can be hot and humid although the temperature ranges between 68 and 93°F (20-34°C). January through June sees the most rain and the dry season runs from July until mid December.
Quito, Ecuador's capital, is subtropical and, because of its highland location (2,850m), maintains a cool temperature that stays fairly constant 73 to 80°F (mid 20's°C). The wet season is October through May, while the dry season is June through September.
Find more details about the seasons on our Galapagos dive sites page.
For vacationers, travel to the Galapagos National Park involves an international flight into Ecuador followed by a domestic flight out to the islands. The country has 2 international airports - Guayaquil (code GYE) and Quito (UIO). There are direct international flights from the USA, Canada, many South American countries and also from France, Spain and the Netherlands. The US airports that connect to Ecuador are Miami, New York and Houston.
Flying into José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport, Guayaquil (selected as "Best South American Airport") is our recommended route since onwards flights to the Galapagos are cheaper and better timed than from Quito. However, you can still go through Quito although both your outbound and inbound flights to the islands will stop in Guayaquil.
You will need to overnight in Guayaquil or Quito before flying on to Baltra (Santa Cruz, code GPS) or San Cristobal (SCY) in the Galapagos Islands, where the liveaboard cruises depart from. If overnighting on arrival you will stay in Santa Cruz or San Cristobal; Baltra has no accommodation options. On the return leg you will probably need to overnight in Guayaquil or Quito since most international flights depart too early to make the connection possible.
In order to board your flight to Galapagos, all passengers must obtain a Transit Control Card (TCT, migratory card). The card must be obtained online (cost is USD 20) and is no longer available at the airport. Passengers can register and apply for the TCT from the Governing Council of Galapagos website. The process helps to avoid the previously common long queues. Travellers must carry a digital or printed copy to the airport. Once you arrive at the islands, you will need to pay the park entrance fee in cash in order to leave the airport (USD 200).
Often we will place your domestic flight requirements in Ecuador with the Galapagos liveaboard operator since they are responsible for booking the flights. We request your patience with this process since there are often waiting lists and slow confirmations of availability. You must inform us whether you are flying into Guayaquil or Quito before domestic flights can be considered. If you wish to extend your stay in Galapagos to enjoy land tours please decide that early in the booking process to ensure flight availability.
Note: all tourists entering Ecuador must show proof of a public or private health insurance program valid for the duration of their stay.
For comprehensive coverage, we strongly advise securing health, diving, and travel insurance, including protection for trip cancellations. Check out our insurance program for competitive rates:
For pre- or post-liveaboard stays in Ecuador or the Galápagos, our trusted partner HotelsCombined.com offers a wide selection of accommodations to suit every traveler. On mainland Ecuador, popular places to visit include Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca, Manta and Salinas. At the Galapagos Islands - Santa Cruz and Isabela.
HotelsCombined.com offers easy bookings - secure your stay instantly with your credit card. You can get answers to your questions in real time through their live chat support. You'll always get great value with their 'Best Price Guarantee'. Browse options and book directly on their website for a seamless travel experience:
Need more info about traveling in Ecuador and Galapagos? Explore our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page for quick solutions.
I would say the person I coordinated my trip with did an excellent job organizing and letting us know exactly what we needed to do. The information was all correct and enquiries were answered thoroughly and quickly. I would book through Dive The World again, hopefully in the near future
