Travel on a Galápagos Islands Luxury Cruise
Discover Ecuador & Cruise the Galápagos Islands with A&K
One of the world’s most spectacular destinations, the Galápagos Islands, off the coast of Ecuador, offer a fascinating open-air wildlife museum that stirs the explorer in everyone. Home to an astonishing variety of endemic species — enough to inspire a theory of origin that would change the world — the archipelago is also one of the few places on earth where adventurers can observe unafraid wildlife up close.
Explore these magical Islands with Abercrombie & Kent on a uniquely enriching cruise aboard the most ideal expedition ships in the Galápagos. Choose from luxury small-group journeys that begin and end with stays in Ecuador’s most iconic cities and feature small-ship cruises — or let us create a one-of-a-kind Tailor Made expedition to the magical Galápagos, designed just for you and your private party.
Best Time To Go
Year-RoundClimate Charts
Time Zone
ETFlights
Quito (UIO); Guayaquil (GYE)Ways to Experience Luxury Galápagos & Ecuador Travel
Galápagos & Ecuador Small-Group Tours
Experience A&K's best-in-class luxury small-group tours to the Galápagos and Ecuador. Led by an acclaimed Resident Tour Director®, each unique journey is expertly designed to offer incredible insider access and an intimate small-group experience.
Galápagos Islands Small-Ship Cruises
Explore the Galápagos Islands on small-ship cruises with A&K. Choose from small-group journeys ranging from four- to six-night cruises to private Tailor Made expeditions featuring exclusive charters with our preferred partner Ecoventura.
Family Galápagos & Ecuador Vacations
Travel together on unforgettable luxury family vacations to the Galápagos and Ecuador created by our family adventure experts. Choose from small-group family journeys or custom private Tailor Made travel, designed just for your family and ideal for holidays and celebrations.
Tailor Made Galápagos & Ecuador Tours
Elevate your travel experience with private luxury Tailor Made tours to the Galápagos and Ecuador. Created by our experts, each bespoke tour to the Galápagos & Ecuador is designed just for you and your preferences with customized luxury Tailor Made adventures, accommodations, private air and more.
Exclusively Charter an Ecoventura Yacht for a Private Galápagos Cruise
Let us create the ultimate bespoke Galápagos journey featuring one of three luxury expedition ships — ‘Origin,’ ‘Theory’ or ‘Evolve’ — by Ecoventura, our award-winning preferred partner and member of the Relais & Chateaux collection. Joined by expert naturalists guides, each sustainable 10-stateroom yacht is ideal for an exclusively chartered cruise for your own multi-gen gathering or private celebration. A&K can further customize your journey with adventures on mainland Ecuador and Peru.
View Tailor Made Galápagos: Northern & Western Route with Ecoventura
View Tailor Made Galápagos: Southern & Central Route with Ecoventura
Explore More of Luxury Galápagos & Ecuador with A&K
The 7 Best Galápagos Islands
The volcanic archipelago features an assortment of unique and strangely beautiful islands. Our experts narrow down the best-of-the-best to see on your Galápagos cruise.
Video: Snorkel the Galápagos
Join us 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador for a dive in the spectacular waters of the Galápagos, meeting with sea lions, sharks, rays and turtles, and exploring one of the most magical places on the planet.
The Galápagos’ Top 10 Animals
Not your typical tropical paradise, the Galápagos is home to extraordinary wildlife not found anywhere else on earth. Put these 12 animals at the top of your must-see list.
Frequently Asked Questions
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When is the best time to visit Galápagos?
Though its islands can be enjoyed all year round, one of the best times to visit the Galápagos is during the warm (or green) season from December to May. This is the most popular time to visit with mostly sunny days, temperatures ranging from the 70s to the upper 80s, and typically calmer conditions at sea, which makes for excellent visibility for snorkeling and diving. The sometimes overlooked cool (or dry) season from June to November is also an excellent time to visit the Galápagos, with average temperatures still pleasant and topping out in the mid 70s, typically dry conditions and a surge in large marine life that make it an ideal time to spot dolphins and whales.
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What islands should I visit in the Galápagos?
The Galápagos archipelago offers an explosion of stunning geology, flora and fauna across more than a dozen main islands. When you visit the Galápagos, our experts recommend narrowing it down to these top seven islands: Isabela, the largest of the islands and home to the Galápagos penguin; Genovesa for Darwin Bay Beach and the cliff-top Prince Philip’s Steps; wildlife-packed Española for dramatic coastal views and a large colony of sea lions; Floreana for a visit to historic Post Office Bay, mangrove exploration and excellent snorkeling at the Devil’s Crown; Fernandina, where the flightless cormorant and black lava formations are the stars; Bartolomé, the most photographed of the islands for its famous Pinnacle Rock; and Santa Cruz with its surprising port town and giant tortoises in lush highlands.The Galápagos archipelago offers an explosion of stunning geology, flora and fauna across more than a dozen main islands. When you visit the Galápagos, our experts recommend narrowing it down to these top seven islands: Isabela, the largest of the islands and home to the Galápagos penguin; Genovesa for Darwin Bay Beach and the cliff-top Prince Philip’s Steps; wildlife-packed Española for dramatic coastal views and a large colony of sea lions; Floreana for a visit to historic Post Office Bay, mangrove exploration and excellent snorkeling at the Devil’s Crown; Fernandina, where the flightless cormorant and black lava formations are the stars; Bartolomé, the most photographed of the islands for its famous Pinnacle Rock; and Santa Cruz with its surprising port town and giant tortoises in lush highlands.
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How many nights should I plan for a Galápagos cruise?
Aim for a Galápagos cruise that offers a minimum of four nights at sea or an ideal length of six to seven nights. The Galápagos archipelago is incredibly diverse and each of its main 13 islands totally unique, so you'll want plenty of time to fully experience its rare wildlife and best islands.Aim for a Galápagos cruise that offers a minimum of four nights at sea or an ideal length of six to seven nights. The Galápagos archipelago is incredibly diverse and each of its main 13 islands totally unique, so you'll want plenty of time to fully experience its rare wildlife and best islands.
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What kind of wildlife can be seen in the Galápagos?
A protected ecosystem, the Galápagos Islands offer a magical wildlife refuge complete with rare and unafraid endemic species found nowhere else on the planet. Some of the top animals you may see in the Galápagos are sunbathing sea lions, skittering Sally Lightfoot crabs and dozing marine iguanas. In May, Galápagos green sea turtles hatch their eggs and offer a prime time to view the turtle hatchlings as they set out for the sea. On the island of Santa Cruz, look for lumbering tortoises roaming in its lush highlands. Bird lovers will be gobsmacked by brilliant species that include the famed Darwin’s finch, magnificent frigate bird, blue-footed boobie, Galápagos flamingo, flightless cormorant with its shocking blue eyes, waved albatross and — for penguin lovers — the Galápagos penguin. The biodiverse waters that surround the Galápagos Islands are also home to vibrant fish, rays, whales, dolphins and hammerhead sharks, to name just a few.A protected ecosystem, the Galápagos Islands offer a magical wildlife refuge complete with rare and unafraid endemic species found nowhere else on the planet. Some of the top animals you may see in the Galápagos are sunbathing sea lions, skittering Sally Lightfoot crabs and dozing marine iguanas. In May, Galápagos green sea turtles hatch their eggs and offer a prime time to view the turtle hatchlings as they set out for the sea. On the island of Santa Cruz, look for lumbering tortoises roaming in its lush highlands. Bird lovers will be gobsmacked by brilliant species that include the famed Darwin’s finch, magnificent frigate bird, blue-footed boobie, Galápagos flamingo, flightless cormorant with its shocking blue eyes, waved albatross and — for penguin lovers — the Galápagos penguin. The biodiverse waters that surround the Galápagos Islands are also home to vibrant fish, rays, whales, dolphins and hammerhead sharks, to name just a few.
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Are there other things to see and do in the Galápagos besides wildlife?
The Galápagos Islands are famed for their rare and endemic animals, but there’s more to see and do beyond wildlife encounters. The islands themselves were formed entirely by volcanic eruption and offer a spectacular look at plant life and volcanic geology, with each island vastly different and defined by such features as rugged cliffs, fields of black lava formations, rainforest-like highlands and gorgeous white-sand beaches. The Galápagos Islands also feature a few surprising port towns, namely lively Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz, where you find a buzzy waterfront, galleries, shops, restaurants and cafes.The Galápagos Islands are famed for their rare and endemic animals, but there’s more to see and do beyond wildlife encounters. The islands themselves were formed entirely by volcanic eruption and offer a spectacular look at plant life and volcanic geology, with each island vastly different and defined by such features as rugged cliffs, fields of black lava formations, rainforest-like highlands and gorgeous white-sand beaches. The Galápagos Islands also feature a few surprising port towns, namely lively Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz, where you find a buzzy waterfront, galleries, shops, restaurants and cafes.
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Do I need a visa to visit the Galápagos?
Holders of U.S. and Canadian passports are not required to obtain a tourist visa for entry into Ecuador for stays of up to 90 days.Holders of U.S. and Canadian passports are not required to obtain a tourist visa for entry into Ecuador for stays of up to 90 days.