Galapagos Cruises 2025 & 2026

Meals Review

The meals were lovely. There were always multiple options for breakfast lunch and dinner. More plated meals would be nice.

Itinerary Review

Wow, what an amazing trip that was! Seriously, from the moment it started to the very end, it was so well put together and there was always something fun happening. The service was top-notch the whole time. Everything was so well taken care of, which just made the whole trip such a breeze and totally unforgettable. Deep water snorkeling was amazing and a unique experience for me. Being out in those remote places with absolutely no one else around made it unlike any snorkeling I had ever done before. I felt so safe and well-informed thanks to the guides – they were fantastic!

Crew & Guides Review

Very knowledgeable and kind people, guides Juan & David were great leaders. They went out of their way to make sure everyone felt comfortable and included, always with a smile and a helpful attitude. They kept everything running smoothly, and their genuine care for the group really made the whole trip feel welcoming and enjoyable.

Transportation Review

Everything went smoothly, it was so nice not having to worry about transportation.

Accommodations Review

What made the Infinity so special was its perfect blend of intimacy and luxury. Being on a smaller vessel created a wonderfully personal feel, yet it didn't compromise on comfort. The boat boasted lovely amenities, rooms that felt surprisingly spacious, and numerous outdoor lounge areas where you could truly relax and enjoy the journey.

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

AdventureSmith was amazing with the preparation. They completely took the reins on all the logistics, and honestly, that made the biggest difference. Not having to think about any of that allowed me to just be there and fully enjoy every moment – it was fantastic.

Traveler Advice

Bring more sunscreen and bug spray than expected, I ran out quickly and was happy to have more!

Meals Review

The food was delicious. It was nice to try different foods. Everything was presented so beautifully and it was very tasty. It was nice to have the ability to swap from the special meals if needed. I liked a vegetarian option. Desserts were so delicious.

Itinerary Review

Glacier Bay was the highlight to be able to see glaciers. I also really enjoyed kayaking (which I had never done before). The other passengers were a lot of fun and helpful in assisting & scheduling paired outings. I enjoyed the skiff ride to be close to the glacier and bushwhacking on other outings.

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

Thank you Andrew Browning for assisting with our questions and helping us feel comfortable with our first cruise preparations. You made it easy and enjoyable.

Accommodations Review

We stayed in a Trailblazer room on the 3rd floor. It had twin beds but a great view and access to the open deck. It was nice for an early morning photo op of the sunrise.

Transportation Review

Great with communication of when luggage was required and transport times.

Crew & Guides Review

Nicole was excellent and very organized as the activities director. Amanda taught us about jellyfish, Matt taught us about trees interconnectedness. I have just checked out the Finding the Mother Tree book by Suzanne Simard which he recommended. Courtney shared her love of fish and Moxie shared her Art of Storytelling. We learned a lot about the indigenous art form and culture. She was great leading our stretch class too.

Fellow Passengers Review

We met a lot of new friends. We enjoyed the other passengers.

Traveler Advice

Rain gear, open attitude and adventure spirit. Be thankful for the opportunity to travel and learn about our world and new friends.

Accommodations Review

Overly spacious. Since we booked this as a girls trip with our own cabins it felt like we had more than enough space. Single cabins were already booked so we had to book double cabins but the adjoining door we had was a fun bonus. The bathroom and closet are unbeatable on a ship. Our hotels in Quito and Guayaquil were lovely but overall felt a little sleepy. Perhaps off season in May?

Meals Review

We were spoiled for choice. Since I'm a light eater, I loved the small four-course portions. My preference would be to not sit and dine for so long each evening but my friend and some others aboard enjoyed this nightly event.

Crew & Guides Review

Butlers and guides were a highlight, as were the ship crew who were so helpful and attentive during excursions and getting on/off the ship. Butlers would go above and beyond to polish my sunglasses and wrap any charging cords I left out.

Fellow Passengers Review

A mix of younger and older couples and a few solo travelers. Loved everyone and we bonded over seeing so much wildlife together. Wish we had more time!

Transportation Review

Not having to worry the whole trip about our transportation was a highlight. Drivers and guides were all waiting for us as we were told, and it was nice to have the same driver in Quito do our city tour the next day. AdventureSmith made it easy to pack up and go quick for this trip, and also advised on some unique flight suggestions that helped us maximize our overall time away.

Traveler Advice

I loved the unpacking service. Laundry service was included but only for 5 items on our trip. Could purchase more if needed, but due to large closet I was glad I packed heavy.

Accommodations Review

The ship was very comfortable and quite nice.

Meals Review

The food was delicious and beautifully presented. It far exceeded our expectations. The fish was especially wonderful. Consistently good. 

Itinerary Review

All the visits were wonderful - each a bit different. The proximity to the wildlife was an incredible experience. The island hikes/walks were hot but really interesting. I really liked the snorkeling, beach time and skiff tours. One of the highlights was the sky talk provided by Nancy at night on the top deck, no lights, with a laser pointer. It was amazing. There was an itinerary change on day 1. Upon arrival, we did not go to the ship to settle in and have lunch, instead we went directly to the Great Tortoise refuge.

Crew & Guides Review

All three were fantastic. They were very knowledgeable, pleasant and made the visits fun. They were also very flexible in being willing to make changes to accommodate interests as needed.

Fellow Passengers Review

Very fun and active group.

Transportation Review

Everything went flawlessly. The transport we hired through Metropolitan for the early morning pickup arranged a box breakfast for us which was greatly appreciated.

Accommodations Review

The Endemic was a beautiful vessel. Food, people, design, etc.

Meals Review

Consistently good. The Endemic excelled with local fish.

Itinerary Review

[We most enjoyed]...The snorkeling. [We least enjoyed]...The Galapagos Breeding Center, it was a disappointing way to see the tortoises, after having experienced them and all of the other species “in the wild."

Traveler Advice

Don’t rush. Don’t be too tied to a camera. The best experiences are not through a lens.

Crew & Guides Review

Carlos Palma was beyond excellent. Not only knowledgeable and caring, but also deeply committed to his culture and to a continuous virtuous circle of sustainable and resilient living. We not only appreciated him but admired him.

Fellow Passengers Review

Nothing that you can control, but we were very lucky with our fellow travelers on the Endemic. A great group of people and the crew sensed the relationships and adjusted the table configurations accordingly. Very bespoke and nice.

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

Everything was like clockwork...Overall, we felt so well cared for, and the complexities of our plans and timing were managed and planned seamlessly. Bravo Leslie!!!

Accommodations Review

The Horizon was fabulous.

Meals Review

Every meal got 5 stars.

Itinerary Review

There wasn’t anything that we didn’t enjoy. [We most enjoyed]...the snorkeling because it was so incredible!

Traveler Advice

I would advise having AdventureSmith plan their trip.

Crew & Guides Review

The crew on the Horizon was absolutely so kind and helpful. Michelle was so professional and genuine. James, our nature guide, was so knowledgeable and made sure we got the most out of each excursion. Everyone was perfect.

Fellow Passengers Review

We were a chill group and got along very well.

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

Every day was very well planned out and there was a great mix between adventures and down time.

Meals Review

Loved all the seafood!

Crew & Guides Review

Nancy, Karlita, and Fabo were all wonderful on the boat. Fausto was fantastic at Sacha.

Itinerary Review

We had a great time in the Galapagos and in the Amazon Basin.

Accommodations Review

The accommodations on Isabella II were very good (except no electrical outlet next to one of the beds). Sacha Lodge was magical.

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

Lauren was informative and responsive. AdventureSmith does its homework and knows what to recommend.

Accommodations Review

The cabin and staff were great.

Meals Review

The chef was so passionate about the food and introducing us to Ecuadorian cuisine. Some of the set menu choices were limited but I expected that. Quality was generally very high.

Itinerary Review

We'd never been to South America and had to cross it of our list. We were torn between doing a week in Ecuador or including a trip to Machu Picchu, but after discussing it with Lauren, we believe we made the better choice, as we got to relax and explore Ecuador. [We most enjoyed]...Galapagos wildlife, birds and fauna. Experiencing the variety of birds, fish and animals in their natural surroundings. Horseback riding around Cotopaxi and seeing the volcano from different angles, as well as deer and horses.

Transportation Review

All the arrangements went off without a hitch.

Crew & Guides Review

Both the Galapagos guide, Daniel Sanchez and the land trip guide, Paola were excellent. Besides being very knowledgeable, they listened well and were always willing to accommodate and add to the experience.

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

Lauren was fantastic. She was always prepared to research ideas with her associates and offer suggestions. She set expectations high and exceeded them. I was blown away by her professionalism. Would absolutely recommend AdventureSmith to friends and family! We don't often use travel agents (and have not had consistently good experiences). I am glad I came across your company. You delivered.

Traveler Advice

Keep an open mind and enjoy the experience.

Accommodations Review

Beautiful vessel, comfortable cabins, and a top deck that was the best outdoor gathering place we've ever experienced. Even the area where we off-boarded and on-boarded the pangas was designed for smooth access to equipment and for entry and exit.

Meals Review

Especially liked the breakfast and lunch being served as a buffet. Lots of options and opportunity to try new dishes.

Itinerary Review

Our whole family, especially the adults, weighs in on destinations for family trips. Our previous trip, a luxury African safari, set the bar high. Galapagos was an easy decision.[We most enjoyed]...snorkeling with the sea turtles, sea lions and fish probably took first place for everyone. Each animal, especially the first sightings of everything was always awesome, and our naturalists had so much information to enhance each encounter. On board the Theory the teenagers gave the hot tub high marks.

Traveler Advice

GO! This is a trip I would recommend with children/youth old enough to absorb the unique environment, and ecological learning of a truly one-of-a kind place.

Crew & Guides Review

Superlative, since excellent doesn't describe Gustavo and Jose Luis. Gustavo was the "fun dad" for our teenagers, creating special moments, photos and experiences (liking jumping off the top deck of the ship!) We had a 16 yr old grandson who had a fear of open waters and had never snorkeled--our guides successfully took on the challenge, and he snorkeled twice! Both Gustavo and Jose Luis were the most knowledgeable guides we've experienced.

Fellow Passengers Review

Delightful. Our cruise consisted of our party of 11 and a four-person family that was a perfect match. They had two teenagers whose ages fit right in with ours, and soon our families were blended. I think all parties would agree that our trip was enhanced for the adults and teens by the presence of our travel partners.

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

Well done! With special thanks and commendations to Andrew for all his help in shaping a perfect trip for our family. He was exceptional. We have had a very long experience together, with a delayed trip tangentially related to COVID that he helped us through, and he was with us start to finish. He has probably logged more than 50 email queries from me over planning this cruise (and adding an Amazon extension) and unfailingly responded often within the day, and always within 24 hours. Great advice about which company to book for the Amazon portion, and even provided counsel about logistics of our pre-cruise time in Quito.

Accommodations Review

Our room on Natural Paradise was much more spacious than I anticipated with a nice balcony for watching sunrise/sunsets. Nice too to have the option of drying wet clothing outside.

Meals Review

Unbelievable options for food every night, and always a meal unlike a previous one. I was surprised that there were always healthy options. The chef was most accommodating to anyone with food restrictions. I had wine with every meal. Our bartender, Jorge, was great. Snacks in between outings were also wonderful.

Itinerary Review

Espańola was my favorite of the islands that we visited, as was my expectation leading up to the cruise. We were there in the wrong season to see the waved albatross, but still, it was a fascinating place. Easy hiking, mostly flat, and abundant wildlife. We saw nesting Nazca boobies with chicks, many sea lions, Christmas marine iguanas, spectacular vistas of bird covered cliffs, tropic birds in flight, amazing schools of fish, sea turtles, and occasional shark when snorkeling in the warm February sea, no wet suit necessary.

Least interesting to me were the two inhabited towns that we visited, Puero Villamil on Isabela, and Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristobal, although, even these were pretty cool island towns. Great group of travelers on our cruise. Friendly bunch, many laughs, and good company on a small boat cruise.

Crew & Guides Review

Wow, our naturalist guide on board (Marcus) was so nice, and he provided great detail on what to expect on our excursions. His knowledge of the animals and plants was amazing. He was easy to talk to and enthusiastically answered any questions from the guests. The crew of the Natural Paradise were so very helpful and extremely friendly. I was so impressed that our cruise director, Jorge, was fluent in Chinese. Fantastic guide and great group of fellow travelers.

Transportation Review

Our internal transport from mainland Ecuador to the Galápagos Islands was smooth and nothing unexpected happened. We had been well informed as to making connections with guides and when to be where and ready.

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

We felt very reassured that we were going to have a great trip and thanks to Lauren, we were confident that we were adequately prepared for this adventure.

Traveler Advice

Relax, this is a very comfortable cruise and you will be so glad that you did it.