Imagine snorkeling beside playful sea lions.
Watching blue-footed boobies dance just feet away.
Seeing giant tortoises roam freely, marine iguanas sunbathe along volcanic shores, and penguins dart through crystal-clear waters.
The Galápagos is not simply a destination.
It is an experience that reconnects you to wonder.
Designed for travelers who want to experience the islands thoughtfully and comfortably, this small-group adventure combines extraordinary wildlife encounters, expert guidance, beautiful accommodations, and the kind of meaningful travel moments that stay with you forever.
And because we intentionally keep our group intimate, the experience feels personal from beginning to end.
Owner-led • Small group • Expert naturalist guide • Private yacht charter • Wildlife unlike anywhere else on Earth
There are many ways to visit the Galápagos.
But we believe one of the most extraordinary places on Earth deserves to be experienced thoughtfully.
This journey was intentionally designed to combine incredible wildlife access, expert guidance, meaningful connection, and an intimate small-group atmosphere.
✅ Private yacht experience with only 8 cabins
Intimate, comfortable, and never crowded.
✅ Maximum of only 16 travelers
A dramatically different experience than large-group travel.
✅ Expert naturalist guide, Cornelia Besmer
An incredible guide and true Galápagos expert whose passion and knowledge bring the islands to life.
✅ Owner-driven experience
Travel with someone deeply invested in creating something meaningful.
✅ Fantastic crew who feel like family
Our longtime partnerships create an atmosphere travelers consistently rave about.
✅ Wildlife encounters unlike anywhere else on Earth
From sea lions and sea turtles to penguins, marine iguanas, rays, flamingos, and more.
✅ Thoughtfully designed pacing
Adventure-filled while still feeling comfortable and enjoyable.
One of the most special parts of this journey is our beautiful small yacht experience.
With only 8 cabins and a maximum of 16 guests, the atmosphere feels intimate, comfortable, and incredibly personal.
This is not a massive cruise ship.
It is a floating home base where friendships are formed, wildlife stories are shared over dinner, and every traveler feels cared for.
Our incredible crew consistently receives rave reviews and becomes like extended family. Their warmth, attentiveness, and genuine hospitality make the experience even more memorable.
By the end of the journey, many travelers say the yacht felt like home with cabins much more spacious than they were expecting.
The Galápagos Islands are one of the most protected and remote ecosystems on Earth.
Because of this, travel here is highly specialized.
Conservation fees, protected access, expert naturalist requirements, inter-island logistics, yacht operations, and strict visitor regulations all play an important role in preserving this remarkable destination.
Could you find cheaper ways to visit?
Absolutely.
But in the Galápagos, lower prices often mean compromises in the exact things that matter most: comfort, guide quality, wildlife access, itinerary quality, inclusions, and overall experience.
We believe a destination this extraordinary deserves to be experienced thoughtfully and well.
Lodging
2 nights accommodation in Quito, Ecuador and 7 nights aboard Yate Anahi
Meals
Breakfast and Lunch are included on day 2. Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner are included on days 3 - 10. Breakfast is included on day 11.
Certified Tour Guide
Certified guide in Quito for day tour
Naturalist Guide
Certified Multilingual Naturalist Guide
Tour Director
Cultured Travel Tour Director
Excursions
Excursions per the itinerary
Internal Flights
Flight between Quito and the Galapagos
Airport transfers
Transfers between the airport and hotel in Quito as well as between the airport in the Galapagos and the Yate Anahi
Snorkeling items
Mask and fins
Park Entrance Fee
Galapagos National Park entrance fee
Transit Card
Galapagos Transit card required for entry
Alcoholic Beverages
Or other beverages that are NOT water, coffee, or tea
Travel Insurance
Strongly recommended
Airfare
Flights to and from Ecuador are not included
Airport Transportation
Transportation between the airport and your home in the USA
Miscellaneous
Any other fees associated with parking, lodging prior to or past the set dates of the tour, souvenirs, meals, or any other item not explicitly mentioned as included
Gratuity
Tips for our naturalist guide, ship crew, or any other gratuities you deem appropriate that may come up and are not previously specified (drivers, etc) Estimate approximately $300 USD.
Wetsuit Rental
Optional - can be done on board the Yate Anahi
Pre/Post Tour Excursions
Any pre or post tour plans are not included. Assistance may be provided in planning such excursions for an additional fee
Priced at $9,298 per person double occupancy
This thoughtfully designed journey includes:
✅ Yacht accommodations
✅ Expert naturalist guide throughout
✅ Guided wildlife excursions
✅ Snorkeling opportunities
✅ Carefully designed itinerary
✅ Small-group experience
✅ Owner-led support
✅ Incredible onboard hospitality
...and much more...
We understand that bucket-list travel is a meaningful investment and don't want it to be reserved only for people who can write one big check.
That’s why we offer easy monthly payment options, allowing many travelers to comfortably spread the cost over time.
Many guests find the journey becomes much more accessible when broken into manageable monthly payments.
Reserve your place with a deposit and pay over time.
Because our yacht only accommodates 16 travelers total, availability is extremely limited.
Once the cabins are spoken for, they are gone.
Arrive in the Ecuadorian capital city of Quito and meet up with your friends in preparation for this epic adventure!
You will be greeted by your certified local guide who will travel with you from the hotel to downtown Quito. You will visit many amazing sites in and around the city and even make a visit to the equator. There, you will be able to see the Coriolis effect in action.
Start your day off with a morning flight to Baltra Airport where we will be greeted by our guide. We will travel by bus to the island of Santa Cruz and enjoy lunch on a private ranch. Our guide will take us on a walk through a beautiful forest where you might also observe some giant tortoises in their natural habitat. Later, we will head to one of the many lava tunnels in the area.
After our visit, we will head to Puerto Ayora and board the yacht, where we will have an official welcome drink, followed by dinner. After dinner, our guide will explain the following day’s activities as well as some general recommendations for visitors of the Galápagos Islands.
Board the "Anahi" Yacht
In the morning we will begin our first visit to the islets known as Las Tintoreras, located south of Puerto Villamil. Today, we will soak in the views of calm turquoise water, mangroves, sea lions, sea turtles, marine iguanas, stingrays, and many more aquatic species. After the visit to "Las Tintoreras", we will disembark to Puerto Villamil to head to the Sierra Negra Volcano.
After lunch, we will visit the wetlands known as “Los Humedales”, where we will be able to see a wide variety of wetland birds and then have some free time in the small town of Puerto Villamil.
Enjoy a morning hike to Punta Moreno. The distance of the trail is about 2100 meters, but this will grant us a panoramic view of the three most active volcanoes in the Galápagos: Sierra Negra and Cerro Azul on Isabela Island, and the summit of Fernandina Island. We will have the opportunity to do a surface dive in this area. In the afternoon we will visit Elizabeth Bay. Here we will be able to observe sea turtles, flightless cormorants, spotted eagle rays, golden rays, brown pelicans and sea lions. Visitors have often been able to see Galápagos falcons fly over their heads, while Pompano and Mahi-mahi fish schools are seen swimming below.
Urbina Bay is located at the east base of the Alcedo volcano. At this site, we will be able to see large sized land iguanas, as well as giant Galápagos tortoises, flightless cormorants, blue-footed boobies, Galápagos penguins, pelicans, and marine iguanas. We will return to the yacht to enjoy a delicious lunch, followed by a short sailing towards Tagus Cove. Here we will have the opportunity to snorkel, surface dive, or to kayak. At around 4pm, we will hike to the top of the cliff that takes us to a viewpoint of Lake Darwin.
Punta Espinoza is well known for its large colonies of marine iguanas, and its unique fauna full of species such as the flightless cormorant, the Galápagos penguin, the Galápagos falcon, and the Galápagos racer snake. After this visit, there will be a possibility to snorkel in the area, where we will be able to swim with marine iguanas, large colonies of sea turtles, and if we are lucky even with beautiful seahorses.
Isabela Island is believed to have the shape of a seahorse, where Punta Vicente Roca would be considered the mouth. Nazca boobies and blue-footed boobies perch along the steep cliffs, while the flightless cormorants inhabit the coast.
At the end of our activity, we will begin navigating the ship, so that we will approach and cross the equator line. At this point, we will have a special cocktail to celebrate our crossing to the northern hemisphere.
Today, we will hike along the the rugged coastline at Puerto Egas. We will have the opportunity to snorkel near here in order to enjoy the marine landscape that is relatively different from previously visited locations. In the afternoon we will visit Rábida Island, said to be unique due to the red color of its rocks and sand. When we arrive, we will enjoy a snorkeling activity. A short walk along a trail will take us to a lagoon to observe the beautiful terrestrial birds, such as finches, pigeons, yellow warblers and mocking birds. This lagoon is also home to a colony of flamingos.
First, we will visit the Sombrero Chino Islet where we will see geological characteristics such as lava tubes and lava flows. The landscape is covered by colonies of sea lions, marine iguanas, and occasionally Galápagos penguins. We will hike to the beautiful bay area where we will swim before returning to the yacht to enjoy a barbecue on top deck. We can also spend time exploring the area with kayaks. Bartolomé Island is one of the most famous spots in the Galápagos, located in front of Sullivan Bay near the island of Santiago. The lunar-like scenery here provides one of the most scenic landscapes of the archipelago.
North Seymour is a small island located to the north of Baltra and will act as our last visit on the itinerary aboard Catamaran Yacht Anahí. Here, we will be able to observe the land iguanas of Baltra. On Baltra we will take a bus to the Baltra Island Airport where our amazing Galapagos journey ends and we will depart from home!
Long sleeve shirts and long pants, but light weight
Light colored clothes like beige, white, etc. no bright green or yellow (because of the wasps)
Casual clothing for on the boat
Light rain jacket / windbreaker
Sun Hoodie
Sunblock 50 SPF, waterproof (bring enough, no opportunity to buy onboard and in GPS its very expensive
Hat that covers face and neck
Water shoes like Tevas
Good hiking shoes
Shoes such as sandals or boat shoes to be worn only on the boat
Mosquito repellent
Seasickness medicine (Scopolamine, Dramamine)
Medicine like Ibuprofen, anti-diarrhea
For water activities: rash guard, swim cap or dive hoody to protect the head from the sun and keep warmer / dive socks or shoes help from the cold, sun and from not getting blisters if the fins are not a perfect fit / if you have, bring a thicker rash guard as well for under the wetsuit, to keep warmer
Dry snorkel (optional)
Small day pack for the excursions
Water bottle
Waterproof cover for cell phone/zip lock bags for camera, cell phone
Binoculars
No adapter needed for charging cameras, cell phones etc., bring charging cables
Bring some extra cash for souvenirs, not all the shops accept credit card, ATMs in town available but only first day possible
There are some places in the world that are beautiful.
And then there are places that completely take your breath away.
For me, the Galápagos Islands are one of those places.
No matter how many documentaries you have watched or photos you have seen, nothing truly prepares you for what it feels like to be there.
The wildlife is unlike anything else I have ever experienced.
One moment you are watching sea lions play beside you. The next, you are snorkeling alongside sea turtles, rays, colorful fish, or even penguins. Marine iguanas stretch across volcanic rock while flamingos quietly wade through lagoons nearby.
There is something deeply humbling and magical about being surrounded by wildlife that has so little fear of humans.
You don’t just observe nature in the Galápagos.
You feel immersed in it.
Over the years, we have been incredibly fortunate to build wonderful relationships with the people who help make this journey so special.
Our incredible guide, Cornelia Besmer, has become a dear friend and is truly one of the most knowledgeable and passionate people I have ever worked with. Her expertise brings the islands to life in a way that transforms the experience.
And then there is our amazing yacht crew.
Their kindness, warmth, and care create an atmosphere that travelers talk about long after the trip is over.
One of the things I love most about this experience is the intimacy of it all.
With only 16 travelers maximum, something wonderful happens — strangers become friends.
Meals become conversations.
Shared adventures become inside jokes.
And by the end of the journey, people often feel like family.
The Galápagos has a way of reconnecting us to wonder.
And I would be honored to experience that with you.
— Jewel
