Diving and natural history cruises departing Santa Cruz and San Cristobal Islands

A liveaboard trip - a multi-day, boat-based expedition, providing food, accommodation and lots of diving or land-based exploring!

Some of our visitors only make day trips, returning each evening to land-based accommodation but for others, the attractions of liveaboard life are irresistible. While on a boat for an extended period, you’ll visit more remote and dynamic sites and dive, or explore distant landscapes, more frequently, all while enjoying your evenings close to nature and really getting to know your fellow travellers. What’s more, liveaboard life provides you with comfortable, accommodation and high quality dining, making these trips all about relaxation, pleasure, adventure, and unforgettable experiences!

If you’re thinking about booking a Galapagos liveaboard, here are the essentials to bear in mind:

Natural history cruises:

Are available on both small, intimate, vessels and larger ships with more amenities

Offer short trips focused on a few islands and longer expeditions taking in additional, and more distant, locations

Provide activities such as snorkeling, kayaking, and glass-bottom boat trips, to compliment their land excursions and enhance your exploration

Are available at a wide range of price points, to meet your requirement

Diving cruises:

Participants must hold an ‘advanced certificate’ and have at least 50 logged dives, as some of our remote sites are quite challenging

Nitrox certification is required

If you cannot meet the above standards, a private guide must accompany you at all times

The duration of a Galapagos dive liveaboard is, at minimum, 8 days/7 nights. It is simply not possible to visit sites such as Wolf and Darwin for 2 or 3 days

Liveaboard boats generally carry about 20 guests, providing them with sun/cocktail deck, lounge/dive deck, and accommodation split over one or two decks

Liveaboard operators expect to supply their clients with everything required (including towels and linens) but you can bring your own dive equipment if this is preferred

Galapagos dive liveaboard itineraries vary by operator, offering visitors the opportunity to select between trips that maximise time on Wolf and Darwin, and those that take in other remote locations

Set out below is an exemplar Saturday to Saturday - 8 day / 7 night experience

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5+6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9
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Day 1

Saturday: Arrive, Baltra Airport

Sunday: AM: Check dive and local dive around Baltyra North, (2 Dives), PM: Local land trip, followed by long transit to Wolf Island

The rest of the day is at your leisure. Stroll along the promenade and enjoy the fresh sea air. If you already want to start exploring, we recommend a walk to the beach La Lobería for observing Galapagos sea lions, the island's landmark, lazily hanging out on the lava rocks and in the sand. The beach is located about 30 minutes by foot south of the town. While still on the way to the beach, look for marine iguanas, yellow warblers, finches, and the great frigatebird.

Another destination that does not require much planning or guidance is the Frigatebird Hill (Cerro Tijereta) northwest of town. It´s recommended to starting the walk up from the Interpretation Center, following the trail for approx. 1 hour through a mixed forest of incense trees, matazarno trees, candelabra cactus, and yellow-flowered cordia. You´ll see dozens of great frigate birds sitting or nesting in the trees, yellow warblers, pelicans, the island’s species of lava lizards and mockingbirds specific to San Cristobal, and different species of finches. You´ll have fantastic panoramic views from different viewpoints up to Kicker Rock and over the town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Snorkel fans should carry their equipment to explore the bay.

Please keep in mind that sunset is around 6:00 p.m. and there is no long twilight at the equator. It is dark by 6:30. Find a nice place to enjoy the sunset over the sea.

Day 2

KICKER ROCK DIVING TOUR

Kicker Rock is an imposing, vertical, sheer-walled tuff cone that has been eroded in half. It is about 45 minutes by boat from the town. The name in Spanish is León Dormido, so called because of its resemblance to a sleeping sea lion. It is known as one of the best dive sites in the archipelago to expect schools of hammerhead sharks, Galápagos sharks, sea turtles, eagle rays, golden rays, sea lions as well as schools of salema fish.

The tour starts around 08:00 a.m. with meeting the dive guide at the main dock. You get straight onto the boat there, and the trip to Kicker Rock takes about 45 minutes. A short weight and equipment check is done before the actual dive. Your guide will explain the course of the dive.

The first dive is at the outside wall of the rock that goes 60m/200ft straight to the bottom – good buoyancy control for divers is a must (divers go down to 20m). Currents are mild to moderate. After the surface interval with snacks and drinks, the second dive goes through the dramatic channel cutting through the rock between towering walls. The divers go up from 20m/60ft to 15-13m/40ft.

After the action-packed dives, you have a delicious hot lunch and head to a nearby beach to relax, which varies depending on the day of the week and the operator.

Around 03:30 PM, you will be back in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.

Day 3

ESPAÑOLA ISLAND TOUR – WALKING AND DIVING

The tour to Española starts quite early, depending on the operator already at 06:30 a.m. The quite long (2 hours) and sometimes choppy boat ride is worth it from the moment you arrive at Punta Suárez. You will see the endemic green-reddish marine iguanas and the Galápagos sea lions already at the small stone pier, constructed for a dry landing with the zodiac. The hiking trail is 1.6 km long, a sandy and fairly flat circular trail that shows you many endemic species as e.g. the Española mockingbird, and the Galápagos hawk. Different species of finches, blue-footed boobies, and Nazca boobies can be spotted.

Nesting season for the waved albatross from April to December is especially fantastic. They mate, nest and raise their chicks only on Española Island, touching no other land despite ocean-crossing flights.

Another highlight on the way is El Soplador, a 25m water fountain produced by ocean waves hitting with great pressure the cracks in the island´s cliff, spouting up through a lava tunnel.

After lunch, you navigate to Gardner Bay for diving or snorkeling. Gardner Bay is a shallow area between Islet Gardner and Islet Osborn. It is just a small protuberance, which is the starting point for the dives. Currents may be strong and the visibility good. The site offers a lot of activity in general: eagle rays, golden rays, barracudas, the Galapagos batfish, sea turtles, sea lions, white-tipped sharks, Galápagos sharks and sometimes even hammerhead sharks!

The tour ends at approx. 05:00 p.m. with disembarking at the main dock of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.

Day 4

FROM SAN CRISTOBAL TO SANTA CRUZ ISLAND/ TORTUGA BAY & LAS GRIETAS

On the 4th day of the trip you go with one of the ferries (all speedboats) to Santa Cruz Island. Depending on your preference, you can go in the morning (07:00 - 09:00 AM), or in the afternoon (03:00 - 05:00 PM). Accordingly, you will have free time for activities of your choice on San Cristobal (see the recommendations for day 1), or on Santa Cruz.

In both cases transfers will be included, which means you will be picked up from the hotel in San Cristobal and brought to the pier, as well as on Santa Cruz you will be picked up from the pier and brought to your accommodation.

If you decide to go in the morning and spend the day on Santa Cruz, we recommend visiting the majestic 800m long sandy beach Tortuga Bay to observe wading birds, marine iguanas, sea lions, or get to know the coastal zone of Santa Cruz better with a walk to the water-filled rift of Las Grietas for snorkeling. Also, an informative visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station with the breeding station of the Galapagos giant tortoises might be of your interest.

A visit to Tortuga Bay beach is free of charge, at Las Grietas and the research station you have to pay USD 10 per person on-site for a group tour.

All visitor sites, as part of the National Park, close around 5:00 pm.

Between 03:00 - 06:00 PM please go to our dive center to fit the gear, or prepare your private dive gear and for the briefing.

Good to know

We will be happy to organize a private naturalist guide for you if you prefer to explore the visitor sites around Puerto Baquerizo Moreno/ Puerto Ayora in company!

Day 5+6

SANTA CRUZ DIVING TOURS

Hammerhead sharks, Galapagos sharks, manta rays, eagle rays, golden rays, sea turtles and sea lions - float among these and many other majestic creatures on 2 dives per day. Our professional crew will guide you through the day with information and best service above and under water.

Around 8:00 AM you will be picked up for the diving tour. The exact dive sites and corresponding logistics depend on your travel dates, as each operator in the archipelago has an itinerary and schedule set by the Galápagos National Park. If your diving experience does not match the offered dive spots, the program will be adjusted accordingly in its order of the activities. Depending on the dive site, you will be back at the hotel around 3 - 4 o'clock.

Day 7

SANTA CRUZ HIGHLANDS

Around 08:00 in the morning your naturalist guide will pick you up from the hotel and you'll head off through the different microclimate zones into the highlands of Santa Cruz Island. The highlands are mostly cloudy, rainfalls are not uncommon. This is obviously reflected in the lush, green vegetation that contrasts with the dry coastline. Cool air with high humidity provides a nice respite from the heat down in Puerto Ayora.

The first stop is at the twin craters “Los Gemelos”. These collapsed twin craters were formed when the island was still an active volcano. The area is one of the few where the endemic Scalesia forest is almost intact. Some finch species and the Galapagos dove live here.

Afterwards you continue your way to one of the ranches where you see the Galapagos giant tortoises in their natural habitat. The tortoises do not live there in a fenced area, but ponds in the pastures attract them so that visitors can get a good look at them. A pleasure for people and for animals that can leave the enclosure at any time to continue on their way. Occasionally we also see the endemic pintail duck as well as owls and coots.

The area where the turtles live is crisscrossed with underground lava tunnels. These tunnels are formed in the heart of huge lava flows and show you the violence of magma as if frozen in time. With a bit of luck you will see a sleeping Galapagos owl, appreciating the deep shadows of the tunnels.

At lunchtime we will return to Puerto Ayora. The afternoon is at leisure.

Day 8

SANTA CRUZ DIVING TOUR

A final day of diving concludes the program of this trip.

Once again, around 8:00 AM you will be picked up for the diving tour including 2 dives. The exact dive sites and corresponding logistics depend on your travel dates. Depending on the dive site, you will be back at the hotel around 3 - 4 o'clock.

PADI recommends 18 hours between scuba diving and flying. Our last dive always ends at about 1pm. Usually it is no problem to dive with us the day before the flight, because the first flights start quite late in the morning.

Day 9

DEPARTURE

It is time to say goodbye. Your driver will pick you up at your hotel 3 1/2 hours before departure and accompanies you to Baltra Airport (GPS). Most flights depart in the morning, which usually does not allow for further activities on the day of departure.

What’s included in our Packages?

Scuba Iguana illustration
Included:
  • 8 nights accommodation with breakfast
  • Professional and bilingual (Spanish/English) guidance from the National Park Galapagos on all tours: PADI instructors for the diving tours and naturalist guides for the land and snorkel excursions.
  • 9 dives on 5 days with complete dive gear
  • Towel service
  • Hot lunch, snacks and beverages on all full-day tours/ snacks and beverages on half-day tours
  • All transfers (airport hotel/ harbour hotel)
  • Taxes
  • Credit card fees
Not included:
  • Airfare Galapagos Quito/Guayaquil
  • National Park Galapagos entrance fee
  • Transition Control Card (TCT)
  • Dinner
  • Dive Computer (not mandatory for day diving tours, all regulators come with a pressure and a depth gauge, the dive guide measures the bottom time, temperature etc. for the group)
  • Tips

Pricing

Package Price

Standard

From $2,190 /pp

Comfort

From $2,490 /pp

Superior

From $2,780 /pp

*All price based on 2 travelers in a double room (1 or 2 beds), including taxes and credit card fees

Good to know

Basically, this program is exactly what you are looking for, but you just want to change a thing or two? No problem! We are happy to make individual changes for you on the basis of this program.

Frequently asked questions

Diving in the Galapagos is always great, no matter when you come. Most emblematic animals such as hammerhead sharks, Galapagos sharks, sea lions, sea turtles, rays, are here all year round. In the cold season (June-November) the chances of encountering special animals such as a manta ray or a sunfish on a day dive are better. With a lot of luck a whale shark will swim by. However, the waters are more difficult to dive during the cold season. The warm season (December-May) offers more relaxed diving and better visibility.
Despite its location on the equator, Galapagos has marked seasons due to the influence of different winds and ocean currents. December - May: 70°F/20°C - 80°F/26°C water temperature; the southeast trade winds weaken and the water from the Panama Basin brings warmer and calmer seas; sailing to the dive sites is easier; average visibility is better, around 12m. June - November: 65°F/18°C - 75°F/23°C water temperature; the Humboldt Current typically brings choppy seas and strong surges making sailing times longer; the average visibility drops to about 7m.
An Open Water certification (PADI, SSI, NAUI, BASC, …) is sufficient to participate in our daily diving tours. For the dive site Gordon Rocks we require an additional 25 dives of experience. Some experience in cool and current-rich waters is an advantage (but not mandatory) since water temperatures here are quite low and all dives are drift dives. Divers without Open Water certification can do a Discovery Dive with private guidance at all dive sites except Gordon Rocks.
Yes, if you have at least 18 dives experience, you can have your diving skills evaluated for Gordon Rocks by our guides on a previous dive.
We recommend booking both single day tours and a travel program in advance, as availability may be severely limited a few days or weeks before the planned trip. Boats for day diving tours in the archipelago have a maximum capacity of 12 guests. If you intend to come during the high season (Easter, July/August, Christmas/New Year) or as a group it makes sense to contact us up to 1 year in advance, otherwise 6-3 months is sufficient to find flexible availability.
On each day diving tour, the last dive ends around 01:00 PM. PADI recommends 18 hours between diving and flying. As the first flights depart quite late in the morning, it is usually no problem to fly the day after diving. Night dives are not possible the day before a flight.
Yes, we give a discount of USD 20/ day diving tour for bringing complete private equipment (wetsuit, BCD, regulator, mask, and fins (boodies)). Please note that our tanks have YOKE connections; if you have a DIN regulator, you should also bring an adapter. The use of reef hooks is prohibited at all dive sites.
No, photos are not necessarily included. We want our guides to be able to concentrate fully on safe and good diving without the pressure of documenting the dive. However, the guides have private cameras which they are free to use as they think is fit. Whether the photos are made available for free afterwards or can be purchased for a few extra dollars is also at the decision of the respective dive guide. We allow our guests to take their own small camera on the tour. However, they must stay with the dive guide and follow the pace of the group. Guests who wish to concentrate on photography and may bring their (professional) camera equipment will require a private dive guide.
Our groups have a maximum of 5 divers/guide. Every day we try to divide the groups as much as possible into more experienced divers and less experienced divers. However, depending on the participants, it is difficult to do this very strictly, i.e. there can be quite a difference in diving experience within the group. If you, for example, have a lot of experience (200+ dives) and want to ensure an uninterrupted dive, there is the option of hiring a private guide. Likewise, if you are a beginner who is not confident enough in his/her diving skills, a private guide or an assistant can be hired.
Yes, you may book private guidance. We differentiate between an assistant/divemaster who helps you with diving in the group (for example in case of difficulties with pressure equalization or boyancy control) and a private dive guide/instructor who helps you if necessary but above all with whom you can dive independently of the group. An assistant costs USD 120/ day diving tour and a private guide USD 180/ day diving tour.
There are basically two possibilities: One is to add a couple of day diving tours before or after the cruise, which in most cases is the easier and more affordable option. The other is to include a diving day during the cruise, which means we pick you up from the cruise ship and drop you off there after diving. Whether and how this is possible depends on various factors, especially the itinerary of the cruise. This boat-to-boat option is almost exclusively possible as a charter booking.
No, these dive sites are too far away from any inhabited island to be reached on a day diving tour. Darwin and Wolf can only be visited on an 8 day/7 night dive liveaboard cruise.
There are no day diving tours from Santa Cruz to Isabela Island. It is possible to dive from Puerto Villamil/ Isabela Island, but we cannot recommend it and do not sell it.
Our team is happy to receive recognition for their work, of course. We recommend between 5-20 USD/tour as a tip. The money in the box is shared by all crew members. If you would like to thank a specific person, please put the money directly in their hand. However, it should be noted that no one has to live off the tips.

Meet our sales team

All locals, all divers and with many years of experience in the tourism business in Galapagos.

  • Lisa

    Sales Agent

  • Jessica

    Sales Agent

  • Sabine

    Sales Agent

  • Virginia

    Sales Agent

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