At sea
A private yacht charter
Families, three generations or friends travelling together who want complete privacy.
A travl.love guide, created with our partners in Ecuador
The Galapagos
Edit
Updated November 2026
A considered way to see the Galapagos, from the people who know it best.
The overview
At a glance
Highlights
- The ways I'd see the islands, from a private yacht charter to a lodge in the highlands.
- Why the route, the size of the boat and the guiding matter more than the brochure.
- How I'd plan it for families and three generations.
- Pairing the islands with Quito, the Amazon or Machu Picchu.
Best time to go
There is no wrong month, only a different Galapagos. From December to May the water is warmer and the islands are green, which is lovely for snorkelling. From June to November it's cooler and drier, the sea is richer, and marine life is at its most abundant, so a wetsuit is worth having. The finest yachts are reserved nine to twelve months ahead for July, August and Christmas.
Where I'd start
Santa Cruz
On land
Anyone who'd rather sleep on solid ground, or who wants to pair a few nights on land with a short cruise.
Why the Galapagos
The Galapagos has been at the top of my own list for years. I haven't been yet, so I've built this guide the way I build every journey: with partners who sail these islands every week, and advisors I trust who know them well.
What they all say is the same. Here, the way you travel decides almost everything: which islands you see, how many people you share them with, and how quietly you can watch a sea lion pup or an albatross that has never learnt to fear people. Choose well, and the islands feel entirely your own.
Sea or land
The ways I'd do it
One
A private yacht charter
The whole boat, the crew and the guides are yours, and the itinerary is shaped around you. Royal Galapagos charters yachts for up to 20 guests, for anywhere from four days to two weeks.
Who I'd send here: families, three generations or friends travelling together who want complete privacy.
Five
On land
Pikaia Lodge is a 14-room Relais & Châteaux lodge set on extinct volcanic craters in the Santa Cruz highlands, with its own private yacht for days on the water.
Galapagos Safari Camp is family-owned, with nine tented suites and a family suite on a farm bordering the national park.
Who I'd send here: anyone who'd rather sleep on solid ground, or who wants to pair a few nights on land with a short cruise.
Two
A small luxury yacht (16 guests or fewer)
Aqua Mare, from Aqua Expeditions, is a true superyacht: seven suites for 16 guests, two naturalist guides and landing groups of no more than eight.
Galapagos Horizon, from Royal Galapagos, is the only trimaran in the islands, with a balcony in every cabin and a triple hull for a smoother passage.
Who I'd send here: couples and small groups who want intimacy, exceptional food and a crew that knows their name by the second morning.
Three
A boutique yacht (up to 20 guests)
Slightly more space, still personal. Infinity, from Royal Galapagos, has interconnecting cabins and two naturalist guides. Ecoventura's Origin, Theory and Evolve each take 20 guests, with two naturalists aboard.
Who I'd send here: families who want connecting cabins without chartering the whole boat.
Four
An expedition ship (around 100 guests)
Silversea's Silver Origin was built for these islands: all suites, all balconies, butler service and an expert expedition team.
Who I'd send here: travellers who want the polish of a great hotel at sea, with every comfort taken care of.
Small things that matter
How I'd plan it
Give it seven nights.
Most yachts follow an eastern or a western route, and shorter voyages see only part of one.
Choose the route as carefully as the boat.
The eastern and southern islands are known for albatross, boobies and pale beaches. The west is wilder, for penguins, flightless cormorants and big marine life.
Look at the guiding, not just the cabins.
Fewer guests per naturalist makes every landing quieter and richer.
For families,
most yachts welcome children from around six. A private charter is the most relaxed way to travel with three generations.
Arrive a day early.
There are no direct flights from the UK, so a night in Quito or Guayaquil means a delay never costs you the boat.
Save the altitude for the start or the end.
Quito and Cusco sit high, so never go up on the day you arrive.
Extend it.
Quito's old town, the Amazon or Machu Picchu turn the islands into a longer South American journey.
The practical notes
Good to know
Every visitor pays the national park entry fee and buys a transit card online before travelling. We'll confirm exactly what your yacht or lodge includes.
Darwin and Wolf islands are reached on dedicated dive voyages only.
Inter-island flights have stricter baggage limits, so pack accordingly.
Free to read
Unlock the extras
Every yacht, every lodge, and the small details I'd only share with a friend.
Let me shape your Galapagos.
Tell me who is travelling and whether you'd rather sail or stay on land, and I'll match the boat, the route and the days to you.
Prefer to talk it through? Book a 20-minute call