Floreana Yacht, Galapagos Islands

The Low Down

The Floreana Yacht is one of several "tourist class" boats that motor around the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador. Galapagos cruising on the Floreana Yacht is moderately priced (especially if you book through an Ecuadorean travel agency) and very laid back. The boat only carries 16 passengers (8 double cabins) so you don't waste a lot of time shuttling people back and forth between the islands. That means a lot more time to explore the beauty and wonder of the Galapagos.

Program Itinerary Description

Most travelers to the Galapagas Islands arrive on Sunday and leave the following Sunday. The Floreana itinerary in this case is:

• Sunday : Baltra - Bachas
• Monday : North Seymour - Santa Fe
• Tuesday : Española
• Wednesday : Floreana
• Thursday : Charles Darwin Station - Highlands of Santa Cruz
• Friday : Rabida - Puerto Egas
• Saturday : Bartolome - Sullivan Bay
• Sunday : Caleta Tortuga Negra - Baltra

If you don't have the full days, you can also arrive on a Sunday, departing on the Thursday or arrive on the Thursday and depart on a Sunday. The shorter itineraries are basically dependent on when the Floreana is scheduled to be in port.

The Floreana is also equipped for SCUBA diving even though the boat does not do the typical dive tour of the Galapagos. Basically, when the rest of the boat is snorkeling or relaxing, you will dive with a PADI-certified divemaster.

Guide & Gear Overview

Unless you are a scientific researcher with a special (and hard to obtain) permit, you cannot go ashore on the majority of the Galapagos Islands without a guide. All of the Galapagos Islands' yachts hire guides who speak the primary language of the group on the boat.

The guides on the Floreana are very knowledgeable and passionate about the environment, history and protection of the Galapagos Islands. You can also rent snorkel and SCUBA diving gear on the Floreana, and it's reasonably priced. It can be a bit of a free-for-all at the beginning of the day because the gear is stored in a shared location. You may want to "hide" the mask that fits you best.

Program Details

• Price range: The price can widely vary depending on how you booked your trip. If you book through a local travel agent, expect to pay about $1000USD per person for the 8-day itinerary down to $570USD per person for the 4-day itinerary. Booking through a non-Ecuadorean travel agency may mean significantly higher fees. Also note that the fee does not include alcoholic beverages or the rental of equipment.

• Group size: 16 passengers max

• Difficulty level: easy; the days are broken up by a lot of rest time on the boat while its motoring to the next island

• Average trip length: 4-day or 8-day trips

Helpful Hints

If you are short on cash, it's possible to book a Galapagos Islands tour directly from the port. It's risky during high season, but travelers can get a very good deal by hanging around on Sundays or Thursdays to try to hop aboard.

Don't forget about tips! You will be tipping your barman, the maid and your guide (at a minimum). They all do a fantastic job on the Floreana, so you'll want to be sure to have enough for them.

Contact Info & External Links

• Phone, Fax: typically through a travel agency
• Email: typically through a travel agency
• Web Address: One of several websites with information about the Floreana

• Other Links:
  • Charles Darwin Research Station
  • Creter Tours, a local travel agency based in Quito, Ecuador