10 Reasons to do a Private Yacht Cruise in the Galapagos
10 Reasons to Embark on a Private Yacht Cruise to the Galápagos Islands
We just returned from another amazing private yacht tour in the Galapagos and are more excited to host this experience once again in December 2024. While we were on the islands, we realized that it is hard for people who are planning their trips from afar – to really understand why the small-boat cruise is the BEST way to explore this incredible archipelago.
We will share some key reasons why the private yacht cruise is the best way to see the islands and add in some personal examples from our recent experience on the cruise.
- Exclusive Access to Remote Locations: Yacht cruises can take you to secluded spots in the Galápagos that are inaccessible to larger ships or land tours. This not only means more intimate encounters with the unique wildlife and untouched landscapes, but it also means you get to disembark with your small group from the yacht without having to wait in line on a larger boat or waste time waiting your turn for transportation to the islands from your larger boat.
- Wake up to the island life: smaller boats get to anchor right next to the islands, often in private secluded bays. Larger boats anchor far off the shore and you don’t have the same up close experience with the island life. If you are traveling all the way to the Galapagos, it is worth it to spend the money for this more intimate experience.
- Personalized Itineraries: Enjoy the flexibility of customizing your journey. Private yachts often offer bespoke itineraries tailored to your interests, whether it’s wildlife, photography, or snorkeling. On our MedTreks itineraries we like to keep the trips active and so kayaking and snorkeling to witness the creatures up close is one of our top priorities. We also offer yoga classes and fitness workshops on the sun deck for our group during the day.
- Intimate Wildlife Encounters: The mobility of a yacht allows for exploration of diverse habitats, increasing chances of encountering rare species like the Galápagos penguin or the blue-footed booby in their natural settings. The land based tours on the Galapagos islands are heavily regulated, meaning that the smaller yachts benefit from their ability to anchor closer to the islands allowing guests to have up-close experiences with the animals throughout the entire day. A highlight from our most recent trip was watching reef shark swim and play with a sea lion around our boat at night while the group was star gazing!
- Luxury and comfort: private yachts offer more personalized service and amenities. On our private yacht trip you will enjoy 3 nutritious meals daily prepared fresh by our private onboard chef. Have a dietary restriction? No problem, our chef will cater the meals to your needs and prepare healthy, tasty options for you. We love food and we love our guests to love their food on these experiences!
- Onboard Naturalist Experts: on our small 16 person yacht, we have one professional, naturalist guide that stays with us on the boat the entire time. This not only means that you get to explore the islands with their expert knowledge but you also get the personal attention and opportunity to ask further questions throughout your entire time on the yacht, during cruises, meals or during the daily debrief over Happy Hour.
- Your vacation- avoid the crowds: Smaller groups on yachts mean a more peaceful experience, away from the crowds that often accompany larger tour groups on the islands. Several times a day our groups take 2 small zodiac boats from our yacht to the land and each boat only fits 8 people. Sometimes we will cruise for an hour around the island before landing and this opportunity to cruise the shores in proximity to all the creatures, is one of the highlights for our guests.
- Environmental Impact: Smaller yachts tend to have a lesser environmental footprint compared to larger ships or land-based accommodations, making our tour a more sustainable and environmentally friendly option. The company we contract with also puts a priority on purchasing local produce and is constantly striving to minimize the impact on the environment through resource conservation.
- Snorkeling, Swimming & Kayaking Opportunities: our smaller boat is able to anchor in more secluded regions of coastline, making it more convenient and easy to swim/kayak and snorkel just from the boat!
- Become part of a family: private yacht trips are special. People show up as strangers but at the end of the trip they leave feeling like family. This is one of the biggest reasons that we opt for a private yacht trip as our MedTreks Galapagos adventures. We get to host a more personal experience and this is why we love what we do – we get a chance to know our guests and for our guests to really sink into their vacations.
Join us next December in the Galapagos!
