Ecoventura

Ecoventura operates the leading fleet of non-diving natural history tour boats in the Galapagos Islands. The fleet consists of 2 identical high spec steel hull motor yachts: MY Eric and MY Letty.

They each accommodate up to 20 guests in a range of twin, double and triple bed cabins with en-suite bathrooms. Guests will enjoy unmatched comfort and service as they cruise around some of the best locations of the Galapagos. Departures are every Sunday from San Cristobal Island, offering 2 distinct 7-night itineraries.

Each cruise includes on-shore visits, educational talks, fabulous snorkeling, kayaking and shoreline dinghy expeditions. With 2 officially sanctioned nature guides on board, you will be sure to be experiencing Galapagos in groups of 10 or fewer - a more personalized service than many other tour boats.

Ecoventura has a history of emphasizing its ecological credentials and partnered with WWF to establish the Galapagos Marine Biodiversity Fund. It proudly claims to be Ecuador's first carbon-neutral company. Locally owned, Ecoventura has been in business since 1990 and so you can expect a high level of expertise and service on trips, both during excursions and when on board the spacious liveaboard boat.

Other facilities on board include a large air conditioned saloon with flat screen TV, DVD player and music system, plus a library of material both for general interest and Galapagos-based. There is also a well-stocked bar for those unforgettable sundowners!

The saloon is on the main deck and connects to the dining area where you can enjoy the delicious chef-prepared meals. Guests will socialize mainly here or on the sun deck complete with sun loungers and day beds. To experience the natural wonders of the Galapagos Islands fully and in great comfort and style, there is no better option than Ecoventura cruises.

Loading...

Notes: Galapagos is a popular destination for cruises with limited liveaboard spaces. We recommend you book well in advance to avoid disappointment.

Extra terms and conditions for new bookings during the COVID reality:
Ecoventura will provide guests with a full cruise credit (FCC) to reschedule their cruise up to 12 months from their cruise departure if either of the following conditions are met:
- Ecuador closes its borders or prevents you from entering due to their governmental guidelines and restrictions on your country of residence; - Your country of residence prevents you from departing due to their governmental guidelines and restrictions on the entry to Ecuador.

Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation with air-conditioning, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinking water, soft drinks, hot drinks, Captain's welcome and farewell cocktail, house wine and local beer with dinner, tour guide service, shore excursions, use of wetsuits, snorkeling equipment, sea kayaks and stand up paddle boards, transfers in the islands between shore and dock, airport transfers for same day arrivals and departures, all taxes.

Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Galapagos National Park entrance fee US$ 200. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival.

Optional extras: Other alcoholic drinks, travel insurance. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival. Note: prices of items purchased onboard are subject to change.

How to get there: Letty departs from San Cristobal every Sunday afternoon, after boarding and lunch onboard. Guests fly into Ecuador and take a connecting flight, through Guayaquil or Quito, to San Cristobal in the Galapagos Islands. You will need to overnight in Guayaquil or Quito before flying on to the Galapagos. To ensure easy flight connections, a 2 night stop-over is recommended.
After breakfast and morning activities, you will disembark Letty. On the return flight to Ecuador mainland you will probably need to overnight in Guayaquil or Quito since most international flights depart too early to make the connection possible. The flight from Galapagos arrives in Guayaquil (and then Quito) in the afternoon.
We will place your domestic flight requirements with the liveaboard operator who will be responsible for booking the flights. We request your patience with this process since there are often waiting lists and slow confirmations of availability. You must inform us whether you are flying into Guayaquil or Quito before domestic flights can be considered. If you wish to extend your stay in Galapagos to enjoy land tours please decide that early in the booking process to ensure flight availability.
For more details, including airlines, see our Galapagos travel information section.

Non-diver rate: Not applicable.

Single supplement (if you do not want to share accommodation): This is optional - single travelers may choose to share a cabin or pay a supplement of 70% of the published price.

Dive clubs and group discounts: See whole boat charter rate below.

Whole boat charter rate (per night): US$ 16,500. (maximum 20 guests).

Galapagos South Adventure (8 Days / 7 Nights - 0 Dives)

Trip highlights: seals/sea lions, non diving activities, onboard experts on wildlife and natural history

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: San Cristobal, Cerro Tijeretas, Punta Pitt, Cerro Brujo, Punta Suarez, Espanola, Gardner Bay, Punta Cormorant, Champion Islet, Floreana, Post Office Bay, Baroness Point, Highlands of Santa Cruz, Charles Darwin Station, Bartolome, Las Bachas, South Plaza Island, North Seymour, San Cristobal (interpretation centre).

Day 1
A transfer from San Cristobal airport to the main dock is arranged for you on arrival day. Jump on the zodiac for a short ride to the Letty liveaboard that anchored in the bay. A boat and a safety briefing will be held just before a delicious buffet style lunch. In the afternoon you will be back on San Cristobal island again for a visit to Cerro Tijeretas or Frigate Bird Hill for a great hike and scenic views. Dinner will be prepared by the chef and served once you are back on the boat.

Days 2-7
On every day of your vacation you will be brought to a different island to experience something unique. At the coral beach Cerro Brujo you can enjoy bird-watching or go for a swim with friendly sea lions. On Espanola island you will be amazed to discover the greatest number of endemic species found in Galapagos. At Olive Beach on Charles island you will take pictures of penguins and the great flamingos. On Santa Cruz, the most populated island, you will visit the tortoise reserve of the Charles Darwin Research Station. When in Santa Cruz, you can decide to have dinner at a restaurant in Santa Cruz or back on board the liveaboard. On the last full day of your trip there is a visit to a colony of male sea lions on South Plaza, then snorkelling between North and South Seymour in the afternoon after lunch on the boat. Dinner will then be followed by a slide show and the captain's farewell party.

Day 8
Wake up and enjoy the last breakfast of your safari, followed by a visit to the Interpretation Center to gather more info on the Galapagos. Afterwards, transfer back to San Cristobal Airport in time for your flight.

---

Galapagos North Adventure (8 Days / 7 Nights - 0 Dives)

Trip highlights: seals/sea lions, non diving activities, onboard experts on wildlife and natural history

Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, cage diving, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, off the beaten track, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving

Dive sites and activities: San Cristobal (info and breeding centre for giant tortoise), Tower Island, Darwin Bay, Prince Philip’s Steps, Santa Cruz, Las Bachas, Cerro Dragon, Punta Espinosa, Fernandina, Isabela, Urbina Bay, Elizabeth Bay, Tagus Cove, Santiago, Rabida, Highlands of Santa Cruz, Charles Darwin Research Centre, Interpretation Center

Day 1
A transfer from San Cristobal airport to the main dock is arranged for you on arrival day. Jump on the zodiac for a short ride to the Letty liveaboard that are anchored in the bay. A boat and a safety briefing will be held just before a delicious buffet style lunch. In the afternoon you will be back on San Cristobal island again for a visit to La Galapaguera Cerro Colorado, a giant tortoise reserve. Dinner will be prepared by the chef and served once you are back on the boat.

Days 2-7
On every day of your vacation you will be brought to a different island to experience something unique. At Tower island you can enjoy bird-watching as it is one of the most spectacular places in Galapagos for bird species. At Darwin island go for a swim with friendly sea lions. A stroll on soft white sand when visiting Las Bachas beach. High chances to see mating sea turtles, reef sharks and rays while at Black Turtle Cove. Giant iguanas will be one of the highlights of your visit at Isabela island, where you will also go ashore on Tagus Cove, which was an anchorage for pirates for centuries. When in Santa Cruz, you can decide to have dinner at a restaurant in Santa Cruz or back on board the liveaboard. On the last full day of your trip there is a visit to a colony of male sea lions on South Plaza, then snorkelling between North and South Seymour in the afternoon after lunch on the boat. Dinner will then be followed by a slide show and the captain's farewell party.

Day 8
Wake up and enjoy the last breakfast of your safari, followed by a visit to the Interpretation Center to gather more info on the Galapagos. Afterwards, transfer back to San Cristobal Airport in time for your flight.

---

[Information is best estimate in ideal circumstances and subject to changes beyond our control. The itinerary is a guide only and may be adapted to best suit the weather, tides, currents, availability and other prevailing events. Price is for the cruise, not for an exact number of dives].

On the Dolphin (upper) deck there are 3 twin bed cabins and 1 double bed cabin with large windows. On the Booby (middle) deck the 2 double bed cabins also have windows. On the Iguana (lower) deck there are 2 twin bed cabins and 2 triple bed cabins all with portholes.

All the cabins have: No. of bathrooms / showers - 10 / 10 - hot water

On Ecoventura cruises you will experience the natural wonders of Galapagos at their very best. There are at least 2 land excursions each day plus dinghy rides to explore the rocky shores of the archipelago. Choosing this liveaboard option means you can explore far and wide and visit many exciting spots that day trip boats cannot reach.

Normally trips include visiting the giant tortoise ranch on Santa Cruz, the volcanoes of Isabela and the flamingos of Floreana Island. There will be a number of dinghy rides to check out shorelines which are alive with sea lions, penguins, marine iguanas and many birds. You can also snorkel and kayak in places where you can spot sea lions, turtles and even sharks. No other cruise option will allow you to visit islands like Fernandina, Mosquera and Espanola in such comfort and style.

Add to this visits to craters, cliffs, a lava tunnel and a visitors center and you can see why many consider this tour the most comprehensive Galapagos Islands nature experience.

The certified guides on Ecoventura boats are among the best in the business and are a fountain of knowledge about the islands. You will learn about its geology, history and politics as well as its natural history and conservation projects. By the end of the cruise you will be a Galapagos expert too!

The crew of 11 comprise: 2 Motorized dinghies - 3 sea kayaks - Main deck air-conditioned saloon with TV, DVD, music system, movie library, books and magazines, ID books and games - Dedicated air-conditioned restaurant with bar - 603ft² (56m²) Sundeck and shaded area with sun chairs - Water dispenser

Food on board the Ecoventura boats is a high priority and consists of a mix of Western dishes and Ecuadorian specialties specially prepared by well-trained chefs. They emphasize home-cooked, healthy meals using fresh organic ingredients.

You will start each day of the cruise in the Galapagos Islands with a hearty breakfast including choices of fresh fruit juices, eggs cooked to order, toast, coffee and wide array of fresh fruit. Lunch is a buffet-style affair usually involving salads, pasta dishes, and a range of meat and fish specialties, including local ceviche (fish soup).

• A wide selection of local Ecuadorian fare with Italian and international meals.
• Air-conditioned dining area with buffet meals and waitress service.
• Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks are provided.
• Snacks include candy bars, cookies and fruit.
• Coffee, tea, drinking water and soft drinks, are all provided free of charge.
• Beer and wine are served free of charge at dinner.
• Spirits are available for purchase on board.
• All dietary requirements can be catered for except Kosher - please send advanced notice.
• Cruise dining service begins with lunch at boarding.

Cuisine samples: Pan seared sea bass with mango salad; Steak with mushroom sauce; Risotto Milanese.