Nortada

Nortada stands alone among Galapagos liveaboards since it accommodates only 8 divers on scuba diving charters around the best sites of the Galapagos, including the islands of Wolf and Darwin. This means you are assured of a very personalized service.

Although a small, fiberglass boat at a length of 85 ft (26m) and a beam of 18ft (5.5m), it was purpose-built for diving and there remains a spacious and airy atmosphere on board. Guests can enjoy the air-conditioned saloon and dining area on the main deck, as well as a shaded area at the stern of the main deck and the upper deck. There is audio and video entertainment, as well as board games (dominoes, chess and cards), and internet.

With 8 crew attending to 8 guests, you can be sure of small dive groups (2 guides and 2 tenders with 4 guests each when the boat is full) and plenty of personalized service. Diving facilities include 2 hot water showers and 1 toilet on the dive deck, 12 and 15 liter tanks and nitrox, as well as rebreather and technical diving support. Safety features include Nautilus lost diver devices, dive alerts and SMBs.

The 4 cabins with twin beds and 1 upper bunk are all on the lower deck and all are ensuite, so it is possible to take 12 guests on a whole boat private charter, albeit at a tight squeeze. So if you have a group of 8 to 12 divers you can charter this sleek and modern Galapagos liveaboard (for the price of 8 divers), or join a few other scuba enthusiasts on a trip of a lifetime, diving in paradise aboard Nortada.

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Notes: Child policy: Children from 15 years old are welcome as long as meet the minimum requirements for diving and when accompanied by an experienced diving parent.

Dive experience: Required - advanced open water and a minimum of 50 logged dives.

Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinking water, hot drinks, juices, land tours, dives, experienced English-speaking dive / naturalist guide(s) (max. 7 divers per DM), tanks, weights and weightbelts, safety marker device, personal diver locator and alert, internet access, all taxes.

Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): 7 nights scuba equipment incl. dive computer (2024: US$ 300; 2025/2026: US$ 350), diving insurance, Galapagos National Park entrance fee US$ 200. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (cash only - USD).

Optional extras: Return transfers to/from airport (US$ 50 one way), alcoholic drinks, soft drinks (sodas),15 liter tank rental (US$ 100 per week), nitrox fills for enriched air certified divers, (US$ 150 per week), torch (US$ 50 per week), camera rental. 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: The Nortada liveaboard departs from Puerto Ayora on Friday afternoon; boarding at 12:30 pm. Guests fly into Ecuador and take a connecting flight, through Guayaquil or Quito, to Baltra in the Galapagos islands. Guayaquil is recommended with cheaper prices and better-timed connections. 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. Recommended flights to arrive in time for boarding are LATAM LA1415 or Avianca AV1632.
The last dive of the trip will be at around 11 am on the last full day. Please wait at least 18 hours before flying after diving. Disembarkation is 8 am on the final day. On the return leg to the 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 the islands arrives in Guayaquil (and then Quito) in the afternoon.
For more details, including airlines, see our Galapagos travel information section.

Non-diver rate: 10%.

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 100% of the published price for their own cabin.

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

Whole boat charter rate (per night): Pay for 8 guests and 4 additional persons can join the cruise free of charge (total 12 guests).

Add-on package: For most visitors, this is a once-in-a-lifetime destination, and the land creatures and environments, are just as impressive as those underwater. You can extend your time in this nature-lovers paradise by adding a 3, 4 or 7 night non-diving wildlife liveaboard safari. These are nature tours around some of the finest locations in the Galapagos with naturalist guides, literature and presentations. Don't just leave after a week of scuba diving, get the full picture of the incredible Galapagos islands!

Central Galapagos, Wolf & Darwin (8 Days / 7 Nights - 21 Dives)

Trip highlights: whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, shark action, dolphins, manta rays, seals/sea lions, turtles, schooling fish & big pelagics, non diving activities

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: Baltra NE, Cousin Rock, Carrion Point, Wolf Island, Darwin Island, Cabo Douglas, Punta Vicente Roca, Cabo Marshall, Roca Blanca, plus land visit to Santa Cruz Highlands to visit giant tortoises, Los Gemelos (lava sink holes), snorkelling tour

Day 1
A transfer from the airport to the pier in Puerto Ayora will be arranged for you. Board Nortada and meet its fantastic crew and the other guests that will share with you the amazing experience of diving in the Galapagos. Enjoy lunch on board and then make a check dive at a nearby bay at Baltra. There will also be a snorkeling tour in Santa Cruz Island Bay, where you can take pictures and swim with marine iguanas and sea turtles. before returning onboard where dinner will be served. The liveaboard will then depart at midnight for its first dive destination of the tour.

Days 2-7
Your diving days usually have an early start: a light continental breakfast is served at 6:30 am while the 1st dive is at 7:30 am. You will soon learn that each dive of your safari will give you great sightings of several species of sharks, dolphins, turtles, rays and colorful schools of fishes. Some of the dives will be highlighted by the presence of schools of hammerheads, and also some whale sharks passing by. A hearty breakfast is exactly what you need after your first taste of the underwater world, but it won't be too long before you will hit the water again, as the 2nd dive of the day is at around 10:30 am, followed by lunch.
A nice sun area at the bow of the boat is probably the best spot to relax before the start of the dive briefing that introduces the 3rd and afternoon dive at 3 pm. Tired of seeing big pelagics? Then you can't miss the 4th dive just before dinner as it is a sunset or night dive that will show a different side of the diving environment that the Galapagos offers. Meals are served buffet style in the dedicated dining section of the air-conditioned lounge on the main deck. Dinner is scheduled for 7 pm. There is a mix of international and Italian dishes, plus many incredible Latin delicacies that are prepared daily by the onboard chef throughout the cruise - Lasagna, Ceviche, Filet mignon in mushroom sauce. Biscuits, bread/toast, candy bars, dried fruits, cakes and fruit are available throughout the day. Tea, coffee, soft drinks and drinking water will keep you hydrated.

Day 8
Enjoy your morning breakfast before checking out from Nortada. There is a land visit to Fausto Llerena Breeding Center and Los Gemelos during the morning. The breeding center visit provides an opportunity to learn about the breeding programs for giant tortoises and land iguanas. If required, a transfer to the airport with a visit to the tortoises in the wild can be arranged.

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Central Galapagos, Wolf & Darwin (8 Days / 7 Nights - 21 Dives)

Trip highlights: whale sharks, hammerhead sharks, shark action, dolphins, manta rays, seals/sea lions, turtles, schooling fish & big pelagics, non diving activities

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: Baltra NE, Cousin Rock, Carrion Point, Wolf Island, Darwin Island, Cabo Douglas, Punta Vicente Roca, Cabo Marshall, Roca Blanca, plus land visit to Santa Cruz Highlands to visit giant tortoises, Los Gemelos (lava sink holes), snorkelling tour

Day 1
A transfer from the airport to the pier in Puerto Ayora will be arranged for you. Board Nortada and meet its fantastic crew and the other guests that will share with you the amazing experience of diving in the Galapagos. Enjoy lunch on board and then make a check dive at a nearby bay at Baltra. There will also be a snorkeling tour in Santa Cruz Island Bay, where you can take pictures and swim with marine iguanas and sea turtles. before returning onboard where dinner will be served. The liveaboard will then depart at midnight for its first dive destination of the tour.

Days 2-7
Your diving days usually have an early start: a light continental breakfast is served at 6:30 am while the 1st dive is at 7:30 am. You will soon learn that each dive of your safari will give you great sightings of several species of sharks, dolphins, turtles, rays and colorful schools of fishes. Some of the dives will be highlighted by the presence of schools of hammerheads, and also some whale sharks passing by. A hearty breakfast is exactly what you need after your first taste of the underwater world, but it won't be too long before you will hit the water again, as the 2nd dive of the day is at around 10:30 am, followed by lunch.
A nice sun area at the bow of the boat is probably the best spot to relax before the start of the dive briefing that introduces the 3rd and afternoon dive at 3 pm. Tired of seeing big pelagics? Then you can't miss the 4th dive just before dinner as it is a sunset or night dive that will show a different side of the diving environment that the Galapagos offers. Meals are served buffet style in the dedicated dining section of the air-conditioned lounge on the main deck. Dinner is scheduled for 7 pm. There is a mix of international and Italian dishes, plus many incredible Latin delicacies that are prepared daily by the onboard chef throughout the cruise - Lasagna, Ceviche, Filet mignon in mushroom sauce. Biscuits, bread/toast, candy bars, dried fruits, cakes and fruit are available throughout the day. Tea, coffee, soft drinks and drinking water will keep you hydrated.

Day 8
Enjoy your morning breakfast before checking out from Nortada. There is a land visit to Fausto Llerena Breeding Center,and Los Gemelos during the morning. The breeding center visit provides an opportunity to learn about the breeding programs for giant tortoises and land iguanas. If required, a transfer to the airport with a visit to the tortoises in the wild can be arranged.

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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: Santa Cruz: Fausto Llerena Breeding Center, Los Gemelos, Las Bachas, Mosquera, Santiago: Port Egas, Sullivan Bay, Bartolome, Bucanero, Espumilla Beach, Bainbridge Rocks, Chinese Hat, Floreana, Post Office Bay, Punta Cormorant, Santa Fe, South Plaza Island

Day 1
A transfer from the airport to the pier in Puerto Ayora will be arranged for you. Board Nortada and meet its fantastic crew and the other guests that will share with you the amazing natural history experience in the Galapagos. The 1st excursion is to Fausto Llerena Breeding Center and Los Gemelos. The breeding center visit provides an opportunity to learn about the breeding programs for giant tortoises and land iguanas. Enjoy lunch and dinner on board then liveaboard will depart for the first destination of the cruise.

Days 2-7
Chart a course through the Galapagos Islands as you spend time in Ecuador’s incredible volcanic archipelago with its fascinating plants and animals. The wildlife here is just breathtaking and shockingly docile (and many species cannot be found anywhere else on Earth). It is not unusual to step carefully over a blue-footed booby or wait patiently for a young sea lion to awake from the comforts of your backpack that you left on the beach. Expert on-board naturalists teach you about the evolution, geology, natural history, geography, botany, ichthyology, entomology, and history of the islands on your excursions. Sights will include iguanas, finches, warblers, herons, oystercatchers, crabs and fur seals, as well as sea creatures such as turtles, sharks, mantas and eagle rays at Santiago, sea lions at Mosquera, and various walking trails and viewpoints such as at Bartolome, the endemic hawks, snakes and mockingbirds of Santa Fe, the giant tortoises of Santa Cruz, and the sea lions of Floreana.
Meals are served buffet style in the dedicated dining section of the air-conditioned lounge on the main deck. Dinner is scheduled for 7 pm. There is a mix of international and Italian dishes, plus many incredible Latin delicacies that are prepared daily by the onboard chef throughout the cruise - Lasagna, Ceviche, Filet Mignon in mushroom sauce. Biscuits, bread/toast, candy bars, dried fruits, cakes and fruit are available throughout the day. Tea, coffee, soft drinks and drinking water will keep you hydrated.

Day 8
Enjoy your morning breakfast before checking out from Nortada. If required, a transfer to the airport with a visit to the tortoises in the wild can be arranged.

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[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].

There are 4 cabins with private bathrooms all on the lower deck. each with 2 single beds and 1 upper single bunk bed.

All the cabins have: No. of bathrooms / showers - 5 / 6 - hot water

Nortada's crew of 8 comprises: 2 motorized dinghies - Dive platform and kit up area with toilet and 2 hot water showers - Camera table, charging stations and separate rinse tank - Rebreather and trimix compatibility - Main deck air-conditioned saloon with TV, video player, movie library and games - Main deck air conditioned restaurant and bar - Upper deck and shaded area with sunbeds and chairs - Water dispenser

Dining is an important aspect of the Nortada Galapagos experience and starts with a pre-breakfast before dive number 1. Breakfast, lunch and dinner follow, all with waitress service. Snacks are also served, both morning and afternoon, to ensure you are never hungry. There is a mixture of international, Italian and local cuisine.

• Italian, international and local main meal dishes.
• Air-conditioned restaurant buffet service on main deck.
• Pre-breakfast, breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks are provided.
• Coffee, tea, drinking water are all provided free of charge.
• Beer and wine are available for purchase.
• The catering service begins with lunch on the first day of the charter.
• All dietary requirements can be catered for - please send advanced notice.

Cuisine examples:
Filet mignon with mushroom sauce, vegetarian lasagna, brownies with chocolate syrup ...