NORTADA

26m / 86ft MAX 8 NITROX WIFI

PRICE PER DAY FROM USD 549

LOWEST PRICE GUARANTEE SPECIAL OFFERS APPLY

At a glance:

Cruises central Galapagos, Wolf & Darwin
Maximum of 8 guests only, 2 dive guides
Cabins with private bathrooms
Dive The World Gold Range product
Rebreather and technical diving support
Nautilus lost diver devices

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), Nortada was purpose-built for liveaboard 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 the Nortada liveaboard.

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:

Air-conditioning
Portholes on lower deck
Bathroom with toilet and hot water shower
Hand basin, toiletries and towels
Reading lights
Bedside cabinet and mirror

Mirror
Life jackets
Smoke alarms and fire extinguishers
2-pin US 110 electricity
Daily housekeeping and fresh linen
Bedding and luggage space

No. of bathrooms / showers - 5 / 6 - hot water

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, drift diving, off the beaten track

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
Board the Nortada liveaboard in Puerto Ayora and settle into your cabin. After a brief introduction, the day begins with a nice lunch and then a check dive in a sheltered bay near Baltra. Depending on conditions, there may also be an opportunity to snorkel around Santa Cruz Island, where sea turtles and marine iguanas are frequently seen and then you will return to the boat where dinner is served. Nortada will set sail at midnight toward the first main diving destination.
Days 2-7
These days are dedicated to scuba diving some of the most renowned sites in the Galapagos Islands. Wolf and Darwin Islands are the highlight, known for large schools of hammerhead sharks, Galapagos sharks, silky sharks, and seasonal whale shark sightings. Strong currents bring nutrient-rich waters that attract manta rays, eagle rays, tuna, and barracuda, creating world-class big fish encounters.
The diving is not only about pelagics. Closer to the reefs, divers often find sea lions, green turtles, and a wide variety of reef fish. Macro life, including nudibranchs, blennies, and frogfish, can be spotted by keen eyes among volcanic rock and coral outcrops. Each dive site offers a unique mix of topography, from walls and pinnacles to sheltered bays. When night dives are offered, they reveal an entirely different side of Galapagos diving. Lobsters, hunting moray eels, and sea lions on the prowl provide exciting after-dark encounters that contrast with the daytime schools of fish and sharks.
In addition, divers will explore the western islands at Cabo Douglas and Punta Vicente Roca, where encounters with marine iguanas underwater, mola mola, penguins, and sea horses make for some of the most unique diving experiences in the Galapagos. These diverse opportunities make Nortada one of the most exciting liveaboards for scuba diving in the region.

Day 8
Enjoy your morning breakfast before checking out from Nortada. There is a land visit on Santa Cruz Island, with stops at the Fausto Llerena Breeding Center (where guests can see giant tortoises) and Los Gemelos volcanic craters. Guests will then disembark from the liveaboard.

[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].

Enjoy every meal in the comfort of Nortada’s dining room on the main deck, where freshly prepared Ecuadorian-inspired dishes are served with warmth and variety. Meals are timed around the dive schedule, though slight variations may occur depending on conditions or special activities.

Early Breakfast (6 am):

Light start to the day before the first dive: toast with jam and cream cheese, accompanied by coffee and aromatic teas.

Hot Breakfast (8 am):

Fresh fruit and juice;
Eggs cooked to order;
Cheese, ham, butter, and jam;
Yogurt with granola;
Fresh bread;
Coffee, tea, and aromatic waters.

Lunch (around 1:30 pm):

Traditional Ecuadorian soups such as quinoa soup, lentil soup with cheese, or chicken consommé;
Main dishes including baked fish, chicken in various sauces (orange, Coca-Cola style, or garlic), beef dishes, lasagna, fritada, filet mignon, or encocado de pescado;
Accompaniments such as rice (white, green, turmeric, or primavera), pasta, potatoes, llapingachos, ratatouille, fried plantain, patacones, or sautéed vegetables;
Fresh salads with seasonal ingredients;
Desserts like flan, brownies, helado, tres leches, coconut flan, tiramisú, lemon pie, pineapple cake, and chocolate cake;
Fruit juices always served alongside meals.

Snacks (between dives):

Free snacks are always available, including cookies, chips (Cheetos, Doritos), pan de yuca, and dried fruits. Also, midday and afternoon treats include patacones with cheese, pan de yuca, mini sandwiches, albóndigas with sauce, empanadas, dried fruits with cheese and ham, mini sausages, plátanos emborrajados, bolón de verde, and fish bites;
Served with natural juice.

Dinner (6 pm):

Soups such as cream of corn, cauliflower, pumpkin with cheese, asparagus, or vegetables;
Main dishes featuring beef (milanesa, pepper steak), chicken (orange chicken, lasagna), and fish (fried, baked, or encocado);
Side dishes include rice, potatoes, pasta, and fresh salads;
Desserts vary nightly, with options such as tiramisú, brownies, flan, helado, tres leches, pineapple cake, vanilla cake, or chocolate cake;
Coffee, tea, and aromatic waters are served to finish the evening.

Complimentary Beverage Selection:

Natural fruit juices, coffee, tea, aromatic waters, and drinking water are available throughout the day.

DEPARTURE SCHEDULE & PRICES

MORE TRIP DETAILS

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 (2025/2026: USD 350), diving insurance, Galapagos National Park entrance fee USD 200. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (cash only - USD).

Optional extras: Return transfers to/from airport (USD 50 one way), alcoholic drinks, soft drinks (sodas),15 liter tank rental (USD 100 per week), nitrox fills for enriched air certified divers, (USD 150 per week), torch (USD 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!

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