Our Inca Expert travel advisors will help you plan a trip that is perfectly tailored to your interests and preferences.
Contact us to start planningSuperior hospitality, elegance, location, and premium facilities – these are the standard features of all Inca Expert Travel’s hand-picked lodges & hotels. Browse our list below and find your perfect lodge. If you have a lodge or hotel in mind that you don’t see here, just let us know and we can book a room for you in ANY lodge or hotel in the Galapagos. Contact your travel advisor to book your lodge or hotel now.
Km. 18 Via Puerto Ayora-Baltra Isla, Santa Cruz Island
Exceptional | 4.8
Very Good | 4
Avenida Charles Darwin & Thomas de Berlanga, Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island
8 | Very Good 4.0 | Very goodThe Yacht Isabela II offers 20 spacious and comfortable cabins in a ship designed for Galapagos cruising. Common areas include a spacious dining room, bar-salon, library, and a sun deck with fitness room, hot tub, and al fresco bar. All cabins, including 2 family cabins, are generously sized and include plush beds storage space, and traditional decor.
"All in all we had an absolutely amazing time and the trip completely blew my expectations out of the water. The hotels were all fabulous with beautiful views. Thank you sincerely for the trip of a lifetime!"
Aggie Szymanska
CA, USA
Traveled to: Lima, Paracas, Cusco, Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley
"We wouldn’t stop talking about how well executed and planned everything was. I personally loved the Inca trail addition and I am so glad you gave that to us as an option. The hike to Huayna Picchu was also a group favorite."
Natasha Mehta & friends
NY & PA, USA
Traveled to: Cusco, Lares + 2-day Inca Trail Trek, Machu Picchu
"It exceeded my expectations and I loved the people I met there. The hikes were so well organized, food was amazing, and the guides were super caring even getting the cooks to make a cake for me on my birthday on the Lares trek."
Araceli Gutierrez
MO, USA
Traveled to: Lima, Cusco, Lares, Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain
"Based on the trip you organized, the historical knowledge, the people, the food, the culture and the natural beauty of Peru, it was simply the best trip I’ve ever taken. This trip will forever be in my memory."
Gilles Verrier
MB, Canada
Traveled to: Lima, Puerto Maldonado, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Lares Trek, Machu Picchu
"Our trip to Peru was nothing short of magnificent. As for our favorite part, we loved it all. Machu Picchu was everything we thought it would be and more. We had a wonderfully successful trip to Peru!"
Steven Kopelic
PA, USA
Traveled to: Amazon, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco
The Galapagos Islands are a year-round destination for wildlife viewing. Many species are endemic to the islands and are nonmigratory.
For the best weather visit the Galapagos Islands during the months between December and June. You’ll find warmer average temperatures, calm oceans, and high visibility underwater. Though this is the rainy season with daily drizzles, it’s also the sunniest time of year.
For best wildlife viewing visit the Galapagos Islands during the months between June to November. This is when the nutrient-rich Humboldt current flows through the Galapagos Islands bringing in plankton that marine animals thrive off. The water will be cold and can be rough, but it’ll be worth it once you see all the incredible creatures below the surface.
You’ll visit varying islands around the archipelago on a Galapagos cruise. Each island has unique attractions and wildlife, but you’re sure to see giant tortoise breeding centers, and beautiful Galapagos beaches.
Galapagos cruise itineraries vary due to local environmental regulations. Your itinerary may include:
The endemic animal species of the Galapagos Islands draw in visitors year-round. Some are nonmigratory and can be seen year-round, while others have times of year they can be best spotted. Here are some you may see on your Galapagos tour depending on the time of year you visit and your customized itinerary.
The main difference between a Galapagos Cruise and Galapagos Land Package is in the diversity of sightseeing and price.
A Galapagos cruise offers a wider diversity as you sail from one island to the other, giving you a farther reach than had from day-trips departing from a Land-based hotel. However, a Galapagos cruise is a high-end travel experience with personalized attention, which comes with the associated price tag. For more independent travel at a cheaper price, a Galapagos Land Packages may be more on-budget. Be prepared either way with anti-nausea medications, as both options require boat trips which may cause sea sickness in some travelers.
Contact us to plan every detail of your dream Galapagos Islands vacation
As most Galapagos cruises embark on Santa Cruz island, the best way to get to the Galapagos Islands is to fly to Seymour Airport on Baltra Island from Quito (3.5 hour flight with a layover in Guayaquil) or Guayaquil (1.5 hour non-stop flight).
The San Cristobal airport is the alternative airport in the Galapagos, on the outskirts of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.
Allocate $20-$30 USD a day per passenger. Tips will go to boat crew, tour guides, wait staff, bartenders, and cleaning staff. Some, but not all, tips can be done via credit card, so bring about $300 USD in cash for tips for 2 people for a 4-5 day cruise.
Yes, with ~2-weeks of travel time you can see the two amazing destinations of Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands in one fantastic vacation. Our 11-day Galapagos & Machu Picchu itinerary starts by touring around the Galapagos Islands on a 5-day/4-night Galapagos cruise. Witness rare animals and unique landscapes while feeling completely pampered. Then, head onwards to Lima and Cusco city to learn about Inca culture before you journey to the World Wonder of Machu Picchu.
Talk to an Inca Expert travel advisor to customize your trip completely around your schedule.
