The Galápagos Islands, a small, but very special archipelago located in the Pacific Ocean, straddle the equator just 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador. Formally annexed by Ecuador in 1832, the country had the foresight to declare the Galápagos Islands a National Park in 1959, with strict regulations aimed at protecting the flora and fauna. To further preserve this treasure, they created the Galápagos Marine Reserve in 1986, extending the authority of the park to protect the waters and marine wildlife with-in a 15 nautical mile radius of the islands.

Today, a Galápagos Islands tour is one of the few nature experiences in the world that allows travelers to leisurely observe and photograph such an abundance of diverse and uninhibited wildlife in its natural habitat. The isolation of these islands created a special environment that allowed hundreds of new species to evolve here--all the reptiles, and close to half of the bird and plant life are found nowhere else on earth. Marine iguanas, the giant Galápagos tortoise, flightless cormorants, Galápagos penguins, waved albatross and 13 species of Darwin's finches are a sampling of the unique wildlife you will encounter on a Galápagos cruise.

Your Galápagos Islands tour will provide you with one of the most amazing experiences of your life. Birds and animals showing no fear of man, sea lions inviting you to come swim and play, snorkeling amid hundreds of brilliant fish, and observing unique courtship displays are all part of the everyday experience.

Latin American Escapes represents more than 20 boats in the Galápagos Islands, allowing us to offer departures virtually every week of the year. In addition, we offer excellent land-based programs. These can also be combined with a short Galápagos cruise. Stay at a beachfront eco-hotel and enjoy daily explorations to nearby islands, and multi-sport activities such as mountain biking, hiking, snorkeling and scuba diving. This is a great option for large families, travelers with young children or anyone that prefers a bit more activity with their wildlife exploration. Adventure travelers will enjoy the diversity of our multi-sport Galápagos Adventure Tour and its endless wildlife encounters.

All of our preferred boats and hotels in the Galápagos Islands are carefully selected for their conservation efforts and commitment to sustainable tourism. We promote strict guidelines to minimize the environmental and social impact of tourism, and encourage our guests to become informed and involved in these issues.

Come and experience for yourself this incredible natural wonderland. Our staff will be happy to help you select the boat and activities that will suit your vacation time, budget and comfort levels. All of our boats can be chartered for friends, families, or business gatherings, or special dive departures.

As you travel to Ecuador to visit the islands, you may wish to extend your stay to include a visit to the Amazon Rainforest, or add extra days to include some of the markets, colonial cities and volcanoes that make up this charming country.

For a complete listing of the boats we offer, including photos, complete itineraries, sailing dates, boat configuration and prices, go to our Galapagos Islands Boat Index.  Galapagos Islands Hotel & Tour Extensions will give you the final details on how to create your complete Galapagos adventure.

Please contact us by email to request assistance in selecting your perfect Galápagos Island tour, or call us at 800-510-5999.