South America Galapagos Islands Cruise

Cachalote Explorer Galapagos Cruises

A Galapagos cruise aboard the Cachalote Explorer is an intimate adventure. With the capacity for 16 guests in 8 cabins, each with their own private bathroom, shower and air-conditioning, M/V Cachalote Explorer provides the perfect home away from home while motoring between the Galapagos Islands.

Cachalote Explorer operates two main 8-day Galapagos cruise itineraries, which can be combined into an all-encompassing 15-day cruise, or shortened to a 6-day portion of each 8-day. View the itinerary section for more details and contact our Galapagos small ship cruise experts for the inside scoop on which route is best for you. AdventureSmith Explorations’ award-winning crew has personal experience sailing in the Galapagos Islands and can recommend the best options to suit your travel interests and timeline.

Cruise the Galapagos with an experienced captain, dedicated crew members and an English-speaking naturalist guide attending to every detail, while relaxing aboard the tastefully decorated motor vessel on the sun deck and in the salon and lounge.

At only 88 feet, the Cachalote Explorer is well suited to anchor in small coves and gain access to all the best visitor sites, some of which are closed to bigger cruise ships. Cachalote Explorer is outfitted with kayaks and snorkeling gear. Daily hikes and shore excursions offer close exploration of the islands’ famed giant tortoises, Darwin finches, marine iguanas, reef sharks and more. Sail up close to nature and experience the rugged beauty of the Galapagos Islands aboard the stable and smooth Cachalote Explorer.

Snorkeling, kayaking and hiking all occur from one home base: the 16-passenger Cachalote Explorer. With bilingual guides, spacious accommodations, a comfortable sun deck and large common areas, the M/V Cachalote Explorer provides a stable and smooth tour of the Galapagos Islands.

The 8-day Fernandina itinerary navigates from the central islands to the younger, western islands of the Galapagos. Highlights include snorkeling at Chinese Hat; walking the red-sand beaches of Rabida; exploring volcanoes, the town of Puerto Villamil, a flamingo lagoon, and a Galapagos penguin breeding site on Isabela Island; learning about geological uplifts at Urbina Bay; lunching near the pirate graffiti at Tagus Cove; spotting Galapagos hawks on Fernandina; swimming with colorful fish at Punta Vicente Roca; exploring tidal pools on Santiago; and birding on North Seymour. Guests may also book the 6-day Isabela itinerary that follows days 3-8 of the 8-day Fernandina itinerary.

The 8-day Tower itinerary explores the northern, central, and southern Galapagos Islands. Highlights include seeing yellow, spiked land iguanas on Santa Fe; snorkeling near sea lions, marine iguanas and pelicans on San Cristobal; lounging with sea lions on the beach of Gardner Bay; witnessing the blowhole and waved albatross at Suarez Point; learning about buccaneers and whalers on Floreana; sending a post card at Post Office Bay; feeling the lava textures of Sullivan Bay; birding on Genovesa; and spotting short-eared owls at El Barranco. Guests may also book the 6-day Hood itinerary that follows days 3-8 of the 8-day Tower itinerary.

Every Cachalote Explorer itinerary offers amazing visitor sites and experiences. However, you can set your own agenda by booking this yacht as one of our private Galapagos yacht charters for your group of 16 or fewer.

Read on for details about this trip, or learn more about AdventureSmith’s Galapagos cruises and Galapagos trips.