Tailor-made Galapagosexperiences

Galapagos is a year-round destination. December to May is generally warmer with calmer seas, while June to November brings cooler, nutrient-rich waters and excellent marine activity. The best season depends on the wildlife and experiences you want most.

For most first-time travelers, 7 to 10 days is ideal. Six days works well for a shorter introduction, while 12–15 days gives you more time for wildlife, snorkeling, volcanoes, Kayaking, biking, beaches and remote visitor sites without rushing.

For Smart Galapagos Island Hopping tours, current prices range from about US$815 to US$6,984 per person, depending on trip length, activities, accommodation category, yacht level and group size.

For travelers looking for maximum Galapagos time at a very competitive price, the 10-Day Mega Galapagos 360 – Essential is one of our strongest value options: ten days of Island Hopping from just US$2,553 per person for groups of four or more.

Our tours range from well-organized Essential adventures to bespoke Luxury Galapagos experiences, so you can choose the level of comfort and activities that best fits your budget.

Island Hopping means staying in carefully selected hotels on Santa Cruz, Isabela or San Cristobal and heading out each day for activities such as snorkeling, hiking, kayaking, biking, diving and day-yacht excursions.

Travel between islands can include speedboats or small inter-island aircraft, giving you the freedom of staying on land while still exploring incredible Galapagos visitor sites.

Neither is automatically better.

Island Hopping gives you more flexibility, spacious hotels, local restaurants and active land experiences. Cruises are excellent for reaching remote islands such as Genovesa and Fernandina while navigating between visitor sites.

We help you choose based on your wildlife priorities, travel style and budget.

Absolutely. In fact, it is one of our favorite ways to experience Galapagos.

A 4–6 day cruise can take you to more remote islands, followed by a 4-6 days of Island Hopping around Santa Cruz, Isabela or San Cristobal.

A simple starting point is:

• 6 Days – Galapagos Wisdom – Ideal: Great for a shorter but complete introduction.
• 8 Days – Galapagos 360 – Ideal: Our Best Seller tour: balanced ideally for a first-time Galapagos experience.
• 8 Days – Galapagos 360 – Luxury: Bespoke Luxury Galapagos Island Hopping tour, the Smart way.
• 10 Days – Mega Galapagos 360 – Essential: One of our best value options, giving you significantly more time in Galapagos while keeping the starting price from as low as US$2,553 per person.
• 10 Days – Mega Galapagos 360 – Superior: Superior adventures, premium hotels and upgraded yacht experiences.
• 15 Days – Mega Galapagos 360 – Ideal: For travelers who want to explore Galapagos at a more relaxed pace.

Every itinerary can also be customized around your dates, hotels, yacht category, activities, comfort level and budget.

From pick up at the airport until drop off, you are covered :) Our tours combine the main pieces of your trip into one organized itinerary, including selected hotels, special ocean front dinners, guided activities, yacht or boat excursions, transfers and inter-island transportation according to your chosen program and experience.

Depending on the category, this may also include premium day yachts, inter-island flights, upgraded hotels, private services and selected premium dinners or experiences.

You also have your personal Smart Galapagos Travel Assistant helping before and during your trip.

Yes. Customization is one of our specialties.

We can adjust your hotel category, yacht level, activities, pace, islands, dietary needs and number of days around your exact travel style and budget.

Yes. We curate and sell hand-picked Galapagos expedition cruises across all major categories.

We don't only compare the boat. We also look carefully at the itinerary, visitor sites, wildlife, cabin type, comfort level and value, because even an excellent yacht may not be right if its route misses what you most want to see.

Some of our Smart picks across different categories are:

• Tourist Superior: M/Y Monserrat
• First Class: M/C Seaman Journey
• Luxury: M/Y Infinity
• Ultra-Luxury: M/Y Hermes

We work with many other certified Galapagos yachts as well and can recommend the best option based on your dates, itinerary, budget and travel style.

Yes. We organize private yacht charters for families, groups of friends, multi-generational families and special groups across different cruise categories.

Even families or groups of around 8–12 travelers may choose to charter an entire 16-passenger yacht for greater privacy and a more exclusive experience.

Definitely. Galapagos is one of the world's most memorable family nature experiences. Both for Island Hopping and family cruises.

For many families with younger children, Island Hopping works particularly well because it provides more space, flexible activities and less time sleeping at sea. We can also create fully private family itineraries.

Smart Galapagos is a local DMC with more than 15 years of Galapagos experience.

We combine local knowledge, carefully selected hotels and yachts, efficient inter-island logistics, direct local pricing and personalized travel planning.

We also have 450+ five-star reviews, five consecutive Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Awards and four Travel & Hospitality Awards.

For sure! Your Smart Galapagos Travel Assistant is your personal point of contact in Ecuador and stays available throughout your trip constantly, supported by our local ground team.

If you have a question, a schedule changes or something unexpected happens, you have someone local who already knows your trip.

Yes. Galapagos is our core specialty, but we can also extend your journey throughout Ecuador and South America for a full trip of a lifetime.

We organize and coordinate Smart trips to:

• Mainland Ecuador – Quito, Cotopaxi, Otavalo, Cuenca, cloud forest and Andean haciendas
• Amazon Rainforest – Yasuní and Cuyabeno lodges
• Peru & Machu Picchu – Cusco, Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu
• Patagonia – dramatic mountains, glaciers and southern landscapes

You can combine these with Galapagos as part of one coordinated South American journey.