Six hundred miles off the coast of Ecuador in the open ocean, a volcanic archipelago straddles the equator. The Galapagos Islands, forged of black lava and named for the giant tortoises that are among their most noted inhabitants, are like no other place on Earth. Home to a profuse array of unique wildlife, the islands offer an immersion in nature that feels primeval. Iguanas and blue-footed boobies share the beaches with us, unfazed by our presence. Giant tortoises amble through our private camp, their golden eyes looking out from wizened faces. Inquisitive sea lions play with us in the clear turquoise water, as Galapagos penguins dart by and sea turtles glide past. Author Herman Melville, who visited the islands in 1841, shortly after Darwin's momentous visit, called them the "Enchanted Isles"—an apt moniker for a realm that remains otherworldly, even today.
Trip Highlights
Explore a Diversity of Islands from Our Chartered Yachts
Our Galapagos adventure is an immersive exploration, with a full week in the islands aboard a privately chartered small ship carrying just 14–16 guests
Spend a Night with Giant Tortoises at Our Private Camp
Snorkel with sea lions, swim with turtles, sunbathe with iguanas, scout for whales and stay in wild tortoise terrain at our Tortoise Camp—a Nat Hab exclusive!
You Won't Find a Smaller Group or Better Guides
Each group is led by two Expedition Leaders—the Galapagos' most highly trained naturalist guides—for the best guide-to-guest ratio in the islands
Go to Photo Expedition Trip
All Galapagos Tours Are Not the Same! Why Choose Us?
The Galapagos Islands are one of the world’s premier nature travel destinations, and deservedly so: there may be no better place on Earth for close encounters with wildlife than this remote archipelago that’s home to an assortment of unique and gentle creatures found nowhere else. For nature photographers, capturing close-up images of wildlife is the ultimate travel photography experience. It’s thus essential to experience the islands in a way that affords intimate interactions with wildlife, with personalized interpretation by top naturalist guides—something you don’t get with large cruise ships or less-qualified guides. With Nat Hab, you’re assured a superior Galapagos adventure!
Small Groups Ensure Intimate Nature Encounters
With just 14–16 guests aboard our private chartered yachts, and each departure led by two highly trained, national park-certified Nat Hab Expedition Leaders, you'll explore the Galapagos in a small group with no more than 7–8 other travelers.The Best Guide-to-Guest Ratio in the Galapagos
The typical ratio is 16 or 20 guests to one naturalist guide—that’s what most boat tours in the Galapagos provide. Our ratio is 7 to 8 guests per guide. This makes a big difference! It allows us to explore in a more intimate context, and we can offer different activities at the same time: for instance, one group can snorkel while the other opts for a panga ride. And with two Expedition Leaders, you get a full interpretive experience: a naturalist guide accompanies each panga when we go out with two smaller boats for close-up exploring.Private Chartered Yachts Keep Operations Within Our Control
Rather than sending you through a local ship-owner who takes bookings from many sources, we run every element of our Galapagos trips—from meeting you on arrival in Quito through the chartering of our small ships to escorting you to the Quito airport for your homeward flight. Only by managing each step of our operations can we ensure that your trip is superlative—and we don’t settle for less!An Exclusive Stay at Our Private Tortoise Camp on Santa Cruz
For Nat Hab guests alone, we offer the chance to spend a night at our private Tortoise Camp in the highlands of Santa Cruz, where wild tortoises roam freely over this remote parcel of private land overlooking the distant Pacific Ocean. Unique accommodations, rustic but comfortable, are in raised safari-style canvas tents and elevated treehouses (all en suite), surrounded by nature, with a communal dining room and lounge space warmed by a log fireplace.The World's Finest Naturalist Guides
Natural Habitat Adventures is known worldwide for employing the highest-quality guides in the industry. Our group of elite Galapagos Expedition Leaders averages more than 15 years’ guiding experience each. Additionally, they receive training and resources from WWF’s world-renowned scientists. Our philosophy on this is pretty simple: A nature adventure is only as good as the guide, so we simply must provide the best! See Expedition Leader bios and traveler comments regarding the quality of our leaders.Secluded Snorkeling Experiences
Snorkeling is the highlight for many Galapagos visitors. Inquisitive sea lions, sea turtles, penguins and schools of vividly colored fish provide endless excitement in the islands’ clear waters. But it can be disappointing if you’re traveling aboard a big ship to find dozens of fellow snorkelers surrounding you, interfering with your experience. In our small groups accompanied by two Expedition Leaders, marine life is front and center, and you’re the sole audience.Kayaking & Paddleboarding for Close-Up Wildlife Encounters
Come eye to eye with a sea turtle as you paddle a kayak, and look down at a marine iguana gliding past from your perch on a stand-up paddleboard: our chartered yachts are equipped with all the special modes of exploration to get you as close as possible to the captivating creatures of the Galapagos. And of course, our ships carry Zodiacs, too, so we can get close to wildlife on shore from our inflatable motorized rafts.The Itinerary Makes a Difference
As WWF’s conservation travel partner, we're privileged to have some of the world’s top wildlife biologists helping us develop our nature adventures. WWF is especially active in the Galapagos, and our itineraries are specifically designed to provide our small groups with the best close-up wildlife viewing experiences in the most personalized manner possible.Experience More of Ecuador with a Stay in Quito
Ecuador, though small in size, is one of the world's most geographically and culturally diverse countries. As a complement to your Galapagos immersion, we include a guided visit to Quito—a richer cultural experience than just flying in and out of Guayaquil, as many trips do. Experience a slice of Ecuador that is distinctly different from what you'll encounter in the Galapagos as you explore Quito's complex colonial history, including its well-preserved 16th-century Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Our Quality-Value Guarantee Ensures Your Outstanding Galapagos Experience
With Natural Habitat Adventures, you receive our exclusive guarantee, clearly stating that we will meet the lofty expectations we set in our promotional materials. To our knowledge, this is the most ambitious guarantee made by any adventure travel company. Read our important promise.Feel Good About Your Carbon-Neutral Journey
We care deeply about our planet, as we know you do. When you travel with us, the carbon emissions from your trip are 100% offset—including your round-trip flights from home. Natural Habitat Adventures has been the world’s first carbon-neutral travel company since 2007.Natural Habitat Adventures is WWF's Travel Partner
Because of our commitment to environmentally friendly travel as well as the exceptional quality of our worldwide adventures, World Wildlife Fund, the world's leading environmental conservation organization, has named Natural Habitat Adventures as its worldwide travel partner, a designation that makes us exceedingly proud!
