Ecuador in northwestern South America includes the province of Galápagos, which contains the Galápagos Islands. The country's capital is Quito and its largest city is Guayaquil. The country is one of 13 countries in the world straddled by the equator. The Galápagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands located around the equator, 900 km west of mainland South America.

The Galápagos are known for their large number of endemic species. All islands are protected as part of Ecuador's Galápagos National Park and Marine Reserve. The group consists of 18 main islands, 3 smaller islands, and 107 rocks and islets. The Galápagos Islands are named for their giant tortoises, which were very numerous when the islands were discovered.

The largest of the islands, Isabela, measures 5,800 km2 and makes up nearly three-quarters of the total land area of ​​the Galápagos, 7,880 km2. Volcán Wolf on Isabela is the highest point, at an elevation of 1,707 meters above sea level. Only a small part of the Galapagos, about 3% of the land area, is designated for human access and tourism, the rest is a protected national park. This limits visits to specific sites and is always done with a licensed guide. You follow strict rules, including staying on marked trails and keeping your distance from wild animals.

How much does a liveaboard to the Galapagos cost?

It is difficult to answer how much a liveaboard diving trip to the Galápagos costs, but assume approx. 80 - 85 000 SEK / person and up for a week's liveaboard with a slightly simpler boat including flights, transfers, accommodation on board and diving. For a boat with better standard corresponding to one week you should go up from approx. 15-25 000 SEK in price. This normally also includes all inclusive. Marine park and port fees are usually added on site, as are TCT card and pressure chamber service fees, as well as any fuel surcharge.

To be more precise about how much a liveaboard to the Galápagos costs, more information is needed, what you want it to include, how long you want to be away, the layout of the trip, choice of cabin on board, etc. There are There are several reasons why the price may vary and you can find examples here on our website.The best thing you can do is contact us for a free proposal and we will put together a proposal for you.

When is the best time to go to the Galapagos?

The best time to dive in the Galápagos is subjective, but many consider July to be the best. This time of year is when larger pelagic species such as whale sharks and hammerheads are common. December through May typically sees better visibility, warmer water, and more frequent sightings of manta rays. No matter when you go to the Galápagos, you’ll experience great diving. Diving here took off in the late 90s, and today it’s one of the world’s most popular diving destinations. Along with Coco Island, Malpelo and Socorro, these islands in the Pacific Ocean are magnets for marine life.

o Hot and wet season, December – June
o Cold and dry season, June – December

What can I see when I dive in the Galápagos?

Common species in the Galápagos that you will most often see when traveling with a liveaboard are sea lions, penguins, marine iguanas, turtles, sharks, such as hammerhead sharks, white-tip reef sharks and Galapagos sharks. Various species of rays, including manta rays and spotted eagle rays, are common. Here you will also normally see large schools of tuna, jacks and snappers. You can encounter dolphins and various species of whales, especially from the boat but also below the surface. The incredible thing is that it is possible to experience almost all of these different animals during the same dive in some places. The waters of the islands includeandar cold and warm currents, creating a unique mix of tropical marine life and species that prefer cooler waters.

Where is the best diving in the Galapagos Islands?

The best diving in the Galápagos is undoubtedly around Wolf and Darwin Islands. They offer incredible encounters with large animals such as whale sharks and large schools of hammerhead sharks and more. Liveaboard is required to get to these very remote locations. For day trips from islands such as Santa Cruz, Gordon Rocks is a great place where you can sometimes see hammerhead sharks. North Seymour and Mosquera offer opportunities to see reef sharks, rays and other marine life. For some specific sightings, there is Cousins ​​Rock for seahorses and sea lions and Cape Douglas on Isabela Island for marine iguanas and the occasional lumpfish.

When and where are liveaboards and safaris available in the Galápagos?

Liveaboarding is available in the Galapagos and there are departures all year round. A typical liveaboard in the Galapagos lasts seven nights, but there are also tours of ten nights. For those of you who want to go on a liveaboard in the Galapagos or another destination or are considering alternatives for diving in the Galapagos, contact us with your wishes and thoughts on tel: 0301-22100. Diving trips here should be booked quite far in advance, especially when it is whale shark season. These trips with a live board can sometimes be fully booked more than two years in advance so plan well in advance.

Extra nights on site

You will need one or more extra nights in place before you go on a liveaboard in the Galápagos. Depending on flight times and connections between international and domestic flights, you will probably need a night after your liveaboard. For those who want to spice up your diving trip to the Galápagos, you can combine it with going to Peru to experience Machu Picchu.