Small boatsSailing on a small boat has a romantic image, and there are more small boats operating in theislands than any other sized vessels, catering forthe widest range of budgets and preferred cruisedurations. With only 13 to 26 passengers onboard, you can enjoy a more personal relationshipwith the other guests and crew. Stability can be a concern for those affected by seasickness,although some of these vessels are fitted with stabilisers to dampen any movement. As the number of small boat options is quiteconsiderable, we have broken them down intosail boats, motor boats and catamarans.Sail boatsCruising around the Galapagos on a sail boat has a unique and unrivalled charm. They are fullof character and have a good amount of deckspace with al fresco dining common. Cabins arecompact but extremely comfortable and usuallyoffer a lower double and upper single bertharrangement, and a small porthole window. You should be aware though that these boatspredominantly operate under motor, with thesails perhaps being raised for an afternoon ifconditions allow.Motor boatsIf the idea of a small boat appeals but the slightlyrestricted cabin space of a sail boat does not,then one of the motor boat options may be ofinterest. With twin or double bed cabins asstandard and larger picture windows common,they offer more cabin space and comfort than the sail boat options. Motorboats also have ampledeck space for relaxing between visitor sites but, if there is a negative, they do lack some of the charm of the sail boat options.CatamaransA relatively new breed of vessel in the Galapagos,catamarans offer even more cabin space than themotor boats and more deck space then the sailboats. Internally they have a more modern décorthan the other small vessels. The theory that theyprovide additional stability is a bit of a myth, inreality catamarans just move differently in thewater. However, the space is plentiful, withcommon features being large sun decks, anoutdoor Jacuzzi, al fresco dining, twin and doublebed cabins, picture windows and, in some cases,private balconies. These advantages do makethese vessels some of the most expensive in the small boat category.Medium-sized boatsMedium-sized vessels are one of the mostpopular options for Audley clients in theGalapagos as they offer spacious, well-finishedcabins, large amounts of deck space and goodstability, while retaining some of the intimateatmosphere of a smaller vessel. Carrying up to 48 passengers and four naturalist guides, these boats' guide to passenger ratio regularlyexceeds the Galapagos National Park minimumrequirements of one to every 16 guests. Due totheir popularity and comfort levels, the mediumsized vessels can be the most expensive in whichto cruise around the archipelago.12SagittaLettyAthala IIGalapagos cruisesCruising around the Galapagos on an expedition vessel is the most popular way to see the archipelago and its wildlife. Sailing overnight between the islands and venturingashore to view the wildlife, snorkel or relax on the beach during the day, before coming backaboard for a leisurely sunset drink on deck, has all the exhilaration you would expect from atrip to these iconic islands. There are a host of boats available and our specialists can adviseyou on the best one for you depending on your preferences, budget and timescale.Sun deck on the Odyssey

Large boatsThere are a few large boats in the Galapagos and their principal advantage is that they are themost stable. Thus, those prone to seasickness will prefer them. In addition, they offer moreleisure space and facilities. Cruising on a largerboat is a sociable and friendly experience withopportunities for meeting people from all overthe world; conversely it is also the option to gofor if you prefer to maintain some privacy fromfellow passengers, as there is less of an intimatefeel than on smaller boats. Shore excursions willbe carried out in groups of 12-16 and there is noneed for concern over lengthy disembarkationtimes, as these boats have a well-practicedoperation in place.Hand-picked boatsThe boats featured in this brochure are by nomeans exhaustive as there are around 100 vessels operating around the archipelago.However, the following boats have beeninspected and hand-picked by us. We insist upon boats with excellent naturalist guides,friendly crew and superb standards of food, andall boats featured have cabins with private facilitiesand air-conditioning. Crucially, all have the highestsafety standards and environmental credentials.We are aware of a number of cheaper vesselsoperating in the archipelago, but we cannot beconfident about their service or theirenvironmental and safety standards.PricesAgainst each boat you will see either one, two orthree £ symbols. These are provided to give anindicative comparison of prices between vessels.In reality the price of a trip will vary by season,the duration of the cruise and whether there areany particular special offers at time of booking.Please speak to our Galapagos specialists forfurther guidance on prices or visit our website.www.audleytravel.com/galapagos ?01993 838 635 ?Galapagos cruises13Sun deck on the EclipseSanta CruzNo two days are the same in the Galapagosdue to the enormous diversity of landscapes,flora and fauna on the islands, but they do fallinto a comfortable routine. An early morningwake up call is soothed by the sound ofwaves lapping up against the boat, and thecool morning air is refreshing for your earlyencounter with the local wildlife. Breakfast isserved before being taken ashore on a'panga' (a small inflatable speedboat) and ledby your expert naturalist guide in a group ofno more than 16 people (the maximumnumber allowed by the Galapagos NationalPark). On shore you will follow a designatedtrail, carefully avoiding sleeping sea lions andnesting sea birds, having the opportunity toobserve and photograph the wildlife at closequarters. Depending on the location, anoptional snorkelling tour will be offeredbefore returning to the boat for lunch andthe opportunity for a siesta to avoid themidday heat.By mid afternoon your boat will havenavigated to another bay or island where theprocess is repeated, perhaps this time with abeach landing and some time to relax andswim in the turquoise water afterencountering the wildlife. As the equatorialsun sets, it will be time for a drink on deckand dinner, followed by an evening briefingfrom your guide. Most people go to bedearly in the Galapagos thanks to thecombination of fresh air, new experiencesand hearty food, in preparation for thefollowing morning's adventures.A typical day on boardPanga excursionSnorkellingLand excursion