Quite a lot more than most guests expect. Every charter includes return flights from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra, so there are no hidden logistics to arrange on your own once you’ve confirmed your voyage.

From the moment you land, a dedicated Galápagos Naturalist Guide is with you — greeting you personally in Quito or Guayaquil and staying by your side for the entire duration. This isn’t a shared group guide; they are yours.

A personal photographer and videographer travels with you throughout, documenting the experience so you can simply be present. By the end of the trip, you’ll have a professional record of everything you encountered.

All meals, all excursions listed in your itinerary, and full use of the vessel are covered. Optional activities such as scuba diving or artisanal fishing can be arranged at an additional cost, and we’re happy to talk through what makes sense for your group.

It genuinely is, and in many ways a private charter is the ideal way to bring children to the Galapagos. Because the vessel is yours alone, the pace is set by your family. There’s no pressure to keep up with strangers, and the naturalist guide can adapt the experience to be as engaging or as unhurried as the day calls for.

The wildlife encounters here are unlike anything children experience elsewhere in the world. Sea lions approach on their own terms, marine iguanas share the beach with you, and blue-footed boobies perform their courtship dance just inches from the trail. It tends to leave a lasting impression on young travelers.

Our vessels accommodate groups of up to 16 or 20 passengers, so larger family groups or multi-family arrangements have plenty of room to feel comfortable. If you’d like to talk through which vessel and itinerary would suit your family’s ages and interests, we’re very happy to arrange a call.

Our most candid advice: earlier than you think. Private charter availability in Galapagos is genuinely limited, the national park restricts vessel numbers, and the dates that suit most families and groups tend to overlap considerably. Our recommendation is to reserve your cruise at least 12 months in advance.

That said, we don’t believe in creating false urgency. If a date is available, we’ll tell you honestly. What we will say is that the guests who end up with exactly the voyage they envisioned are almost always the ones who started the conversation early. A brief call with us costs nothing, and we can tell you exactly what’s realistically available for your preferred window.

Most of our vessels hold up to 16 guests. Two take up to 20: Hermes, at the top of the fleet, and Infinity from Royal Galápagos.

Yes. You’re hiring the whole vessel, not buying seats, so the charter price is the same whether you bring six guests or sixteen. Most of our groups are between eight and fourteen.

Absolutely. The Galápagos is one of the best family trips on the planet, and a private charter is built for multi-generational groups. We’ll help you match the vessel and the time of year to the ages traveling.

The best vessels and dates go early. For most charters we’d suggest starting the conversation 18 – 24 months out, though we can sometimes find space sooner. The earlier we talk, the more choice you have.

Yes, and many of our groups do. You can fly private into Quito or Guayaquil, or direct to Baltra in the islands. We handle the permits and clearances ahead of time, and your guide meets you right as you step off the plane. Tell us how you’re flying when you inquire and we’ll build everything around it.

Yes. Nautica Blu is a US registered LLC with a US bank account and a US business address. You pay in dollars, to an American company. We operate in Ecuador; you transact at home.

Every charter includes the operator’s licensed naturalist plus a second, hand-picked senior naturalist who’s with your group all week. Two pairs of expert eyes, only for your people. We confirm exactly who’s leading your trip before you sail.

On an expedition cruise you share the ship and the guides with other passengers on a fixed group departure. With us, the whole yacht is yours, the guides are dedicated to your group, and the week is built around your family or friends. Same protected islands, seen privately.

It depends on the operator and how close you are to sailing, and we lay out the exact terms in writing before you commit to anything. In general, your deposit holds the boat and the balance is due 90 days before departure. We walk you through all of it on a call, so there are no surprises.