10 Best Liveaboards in the Galapagos Islands

Liveaboards in the Galapagos

There are 127 islands and islets in the Galapagos, of which only four are inhabited. While it is possible to dive from shore, the Galapagos is one destination that’s truly best explored by a liveaboard.

Iconic dive sites like Darwin’s Pillars (formerly Darwin’s Arch) and Wolf Island are only accessible by liveaboard. To come all the way to the Galapagos and miss these world-class dive sites would be a mistake, so—if you’ve got the means—don’t hesitate to choose a liveaboard in the Galapagos for your trip.

Most journeys begin in either San Cristobal or Baltra, so double check before booking your trip. You’ll likely have to spend the night in Quito or Guayaquil too before heading to the archipelago to meet your boat.

As for liveaboard routes, most boats will head north from Baltra or San Cristobal straight to Darwin and Wolf Islands for several days of diving. On the way back south, they’ll make stops at other iconic sites like Cape Douglas, Punta Vicente Roca, and Cabo Marshall.

Itineraries typically run from seven to 10 days, with longer trips typically spending more time at Wolf and Darwin.

After even the quickest peek underwater, it’s no surprise that the Galapagos Marine Reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are dozens of dive sites scattered throughout the islands, offering such treasures as hammerhead sharks, penguins, seals, sea lions, mantas, mola molas and more.

Though Darwin and Wolf Islands are indisputably the pinnacle of Galapagos diving, don’t sleep on the other sites that your liveaboard visits—even the checkout dive in the Galapagos can deliver hammerheads, turtles, silky sharks, and other pelagics. Here are a few sites you may visit on your liveaboard trip:

Off the east coast of Santa Cruz Island, Gordon Rocks easily qualifies as one of the best dive sites in the world. Known as the “washing machine” to local dive centers, this is not a dive for the faint of heart.

Located within a volcanic crater, this dive site is awe-inspiring before you even descend, and features some of the strongest currents in the area that blow between large pinnacles of rock. Sometimes your dive guide will tell you to hold on to the rocky bottom if the currents are moving too quickly.

But don’t be put off by the current, because that’s what draws in the A-listers like huge schools of hammerheads, blacktip and whitetip reef sharks, and schools of mobula rays. Always keep your eyes on the blue and above you as you tuck into the rocky substrate—you never know what you’ll see.

Located east of Santiago Island is Cousin’s Rock, another incredible dive site for the advanced diver. Here you’ll find terraced steps that lead down to a sandy ocean floor, situated at approximately 130 feet (40 m) below the surface. Expect moderate currents and a platform at around 32 feet (10 m), where you’ll find congregating reef fish, sharks, schooling barracuda, and mobula rays.

As you descend the terraced wall, which is covered in black corals, keep an eye out for seahorses clinging onto the steps, as well as more pelagics in the blue.

Kicker Rock is another fantastic dive site that should not be missed—though it’s hard to find a bad dive site in the Galapagos. This one, however, is accessible to both divers and snorkelers, so if you’re traveling with a non-diver, this is a great choice.

Kicker Rock is located off the coast of San Cristobal and is aptly named, as it looks like a shoe coming out of the water. When diving between the rocks you’ll see turtles, wrasse, surgeonfish, Galapagos sharks and possibly even hammerheads. If you’re lucky, you may spot marine iguanas hunting for food.

What to know about the Galapagos Islands

• The northern islands of Galapagos around Darwin and Wolf Island are known to have the highest density of marine life than anywhere else in the world, with the Galapagos Islands as a whole having over 10 times more marine life than that of the Great Barrier Reef.
• Currents surrounding the islands can be extremely strong so this location is not recommended for newbie divers.
• Diving around the Galapagos is available all year round.
• There are two main seasons, the wet and the dry.
• Wet season takes place between January through to June. At this time of year, the days are usually pretty sunny, however, that is interrupted by brief but forceful rains, which wash over the land.
• Air temperatures stay around 30C/86F, whereas the water temperature ranges from 20C/68F-25C/77F. Around the months of January through to May, the weather calms and so does the ocean, providing the perfect environment for hammerhead sharks and manta rays.
• Dry season, also known as ‘Garua’ to the locals, is from July through to December. There is a lot less rain however, at this time of year, the weather cools slightly to 22C/72F.
• Water temperature ranges from 17C/63F-20/68F.
• Visibility is a lot lower around the dry season due to high levels of nutrients in the water.
• The dry season is known as the peak season for both tourists and divers as with its nutrient-rich waters, comes incredible marine life including the migratory whale sharks. If you’re hoping to see these gentle giants make sure to plan your trip around June through to November.
• It is important to remember that no matter what time of year you plan to dive around the Galapagos, water temperature can vary greatly due to the intense currents.
• Getting to the Galapagos Islands is fairly straightforward. You need to start by getting from your location to Ecuador and from there, flights go from either Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito or Jose Joaquin De Olmedo in Guayaquil. Flights from these locations fly to Santa Cruz, San Cristobal or Seymour.
• The local language of the Galapagos Islands is Spanish however due to the popularity of the islands, almost everyone speaks English.
• The currency used in Galapagos is the USD.