Cachalote Explorer is a first class Galapagos yacht for 16 guests, a sturdy steel-hull expedition vessel with family-friendly cabins, kayaks and a bilingual naturalist guide. It sails 6 and 8-day itineraries that combine into a 15-day cruise. Cruises from US$3,850 per person.
Let’s talk about your tripCachalote Explorer at a glance
| Category | First Class |
| Vessel type | Steel-hull motor yacht, converted for 16 guests in 2017 |
| Capacity | 16 guests in 8 cabins with private bathrooms |
| Crew | Captain, cook, engineers, barman, 4 sailors and a bilingual naturalist guide |
| Size | 27 m (88 ft) long, 7 m (24 ft) beam; cruising speed about 9 knots |
| Itineraries | Tower and Fernandina, 8 days; Hood and Isabela, 6 days |
| Embarkation | Baltra (8 days); San Cristóbal or Isabela (6 days) |
| Departures | Wednesday and Friday, depending on the itinerary |
Cabins on board the Cachalote Explorer
The yacht has 8 air-conditioned cabins, each with a private bathroom and hot water shower. Some cabins sleep three or four guests, which makes it a good choice for families.
- Upper deck, cabins 1 and 2: a queen or double bed plus upper single bunks.
- Lower deck, cabins 5 and 6: one queen bed.
- Lower deck, cabins 3, 4 and 7: a double bed plus an upper single bunk.
- Lower deck, cabin 8: single bunk beds, the most affordable option.
Life on board
Guests share a large salon and dining area with a bar, and several outdoor decks for relaxing and eating al fresco, including a sun deck. The yacht has two water makers.
Each day includes guided excursions with your naturalist guide: hikes, snorkeling, sea kayaking and dinghy rides. Wetsuits, snorkeling gear and kayaks are included.
Safety on board
The Cachalote Explorer carries VHF and HF radios with DSC, an EPIRB emergency beacon, a SART transponder, satellite tracking, two GPS units, two radars, a fire alarm system, two tenders and life rafts with surplus capacity for all guests and crew.
Cachalote Explorer itineraries
- Tower, 8 days (Wednesday to Wednesday): Santa Cruz, South Plaza, Santa Fe, San Cristóbal, Española, Floreana, Santiago (Sullivan Bay) and Genovesa (Darwin Bay, El Barranco). Best for seabird colonies and waved albatross (April to December).
- Fernandina, 8 days (Wednesday to Wednesday): Santa Cruz, Chinese Hat, Rábida, Isabela (Sierra Negra, Puerto Villamil, Moreno Point, Elizabeth Bay, Urbina Bay, Tagus Cove), Fernandina (Espinoza Point), Santiago, Bartolomé and North Seymour. Best for penguins and flightless cormorants.
- Hood, 6 days (Friday to Wednesday): San Cristóbal, Española, Floreana, Santa Cruz, Santiago and Genovesa. Starts at San Cristóbal.
- Isabela, 6 days (Friday to Wednesday): Isabela, Fernandina, Santiago, Bartolomé and North Seymour. Starts in Puerto Villamil, Isabela.
See the day-by-day program in the Itineraries tab below. Tower and Fernandina combine into a 15-day cruise.
