In the Galápagos, the size of your boat decides the size of your group on every trail and in every panga. The national park lets a naturalist take no more than 16 people ashore at a time, so on a larger ship you take turns. On a 12-guest yacht, the whole ship fits behind one guide, with room to spare, at a sea lion colony on Española or the booby nests on Genovesa.
Ecuador’s Galaxy Cruises has added two vessels to its Galápagos fleet: Galaxy Stella, a 12-guest expedition yacht with six cabins sailing four-, five- and eight-day itineraries, and Galaxy Skape, a 16-guest Italian-built Ferretti 731 that runs day trips for travelers staying in hotels on Santa Cruz. The company announced both yachts in late October, and both are bookable now. Galaxy Stella starts at $3,600 per person for four days, and Galaxy Skape day trips from $360.
Galaxy Stella: Key Facts
- Operator: Galaxy Cruises, Ecuador (founder and CEO Alexis Gordillo)
- Type: US-built Broward motor yacht, about 37 meters
- Guests: 12, in six cabins, including a main-deck master suite with a study
- Crew: a cruise director, a bilingual naturalist guide and a small crew
- On deck: jacuzzi, barbecue area and fire pit; kayaks and paddleboards
- Itineraries: four days (southeast), five days (northeast) and eight days (west, or northeast plus southeast)
- Fares from: $3,600 per person for four days (Galaxy Cruises, 2026 rates, checked November 8, 2026)
- Also new: Galaxy Skape, a 16-guest Ferretti 731 day yacht, from $360 per person
Where Galaxy Stella Sails
The four-day “Southeastern Splendor & Secrets” route runs from San Cristóbal to Baltra via Lobos Island, Española (Punta Suárez and Gardner Bay), Floreana (Punta Cormorant and Post Office Bay) and the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz. The five-day “Northeast Discovery & Diversity” route reverses the direction, with North Seymour, Santa Fe, South Plaza, Genovesa’s Darwin Bay and Prince Philip’s Steps, Bachas Beach and Kicker Rock.
The eight-day “Western Wildlife & Volcanic Wonders” itinerary is the one for wildlife people. It covers Isabela (Tintoreras, Punta Moreno and Tagus Cove), Fernandina (Punta Espinoza and Punta Mangle), Santiago, Bartolomé and Chinese Hat, where marine iguanas, flightless cormorants and Galápagos penguins share the lava. You can also combine the northeast and southeast routes into a second eight-day trip.
As on all Galaxy cruises, the yacht moves between islands at night, so daylight goes on landings, snorkeling and kayaking. Galaxy says every group going ashore stays within the park’s limit of 16 people per guide, and Stella’s 12 guests never reach it.
Galaxy Skape: The Galápagos Without a Cabin
Galaxy Skape is for travelers who would rather sleep in a hotel. The 16-guest Ferretti 731 is the fastest vessel in the Galaxy fleet and leaves from the Itabaca Channel near Puerto Ayora, with two stops per outing. On Mondays and Saturdays she sails to Sullivan Bay and Bartolomé, where 378 steps lead to the view over Pinnacle Rock. On Tuesdays and Fridays she visits North Seymour and Bachas Beach, and on Thursdays and Sundays South Plaza and Punta Carrión.
Wetsuits are included on both yachts, but the western islands are far colder than the rest of the archipelago. When I dived off Punta Vicente Roca, the water dropped to 20-22°C and I rented a 7 mm suit, so ask for a thicker one before you sail west.
Why It Matters
Galápagos yachts are commonly built for 16 guests, the most a single naturalist can take ashore. Galaxy Stella carries 12. That sounds like a small difference, but it means fewer people in every Zodiac, on every trail and at every dinner, and a better chance of a quiet moment with a waved albatross or a sea lion pup.
It is also good value at this level. A five-day northeast cruise on Galaxy Stella costs $4,800 per person, against $5,700 for five days on the 16-guest Galaxy Sirius, the fleet’s previous flagship. Galaxy Skape adds a smart option for families or anyone who prefers a hotel bed but still wants Bartolomé or North Seymour with a naturalist.
Who it is not for: anyone who wants a brand-new ship with a spa, or divers. Galaxy Stella is a refitted yacht for naturalist cruising and snorkeling. For diving at Darwin and Wolf, you need a dedicated liveaboard.
Prices and How to Book
On November 8, 2026, Galaxy Cruises listed its 2026 rates for Galaxy Stella at $3,600 per person for four days, $4,800 for five days and $8,400 for eight days. Fares include all meals and snacks, a welcome cocktail, water, coffee and tea, the naturalist guide, snorkel gear and wetsuits, kayaks and paddleboards, airport transfers in the islands and lounge access at Baltra and San Cristóbal airports. Flights, the Galápagos National Park fee (US$200), the Transit Control Card (US$20), alcohol, tips and insurance are extra.
Galaxy Skape day trips cost $360 to $400 per person, including the transfer to Itabaca, lunch, snorkel gear, a wetsuit and the guide, but not the park fee. Both yachts are bookable through Galaxy Cruises and Galápagos specialists.
The Lens I’m Reading This Through
I sailed the Galápagos in March 2024 on Ecoventura’s Theory, a 20-guest yacht . The small group meant no queues for four activities a day, and the top-deck jacuzzi and Starlink were real pleasures. Weather canceled our landing at Española, and that is the risk on any boat.
Below the surface, I gave the Galápagos Sky 5/5 for Darwin and Wolf, and my Galápagos diving guide covers the rest. Galaxy Stella has eight fewer guests than Theory and a similar list of comforts, and that is exactly where the islands reward you most.
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This preview is based on official announcements — I haven’t sailed aboard Galaxy Stella yet. Read more about how I review or visit my Work With Me page.
