The Galápagos Islands as a Yachting Destination

Made famous by Charles Darwin’s 19th century expedition that helped him develop his theory of natural selection, the Galápagos Islands continue to be a marvel of biodiversity. Also known as the Galápagos Archipelago, the islands contain some of the most unique animal life on the planet, with close to 80% of the land birds and 97% of the reptiles and land mammals inhabiting the islands not found anywhere else on Earth. Animals like the giant tortoises, Darwin’s finches, the Galápagos penguin, and the famous Galápagos pink iguana are just some of the species that can only be found on the islands. While hundreds of thousands of tourists visit the Ecuadorian islands every year, exploring the Galápagos by superyacht allows for unbound island exploration and intimate experiences with the islands’ wildlife through hiking, snorkeling, diving, and cruising.

Entering the Galápagos Islands

With some of the highest levels of endemism on the planet, the Galápagos Islands’ regulations are strict and working with an agency is mandatory during your time there. Every yacht visiting the Galápagos must obtain permission before arrival in the form of an “Autógrafo,” an entry authorization provided by the Ecuadorian government. Unlike some trips where charter agents can help with paperwork, foreign-yacht charters are not allowed in the Galápagos. 

 

To obtain an Autógrafo, paperwork must be started at least 60 days before the visit, and applications are not always accepted. Passport copies from all crewmembers and guests on board during the visit, a certificate of registry as a pleasure yacht, blackwater or sewage certification, protection and indemnity insurance, and proof of Automatic Identification System (AIS) on board is all necessary to begin an Autógrafo, according to Superyacht Galápagos. Yacht agency Superyacht Galápagos helped create the regulations and processes for foreign yachts to visit the islands. The Autógrafo states that the yacht will only visit the islands on their planned itinerary and requires yachts to carry a naturalist guide on board while in the Galápagos. Vessels can apply for up to two 15-day itineraries in protected areas. Once approved for an Autógrafo, a vessel can stay in the islands for up to 60 days.

There are four main ports in the Galápagos: Puerto Ayora located on Santa Cruz Island; Puerto Baquerizo Moreno located on San Cristóbal Island; Puerto Villamil located on Isabela Island; and Aeolian Bay in Baltra Island. These four ports work as port of entries for a vessel’s first arrival to the islands, but your choice of port must be communicated and arranged with an agent’s help before arrival. Movement between these four ports is allowed, but departures must be issued by the Port Captaincy of each port first. Aeolian Bay in Baltra Island is the only fueling station and has the only airport on the islands. 

A “Fuel Code Authorization” is needed before superyachts can fuel on Baltra. The island’s long fueling station is owned by Petroecuador, an Ecuadorian state company. Superyacht Galápagos or other agencies can help with fuel code authorizations and implementation into the Petroecuador’s system to allow superyachts to fuel, but these authorizations can take multiple business days. The price of fuel on the islands is updated every month, with a new, fixed fuel price introduced at the beginning each month until it’s updated the next month. Fuel deliveries can be arranged with Superyacht Galápagos on any day of the month, but an almost exact amount of fuel must be requested, as ordering an excess amount or leaving requested fuel behind for later is not possible. Yachts could choose to arrive in Baltra and refuel there instead of using the delivery system. The fuel dock is 80 meters long and 10 meters deep during high tide. The dock has two pipes, with one 35-meter-long pipe delivering fuel at a rate of 100 to 250 liters per minute and the other 25-meter-long pipe delivering fuel at a rate of 250 to 450 liters per minute. Private fuel barges are also available. 

Provisioning in the Galápagos is essential, as Ecuador has strong regulations on what products can enter the islands. Permitted products or plant or animal byproducts are only permitted if they have been processed to the point they are no longer capable of being infested by pests or transmitting diseases. These products must also be inspected to prevent stowaways from entering the country. Examples of prohibited products in the islands are coffee beans, fresh flowers, oranges, tuna, milk, and steak. All vessels must also have a fumigation and clean hull certification from the last port as well. This regulation is strictly adhered to, to ensure no foreign rats, insects, or other creatures make their way to the Galápagos. Yacht agencies like Superyacht Galápagos can provide vessels with a full list of permitted products while also importing products from mainland Ecuador. 

The Galápagos Islands’ rules change on a regular basis and are governed from Ecuador’s mainland. Make sure to check with your agent for updated rules and fees.

Exploring the Islands

 

Comprising 13 major islands, seven smaller islands, and more than 100 islets and rocks, the Galápagos Archipelago contains more to see than is possible in 60 days. From snorkeling in crystal-clear water surrounded by playful sea lions in volcanic calderas to hiking active volcanoes with wildlife at every step, each island of the Galápagos is unique. While there are endless activities on the islands, most on-land activities require a naturalist guide. Renting a motorcycle or a car is prohibited, so on-land travel must be done by taxi, bus, bicycle, or on foot.

San Cristóbal Island 

Created by a fusion of now-extinct volcanoes and the first island Darwin landed on during his expedition, San Cristóbal is one of the oldest islands in the Galápagos, the first to be permanently inhabited by humans, and is home to the island’s capital, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. A major reason early settlers chose this island to inhabit first is due to El Junco Lagoon — one of the only sources of freshwater in the Galápagos. Despite its name, it is a volcanic crater lake. El Junco’s summit offers panoramic views of the circular crater and excellent bird watching for hikers that reached the 700-meter peak. On the island’s eastern side, visitors will find Punta Pitt — a small beach that has barking sea lions and is the sole location where all three varieties of boobies nest together. Nazca, red-footed, and the famous blue-footed booby all inhabit this beach.

 

Visitors hoping to see tortoises can visit the Cerro Colorado Tortoise Reserve in the island’s highlands, where the reserve operates as a semi-natural breeding center for the giant tortoises of San Cristóbal. Kicker Rock, an iconic site for snorkelers and divers, is located near the island and is one of the best locations in the entirety of the Galápagos for underwater experiences. The rock formation, named after its shoe-like appearance, has a channel running through it, offering calmer waters that are home to eagle rays, sea turtles, hammerhead and Galápagos sharks, and schools of tropical fish.  

Santa Cruz Island

 While Santa Cruz may be the most touristy island of all the Galápagos, it still offers visitors unique experiences. Los Gemelos (The Twins) are two large pit craters caused by the collapse of empty magma chambers. Visitors can walk the rims of both craters and visit the Scalesia forest — a unique forest made up of 15 species of trees and shrubs found nowhere else on Earth. Terrestrial birds like Vermilion Flycatchers, Short-eared Owls, the Galápagos Dove, several finch species, and more can be found here. In the highlands of Santa Cruz, visitors can dive into darkness as they hike through underground lava tunnels where lava once flowed. The island also offers three beach opportunities, with none requiring a guide — Tortuga Bay, Playa de los Perros, and Garrapatero. 

There are six dive sites located around Santa Cruz, including Guy Fawkes Rocks, Punta Carrión, Gordon Rocks, South Plaza, Caamaño Islet, and Punta Estrada. These sites provide divers with opportunities to see sea lions, various species of sharks and eels, manta and eagle rays, sea turtles, and more. Puerto Ayora, the island’s capital, is what makes some believe is the reason Santa Cruz is the most touristy island. As the most populous island, Puerto Ayora is home to many of the top restaurants and best hotels in the Galápagos.

 

Isabela Island

The largest island in the Galápagos, Isabela is a seahorse-shaped island that is home to five active volcanoes. Isabela’s west coast offers vessels an experience they won’t want to miss — whale watching. More than 15 species of whales, including humpbacks, orcas, and sperm, have been identified in the area. Dolphins, fish, and birds also inhabit the island’s west coast, as the Cromwell Current wells up here, creating a nutrient-rich feeding ground for marine life. 

A switch from wildlife to a human-built attraction can be found on Isabela in the form of the Muro de las Lágrimas, or Wall of Tears. The wall is a historical site built between 1945 and 1959 by prisoners in the island’s penal colony. The near 100-meter-long wall caused thousands of deaths during its creation, gaining its name from the locals due to a “dense energy” that surrounds it.

An islet near Isabela, Las Tintoreras gained its name from the white tip sharks that are locally known as tintoreras. Accessing Las Tintoreras is easily done with a smaller boat, but kayak rentals are available as well. The islet contains numerous submerged lava channels where white tip sharks can be seen resting, along with mangrove forests and coral reefs that house blue-footed boobies and the occasional rare Galápagos penguin. 

Bartolomé Island

 

What some consider to be one of the world’s most beautiful islands, Bartolomé is the most visited and most photographed island in the Galápagos. One reason for this is Pinnacle Rock, a jagged volcanic cone that resembles the tip of a knife coming out of the ground. Visitors land across from the bay that contains the formation, and after climbing 114 meters, they reach the island’s summit, which provides picturesque views of Pinnacle Rock. The black lava flows at Sullivan Bay, Santiago Island, and Daphne Major and Minor are also visible from the summit, making for a perfect Galápagos picture.

Pinnacle Rock is not the only attraction on Bartolomé. Snorkeling around the formation could allow you to see a friendly colony of Galápagos penguins alongside sea lions, octopi, spotted eagle rays, and black-tipped sharks. 

These four islands are just a taste of the more than 100 islands, islets, and rock formations throughout the archipelago. The Galápagos islands offer a yachting experience that few can say they have witnessed, elevating them into a class by themselves.

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