Galapagos Family Cruise or Hotel

It is usually the first question families ask when planning a trip to the Galapagos Islands: Should we take a cruise or base ourselves in a hotel (a land-based tour)? For many families, particularly those with younger or more active children, a land-based tour is the better fit.

As Nick Howells summed it up in the Evening Standard:

“Would we, like most visitors to the famous islands off Ecuador’s coast, explore by cruise ship? The see-sawing surf keeping us awake at night, a cabin too minuscule in which to cartwheel, a father constantly on edge as his daughter careers towards the precipice of the deck… Hmmm. There had to be something more soothing, more expansive. Enter Galapagos Safari Camp.”

Here is why, and what to consider when making your decision.

The Mesdags raised their children in what is now the Family Suite

For safety and liability reasons, most cruise ships in the Galapagos have a minimum age requirement of seven years. On some vessels it is as high as twelve. But this doesn’t mean that the Galapagos Islands aren’t a suitable destination for younger children.

Our founders, Stephanie and Michael Mesdag, raised their own children here from birth. In this time, they witnessed first-hand the benefits of exposing their children to the many marvels of the Galapagos from a young age. That said, there are certain activities and excursions we wouldn’t necessarily recommend for very small children but our Safari Designers can tailor an itinerary accordingly.

There is no lower age limit on our land-based safaris.

Avoid cabin fever with acres of private land to explore

Being cooped up on a boat for multiple days with energetic kids can be stressful, not just for the children but also for parents and other guests as well. Obviously every child is different, and parents can really only be the best judge of whether their child will enjoy a cruise.

If you have active kids you may prefer a hotel where kids have the space and freedom to burn off excess energy. Older kids may also appreciate a little more breathing space from Mum and Dad!

At Galapagos Safari Camp, the Camp sits within a private highland reserve. Children can roam alongside the Camp’s wildlife, pick fruit, explore lava tunnels, ride bikes and swim.

Boat trips by day, land by night

Whether you choose a cruise or a land-based tour, you will spend some time on a boat. Both options include day trips to uninhabited islands. The question is how much time at sea suits your family. If you or your children are prone to motion sickness, balancing time at sea with time on land makes for a more comfortable experience overall.

Wildlife viewings can be just as varied, and the experience as a whole may be more positive if you’re not having to nurse a sick child all holiday.

Wildlife experiences

The Galapagos National Park strictly regulates which sites can be visited. The official visiting sites we visit from land, whether on uninhabited islands or on Santa Cruz, are the same sites visited from cruise boats.

The key difference is that you can cover more distance on a cruise, but can travel deeper with us, visiting many beautiful and lesser-known sites that cruise itineraries don’t have the time to include. The wildlife experience, however, is just as rich and varied, regardless of your mode of transport.

“While it is true that a land-based journey will take you to fewer individual islands than a boat-based journey, the diversity and quality of the wildlife viewing and excursions remains the same for all but the most avid birders. Viewing the Waved Albatross on Española Island is probably not high on children’s list of priorities.”

— Clark Kotula, Latin America specialist and father of two.

At Galapagos Safari Camp, you set the pace of your family vacation

If flexibility is important to you, and for families it usually is, it is worth understanding how each option works in practice. Cruise itineraries are predetermined by the National Park and fixed. Days start early, meals are served at set times, and excursions are conducted in groups of mixed ages and interests. If a child tires on an excursion, returning to the boat requires the whole group to turn back.

On our Family Safaris, the distinction is between boat excursion days and land days. Sea excursions to uninhabited islands are still fixed by National Park slot, but on land excursions, the day is entirely yours and can be taken at whatever pace suits your family. There are no set group departures, no fixed meal times, and no predetermined schedule. If a child needs a nap, a snack, or simply an afternoon by the pool, that is your choice to make.

Our Family Safaris are led by a private guide who can adjust the pace and activity level to suit your children on any given day.

Surfing lessons at Tortuga Bay

If a family member has a particular interest to pursue in the Galapagos, such as scuba diving, surfing, photography, art, chocolate tasting, snorkeling, a land-based tour can incorporate these in a way that a fixed cruise itinerary cannot. Tell us what matters to your family and we will build it in.

Nobody plans for a health emergency on holiday, but it is worth considering proximity to medical care. There are two hospitals in the Galapagos, including one on Santa Cruz Islands, twenty minutes from Camp. On a cruise, particularly at a remote outer island, the situation is more complicated.

One option worth considering is combining time on a cruise with time at Galapagos Safari Camp. Some families choose this to cover more distance while also enjoying the advantages of a land stay, namely the space, flexibility, a private guide, and the Kids Club.

Bear in mind that the Galapagos is a large archipelago, and it is impossible to see everything in seven to fourteen days. Choosing an area or approach and committing to it fully usually makes for a richer experience than trying to cover everything.

A cruise suits some families well. particularly those who are comfortable in a structured environment, who enjoy group tours and activities, and meeting new people.

For most families, whether travelling with toddlers, active children or teenagers, a land-based safari offers something a cruise cannot: space, freedom and flexibility. Children have room to roam without the anxiety of open decks and confined cabins and parents can shape the day around their family rather than around a fixed itinerary.

The wildlife is always extraordinary, regardless of where you rest your head at night.

🔗 What is a land-based safari?

🔗 Family Travel in the Galapagos: A Guide

🔗 Why families choose Galapagos Safari Camp

🔗 Our Family Safari