“Worth it if you want genuinely close wildlife encounters with small group panga access and don't mind basic comfort. Think twice if you need luxury amenities or dislike repetitive snorkeling.”
- About £416/day across 10 days
- ~£4,633 all-in with a typical £471 flight from London (£463/day)
- Dropped £172 recently in our own price tracking
- We only rate a price against this trip's own history once we've tracked it for 21 days — no guessing before that.
- About average per day vs 4 similar trips (~£396/day)
- 4.7★ from 5 traveller reviews
Price movement, fill and the all-in cost come from our own daily tracking— not the operator’s feed. You book on TourRadar; the live price always applies there.
About this trip
Ten days aboard the M/Y Grand Queen Beatriz, sailing through the southern Galapagos islands with a naturalist guide who talks you through what you're seeing along the way.
The boat moves overnight so you wake somewhere new each morning, with wildlife on land, in the air and underwater all part of the daily rhythm — giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, and whatever turns up when you snorkel.
It's an active trip rather than a lounge-on-deck one. You'll be getting in and out of Zodiac boats, walking on uneven island terrain, and moving around a boat that has steep steps between its three decks.
What you'll do
- See giant tortoises in their natural habitat
- Birdwatch for blue-footed boobies and frigate birds
- Snorkel among Galapagos marine life
- Travel between islands by day and by night aboard the Grand Queen Beatriz
- Take Zodiac (panga) rides to reach smaller islets and coves
- Learn from an onboard naturalist guide throughout
- You need to be comfortable with wet and dry landings, including climbing in and out of a panga
- The boat's decks are connected by steep steps, so mobility around the vessel matters
- Weather and local authority guidance can change the itinerary at short notice
Day by day
Exactly what you do each day, where you sleep, and how it flows — written by us, from the real itinerary.
What's included
- Guide: On our Galapagos trips you will be meet on arrival by our experienced local representatives. They will conduct the group briefing on the evening of day 1 of the trip and also transfer with you to the airport on day 2 for your flight to the Galapagos. On arrival in the Galapagos you will be met your Guide. Our Guides are registered and trained in conservation and natural sciences by the Charles Darwin Foundation and licensed by the Galapagos National Park Service. The Guide will be on board with you for the duration of the trip and will accompany you on all excursions. Our boats are also staffed by highly experienced shipboard staff and crew.
- Meals: 9 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 8 dinners
- Activities: Isla Santa Cruz - Punta Carrion - Snorkelling (1 hour) Isla Santa Cruz - Bachas Beach Snorkel (1 hour) - Wet Landing Isla Isabela - Las Tintoreras visit (1.5 hours) - Dry Landing Isla Isabela - Arnolda Tupiza Tortoise Breeding Center including Flamingo Lagoon (2 hours) - Dry Landing Isla Floreana - Post Office Bay - Walk (1.5 hours) - Wet Landing Isla Floreana - Punta Cormorant walk (1.5 hours) - Wet Landing Isla Floreana - Devil's Crown snorkelling (1 hour) Isla Floreana - Post Office Bay snorkelling (45 mins) Isla Santa Cruz - Highlands Visit (1.5 hours) - Dry Landing Isla Santa Cruz - Charles Darwin Research Station (1 hour) - Dry Landing Isla Plaza Sur - Walk (2 hours) - Dry Landing Isla Santa Fe - Panga ride (45 mins) Isla Santa Fe - Walk (1.5 hours) - Wet Landing Isla Espanola - Punta Suarez - Walk (3 hours) - Dry Landing Isla Espanola - Bahia Gardener - Snorkel (1 hour) Isla Espanola - Bahia Gardener - Walk (1 hours) - Wet Landing Isla San Cristobal - Punta Pitt - Walk (2 hours) - Wet Landing Isla San Cristobal - Isla Lobos - Walk (1 hour) - Dry Landing San Cristobal - Leon Dormido (Kicker Rock) Isla San Cristobal - Interpretation Center Visit (1 hour) - Dry Landing
- Transport: The Grand Queen Beatriz is a modern motor yacht. She has a comfortable lounge and dining area, a jacuzzi* as well as a sun deck where you can view the wildlife or just kick back and relax. She has eight well-appointed, air-conditioned cabins and yet, at 41 metres, she is small enough for us to offer an individual level of service. She's just perfect for a more personal look at this great marine reserve. Cabins: 2xStandard twin cabins 2xstandard double cabins 2xJunior Suite cabins (1 twin & 1 double) 2xDeluxe Balcony cabins (1 twin & 1 double) All cabins are fully air-conditioned with private facilities Specifications: Built: 2017 Length: 40.96 m Beam: 9 m Engines: 2 Speed: 12 knots Passengers: 16 Crew: 8 + 1 English speaking naturalist guide Zodiacs (locally known as pangas) are modest-sized, open, outboard-powered boats which are very common throughout Galapagos. The boats are used to get you to and from the Grand Queen Bea when you do activities. Depending on the type of activity, this could either be a wet or dry landing. The boat crew are there to assist you getting into and out of the zodiac. *Please note the jacuzzi can only be used when the boat is stationary. This will be while you are doing an activity or excursion and pre and post some meals (if you’ve decided to sit out an activity or excursion you will also be able to use the jacuzzi). If you wish to use the jacuzzi please speak to the Guide or a crew member who will organise for it to be filled and switched on. At no time should a passenger use or fill the jacuzzi without notifying a crew member. Before the boat weighs anchor the jacuzzi will be emptied to prevent spillage once the boat is underway Boat, Plane, Bus, Zodiac
- Accommodation: The stylish modern design of the Grand Queen Beatriz features large en suite cabins all with individual air conditioning and ocean views. There are 4 Standard twin cabins on the main deck and on the upper deck there are 2 Junior Suite cabins and 2 deluxe balcony cabins. The upper deck cabins all have private balconies. All cabins are equipped with a safety deposit box, hair dryers and toiletries. Hotel (2 nights), Overnight boat (7 nights)
- Activities: Other activities and services not included
- Flights: International flights not included.
- Optional: Other activities and services not included
- Insurance: Insurance is not included. Travel insurance is required for this tour. Please make sure you are adequately covered. If you require travel insurance, TourRadar has partnered up with Cover Genius to provide a hassle-free experience. More information can be found here (https://www.tourradar.com/travel-insurance).
How travellers rate it
Cheapest live departure per day, in £, recorded by our tracker since 18 Jul. Never a brochure “was” price.
Your free day in Quito
Landing early, staying on, or filling free time? The best-rated day experiences in Quito — you book on Viator (we may earn a commission).
Worth it if you want genuinely close wildlife encounters with small group panga access and don't mind basic comfort. Think twice if you need luxury amenities or dislike repetitive snorkeling.
- Guides consistently excellent: Roberto, Carlos, Johan all singled out for knowledge and engagement with small 16-person groups.
- Heavy snorkeling schedule—some days two sessions—with limited island hikes; food quality inconsistent, with underseasoned meat and fish mentioned.
- Motion sickness risk real for sensitive travellers, especially final night in Puerto Ayora; ginger helps but swaying lasted days post-trip.
- Thoughtful crew details: hot tub after cold swims, snacks on return, life jacket assistance, safe panga driving in currents.
Distilled from real traveller reviews on TourRadar — we don't edit out the bad bits.
The same-vibe trips, side by side — price, value per day, and how each is moving. Only we can lay two operators' trips out honestly.
Sorted by fit — never by who paid. Price moves and availability come from our own daily tracking.
Departing in Aug is cheapest — from £4,160, about 50% below the priciest month (Jan).
Getting there
One-way so you can book your return whenever. Prices & booking shown on Trip.com.
Hotels in Quito
View more accommodationLive prices via Booking.com & partners, booked on their site — separate from your tour. We may earn a commission; it never changes your price.
On a budget?
Hostels in Quito for the night before your tour · 21 Aug – 22 Aug
Booked on Hostelworld, separate from your tour. We may earn a commission — it never changes your price.
Common questions
How long is Classic Galapagos: Southern Islands (Grand Queen Beatriz)?
It's a 10-day trip. It starts and ends in Quito.
How much does Classic Galapagos: Southern Islands (Grand Queen Beatriz) cost?
The land price starts from £4,162 per person for the 10-day trip. You book on TourRadar, where the live price always applies.
What will Classic Galapagos: Southern Islands (Grand Queen Beatriz) really cost me all-in?
On top of the £4,162 land price, budget roughly £471 for a return flight from the UK — about £4,633 all-in before spending money. Most day-to-day meals out and optional activities are extra.
What's included in the price?
The price covers all your accommodation, 24 meals (9 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 8 dinners), transport during the trip, a group leader/guide. Anything the operator lists as optional or not included — see the full breakdown on this page.
What's not included?
international flights and travel insurance (required) are not included, so factor them into your budget. We show typical flight costs and can point you to insurance on this page.
How big is the group?
Groups are capped at around 16 travellers — a small-group trip, mostly solo 18–35s travelling to meet people, not a coach tour.
When does Classic Galapagos: Southern Islands (Grand Queen Beatriz) run?
It runs across roughly 13 months of the year, so there's usually a departure to fit your dates. Check live availability and prices in the dates section above.
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