Destinations
Ecuador • Galápagos • Checked 28 September 2026
The islands are extraordinary.
Choose the boat that fits you.
Compare Galapagos liveaboards by cabin, itinerary, dive experience and total cost. From Humboldt Explorer to Galapagos Sky, the useful differences are in the details: beds, airport, Nitrox and the days you actually spend diving.
Disclosure: booking links are affiliate links; Divezone may earn a commission if you book through them. This is a researched comparison, not a firsthand inspection or a live availability feed. Photos are selected from the linked boat guides; their capture dates are not verified.
Galapagos boats at a glance
Start with your dates and experience, then compare the same duration and cabin occupancy. These are USD per person sharing, for seven nights where a fare is shown. Promotions may change the order. Scroll horizontally to see every column.
| Boat / Divezone guide | Guests / cabins | Cabin choices | Duration | 7-night fare | Nitrox | Joining airport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Humboldt ExplorerDates & prices → | 16 / 8 | Twins or queen; cabins 3–4 fixed twins | 7 or 10 nights | $6,395Jul 2026–Jun 2027 reference | $150 / 7 nights | Baltra (GPS) |
| Galapagos Aggressor IIIDates & prices → | 16 / 8 | 4 Deluxe + 4 Master; selected convertible beds | 7 nights | $7,3002026 Deluxe or Master | Extra; request package price | Baltra (GPS) |
| Tiburon ExplorerDates & prices → | 16 / 9 | 6 main-deck + 3 lower-deck cabins | 7 or 10 nights | $7,395Jul 2026–Jun 2027 reference | $150 / 7 nights | Baltra (GPS) |
| Galapagos SkyDates & prices → | 16 / 8 | Deluxe fixed twins; Master king/twins | 7 or 10 nights | $7,4952026 Deluxe; Master $7,795 | Included for certified divers | San Cristóbal (SCY) |
| Galapagos MasterDates & prices → | 16 / 8 | Classic without windows; Premium with views | 7 or selected 10 nights | $7,140Selected 2026 departures before promotions; not an annual fixed tariff | $168 / 7 nights, single tank | San Cristóbal (SCY) |
| Danubio AzulDates & prices → | 16 listed / confirm cabin plan | Single, double, twin and bunk options | Check exact dive programme | Get a dated quoteSeparate diving from naturalist fares | Available; confirm package | Baltra for listed dive route |
Sources: operator rate tables and specifications linked below; Danubio information is from the booking partner. Its listing conflicts on eight versus nine cabins, so ask for a current numbered plan. All six advertise air-conditioned accommodation with private bathrooms; confirm the actual room. Nortada and Astrea are covered separately below because online departures were not confirmed.
Which boat should you shortlist?
Start with Humboldt, then check offers
Humboldt has the lower published reference fare of the two Explorer boats: $1,000 less than Tiburon for seven nights. Compare the route and full bill. Master’s dated promotions can also change your shortlist.
Look closely at Galapagos Sky
Nitrox is included, so compare it with the fare plus Nitrox on other boats. Decide whether a Master cabin’s flexible beds and larger window are worth the upgrade.
Reserve the bed, not just the category
Sky Master, Master Premium and several Explorer cabins offer convertible layouts. Specify a double on the written confirmation. Humboldt cabins 3–4 and Sky Deluxe are fixed twins.
Compare sharing with private use
Ask about cabin matching, supplements and cancellation if a roommate is unavailable. Danubio lists single cabins; request the exact fare and diving itinerary. A nine-cabin yacht does not automatically mean dedicated solo rooms.
See the boats and check the cabin details
Humboldt Explorer
A 34 m yacht with eight cabins, a hot tub and camera preparation space. Ask for the cabin number: most beds convert to a queen, but cabins 3–4 remain twins. Compare its exact route with Tiburon rather than assuming sister boats have identical schedules.
Dates & prices →Photo: Explorer Ventures
Galapagos Aggressor III
Four Deluxe and four Master cabins give a clear two-category choice. Its current 2026 tariff lists the same fare for both. Confirm bed and window arrangements, the Nitrox price and the Thursday Baltra meeting instructions.
Dates & prices →Photo: Aggressor Adventures
Tiburon Explorer
A 38 m yacht with nine cabins for up to 16 guests, a hot tub and a generous dive deck. Main-deck cabins have large windows. Cabin 1 is listed as queen-only; confirm the numbered layout, especially where documents disagree.
Dates & prices →Photo: Explorer Ventures
Galapagos Sky
Four lower-deck Deluxe cabins have fixed twins and portholes. Four upper-deck Master cabins offer king or twin beds and picture windows. Choose around daylight and sleeping arrangement, then compare the seven- or ten-night itinerary.
Dates & prices →Photo: Galapagos Sky
Galapagos Master
Four lower-deck Classic cabins have no windows or portholes; four upper-deck Premium cabins have views. The indoor camera station is useful for photographers. Confirm the category behind a promotional fare before comparing it with another boat.
Dates & prices →Photo: Master Liveaboards
Danubio Azul
A smaller, approximately 25 m yacht with varied cabin arrangements. Check single cabins, bunks and bathroom details against the current plan. It sells both diving and naturalist programmes: your confirmation must explicitly state scuba diving and your intended sites.
Dates & prices →Photo: LiveAboard.com
Nortada and Astrea: confirm a departure first
Nortada is described by its operator as a four-cabin yacht accommodating up to 12 in triple cabins. Ask how many passengers your charter will carry and whether cabins will be sold as twins or triples. The partner showed no online availability during this check. Specialised diving support must be arranged for the actual charter.
Astrea also showed no online availability. We have not established a current departure, fare or operator programme. These are availability uncertainties, not evidence that either vessel has closed or retired. Do not book flights from a historical itinerary.
Compare the real trip budget
Use one currency, the same travel dates and the same occupancy. A promotion is only comparable once its cabin and exclusions are known. The figures below add known components only; they are not all-inclusive totals or a cheapest-boat ranking.
| Boat | Calculation | Still to check or add |
|---|---|---|
| Humboldt | $6,395 fare + $150 fuel + $200 park + $20 transit = $6,765 | Nitrox $150; chamber support and other charges |
| Tiburon | $7,395 fare + $150 fuel + $200 park + $20 transit = $7,765 | Nitrox $150; chamber support and other charges |
| Sky Deluxe | $7,495 fare + $200 park + $20 transit + $35 chamber = $7,750 | Nitrox included; confirm any further departure charges |
| Aggressor III | $7,300 fare + $200 park + $20 transit = $7,520 | Nitrox $100 for 7 nights, plus 15% VAT on onboard services; any additional operator charges |
| Master | $7,140 reference fare + $200 park + $20 transit = $7,360 | Nitrox $168; fuel policy and departure-specific charges |
Park/transit amounts are those listed in the operator travel information for standard international visitor budgeting; eligibility and fees must be checked for your traveller category. Subtotals omit international and island flights, hotels, insurance, rentals, tips and any unconfirmed taxes or surcharges. Sky’s chamber contribution supports the facility; it does not buy treatment cover.
Cabin and occupancy + park/transit fees + fuel and chamber contributions + Nitrox + equipment + transfers + flights and luggage + hotels + insurance + optional drinks, internet and gratuities. Also check deposit, final-payment date and cancellation terms.
For ten nights, published references are $8,995 on Humboldt, $9,995 on Tiburon, and $8,890 Deluxe / $9,290 Master on Sky. Check available dates and the extra diving days rather than comparing only cost per night. Explorer’s fuel and Nitrox each rise to $220 on ten-night trips.
Compare Nitrox and taxes on the same basis
Fee and requirement cross-check: 29 September 2026. These are partial planning budgets per person sharing on a 7-night trip, using the reference fares above. They exclude flights, hotels, insurance, rentals, tips and unconfirmed departure charges. They are not all-inclusive totals or live availability.
| Boat | Known subtotal with Nitrox | Still to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Humboldt Explorer | $6,915 before tax; $6,937.50 allowing 15% VAT on the $150 Nitrox package | Chamber contribution, fuel tax treatment and payment charges |
| Tiburon Explorer | $7,915 before tax; $7,937.50 allowing 15% VAT on the $150 Nitrox package | Chamber contribution, fuel tax treatment and payment charges |
| Galapagos Sky Deluxe | $7,750; Nitrox included | Any departure-specific extras |
| Galapagos Aggressor III | $7,635 including $100 Nitrox and $15 VAT on Nitrox | Other onboard services and departure-specific fees |
| Galapagos Master | $7,528 including $168 single-tank Nitrox | Fuel, any applicable taxes and other departure charges |
Explorer Ventures lists 15% VAT and a 6% bank charge for onboard purchases; obtain a written invoice showing the payment method and tax treatment. Master’s pre-trip information lists a 3% credit-card charge. These payment charges are not included above. Aggressor’s $7,300 tariff applies to 1 January 2026–5 January 2027; Explorer reference fares cover July 2026–June 2027; Sky fares are for 2026. Master’s “from” price is departure-dependent.
Sources: Explorer onboard charges, Explorer FAQ, Aggressor Nitrox, Aggressor local fees, Master extras and Sky rates and inclusions.
Diving experience: check before you pay
Strong currents, surge, cold thermoclines and tender entries can make Galapagos demanding. Logged-dive numbers alone do not demonstrate readiness. Send your certification, recent experience and equipment details to the operator for approval.
| Boat | Published guidance and what to confirm |
|---|---|
| Galapagos Master | Advanced Open Water or equivalent, Nitrox certification, at least 50 logged dives and experience in currents. |
| Tiburon Explorer | The operator FAQ’s rules require at least 60 logged dives and a dive within six months; over 100 is strongly recommended. Its separate guidance says 60–100 in varied conditions. Use the stricter rules when seeking approval. |
| Galapagos Sky | The FAQ states a 50–100-dive experience range and recent diving within six months. Confirm how this applies to you; private-guide charges may apply to underqualified or non-Nitrox-certified guests. |
| Humboldt Explorer | At least 60 logged dives and a dive within six months; over 100 dives strongly recommended. Confirm the operator’s mandatory equipment and insurance rules. |
| Aggressor III, Danubio, Nortada | Obtain the current boat-specific certification, experience and insurance requirements in writing. Do not transfer another boat’s threshold to your booking. |
Confirm dive-accident and remote-evacuation cover, computer, surface-signalling equipment, suitable thermal protection, rental sizes and Nitrox certification. If travelling with a non-diver, ask what they can actually do on your diving departure.
Choose the itinerary and season, then the flights
Plan the journey with our Galapagos travel guide and check seasonal conditions in the Galapagos diving guide. Confirm the arrival and departure airports for your exact itinerary before buying flights, especially on longer cruises.
For pricing strategies, read our budget guide, cheap liveaboard guide and luxury guide.
Count days at the northern sites
Ask how many days are allocated to Darwin and Wolf, which western or central sites are included, and how many land visits are scheduled. Seven nights aboard are not seven full diving days. Weather and park permissions can change the route.
Baltra or San Cristóbal?
Sky and the current Master programme join at San Cristóbal; the Explorer boats and Aggressor III use Baltra. Confirm your exact flight and transfer before buying tickets. Allow a mainland Ecuador overnight and follow the operator’s final-dive/flight timetable.
Season matters: roughly June–November brings cooler water and stronger currents; it is the usual period to consider for whale sharks. December–May is generally warmer with calmer conditions and better visibility. Hammerheads can be encountered year-round. These are tendencies, not promises; western sites can remain much colder.
Continue with our Galapagos diving guide, liveaboard guide, budget options and luxury options.
Questions before booking
Which Galapagos liveaboard is cheapest?
Humboldt has the lowest standard seven-night reference fare among the five boats with USD fares shown here. A dated promotion, cabin supplement or different set of extras can change that. Obtain matching quotes; Danubio needs a departure-specific diving fare.
Is it worth upgrading the cabin?
Compare bed layout, deck and daylight. Master Classic cabins have no windows; Sky Deluxe cabins have portholes and fixed twins. An upgrade makes sense if the specific difference matters to you, not because the category sounds more luxurious.
Do all Galapagos cruises include Darwin and Wolf diving?
No. Naturalist and diving itineraries are different products. Check the written route and diving inclusions, especially on a yacht that sells both. Even an advertised site may be changed because of conditions.
Can a beginner join?
Do not assume so. Offshore diving calls for relevant experience, and operators have their own entry requirements. Obtain approval before paying; consider a more suitable programme if you do not meet them.
Are Nortada and Astrea no longer operating?
No such conclusion is made here. The partner showed no online availability when checked. Nortada has an operator vessel page; current sailing dates still need confirmation. Astrea’s current programme remains unverified.
Sources & verification
Checked 28 September 2026. Recommendations reflect the stated differences, not a quality ranking. Rates, availability, fees and cabin plans can change. This comparison covers the eight Galapagos boat profiles currently listed by Divezone, not every yacht in the destination.
- Explorer Ventures: rates and booking terms, onboard charges, Humboldt layout, Tiburon layout and Tiburon FAQ.
- Galapagos Sky: rates and inclusions, cabins, FAQ.
- Aggressor III: rates, accommodation, travel sheet.
- Master Liveaboards: cabins, extras and departure calendar, destination requirements.
- Other boats: Danubio partner listing, Nortada operator specification, Nortada availability, Astrea availability.
