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Sep 8 - 15, 2025

Humboldt Explorer Galapagos

Up to 4 dives per day; 18-19 dives total.

Overview
FAQ

Bucket List! Biomass & biodiversity.

15 dives on Wolf & Darwin

Schools of hammerheads, Galapagos sharks, silky sharks, mobula rays, and jacks. A chance to see Mola Mola. Four of the six days of diving will be on Wolf & Darwin Islands (15 dives).

The water is cool, 54°F-74°F. The Humboldt Current is at its maximum force, bringing an upwelling of nutrients from the cold depths attracting the large pelagic species. This is your best opportunity to dive with whale sharks in Darwin and Wolf (not just snorkle!). In these months, the water is cooler, visibility is lower, currents can be stronger and the seas can be rough at times. We will be diving in a protected and healthy marine environment with an abundance of rare species. Popular species include the scalloped hammerheads, large schools of fish, eagle rays, stingrays, penguins, orcas, dolphins, turtles, sea lions, butterflyfish, tuna, and pufferfish among many others.

There are 8 double cabins for 16 passengers, all well-appointed with air-conditioning, private bathrooms, showers, closet, ocean views, and even a flat screen TV. Rooms can be configured with two twin beds or one large bed.

The air-conditioned salon on the main deck includes dining tables, bar, TV, CD/DVD, video library and lounge area. A partially covered sundeck with jacuzzi and ample seating areas is located on the top level.

Days aboard the Humboldt Explorer generally involve a 6:30am dive followed by breakfast, a dive at 10:30am, lunch at 12:00pm, and afternoon dives at 2:00 pm and 4:30pm (On days with long transits between islands, the number of dives will be reduced to 2-3 dives - see itinerary on the FAQ page). Dinner is served at approximately 7:00 pm.

Trip Includes

7 Nights / 8 days
Up to 4 dives/day
All meals and snacks (except dinner on the last night which will be in town), beverages, sodas, local beer and wine 3 meals / day + snacks (except Sunday evening)
Local alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages
Tanks, airfills, weights, and weight belts

Trip Excludes

Airfare to Baltra Ecuador (GPS), tips, gear, nitrox ($150 for the week)
Trip cancellation and dive insurance
Galapagos National Park Tax USD $200 pp (cash only)
Ingala Tourist card USD $20 pp (cash only - but you should get online before the trip)
Hyperbaric chamber fee USD $35 pp
Fuel Tax $150
Taxes and fees paid onboard the yacht are subject to change without notice.

Terms

$1200 initial deposit
$1200 due May 31, 2023
$1200 due January 10, 2024
$1200 due January 10, 2025
Balance due June 7, 2025
Non-refunable (hardship requests are considered if spot is booked by another person paying full price)

Info Aug 31, 2025 update

Gloves & Currents

Gloves are required underwater because you’ll often hold onto sharp barnacles and rocks
Dive gloves are best, but work gloves can also be used.
Gloves are not available for rent.
Currents are expected to be 1–5 knots.

Water Temperature & Exposure Suits

June–Nov: Most divers are comfortable with a 7mm wetsuit + hooded vest + gloves. (According to the Dive Op.)
Wolf & Darwin Islands (most dives): 72–75°F (22–24°C).
- Comparable to Socorro, Apr ’23: I was fine in a 5mm, but Jason was too cold in 5mm + vest + drysuit hood, and skipped a couple dives.
First & last days (Baltra North, Cousin’s Rock): 63–68°F (17–20°C).
- Comparable to Channel Islands, May ’19, where most wore drysuits with light undergarments.

Safety in Transfer Cities

Guayaquil (GYE): Not safe to walk, even short distances. Always use a shuttle or pre-arranged transport. Take a shuttle to your hotel even if it is a block away.
Quito (UIO): Safer, especially in tourist areas during the day.
Puerto Ayora: Considered safe.

Lost Luggage Tips

If luggage is lost, get a local contact name & phone number before leaving the airport (not just a 1-800 number).
With that, Jennifer (at Humboldt) can assist.
Instruct the airline: deliver to Humboldt Explorer, Baltra Airport (GPS) — must arrive on or before Sept 8.
Don’t have bags forwarded to a hotel.

Money & Payments

Onboard charges settled Sunday morning (cash, Visa, or MasterCard).
No AmEx, travelers checks, or personal checks.
Credit card payments incur 6% fee (avoid with cash).
ATMs available in Quito, Guayaquil, and Puerto Ayora.
Tips: Cash only
$50 and $100 bills are NOT accepted widely in Ecuador - so bring small bills for purchases e.g., in Puerto Ayora
US Dollars larger than $20 are preferred onboard.
Mandatory fees:
- $200 pp Galápagos park fee (cash, at airport)
- $150 pp fuel surcharge (cash, Visa, or MC, paid onboard)

TCT Entry Form

Filling out the TCT can be slow and frustrating — don’t wait until the last minute.
“Reload” button at the end may not work; check for email confirmation titled “Galapagos - TCT received” (one per traveler).
If you’re only in Galápagos 1–2 days before boarding, you can list Yate Humboldt only and not a separate a hotel.

Things to Do in Puerto Ayora

Tortuga Bay:
- Best chance to see swimming iguanas.
- Allow ~3 hours; bring water & hat. ~1.5 mile walk from trailhead, mostly flat paved path. You may see warblers, Darwin finches. Galapagos mockingbirds and red-throated lava lizards.
- The trailhead is at the end of Chrles Binford Ave, near Hotel Fiesta and Galapagos Cottages
- Another Option: $10 water taxi (20 min).
- Beaches: Brava (no swimming, strong current); 20-min walk to Mansa (calm, swimmable).
Darwin Center (Charles Darwin Research Station Darwin Center):
- Worth a visit; requires guide ($10).
- Allow ~1.5 hrs.
The Pier at Night (after ~6pm):
- Spot baby sharks.
- Also seen from Angermeyer Waterfront Inn.
Great local restaurants (Jennifer says: best tuna ever).

Info Aug 20, 2025 update

Required Forms (to be completed before travel)

1. Customs Registration (FRA Formulario de Registro Aduanero)

Complete online up to 3 days before travel.
Present the generated QR code upon arrival and/or departure.
Form link: FRA Registration

2. TCT (Transit Control Card) Preregistration

Register at least 1 day before travel.
Print or download your TCT card.
Website: TCT Preregistration
When registering, select Estados Unidos = United States.
We are staying on Santa Cruz Island before boarding.
Humboldt Explorer is listed as Yate Humboldt near the bottom of the list. The list is not alphabetical.
Tip: Enter your last hotel night as your final date at the hotel to avoid system errors.

3. Health/Travel Declaration

Complete at least 48 hours before your flight.
Form link: Travel Declaration

(More details on entry procedures in document that was sent August 20, 2025)

Transfer: Airport → Hotel (Santa Cruz)

The operator confirmed this is simple and does not require paid assistance.

1. Pay $200 USD Galápagos National Park fee (cash only).
2. Collect baggage.
3. Buy a Lobito bus ticket ($5 pp) and ride ~10 minutes to the canal.
4. Take the ferry across the canal ($1 pp; Lobito staff will load bags). (~10 minutes)
5. From the ferry dock, take a white pickup truck taxi to Puerto Ayora. (There will be many waiting.)
  - ~$30 per taxi (up to 4 passengers + luggage)
  - ~35 minutes to town/hotel

Transfer: Hotel → Humboldt (Dive Boat)

- Pickup: September 8, between 11:30–11:45 AM
- Cost: ~ $7.50 pp (paid directly to the drivers) assuming 4 people per taxi
- Vehicles: Double-cabin pickup taxis ($30 per taxi, seats 4 with luggage).
- Duration: ~35 minutes to the pier.
- Guests at Angermeyer Waterfront Inn: Please take a water taxi to the pier and meet on the street side at the end of the pier.

Diving

Dives/day: Up to 18-19 dives per trip. Up to 4 dives per day.

Nitrox: Unlimited Nitrox is $150 per week.

Expected water temp: Galapagos is a cold-water destination. Regular temperatures in Darwin and Wolf are 12-14 C (70-74°F) but can be warmer in the early months of the year. Thermoclines can dip to 13C (54° F) in the Western Islands of Punta Vincente Roca and Cabo Douglas, which stay cooler year-round.

Expected viz: We are going when the vis is a lower because the nutrients bring the biomass.

Tanks, weights: tanks, weight belts, and weights are provided.

Other gear: Available for rent

Dive guides:

All dives are guided by an instructor/naturalist guide and due to Galapagos National Park regulations all divers mustdive with the guide at all times.

Expected diving:

Diving operations are conducted from two large pangas (tenders), easily boarded from the dive deck.
Dives are very often at an advanced level. Currents can be very strong and often divers are required to swim against them.
Decompression and solo diving are not allowed under any conditions. The maximum allowed depth is 130’ (110’ on nitrox).
All divers must also carry a DiveAlert, a surface signaling device, and an electronic beacon while diving (all availableon board).
Due to a combination of staff and equipment logistics, insurance requirements and local diving regulations, neither rebreathers nor diver propulsion vehicles (DPVs) may be used

Nearest hyperbaric chamber: ?

Yacht

Style/Comfort: Nice.

The air-conditioned salon on the main deck includes dining tables, TV, CD/DVD, video library and lounge area. A partially covered sundeck with Jacuzzi and ample seating areas is located on the top level.

Alcohol: Local alcohol included. Premium alcohol is not.

Food:

Aboard the Humboldt Explorer, lunch and evening meals usually consist of salad, potatoes, rice, chicken, beef, pork, and fish. Breakfast is the usual fare of eggs, cereal, toast and fresh fruit. If you have any dietary restrictions or requests, please indicate so on your application form. Please note that specific brands of soft drinks, dressings and foods are often unavailable in the islands, and it can be very difficult for us to find low-fat or soy products and other items common elsewhere. While we will doour best to accommodate your requests, please be realistic and consider bringing some of your own items if the lack thereof may constitute a health risk or seriously compromise the enjoyment of your holiday.

Linens & towels: Provided of course; this is not camping!

External Communication:

The Humboldt Explorer is equipped with a wireless signal that will allow communication via WhatsApp. Cell phone service is available when in proximity to Santa Cruz Island if your phone is so equipped. The vessel’s location does determine the reliability of access to these services. A satellite phone is available for emergency use.

Elecricity: In Ecuador, the electrical outlets are the same as the US, with the same voltage and frequency (types A and B; the standard voltage is 120 V at a frequency of 60 Hz). All plugs onboard are standard US 2 or 3 prong plugs 110V.

Room Ammenities:

Air-conditioned rooms, all of which have private bath and shower facilities.
Most rooms can have either 2 twin beds or one large bed.
All cabins have flat screen televisions and windows to maximize the view of the Pacific Ocean and Galapagos Archipelago. Cabins are located on the main and lower decks.

Logistics

Airport: GPS Baltra

Flights: NOT INCLUDED.

Getting here,

Transfers between airport (Baltra/GPS) and vessel for same day arrivals & departures are included.
Flight times, prices and the Galapagos airport of arrival are all subject to change with little or no notification, and flights often run late. We strongly encourage our guests to plan on arriving at least one and preferably two days prior to your flight to the Galapagos Islands, to ensure that your luggage is with you or to make up for any travel delays.
They state that a"If you are arriving early and staying on Santa Cruz Island or arriving from another island, please meet the Humboldt Explorer representative at the airport arrivals area at 11:30am. Departure from the Baltra airport to Humboldt Explorer is at 12:30 pm." However, if you make your way to Puerto Aroyo early, (1 hr from the airport via bus, ferry, then taxi/bus), the Operations Department will send a taxi the next day (September 8-2025) at 11:30 am (Galapagos time) to each Hotel to pick up them and take them to the yacht for ~USD25.
The vessel will leave port on Monday at approximately 2:00pm. Retrieving lost luggage after the vessel departs on charter is impossible. It can be retrieved when the vessel returns to port at the end of the charter.
There is a checked luggage limit of one bag up to 50 pounds (23 kilos) for flights between Quito and/or Guayaquil and the Galapagos. An additional fee of up to $50* will be charged for the second bag or overweight luggage. In addition, passengers are allowed a carry-on bag weighing no more than 17.6 pounds (8 kilos) and a personal item. All additional luggage fees must be paid in cash at flight time. (*Prices could change at any time.)
You will likely fly into GYE, Guayaquil Ecuador (e.g., on American Airlines for ~ $450-$700), then take a nonstop 2 hr flight on a local airlines for ~$200.

Last eveing:

The vessel arrives at its final destination port on Monday morning. The Sunday evening meal is on the island and is not included in the price of the trip. Transportation is organized and included for transfer to the airport. The departure tax fromQuito and Guayaquil is now included in international flight prices.

Departure:

We also recommend that guests plan on an extra night in Quito or Guayaquil before departing Ecuador. The earliest time a guest can reliably expect to connect to another flight is 5 pm on the last day of the trip from Guayaquil or 7 pm from Quito. Ticket holders are required to check-in a minimum of three hours prior to flight time for all international departures, even when connecting from an Avianca or Latam flight. If you are booking your own domestic flights, the Humboldt Explorer departs from Baltra (GPS), not San Cristobal (SCY). Passengers flying into San Cristobal must arrange their own transportation to Baltra.

Flights:

Itinerary:

Monday:
- Arrival in Balta Airport
- Guests fly to the Galapagos Islands from Mainland Ecuador, arriving in the late morning. The dive guides will meet the guests at the airport and escort them to the Humboldt Explorer. Guests will board the vessel after 1:00pm, have lunch, organize equipment and listen to the safety briefings.
Tuesday:
- Baltra North - 2 check-out dives
  - Equipment check, 7:00 and 10:00 dives Sightings include rays and schools of fish.
- North Seymore (land visit)
  - Afternoon North Seymour land visit. Walk the path around North Seymour. to see the large colonies of Blue Footed Boobies and Frigate Birds. Sighting of Sea Lions and Marine Iguanas are also common. Depart for Northern Islands. (16+ hour transit)
Wednesday
- Wolf Island (4 dives)
  - 6:30, 10:30, 2:00 and 4:30 dives. (4 dives). Possible night dive. Sightings often include hammerheads, whale sharks, eagle rays, sea lions, Galapagos sharks and silky sharks. Night anchor at Wolf Island.
Thursday
- Wolf Island (2 dives)
- Darwin Island (2 dives)
  - Wolf 6:30 and 9:30 dives (2 dives) Transit to Darwin Island 2:00 and 4:30 dives (2 dives) Sightings often include hammerheads, red-lipped batfish, eagle rays, sea lions, Galapagos sharks and silky sharks.
Friday
- Darwin Island (4 dives)
  - 6:30, 10:30, 2:00 and 4:30 dives (4 dives) Sightings often include hammerheads, whale sharks (in season) eagle rays, Galapagos sharks and silky sharks. Transit to Wolf Island.
Saturday
- Wolf Island (3 dives)
  - 6:30, 9:00 and 11:00 dives (3 dives) Sightings often include hammerheads, whale sharks (in season), eagle rays, Galapagos sharks and silky sharks. Long transit to Cousin’s Rock (20+ hours).
Sunday
- Cousin's Rock (1-2 dives)
- Santa Cruz (highlands)
  - 6:30 and 9:30 dives (number of dives dependent on travel time from Wolf Island) This is a great macro diving with an excellent chance of seeing sea horses, sea lions and eagle rays.
  - Lunch will be served while transiting to Santa Cruz (3 hours). Travel by bus to the Santa Cruz Highlands to visit the giant tortoises in their natural habitat. Visit the town of Puerto Ayora and the Darwin Centre on your own. Dinner on your own in Puerto Ayora. Return to the Humboldt Explorer at 8:30pm.
Monday
- Baltra
  - Depart the vessel by 9:00 am. Transfer to the Airport. Flight to Mainland.

Money

The U.S. dollar is the official currency of Ecuador. Most major credit cards are accepted widely when shopping ashore, however, additional fees are charged in Ecuador for their use.

Travel insurance:

The guest or their insurance must shoulder the costs of cancellations, losses and disruptions caused by reasons outside of the Dive Operator’s control or responsibility. This includes but is not limited to: inclement weather, health problems, family emergencies, lost luggage, cancelled or postponed flights (including those we book for them) and any other unforeseen reasons that can change travel plans and/or cause financial losses. This is available several places, including DAN, Dive Assure, and www.csatravelpro.com.

Dive insurance: Required. All divers must present proof of dive accident insurance per Galapagos National Park regulations.

Airfare: Not included

Other fees:

Unlimited Nitrox $150/week
Airfare, tips, gear
Trip cancellation and dive insurance
Galapagos National Park Tax USD $200 pp (cash only)
Ingala Tourist card USD $20 pp (cash only)
Hyperbaric chamber fee USD $35 pp
Fuel Tax $150
Taxes and fees paid onboard the yacht are subject to change without notice.

How settle bill for on board expenses:

Though all meals, most beverages, transportation within the Galapagos, and much more is included in your trip payment, thereare additional items, which you may charge to your on-board bill. These include retail items (shirts, etc.), scuba instruction, rentals, nitrox, premium alcoholic beverages, incoming and outgoing telephone calls, and crew gratuities.
Bills will be settled onboard on Sunday morning. Accumulated charges may be paid using cash, Visa, or MasterCard. American Express, travelers checks and personal checks are not accepted on board, and we are unable to advance cash on credit card charges. (Travelers checks are not accepted in Ecuador nor can they easily be changed into cash.) Credit cards are subject to the 12% VAT plus 5% in bank fees. These charges can be avoided by using cash for onboard charges. ATM machines are available in Quito, Guayaquil, Puerto Ayora and San Cristobal.

Tipping:

Crew gratuities are not included in your package. The crew works very hard, 7 days a week and many weeks at a stretch to provide the best possible service for our guests. The industry standard for crew gratuities on dive trips is between 10% and 15% of the regular package price per passenger (if, of course, you are happy with the service which you have received). Your generosity is greatly appreciated!

Before you go

Bring: Cert cards (including Nitrox)!

Forms: Personal information form

Passport: Please ensure your passport is valid at least six months after your return date to the US.

Miscellaneous

Caveat: The dives are subject to the current and weather conditions that day, and can be changed at the Captain’s discretion.

7N Galapagos Humboldt Explorer Sept 8-15, 2025

Sep 8 - 15, 2025

Humboldt Explorer Galapagos

Up to 4 dives per day; 18-19 dives total.

Transfer: Airport → Hotel (Santa Cruz)

Transfer: Hotel → Humboldt (Dive Boat)