When Aqua Mare first thrust its bows into the ocean currents around the Galápagos in 2022, it immediately set a new standard in Galápagos cruising. More akin to a superyacht than any other vessel currently operating in the islands, its sleek lines, seven sumptuous cabins and Michelin-quality cuisine cater to affluent explorers used to staying at places like Miavana or The Brando, who might not otherwise come to the Galapagos for lack of the right ship.
What you notice first as you step aboard is the finishing. Exquisite walnut veneers, lush carpeting and antique prints of flora and fauna, all selected by interior designer Francois Zuretti. For what is ostensibly a small ship, the space is palpable. Cabins are significantly larger than other equivalent-sized vessels, with the Owner’s Suite not far short of 900 square feet.
"If you want to be blown away by fearless wildlife, while moreover enjoying the kind of uncompromising luxury and service you’d expect from a world-leading resort, there simply isn’t another yacht in the Galápagos that comes close."
There is a beach club, an elegant panoramic lounge and bar, a jacuzzi, a wonderful library, and both indoor and outdoor dining spaces out on deck for alfresco dining in the balmy Galápagos evenings. Food on board is simply world-class, with menus curated by renowned Peruvian chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino featuring anything from seared ribeye with chimichurri sauce to lobster lettuce wraps with a ceviche dressing. And there’s a suite of top-of-the-line tenders, paddle boards, snorkelling gear and double canoes for exploring. The meticulous attention to detail carries over into the ship’s sustainability credentials, too. Fuel efficiencies, ethical sourcing of materials and ingredients, environmentally friendly products and innovative waste management practices all far exceed minimum requirements.
A crew of 16 means there’s a one-to-one ratio with guests, and includes two naturalist guides who lead excursions in groups of eight. Days soon take on a comforting pattern: two morning activities after breakfast–snorkelling, kayaking, an island walk perhaps–before a long and lavish lunch on the aft deck. Then, afternoon excursions, sundowners, a daily debrief and dinner. If you charter the Aqua Mare, then scuba diving is also possible. You could even choose to sleep beneath the stars on one of the supremely comfortable day beds on the top deck.
Itineraries focus on either the archipelago’s eastern islands or its western group, and being a small ship affords access to smaller coves and beaches not accessible to larger vessels. Both itineraries have their subtle differences. The eastern cruise visits Genovesa with its red-footed boobies, while a visit to Darwin Bay allows you to snorkel with hammerhead sharks. The western cruise is better for penguins, flightless cormorants and, in season, the remarkable courtship dances of the blue-footed boobies.
No matter which itinerary you choose, you’ll encounter sea lions tumbling and cartwheeling around you as you snorkel, magnificent frigate birds with their vermillion throat pouches, giant tortoises lumbering through dry forests, manta rays leaping out of the ocean, great colonies of marine iguanas sunning themselves on the rocks and green sea turtles in their dozens, seemingly oblivious to your presence. If you want to be blown away by fearless wildlife, while moreover enjoying the kind of uncompromising luxury and service you’d expect from a world-leading resort, there simply isn’t another yacht in the Galápagos that comes close.
