andBeyond has extended its South American portfolio with the launch of its expedition yacht in the Galapagos Islands. Named the &Beyond Galapagos Explorer, the 38 metre yacht operates entered service in mid-June 2024 on two 7-night routes in the east and west of the famed Galapagos Islands.
As first flagged by LATTE in early February, andBeyond has invested in a six suite and cabin yacht, which caters for a maximum of 12 guests. On board each departure are two expert guides.
Joss Kent, &Beyond Executive Chairman & CEO, said “A uniquely biodiverse environment with the highest number of endemic species in the world, the Galapagos is a natural choice for the further expansion of our portfolio in South America.”
Subscribe to LATTE Cruise’s free eNewsletter to keep up to date with everything in the luxury cruise space.“We are absolutely thrilled to finally bring our brand of responsible tourism to this precious part of the world, which the Ecuadorian government has protected from over-tourism by strictly limiting the number of operating licences issued.”
“We have long believed that the best way to encourage our guests to help protect the world’s wild places is for our skilled guides to help travellers not only fall in love with those places, but also to gain an understanding of the threats that they are facing.
“This is what we are aiming to do with our luxury yacht, where two knowledgeable guides will host just twelve guests, showcasing the wonder and mystery of this exceptional destination.”
With only 12 guests on board, the elevated guest-to-staff ratio makes the Galapagos Explorer the most exclusive yacht operating in the islands. In addition to the highest level of guiding, the vessel also offers beautifully appointed spacious indoor and outdoor guest areas, as well as four exquisite cabins and two luxury suites.
Operating on two different 7-night itineraries, the &Beyond Galapagos Explorer offers the choice of discovering the east or the west of the main cluster of islands, while including the highlights of the destination in both. Highlights of the eastern itinerary include the magnificent formation of Kicker Rock, located just off San Cristóbal Island, as well as sightings of the critically endangered waved albatross in Gardner Bay on Española Island. The western Itinerary features highlights that include exploring the geographical centre of the Galapagos Islands, Sombrero Chino Island as well as close encounters with the rare Santa Fe land iguana on Santa Fe Island.
Both itineraries present plenty of opportunities for land and sea adventures such as snorkelling, hiking and birdwatching, as well as a plethora of unique and interesting land, air and marine species. Rates for both itineraries begin from US$10,950 per person sharing, per 7-night cruise.
Sustainability has played a large part in the extensive refurbishment of the yacht, which included a complete overhaul of the engines and generators to ensure a more fuel-efficient operation and a lower carbon footprint.
“While some advanced sustainability elements, such as certain solar and electric technologies, are not yet readily available in this environment, we are closely monitoring development in these areas,” added Kent. “As new solutions become available, we continue to evaluate their operational viability in a remote destination like the Galapagos, which has limited service capabilities. Once these technologies become operationally viable, we plan to implement them.”
andBeyond also plans to extend its Oceans Without Borders (OWB) initiative into the area. The OWB team in Africa is actively exploring opportunities for the support and implementation of key projects n the Galapagos, similar to their ocean conservation activities in Africa, and are currently in the assessment and needs-analysis stage of the process.
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