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If you’re taking a trip for two to the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador, it makes sense to book a cabin on a ship you’ll share with former strangers. But what if you are planning a multi-generational family trip, a business incentive trip, or a small company outing to celebrate your success? Then it could make sense to charter a luxury yacht so you can take over the whole vessel.
Many companies that run regularly scheduled small ship cruises in the region also do some kind of Galapagos yacht charter. Andando Tours of Ecuador, for instance, books groups on the M/Y Passion to go wildlife exploring above and below the water.
The Passion was a luxury yacht that was originally built for an Italian family. Federico Angermeyer–or “Fiddi”–is the CEO of Andando Tours, someone I interviewed when I visited Ecuador the first time and explored on one of his converted sailing ships. His idea was to refurbish this yacht without losing that family yacht touch so the passengers could feel like they are in a home away from home. It features ample spaces and different social areas on each deck so everyone can have fun, specially the families. On this small ship the kids have plenty of space during the trip.
Every detail has been taken care of to provide a luxurious and attentive stay. The crew-to-guest ratio on these charter ships is 1-to1 or better, including an experienced private nature guide well-versed in the unique wildlife on the islands, as well as a professional chef that can accommodate special dietary needs for your family or group.
This ship holds a maximum of 14 passengers in 7 cabins. You may have to work on the hierarchy ahead of time though to see who gets the Master Suite with this special marble bathroom:
Or this VIP suite with a king bed and lots of extra space:
There are multiple social areas on this yacht inside and out, including a sun deck with whirlpool, and indoor dining room, and an outdoor dining area.
To see the islands properly and get a good variety of sightings, the best itinerary bets are the 8-day/7-night eastern or western voyages. For those with limited time, however, there is a 4-day or 5-day option that takes in the closest islands to the airports.
One of the benefits of a private ship yacht charter is that you can customize some aspects to suit your needs. You can request nanny on board, private masseuse, another guide, a photographer, or a special variety of wine or drink that you wish to have on board. Andando has decades of experience running trips in this special ecological zone of Ecuador, so they can personalize the experience so the families or groups can feel comfortable and fulfilled on this bucket list journey.
Source: luxurylatinamerica.com