On board all the Ecoventura yachts, we designate certain weeks just for families traveling with children, teens and young adults, created to cater to families with similar-aged children. They are offered during the major school breaks, on the Letty and on one of the two luxury yachts, Origin or Theory, and feature age appropriate activities. Our naturalists know how to bring these Islands they love to life and to balance learning with fun for the entire family. Families with children age 6 and up can travel on any of our designated Family Departures. Please inquire at the time of booking as to which yachts have the families on board.
2020 Family departures on Ecoventura yachts
| JAN 05-12-A | FEB 16-23-A | MARCH 8-15-B | MARCH 15-22-A |
| MARCH 22-29-B | MARCH 29-05 APRIL-A | APRIL 5-12-B | APRIL 12-19-A |
| JUNE 7-14-A | JUNE 14-21-B | JUNE 21-28-A | JUNE 28-5 JULY-B |
| JULY 05-12-A | JULY 12-19-B | JULY 19-26-A | JULY 26-2 AUG-B |
| AUG 2-9-A | AUG 9-16-B | AUG 23-30-A | OCT 18-25-B |
| NOV 22-29-A | DEC 13-20-B | DEC 20-27-A | DEC 27-03 JAN-B |
Family departures are ideal for families traveling with children ages 7 to 17 – and up
Most of our family departures are multi-generational families with teenage children age 12 to 17 – and even college age. Expect longer hikes and more kayaking and snorkeling opportunities. We make every effort to assign similar ages of children together on the same yacht. At the time of booking, you can inquire to the ages of the children already confirmed.
Family departures with a cultural exchange or conservation project with local students from Galapagos
We offer a cultural exchange or scientific project with local students from Galapagos through Ecology Project International (EPI) on selected family departures. For the EPI Field activity, our guests take an active role in conservation by going into the field with EPI, and get inspired alongside their students. We meet up at the EPI camp “Reserva Parajo Brujo” where you will collect and analyze data from tortoise dung and learn seed dispersal research protocol. Trust us – it is a fun afternoon! The cultural exchange is a walking tour given by EPI’s Ecology Club students where you will learn the secrets of human history on Santa Cruz Island directly from its people. Local high school students will guide you through the highlights of their hometown while sharing stories, legends and traditions of Galapagos. Also, you can participate in community conservation efforts by using handmade nets constructed by students to keep the beaches and bays safe for marine life. The tour ends at a local ice cream shop with photo opportunities.
Family- College Departures
We do sometimes designate a few departures on one of the yachts for families traveling with College age 18-25 children; please inquire for departure dates.
Activities on board family departures for children and teenagers
Activities may vary depending on the itinerary (A or B), the ages and involvement level and weather conditions. Kids can visit the bridge and learn about navigational charts and tie nautical knots with our Captain. Our chefs will organize an ice cream social, pizza making, cake decoration or chocolate fondue activities with the kids. Our guides offer games with prizes, drawing contests or talent shows. On itinerary B, we celebrate crossing the equator with a King Neptune costume party. On itinerary A, we have a pirate themed party on board. We also have board games, books and DVDs on board that are suitable for children and teenagers. There are masks, fins, wet suits and life vests in child sizes available. A separate briefing geared toward the younger ones and kid-friendly menus with earlier dinner time are offered on family departures (in addition to the regular menu for adults).
Terms & Conditions for Child/teen discounts:
Children age 11 years and younger at the time of sailing are entitled to a 25% discount off the cruise rate %50 park fee and and 30% discount off the airfare with photocopy of the child’s passport showing date of birth.
Children ages 12-17 years are entitled to a 15% discount off the cruise rate only.
Child discounts are applied to cabins on the iguana deck unless not otherwise available. No child discounts are permitted on “Holiday departures” (Christmas & New Year).
Age restrictions: Children age 5 and under are only permitted on an exclusive charter basis when parents or legal guardians sign a waiver. It is highly recommended that children age 11 and younger confirm only on a designated family departure.
Other conditions: We allow only one child discount to be given per every adult fare paid. And, Ecoventura may limit the number of child discounts permitted on any one departure. Children under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult over age 21. Children under 12 cannot be confirmed on Booby deck cabins or occupy a cabin by themselves as a single. Families who want to be on the same deck as their children need to book both cabins on the dolphin deck. On Family departures, iguana deck cabins are used to confirm children and triples only, not adults, unless dolphin and booby are sold out. When children are accommodated in a triple cabin, the discount is calculated from the double iguana deck rate.
