Maybe quietly turning 55 amidst a group of strangers isn’t everyone’s idea of a fun birthday celebration, but it worked perfectly for me. Every year I try to take a solo trip to push myself out of my comfort zone and remind myself of my own strength and resiliency. After spending a year moving past my bout with breast cancer, doing something for myself on my birthday felt deserved.
Whether you are celebrating a birthday or just want to fulfill a bucket list item, let me tell you why a Galapagos cruise can be an ideal solo trip. And if this helps inspire you to book a trip to the Galapagos, I’d love to help you find the perfect match!
Sailing the Galapagos on the Galaxy Yacht
I spent five nights on board the Galaxy Yacht, one of eight ships operated by Galaxy Expeditions. (Note: My stay was hosted by Galaxy Expeditions, all opinions are my own.) The Galaxy Yacht is an eight cabin vessel with a maximum of 16 passengers and eight crew members.
When choosing a Galapagos cruise for a solo trip, size matters and in my opinion, the smaller the better. According to Galapagos regulations, there can only be 16 passengers per each naturalist tour guide. With a ship of just 16 passengers, you can rest assured that you will get to know your group well because you will be eating and exploring together. You also don’t need to “wait your turn” to go ashore or be in a crowded area.
Like most Galapagos cruises, sailing on the Galaxy included all guided excursions and meals. Meals were served either buffet style or plated around a large dining table. This means everyone eats together for each meal, leaving plenty of time for conversation and getting to know your fellow passengers.
I sailed on Itinerary C, which started in Baltra and included visits to North Seymour, Bartolome, Santiago (Sullivan Bay), Genovesa (Darwin Bay and El Barranco), South Plazas, Santa Fe, and San Cristobal Islands.
Each day was packed with activities, typically starting with an early morning hike, followed by breakfast and then snorkeling. After some downtime it was time for lunch and perhaps a sail to a new destination. Once lunch was digested, it was time for another snorkel excursion or perhaps paddle boarding or kayaking.
In the late afternoon, we finished the day with another hike, leaving just enough time before dinner for a quick shower. Post dinner, most people hung out in the lounge or up on deck, but I was often so tired that I relaxed in my stateroom before going to sleep.
There were plenty of opportunities for socializing, but also space for introverts such as myself to decompress and relax as well.
What it is Like to Take a Solo Galapagos Cruise?
Before embarking on my journey, some common questions were running through my head that I’m sure you are thinking about too, so I’ll do my best to answer them based on my experience on board the Galaxy Yacht.
Would I be the only solo traveler?
With only eight cabins, it wouldn’t have surprised me if I was surrounded by couples or families, but on my cruise there was a nice mix of travelers. There were two of us that were traveling solo (both women), one newlywed couple from the U.S., an American mother-daughter duo, a couple from the Canary Islands that spoke mostly Spanish, a couple from Germany who were on their second cruise back-to-back, and four French-speaking passengers traveling together.
Group tours and small ship cruises are increasingly popular with solo female travelers. According to tourism market research firm Future Partners, 40 percent of female travelers were interested in solo trips in 2025, and this trend keeps growing. Travel company Road Scholar, which serves about 90,000 travelers annually and gears its tours to people over 50, said only about 20%-30% of its clients travel alone, but that subset is overwhelmingly 85% women.
So can you guarantee you won’t be the only solo female traveler on your cruise? No, but chances are you won’t be. And if you are really worried about it, talk to your travel advisor, tour operator, or cruise company to ask if there are often other solo travelers on board.
Would people be friendly?
There is something about adventure that brings people together. I learned during our trek in Peru that this type of trip tends to attract people that are open, friendly, and not pretentious. The same was true of our group on the Galapagos cruise. Granted, there were some language barriers but for the most part, people were very kind and considerate, conversation flowed easily, and fellow passengers looked out for each other. In fact, one morning when I was a few minutes late for breakfast, they were ready to come check on me to make sure I was ok. Never did I feel excluded or uncomfortable about traveling alone.
Sometimes you need to make an effort, initiate conversation, offer to take photos, or ask questions but that effort will be rewarded.
Would five days be too long or not long enough?
Being stuck on a small ship with people you hate for five days could feel like an eternity but that isn’t likely to happen. As it is, five days is the perfect length of time to experience the various landscapes of the Galapagos Islands and see a wide variety of wildlife without it feeling too repetitive. By the end of the trip, everyone is ready to move on (or slow down at least) but anything shorter may have felt like not enough time. This type of trip keeps you too busy to worry about social dynamics. If you are feeling shy, just stick close to the naturalist guide who leads the excursions and the conversation.
Could I handle the excursions without a “buddy”?
I am not a great swimmer and to be honest, snorkeling in open water makes me nervous. That and I’m terrified of sharks and scary sea creatures. The thought of snorkeling every day (sometimes twice a day), definitely had me concerned. It is one thing when I have my husband to swim alongside of me and hold my hand, but being alone is another story.
Luckily, I was honest with our naturalist guide and he made sure to look out for me. The crew provided me with a floatation device each time (plus the supplied wet suit offered additional buoyancy). Someone was always in a zodiac boat watching over the group to make sure everyone was ok (safety first!). During one of our excursions, our guide grabbed my hand and pulled me along to make sure I could keep up with the group and see the sea turtles.
Hiking was easy because I’m so used to solo hiking and I tend to charge ahead of the group anyway. But on all of our hikes, I found myself either hanging out near the naturalist to hear what he had to say about the animals and ecology, or drifting in between groups. Being alone was never a problem or a safety concern because the group needed to stay mostly together anyway.
The only tricky bit was paddle boarding or kayaking, since the kayaks were tandem, not singles. Luckily the other solo traveler also wanted to kayak and we paired up.
Could I navigate any travel challenges or language barriers on my own?
I didn’t need to worry about any travel logistics because Galaxy Expeditions made it easy. I was met at the Quito airport by a company representative, who walked me through the steps required before boarding a flight to the Galapagos (purchasing a tourist card, getting my luggage inspected and tagged). After landing in the Galapagos and paying the entrance fee, it was easy to find the Galaxy group by the baggage carousel. From that point until returning to the airport upon departure, everything was taken care of for us.
The naturalist guide, who is the main contact throughout the trip, presents everything in both English and Spanish. Most of the crew that we interacted with also spoke a bit of English (although knowing a little Spanish helped too.) At least half of the passengers on my cruise spoke English. For those that didn’t, smiles, body language, and a smattering of words in French or Spanish went a long way.
Tips for Taking a Solo Galapagos Cruise
- Choose a small ship where you will have a consistent group of travelers that you dine and explore with. I’d recommend a ship with no more than 16 passengers because the maximum number of guests per naturalist guide is 16. This will ensure you are always with the same group and make it easier to make connections
- Look for promotions or last-minute sailings where they will waive the single supplement fee
- Be open to making new friends, but also be ok with your own company
- Bring along some reading material, digital downloads, or something to stay occupied during downtime but don’t worry because you will be pretty busy for most of the trip
- Volunteer to take photos for your fellow passengers and don’t be scared to ask them to do the same for you to come home with more than memories
What questions do you have about taking a solo trip to the Galapagos?
Watch the Podcast Episode
Want to hear more about my trip and the Galaxy Yacht? Watch the podcast episode about my trip to the Galapagos.
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Tamara Gruber is an award-winning travel writer and the founder of Your Time to Fly. With more than a decade of professional writing experience across two travel publications and hundreds of destination guides, she specializes in crafting practical, detailed itineraries that help travelers explore the world with confidence. Her work reflects years of on-the-ground research across the globe. Tamara is a member of SATW and serves on the Board of Directors of the Family Travel Association.
