The expedition

Ten days in the place that
inspired Darwin

The Galápagos sit a thousand kilometers off the coast of Ecuador, where three ocean currents meet. That is what fills the water with life: schooling hammerheads, Galápagos sharks, sea lions, molas, marine iguanas and, with luck, orcas and whale sharks. The expedition starts in Quito, with two nights in the Andes and a private city tour, then moves to seven nights aboard the Tiburon Explorer liveaboard, full board, out to the remote islands of Darwin and Wolf.

10
Days of travel
June 28 to July 7, 2029, Quito to Quito.

7
Nights aboard
Seven nights on the Tiburon Explorer on a full-board basis, with the whole dive operation run from the boat.

17-18
Dives
Approximately 17 to 18 dives over the trip, tanks and weights included.

2
Nights in Quito
At the Mercure Alameda Quito, with breakfast and a private city tour of the historic center.

3
Days at Darwin and Wolf
The two islands in the far north, where hammerheads gather in schools, with up to four dives a day.

DFF
Dive For Fun
Dive For Fun staff with you from start to finish, plus international travel insurance with USD 60,000 of coverage included.

Your home on the ocean

Tiburon Explorer

Built in 2020, the Tiburon Explorer carries 16 divers in 9 air-conditioned staterooms, all with a private bathroom and ocean views. It has a partially covered sun deck with a hot tub, a salon with dining room, bar and lounge, and a large dive deck with a camera table, charging station and rinse tanks. Dives run from two rigid-hull tenders. Nitrox 32% is produced on board and charged separately.

✦7 nights aboard, full board

✦16 divers in 9 staterooms, all with a private bathroom

✦Dives from two rigid-hull tenders

✦Dive deck with camera table, chargers and rinse tanks

✦Sun deck with hot tub, bar and lounge

✦Satellite Wi-Fi and Green Fins environmental certification

Day by day

The itinerary, start to finish

Ten days between Quito and the islands. The boat follows the operator's sample route: the islands are the same, but the order is set by the Galápagos National Park each week, and the daily dive schedule depends on sea and current conditions.

Jun 28 · Thursday

Arrival in Quito

Arrive at Quito airport, transfer to the Mercure Alameda hotel and the first of two nights in the Andes, at 2,850 m (9,350 ft) above sea level.

Jun 29 · Friday

Quito

Private city tour of the historic center, the first site ever listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Free afternoon to adjust to the altitude.

Jun 30 · Saturday

Quito to Baltra and boarding

Flight to Baltra, in the Galápagos. The dive guides meet the group at the airport and take everyone to the Tiburon Explorer. Lunch on board, gear setup and safety briefings.

Jul 1 · Sunday

North Baltra and North Seymour

Two check-out dives, with rays and schooling fish. In the afternoon, a walk on North Seymour among colonies of blue-footed boobies and frigatebirds, sea lions and marine iguanas. Overnight crossing to the west.

Jul 2 · Monday

Cabo Douglas and Punta Vicente Roca

One to two dives at each site. At Cabo Douglas, marine iguanas feeding underwater. At Punta Vicente Roca, colder water, molas, turtles and macro life. Crossing to Wolf.

Jul 3 · Tuesday

Wolf

Four dives. Schooling hammerheads, Galápagos sharks, silky sharks, spotted eagle rays and sea lions.

Jul 4 · Wednesday

Darwin

Four dives at Darwin's Arch, the most famous site in the archipelago. Schools of hammerheads and, in season, whale sharks.

Jul 5 · Thursday

Wolf

Three morning dives, then the long crossing back to the center of the archipelago, more than 20 hours at sea.

Jul 6 · Friday

Cousin's Rock and Santa Cruz

Two macro dives at Cousin's Rock, with seahorses, sea lions and rays. Lunch while sailing to Santa Cruz. In the afternoon, the giant tortoises in the highlands and Puerto Ayora, with dinner on your own.

Jul 7 · Saturday

Disembark and fly home

Disembark in Baltra in the morning, fly to Quito and connect home to Brazil.

The trip at a glance

2 nights in Quito, with breakfast and a private city tour

7 nights aboard the Tiburon Explorer, full board

17 to 18 dives, tanks and weights included

Island tours: North Seymour and the giant tortoises of Santa Cruz

Good to know

Whale shark season at Darwin and Wolf runs from July to November, and the expedition lands right at the start of it. An encounter is possible, not guaranteed.

The Galápagos is open-ocean diving, with strong currents and cold water in the west of the archipelago. The operator recommends a minimum of 100 logged dives.

Logistics

Flights and accommodation

Airfare

Brazil / Quito / Baltra / Quito / BrazilNot included in the expedition price. Dive For Fun issues the tickets in July or August 2028, once 2029 flights open, at the fare quoted at the time.

Arrival in Baltra by 11:30 amThe boat meets the group at the airport between 11 am and noon on boarding day. That is why the expedition starts in Quito two days earlier.

Flights and times are set when the tickets are issued.

Accommodation

Mercure Alameda Quito2 nights with breakfastQuito

Tiburon ExplorerLiveaboard, 7 nights full board, double stateroomGalápagos

All transfers between airports, hotel and boat are included.

What's included

In the expedition price

✓2 nights in Quito at the Mercure Alameda, with breakfast

✓Private city tour of Quito

✓All transfers

✓7 nights aboard the Tiburon Explorer, full board

✓Approximately 17 to 18 dives, tanks and weights included

✓Island tours

✓International travel insurance, USD 60,000 of coverage

✓Dive For Fun staff with the group

Investment

Price per person

In a double stateroom, covering the land portion and the liveaboard. Airfare and local fees are charged separately.

Tiburon Explorer · 16 spots

Double stateroom

USD 8,582

+ USD 675 in fees

✓ 2 nights in Quito with breakfast and a private city tour

✓ 7 nights aboard, full board

✓ 17 to 18 dives, tanks and weights

✓ International travel insurance and DFF staff

Dinner on the Tiburon Explorer outdoor deck at sunset

On board

Ocean-view staterooms

✓ 9 air-conditioned staterooms, 6 on the main deck and 3 on the lower deck

✓ Private bathroom and ocean-view windows in every one

✓ Twin beds that convert to a queen for couples

✓ Single stateroom on request

⚠ Important

The prices above come from a quote and are subject to change and to availability on the boat and on flights at the time of booking.

Confirmation only happens after the deposit and once the operator comes back with the reservations in place.

Fees per person

Paid locally, in US dollars

Fuel surcharge

USD 150

Galápagos National Park fee

USD 150

Hyperbaric chamber fee

USD 35

Galápagos transit card (Ingala)

USD 20

Amounts provided by the operator in the quote. They are paid in cash on arrival in the islands and may change by 2029.

Booking

There are 16 spots on the boat. Talk to the Dive For Fun team to reserve yours and get the deposit and installment terms.

Payment

Paid in full or in scheduled PIX transfers. US dollar amounts are converted to Brazilian reais at the tourism selling rate on the day of payment. Payment in foreign currency is not accepted.

Not included

Charged separately

✈️Airfare to Baltra via QuitoIssued Jul/Aug 2028

🛡️DiveAssure dive insurance, mandatoryPurchase separately

🫧Nitrox on boardPaid on the boat

🧾Local fees: fuel, park, hyperbaric chamber and IngalaSee above

🥽Dive equipment rentalOn request

🍽️Dinner on the last night, in Puerto AyoraOn your own

💳Crew gratuities, premium drinks and personal extrasOn request

✦Anything not listed in the itineraryOn request

⚠Read before booking

Your documents
are your responsibility

Without valid documents there is no boarding, and the Galápagos is no place to sort anything out at the last minute. Go through the list early and, if anything is missing, talk to us.

Required documents

✦PassportValid for at least 6 months from the departure date. Brazilian citizens do not need a visa for Ecuador.

✦International yellow fever vaccination certificateRequired by Ecuador for travelers arriving from Brazil. Confirm the current rule before you travel.

✦Diving certification card and logbook

✦DiveAssure dive insuranceMandatory. Purchase through the Dive For Fun link.

Diving experience

✦Advanced divingOpen ocean, strong currents, negative entries from the tenders and cold water in the west. Not a destination for newly certified divers.

✦Recommended minimum of 100 logged divesThe boat operator's recommendation.

✦Nitrox recommendedFour dives a day at Darwin and Wolf. You can get your Nitrox certification at DFF before the trip.

Entry rules and health requirements change. Confirm the current conditions with the official authorities well in advance.

Galápagos Islands

Ten days in the place that
inspired Darwin

Tiburon Explorer

Life on
the boat

What lives
in the Galápagos

The itinerary, start to finish

Two nights in the Andes

Flights and accommodation

In the expedition price

Price per person

Paid locally, in US dollars

Charged separately

Your documents
are your responsibility

The Galápagos
are waiting for you

Other Dive For Fun destinations

Galápagos Islands

Ten days in the place thatinspired Darwin

Tiburon Explorer

Life onthe boat

What livesin the Galápagos

The itinerary, start to finish

Two nights in the Andes

Flights and accommodation

In the expedition price

Price per person

Paid locally, in US dollars

Charged separately

Your documentsare your responsibility

The Galápagosare waiting for you

Other Dive For Fun destinations

Ten days in the place that
inspired Darwin

Life on
the boat

What lives
in the Galápagos

Your documents
are your responsibility

The Galápagos
are waiting for you