Aboard M/C Athala II, Northern Circuit

Newly-refurbished in 2011, the luxury catamaran Athala was specifically designed and built to cruise the Galapagos Islands in style. This elegantly-designed ship provides comfort, superior speed, excellent stability, and it meets all the latest safety standards.

The Athala is unrivaled in offering the generous, comfortable accommodations and amenities of a larger ship while still preserving the relaxed atmosphere and camaraderie of a smaller vessel. You are sure to find the layout, furnishings, food, and crew all to be excellent.

All of Athala's cabins on board are deluxe, with well-appointed private bathrooms, air conditioning and wall-to-wall carpeting. All have ocean views with large windows (not portholes). All cabins are 175 square feet or more, and the main deck cabins have the additional luxury of private balconies.

The huge sundeck is great for whale and dolphin watching or to simply relax and soak up the sun between island excursions. In the evenings, there is no better place for star gazing. The upper deck has a well-stocked bar, Jacuzzi hot tub, and a beautiful open teak deck area for relaxation, alfresco dining, and barbeques. The main deck houses the dining area and a separate comfortable lounge area complete with plasma TVs, laptops (no internet service), DVD player, stereo, and library.

Athala's crew of ten and her naturalist guide are all experts in their fields and are friendly, full time, experienced, and highly professional. Your naturalist guide is guaranteed to be bilingual (minimum fluent English and Spanish) and among the best and most knowledgeable in the Galapagos. You will not find a luxury boat with better people and service, more space, more comfort, and such a great itinerary at a better price.

Starting in 2012, two itineraries are offered to adhere to new touring regulations established by the Galapagos National Park and Marine Reserve to limit tourist visits for the islands' health and recovery.  Take your pick between this northern itinerary and its companion tour of southern islands, based on your preferences and your dates.  If you want the complete Galapagos experience and have the time, take both!