When you picture the Galápagos Islands, you imagine untouched landscapes, fearless wildlife, and crystal-clear waters teeming with life. You likely think of Charles Darwin and high school science classes. In October 2025, I had the privilege of experiencing all of that and more aboard Silversea’s Silver Origin. I traveled with a large group of nearly 30 friends. This wasn’t just a trip; it was a masterclass in how luxury and adventure can coexist. The Galapagos is an amazing place to visit and when you choose the right operator you are in for a fabulous trip full of adventure, activity and animal encounters.
Wildlife Encounters: It Felt like a Safari
Every landing felt like stepping into a National Geographic special. Blue-footed boobies danced on rocky outcrops, marine iguanas basked in the sun, and sea lions lounged on beaches like they owned the place (spoiler: they do). The highlight? Watching giant tortoises in their natural habitat, a humbling reminder of nature’s resilience. The islands offer so much, it’s hard to place into words.
When traveling with Silversea there are two different routes the ships take, repeating every other week. We opted for the route that went more north as I had three objectives
- See Red footed boobies
- See Waved Albatross
- Swim with Sealions
Red footed boobies are actually more common than Blue footed boobies, but live on fewer islands within the Galapagos. Meaning you’re more likely to see the more rare Blue Footed Boobie no matter your trip. If you want to guarantee sightings of the Red Footed Boobie you have to travel to Genovesa island like we did.
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Meanwhile the Waved Albatross only live and nest on Española island. So we again chose our itinerary to visit this island. Seeing these beautiful birds nesting, doing their mating dance, and awkward cliff diving take offs was pure bliss. I am SO happy I planned my visit during the limited season that the Wave Albatross are in the Galapagos. A true highlight of this trip. These magnificent creatures spend months at sea, flying without landing until returning to Española to nest the following April.
Silversea’s expert guides didn’t just point out animals; they told stories that made the islands come alive. Their passion for conservation added depth to every encounter. What makes an expedition so different than a cruise is this. It’s not about the ship (even if it is), but it’s mostly about the animals. Learning while on vacation. Ensuring that you come back with a better understanding and are more educated. This was a Safari at see, an expedition of these remote islands. Learning, engaging, and experiencing.
Snorkeling: Dive Into Another World
If you think the Galápagos is all about land, think again. Snorkeling here is pure magic. If you’re a diver, you have to choose a liveaboard, diving from land, or trade it in for snorkeling. Ships that offer land expeditions, do not offer diving. Which is quite sad, but the Galapagos are tightly regulated. Regardless, as a Scuba diver who usually snubs snorkeling, I was in love with the snorkeling experience. Always excited each day when it was offered, I never missed the opportunity to jump in the water to explore.
Picture gliding through turquoise waters as schools of vibrant fish dart past, rays sweep gracefully below, and curious sea lions swim alongside you like playful companions. For many of us, spotting a sea turtle was the ultimate bucket-list moment, but for me, it was the curious sea lions who stole the show.
My favorite memory was diving down with a sea lion following me. Mimicking my moves as I dove below the service. As I swam on, I quickly ran our of air. My 45 seconds of underwater recreation quickly coming to an end and I had to ascend back to the surface, a good 15-20 feet above my head. Sad to leave the beautiful girl behind, I turned around to be startled by another friend. Little did I know, but witness by my friends above, I had a second whimsical visitor ready to interact. Although I was startled for a second, it lead to many laughs when back on the surface as my travel companions watch me be followed to only notice it at the end. Back on the ship, every snorkeler had a story to tell, laughing and reliving the magical experience of the sea lions swimming along side us.
Local Flavors: Ecuador on Your Plate
Dining aboard Silver Origin was a culinary journey. Yes, you’ll find international favorites, but the real stars were the Ecuadorian-inspired dishes—fresh ceviche, plantain creations, and locally sourced seafood. Pair that with perfectly curated wines, and you’ve got a dining experience that rivals any five-star restaurant.
The Galapagos has strict regulations about food. Plus they ships must support the local economy. Which meant we were eating local. True farm to table. Common local items include organic onions grown on the island, locally sustainable caught fish, and other veggies. Even the coffee onboard the ship is grown on the islands.
The Silversea Origin has two restaurants and offers room service, which made for a wonderful dining experience. The Restaurant was open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Whereas The Grill was only open for lunch and dinner. The Grill was a crowd pleasure with alfresco casual dining. Plus the Grill has Silversea Hot Rock concept as well. Each day the grill is serving Ecuadorian dishes, ceviche, and grilled items. The hot rock specials would change, with the option to cook your own meats and seafood on hot rocks for dinner. Overall great food and an amazing dining experience.
Luxury Meets Expedition – Why Silversea Galapagos Cruise Stands Out
After a day of hiking volcanic terrain or snorkeling pristine waters, returning to Silver Origin felt like stepping into a sanctuary. A interactive basecamp with spacious suites with floor-to-ceiling windows offered panoramic ocean views, and impeccable service. The crew anticipated every need, making a group of 30+ feel like VIPs. With nearly 90 staff members for a maximum of 100 guests, the Silversea Origin is among the most luxurious options in the Galapagos. Our ship was “sold out” but was only home to 90 guests. Meaning we really did have 1 staff member for each guests. Each of them fabulous, attentive, and very professional.
The Galápagos is a destination that demands respect and Silversea delivers it with style. Silver Origin blends authentic exploration with boutique luxury, proving you don’t have to sacrifice comfort to experience raw nature. You can go on hikes in the morning, snorkeling before lunch, and still have a massage in the spa before exploring again in the afternoon. With 100 people, the Silversea Origin has every available permit for each landing site it visits. There’s no sharing landings with other ships and you can really maximize time off the boat. Every day we did two landings plus one snorkeling activity. We even did a “Galapagos dive” one day, swimming off the back of the ship. When we weren’t watching the Galapagos penguins or swimming marine iguanas and other amazing wildlife of the island, we were attending educational lectures or relaxing near the hot tub or on the sun deck.
The Silversea Origin is home to 10 expedition leaders and naturalist guides. These local experts are eager to teach you about their home. Ensuring that you have not only a relaxing vacation, but you go home knowing more about the ecosystem that makes the Galapagos so unique. It’s only on an expedition that you leave a ship with a better concept of the place you just visited. You experience and learn by taking home memories and knowledge.
Yet really, what makes Silversea stand out, goes beyond the beautiful ship with horizon balconies and suites. It’s the fact that everything is really included in the price. You pay once and you forget. Silversea is the only company offering true charter flights to and from the island. Blocking the middle seat, giving everyone a more premium experience with a meal and beverages complimentary in flight. All transfers, a tour of Quito pre-cruise, and even two nights at the JW Marriott pre-cruise. Then on the ship everything from butler service to wi-fi and snorkel gear is included in the cost. Silversea even has a professional photographer and provides you with a jumpdrive of all the photos of your trip before you depart. This five start experience is epic and the Silversea Origin is a stunning vessel.
Final Thoughts
If the Galapagos islands are on your bucket list, do it right and find the best expedition experience possible. Choose a cruise that honors the islands while pampering you in the process. For us, Silversea was that perfect balance. I love that with Silversea it was 100% pay and forget. Everything is included in part of the cost. We even had large onboard credit meaning everyone in our group was able to visit the Spa for a massage without paying!
If you are considering a cruise to the Galapagos, I kindly ask you consider booking via your favorite Virtuosos Agent (hopefully me) and the Scott & Thomas Travel team. Select departures receive a bonus $300 per person onboard credit. When you’re ready to plan your trip, contact me.
