Aqua Expeditions, which specializes in offering charters in exotic locales such as the Amazon River, is expanding into the Galapagos Islands with the seven-stateroom Aqua Mare.
Aqua Mare will be the company’s fifth vessel, and will begin offering itineraries in May 2022. The 16 guests will be able to choose from seven- or 14-night itineraries with twice-daily expeditions ashore, in keeping with the islands’ strict protocols for limiting the number of people ashore at any given time.
“Ever since I left Ecuador in 2006 with the clarity to build my own business, I have wanted to return to the Galapagos Islands with our very own luxury expedition ship,” CEO and founder Francesco Galli Zugaro stated in a press release. “It has been 15 years since we ventured to Peru as a family and then onward to Asia to finally come full circle back to where it all started in the iconic destination that is the Enchanted Islands.”
Aqua Mare is a 164-foot CRN yacht with interiors by Francois Zuretti. According to Aqua Expeditions, the yacht’s 861-square-foot owner’s suite is the largest of its kind in the Galapagos charter market. Interior décor includes plates sourced in Bali, Indonesia, and 17th-century prints featuring local wildlife.
The yacht’s amenities include shaded and open decks, a six-person hot tub and an outdoor barbecue. The beach club has a hydraulically opening window that spans the yacht’s beam.
Aqua Mare will charter with 16 crew including two naturalist guides. Water toys will include snorkeling gear, kayaks and standup paddleboards.
What’s the lowest weekly base rate for a seven-night charter with 16 guests? It’s $196,000, including house spirits and a private masseuse five hours per day.
Take the next step: visit aquaexpeditions.com
