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Alya

  • ROYAL GALAPAGOS ©
  • ROYAL GALAPAGOS ©
  • ROYAL GALAPAGOS ©
  • Alia Deck Plan
  • ROYAL GALAPAGOS ©
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MC Alya is a small, first class motor catamaran offering wildlife cruises in the Galapagos Islands.

Alya is a sleek, purpose built catamaran designed to offer first class comforts, cuisine and excursions on cruises around the Galápagos Islands. Family owned, she carries a crew and naturalist guide fully committed to delivering a superior experience for her guests, pampered by large rooms furnished with huge wardrobes, a choice of bed size and modern hotel amenities such as hairdryer, safe and USB sockets.

The design is contemporary and plenty of bright natural light permeates the vessel with blonde wood and creams offset with cheerful splashes of colour in the décor and artwork. There are just 9 cabins accommodating a maximum of 16 guests, so you are guaranteed a personalised service from your guide and crew and will soon get to know your fellow passengers.

Meals are taken in the stylish restaurant, with a buffet breakfast and lunch complemented by an à la carte dinner. There is plenty of space and shade in which to relax over the three decks, the upper one of which offers sunbeds and a Jacuzzi. Snorkelling gear, wetsuits and a kayaking excursion are complimentary.

Bartolome, Galápagos

What our clients say

  • One of us had not snorkelled for a very long time and was hesitant in deep water. Martin the Naturalist on MV Eclipse helped her overcome her fears and enabled…

    AL May 2015
  • Snorkelling with penguins, turtles, sea lions and marine iguanas. Unbeatable.

    DJ, Saltash May 2019
  • A couple of days in the Galapagos when we didn't see any other people. Intimacy of swimming with sealions, turtles & being chased in the water by a flightless cormorant!

    TC, St Albans Oct 2016
  • Visiting the Galápagos islands and coming so close to so many special species of animals and birds was a memorable experience.

    JB, Chiswick Oct 2012
  • We loved snorkelling with marine iguanas, turtles, and the lovely playful sealions.

    FM, Manchester Aug 2025
  • I had wanted to travel to the Galápagos for many years.  My husband did not want to go, so I arranged the trip by myself and had a memorable time,…

    JG Apr 2011
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Our Expert's Opinion

Kathryn
Kathryn Rhodes - Travel Expert

Kathryn backpacked across Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru before joining us. She has a degree in Philosophy and French and is a keen netball player.

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Bartolome, Galápagos

Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Hannah
    Hannah Donaldson - Travel Expert

    Having spent part of her childhood in Colombia and worked in Brazil and Costa Rica, Hannah's ties to Latin America run deep. Hannah is a much valued Travel Expert in our Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tours sales team.

  • Carrie
    Carrie Gallagher - Travel Expert

    A former JLA tour leader, Carrie brings a wealth of on-the-ground experience to our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours department.

  • Finn Clennett
    Finn Clennett - Travel Expert

  • Chris
    Chris Rendell-Dunn - Travel Expert

    Anglo-Peruvian Chris grew up in Lima and spent much of his adult life in between London and Cusco as a tour leader, before settling permanently in our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours sales team.

  • Sophie
    Sophie Barber - Travel Expert

    Sophie lived in Chile before joining us and has travelled extensively across Latin America, from Mexico to the furthest tip of Patagonia and beyond to Antarctica.

  • Hannah
    Hannah Waterhouse - Travel Expert

    Hannah had an early introduction to Latin America when her family moved to Ecuador and she returned to study in Buenos Aires for a year before backpacking across the continent.

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