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Santa Cruz II

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  • Santa Cruz II excursion
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Santa Cruz II is a modern, family-friendly motor yacht, with a wide range of facilities and activities and contemporary cabins.

The Santa Cruz II is a modern expedition vessel with a capacity for 90 passengers in 50 cabins, across 5 decks. At 70m long, it is larger than many of the other vessels operating in these waters, which means it is home to more facilities, more social areas and more space to roam. There is an expedition lounge, fully stocked library, restaurant, panorama bar and lounge, an al fresco dining option, gym, hot tub and even an onboard gift shop. The décor is contemporary, featuring generous use of polished wood and crisp white linen.


There are 60 crew including eight naturalist guides and an underwater specialist who can assist those less comfortable in the water. There is a genuine attempt to cater for different age bands and interests, with groups for excursions (max 16 guests per group) put together accordingly. The cruise is very family friendly – there are special science themed programmes and meals for children – couples looking for a quiet escape will always be able to find a place to switch off. Kayaks, stand up paddle boards and snorkelling equipment are all provided free of charge and there is a glass bottom boat on hand for anyone who does not want to have to swim to see the marine life below the surface. 

Bartolome, Galápagos

What our clients say

  • The Galápagos Islands were fantastic and beyond our wildest expectations.

    AC Jul 2014
  • This was our holiday of a lifetime fulfilling a long held desire to visit the Galápagos Islands, and it lived up to all our expectations.

    SH, Aylesbury Jun 2012
  • The close proximity of the wildlife in the Galapagos is amazing.

    DW, Stevenage Nov 2014
  • The most memorable experiences were walking in woodland with wild giant tortoise grazing in clearings, watching wild land iguanas amble through long grasses, peering at eye level into the nests…

    JW, Newcastle Jun 2011
  • Most Memorable Moment?: The obvious answer is the whole thing!  If I had to choose, I'd say the experience of arriving at the top of the Prince Phillip Steps on…

    DM, Nottingham Jun 2018
  • Isolation on the Islands a feeling of being in the Galapagos by invitation of the inhabitants - the wildlife. A truly wonderful and privileged experience.

    SD, Rochester Jun 2013
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Our Expert's Opinion

Paul Winrow Giffin
Paul Winrow-Giffin - Travel Expert

After graduating in Computer Science, Paul spent seven months travelling from Colombia to Argentina and came home hooked on Latin America.

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Bartolome, Galápagos

Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • 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.

  • Ben
    Ben Line - Travel Expert

    Ben fell in love with Latin America on a six month backpacking trip from Colombia to Mexico in 1995. Since then he has explored most of South America, including living in Peru for a year. He is now Head of Sales.

  • Maggie
    Maggie Wilson - Travel Expert

    Maggie visited Latin America on her first backpacking trip when she was 19. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to travel, and has managed to explore a lot of the region in subsequent trips.

  • Heloise
    Heloise Buxton - Travel Expert

    Heloise started her Latin American journey as an exchange student in Santiago, Chile. With extended summer holidays this was the perfect opportunity to backpack through Bolivia, Peru, Argentina and Brazil.

  • Juliet
    Juliet Ellwood - Travel Expert

    After graduating with a degree in Anthropology and History and having been fascinated by Latin America since childhood by the book featuring photos of Nazca, Juliet first visited the region in 2003. Since then, Juliet has visited the majority of countries in Latin America but has particularly extensive experience with Peru, a country she loves for many reasons but not least, its incredible archaeological richness and delicious food!

  • Rosie profile
    Rosie Kay - Travel Expert

    During a career break, Rosie embarked on an unforgettable year-long backpacking trip across Latin America. Now back in the UK, she is excited to share her knowledge and experiences with others, helping them discover her favourite place in the world.

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