Description
Scuba and Land Exploration — Galapagos
Join Big Animals Expeditions for a one-of-a-kind adventure in the Galapagos, where you’ll explore the islands’ untamed beauty both by land and sea. This is all made possible by the remarkable relationship between Amos, and Galapagos resident Fiddi Angermeyer — owner of the . Amos brings decades of experience leading extraordinary wildlife expeditions. His expertise, paired with Fiddi’s unmatched knowledge of the Galapagos – gained from a lifetime living there – promises a tour filled with unique and authentic experiences. It’s this deep-rooted connection that grants us the essential permits to explore the islands’ most pristine and exclusive locations.
The collaboration between Amos and Fiddi opens up a rich and immersive experience, blending adventure and exploration with the intimacy of a homecoming. With Fiddi, a lifelong inhabitant, as our guide, you’ll walk paths less traveled and dive into waters less swum, learning firsthand the true heartbeat of the islands.
Our expedition goes beyond the typical tour, diving deeper into the wonders of the Galapagos, as Amos and Fiddi share the hidden gems known only to locals. From secret trails to vibrant underwater worlds, every day brings new discoveries right before your eyes.
SUMMARY
Galápagos, Ecuador
13 Maximum Guests
14 Days on Board
August 15 – 31, 2025
BASE PRICE
$23,900
(Price for Double Occupancy)
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SCHEDULE
- Day 1 Santa Cruz
- Hike: Giant Tortoises in natural setting, lava tube, only chance for shopping apart from airport
- Day 2 Floreana
- AM Hike: Sea lions, Galapagos flamingos and other lagoon birds, blue footed boobies
- AM Dive: Check out dive
- PM Dive: Easy dive with playful sea lions and sea turtles
- PM Hike: Very short hike to continue tradition started in 1793
- Day 3 West Isabela / Fernandina
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- AM Hike: Potential whale watching while motoring to the place. Snorkelling only if conditions allow. Land iguanas and giant tortoises in the wild, Galapagos hawks, penguins, cormorants.
- PM Snorkeling: marine iguanas
- PM Hike: marine iguanas, sea lions, hawks, flightless cormorants & penguins.
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- Day 4 Fernandina / North west Isabela
- AM Dive: 15°C dive. Marine Iguanas, sea lions, harlequin wrasses, Dusky chops, etc.
- PM Dive: 15°C dive. Mola mola, sea turtles, blunthead sharks, sea horses
- PM Zodiac ride: Amazing landscape, Noddy terns, penguins, fur seals, sea turtles, occasionally Orca.
- Day 5, 6, 7, 8 Wolf Island
- AM & PM Diving: Several dive sites with one thing in common: amazing diving with big animals. Schooling hammerheads, Galapagos sharks, silky sharks, dolphins, rays, etc.
- Day 9, 10, 11 Darwin Island
- AM & PM Diving: The Arch at Darwin is arguably one of the best dive sites in the world. Good for hammerheads, Galapagos, silky and tiger sharks. It is also Whale shark season. Dolphins, mantas, yellow fin tuna are a common sight.
- Day 12 East Isabela / Santiago Island
- AM Dive: Good place for manta rays, schooling hammerheads, pacific barracuda. Occasionally marlins and/or Orca
- PM Hike: Great place for landscape, marine iguanas, land iguanas, coastal birds, sea lions, fur seals, Galapagos hawks and human history
- Day 13 Marchena Island / Genovesa Island
- AM Dive: The Fish Arena is a dive site thick with tropical fish with the frequent visit of hammerheads, dolphins and false killer whales
- PM Hike: This is the largest colony of red footed boobies in the world, with thousands of Nazca boobies, Great frigate birds, Storm petrels and short eared owls. Amazing hike.
- Day 14 Santiago Island / Seymour
- AM Dive: A great dive site, good for sea lions, barracuda, sea turtles, spotted eagle rays, white tipped reef sharks, black coral and macro diving
- AM Hike: The hike is to see one of the most iconic landscapes in the world: The Pinnacle rock
- PM Hike: This is the largest colony of red footed boobies in the world, with thousands of Nazca boobies, Great frigate birds, Storm petrels and short eared owls. Amazing hike.
- Day 15 Santa Cruz / Baltra
- AM Zodiac Ride: Juvenile sharks, rays, pelicans, blue footed boobies, herons, mangroves
- Departure
CONDITIONS
Temperature
Water 54 – 62°F (12 – 17°C)
Land 60+°F (15+°C)
Visibility
60 – 100 feet (20 – 30 meters)
INCLUDED
- 14 Days aboard boat
- 8 Days at Darwin and Wolf
- Extended Itinerary Park Permit
- 2 Zodiacs for diving operation
- Shared accommodations (Except Suite 5)
- All meals
- All diving services
- Nitox
- Tanks, weight and belts
- Expedition leader
EXCLUDED
- International and domestic flights
- 2 Night hotel stay in Guayaquil
- Tourist Card – $20
- Insurance (mandatory you own travel, health, and diving with evacuation insurance
- Single occupancy
- Unused part of the itinerary
- Personal charges such as laundry, fishing, or telecommunication charges
- Gratuities
EXPEDITION LEADER
Amos Nachoum is a distinguished figure in wildlife and underwater photography, seamlessly combining exploration and artistry for over 45 years. His dedication to capturing the essence of marine life has garnered him prestigious accolades, including twice winning the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year in animal behavior and the Siena Photo Competition in ‘Animals in Their Environment’ category.
Amos’s photographic excellence has earned him the title of Nature Photographer of the Year 2021 by Wilderness Photography. His impact on the artistic and conservation communities has been recognized with the NOGI Award in Art, solidifying his status as a leader in his field. His works have graced prominent publications like National Geographic, Time, and The New York Times, showcasing his ability to tell compelling visual stories.
In 2019, his documentary “Picture of His Life” unveiled his relentless pursuit of excellence and his commitment to marine conservation. As the founder of Big Animals Expeditions, he leads private expeditions, ensuring safe and intimate wildlife encounters during peak seasons. These expeditions, whether on land or in the ocean, reflect his immaculate safety record and deep respect for the natural world.
By choosing to embark on an expedition with Amos, adventurers open themselves up to a transformative experience. They learn from a maestro whose life’s work resonates with the pulse of the oceans and the dance of wildlife across diverse habitats. Whether a seasoned photographer or a nature enthusiast, participants in Amos’s expeditions gain unparalleled insight and a unique opportunity to connect with the wild.
Additionally, his work in marine conservation and education has not gone unnoticed. Amos has been named Seakeepers’ Man of the Year, acknowledging his unwavering commitment to the ocean and its inhabitants. Through his expeditions, workshops, and storytelling, he continues to inspire, educate, and ignite a passion for conservation in hearts worldwide.
LODGING
The MY Passion Yacht, stretching 48.5 meters long and accommodating only 14 passengers, offers a luxurious small ship experience for your Galapagos expedition. Fresh from a comprehensive refurbishment, the yacht retains original features like teak wood decks and rose marble bathrooms, establishing it as a one-of-a-kind choice for Galapagos travels. It houses 6 air-conditioned cabins equipped with TVs and private marble bathrooms; the two superior rooms boast extra bathrooms and lounge areas. Guests can enjoy vast common spaces across four decks, including a sun deck with a hot tub, an observation area for whale watching, and a Sky Bar & Lounge offering panoramic views, promising comfort and scenic enjoyment without needing to retreat to individual cabins.
(Click here for more reviews and more information about M/Y Passion)
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
Life Everywhere
Each dive is an adrenaline rush filled with photo opportunities and our two weeks of diving will be fun and filled with action. This is the peak time to witness a phenomenal parade of ocean giants including large whale sharks, hammerheads schooling in the hundreds, Galapagos sharks, manta and mobula rays, yellow fin tuna chasing mackerel bait balls, shoals of Pacific barracuda, dolphins, and orca. Of course this is not Sea World and no sightings are guaranteed, therefore the more time we spend underwater the greater our chances to witness what Darwin missed.
Land and Sea
Since there is much to experience on land and underwater in the Galapagos archipelago, we have secured special permission for an extended charter of 14 days. These are unique dual exploration activities that only our vessel can provide. Having two weeks to explore Galapagos is a rarity, but one that I feel is necessary if we are to give ourselves enough time to experience the best the islands have to offer. Weather and currents can be unpredictable, so it is ideal to have the scheduling flexibility provided by this extended charter. The special permit we obtained will allow us seven or eight days with three dives a day to alternate between diving at Darwin and Wolf Island, the Mecca of big animal encounters. Not only will this unique itinerary let us enjoy the thrill of these remote islands to the north, but it will also give us the chance to explore the western islands of Fernandina and Isabella to capture the marvelous sights of Mola mola off Punta Vicenta Roca, as well as the prehistoric marine iguanas feeding on algae underwater daily at Tagos Cove. We will also make landings to walk among the unique terrestrial wildlife that grace and characterize Galapagos.
Connection to History
Our elegant vessel is owned and operated by Fidi Angermeyer, a master craftsman and keen seafarer born on the islands in the 50s. Fiddi’s mother, Carmen, came to the Galapagos with her parents in 1934 to escape political unrest in Germany. Fiddi’s father, Fritz, arrived on Galapagos in 1937. The Angermeyers settled on Santa Cruz Island and hunted, fished, and farmed to survive. Fiddi was born there in 1952, and his passion for sailing and boat building was cultivated by his father. In the early sixties, the family began using their boats to show the islands to scientists who visited the archipelago, and has evolved into the most luxurious private vessel in Galapagos.
To stand in the very place where Darwin formulated his theory of evolution, and to photograph the descendants of the finches whose beaks led to his discovery is truly inspiring. I’m certain he would have been absolutely stunned by the diversity of marine life in this truly incredible part of our planet. This Big Animals expedition is an opportunity to contribute to the global knowledge base while also adding to our personal experiences, image collections and future educational presentations to be shared with friends and colleagues.
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Reserve Now*
You can reserve now by either paying a 33% deposit through our online reservation system or by mailing a check.
If you’d prefer to mail a check to our office or arrange for a wire transfer, please get in touch with us via the Contact BigAnimals form below.
Payment Policy and Deposit*
All trip costs are subject to change without prior notice until your reservation is confirmed. In order to join an expedition, you are required to carry trip, health, and dive (if applicable) insurance. This information as well as your passport photo will be requested after you place your deposit.
Full payment is due no later than 90 days before departure. We reserve the right to sell any space that is not paid in full by 60 days before departure.
All prices $USD
Dates and pricing are subject to change without prior notice due to weather conditions, animal behavior, and currency fluctuation.
Please carefully review Big Animals’ cancellation policy below or on the Cart page before checkout.
*FINAL PAYMENT, CANCELLATION AND TRIP CHANGE POLICY
We at Big Animals LLC know how upsetting it might be for our valued clients to have to postpone or cancel a trip they have been looking forward to for months. We, too, are disappointed when plans must be changed. However, we make extensive preparations in advance of each trip and we are required to make nonrefundable payments to hotels and other vendors on a regular basis. Consequently, we must rigorously enforce our cancellation and trip change policy for all guests without exception.
Purchasing travel insurance is vital and may be obtained through a variety of insurance providers. Life in the modern world has taught us that trip cancellations and interruptions happen, luggage gets lost, and people have accidents prior to trips, and people get sick, and are unable to commence or complete anticipated journeys. Insurance is expected to provide you, as our valued client, with the protection and peace of mind in the event that all things do not go according to your intended plan. As a traveler, please be aware you are personally responsible for any expenses incurred due to illness or injury that may arise before departure or while you are on expedition — and as per the details below — cancelling or altering a trip without insurance becomes very expensive for all parties involved, including for Big Animals LLC.
We encourage you to make the responsible choice — protect your investment with a reasonably-priced, comprehensive insurance policy.
Big Animals LLC requires a deposit equal to 33% of the total trip price at the time of booking, including all applicable taxes, in order to secure space.
Once we have accepted your deposit and application, we will make non-refundable payments to secure your space with overseas vendors; consequently, all deposits on expeditions are also non-refundable, without exception.
- Full payment is due 90 days (12:00am US Pacific Time) before the expeditions’ departure date.
- In the event of cancellations made by customers fewer than 120 calendar days (12:00am US Pacific Time) before the expeditions’ start date, then Big Animals LLC shall charge a fee equal to 50% of the expedition’s full price, plus a $500 administration fee, and will offer the discounted trip to another traveler at a discounted rate. If no replacement traveler can be located then the full amount previously paid by the original trip purchaser to Big Animals LLC shall be non-refundable. Please purchase travel insurance and plan accordingly.
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