Ecuador Cruises: Sailings, Embarkations & Ports of Call

Ecuador cruises at a glance

Waterways Cruise lists 96 upcoming sailings on 30 ships from 14 cruise lines visiting Ecuador, calling at 20 places. Cruises can start in Guayaquil, Baltra Island, San Cristobal Island, Galápagos and Quito and end in Guayaquil, Baltra Island, San Cristobal Island, Galápagos and Quito. Of 96 upcoming sailings, 24 start in Ecuador and 21 end there. More South America cruises.

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About Ecuador

Ecuador is a compact, wildly diverse country that delivers two distinct cruise experiences: expedition-style voyages among the Galápagos Islands and small-ship river expeditions into the Amazon headwaters. For the American traveler who wants genuine discovery rather than a floating resort, Ecuador offers wildlife encounters, living Indigenous cultures, colonial architecture, and natural scenery unmatched on Earth. The key is choosing a small operator with certified naturalist guides, spending a few acclimatization days in Quito, and embracing the unpredictable rhythms of nature. This package gives you the full picture: ports, operators, excursions, honest trade-offs, and the imagery needed to sell it to a discerning audience.

Typical routes

• Galápagos Expedition Cruises — 5- to 10-night itineraries around the archipelago, typically starting at Baltra or San Cristóbal and calling at Santa Cruz, Floreana, Española, Isabela, Fernandina, and Genovesa.
• Amazon Headwater River Cruises — 4- to 8-night expeditions on the Napo River from Coca or Nuevo Rocafuerte, with excursions into Yasuní National Park and along the Ecuadorian Amazon.

Ports overview

Ecuador's cruising is almost entirely expedition-style: Galápagos islands by small ship and the Amazon headwaters by riverboat. Mainstream ocean cruise ships occasionally call at Manta on Pacific repositioning itineraries. Quito and Guayaquil are gateways rather than cruise ports, though Guayaquil is a possible embarkation point for coastal expedition voyages.

Cruise season

Galápagos: warm/wet December–May (warmer water, calm seas); dry/cool June–November (more wind, excellent wildlife). Amazon: year-round; February–May is wetter, while June–September and December–January are comfortable for trail walking.