To sail to the Galápagos Islands is one of the rarest experiences on Earth.

Almost all visitors arrive on small motor vessels, hopping from island to island between short shore stops. But a handful of adventurers each year arrive under sail — travelling as the early explorers once did, harnessing the wind, learning the rhythm of the ocean, and watching volcanic peaks rise slowly over the horizon after days at sea.

In 2026 we are working with two beautiful traditional vessels – a Dutch family run ex-herring drifter and a traditional square rigged Dutch tall ship – both sailing to and onwards from the Galapagos Islands.

The post below is about the voyage of one of the square rigger but you can find all four options here:

• Family run ex-herring drifter Sail Patagonia to Galapagos (max 12 guests)
• Family run ex-herring drifter Sail Galapagos to Easter Island (max 12 guests)
• Square Rigger Tall Ship Sail Peru to Galapagos (includes a week aboard exploring Galapagos)
• Square Rigger Tall Ship Sail Galapagos to Easter Island (includes a week aboard exploring Galapagos)

The voyage of the Dutch tall ship is is not one voyage but two — two extraordinary chapters linked by the world’s most wildlife-rich waters.

The first carries you from Callao, Peru, to the Galápagos, and the second from the Galápagos to Rapa Nui (Easter Island).

Together, they trace over 2,000 nautical miles through some of the Pacific’s most storied seas.

It’s a journey close to the heart of Larissa Clark, founder of Another World Adventures. When she sailed this same historic vessel, the experience was so transformative that it inspired her to create AWA — to help others discover adventures that change how they see the world.

Voyage One: Callao → Galápagos

The adventure begins in Callao, Peru’s bustling maritime gateway. Casting off from the pier marks your first step into blue water. Over roughly 1,030 nautical miles, the ship follows the cool, nutrient-rich Humboldt Current, a corridor teeming with dolphins, whales, and seabirds.

Life on board soon settles into a steady rhythm. The voyage crew — travellers like you — are divided into three watches symbolised by red, white, and blue. Each takes turns helming, keeping lookout, and learning the ropes of traditional seamanship. It’s hands-on, physical, and endlessly rewarding.

Days are filled with activity: adjusting sails, scanning for marine life, swapping stories over hearty meals, or simply watching the sun sink into the Pacific. Nights bring starfields so vivid they seem close enough to touch, and the hypnotic creak of rigging under sail.

After a week at sea, the black volcanic outlines of the Galápagos Islands appear on the horizon — a breathtaking arrival few travellers ever experience.

Exploring the Galápagos

The first week in the islands is devoted entirely to exploration, both ashore and at sea. With expert local nature guides on board, every landing and snorkel reveals another layer of these living laboratories of evolution.

You might walk among giant tortoises, snorkel beside sea turtles and rays, or watch blue-footed boobies dance on lava cliffs. Each island tells a different story of adaptation and resilience.

Anchored in quiet coves, evenings are for reflection: sharing photos, writing logbooks, or simply lying on deck watching constellations shift across the equatorial sky. For many, this first voyage ends here, with the option to fly home from the Galápagos — hearts full, salt in their hair, and a new respect for the sea.

But for those who can’t bear to stop, the adventure continues.

Voyage Two: Galápagos → Rapa Nui

From the heart of the Galápagos, the next leg of the journey sets course west-southwest — a remote blue-water passage of nearly three weeks across the open Pacific. This is a voyage few have ever taken, connecting two of the world’s most iconic island chains: Ecuador’s Galápagos and Chile’s legendary Rapa Nui.

It’s a pure sailing experience — long ocean swells, steady trade winds, and the deep satisfaction of crossing miles by wind power alone. Days blend into a timeless rhythm of watches, meals, laughter, and sea. You might spot flying fish, pods of dolphins, or seabirds that follow the ship for days on end.

Life aboard builds connection — with the ocean, with shipmates, and with yourself. It’s an environment that fosters resilience, patience, and quiet wonder.

After nearly three weeks, landfall comes at Hanga Roa, Rapa Nui’s only town and harbor. The green volcanic slopes and iconic Moai statues mark a dramatic contrast to the black lava shores left behind. Disembarking here, amid one of the world’s most isolated communities, feels both triumphant and humbling — a moment earned mile by mile.

Life at Sea

Life on board is comfortable, simple, and shared. Cabins sleep wither two or four to six, each with private bathrooms and showers. The food is fresh, plentiful, and catered to a range of diets, from vegan to gluten-free.

Off watch, there’s time to relax in the deckhouse, read in the ship’s library, or help with maintenance, sail-making, or celestial navigation. The permanent crew are generous teachers, eager to share the traditions of life under sail. Scientists and environmental researchers often join, bringing added depth and conversation to life on board.

Reflections 

Larissa has spent 2025 sailing in the Pacific and reflects:

“There’s something profoundly grounding about arriving somewhere under sail. You’ve felt the sea change day by day, you’ve earned the landfall. It’s not just travel — it’s transformation and that spirit of purposeful adventure sits at the heart of every Another World Adventures experience.”

Why We Love These Voyages

• Two extraordinary passages connecting the Pacific’s most iconic island worlds.

• Rare opportunity to sail through the wildlife-rich Galápagos.

• Perfect for solo travellers or friends seeking hands-on adventure and ocean connection.

The Call of the Pacific

Whether you join one leg or both, these voyages offer something vanishingly rare — the chance to move through the world as sailors once did, guided by wind, current, and curiosity.

From the historic port of Callao to the enchanted Galápagos, and onward to the mystery of Rapa Nui, this is ocean travel at its most elemental.

Slow, sustainable, and soul-stirring — an adventure to be lived, not just remembered.