Explore the Galápagos in style aboard the brand-new luxury cruise ship MC Hermes.

Dawn rises softly over the Galápagos, casting molten light across the lava-sculpted shores and silver sea. From the polished timber decks, you breathe in the salty sea air tinged with the earthy scent of opuntia cacti. Aboard the MC Hermes, the gentle hush of waves against the sleek catamaran’s hull is broken only by the distant, plaintive whistle of a blue-footed booby. In this isolated archipelago 973 kilometres off Ecuador’s mainland coast, nature plays by its own rules. Leopard Seals bask like statues on jagged shores, marine iguanas flick their tails, and frigate birds puff ruby-red throats in flamboyant display. The islands’ legendary, endemic tortoises bask, forage and bathe with unhurried grace — century eclipsing lifespans affording them a life of calm leisure. Here, evolution is not just observed — it is a living, breathing tapestry that surrounds you.

Exclusively chartered exclusively for APT guests, the MC Hermes redefines what it means to explore the world’s most remote corners in refined opulence. With a maximum of just 20 guests and a near one-to-one crew-to-guest ratio, this sleek catamaran blurs the line between ultra-luxury yacht and expedition craft. The expansive guest suites reveal a level of sophistication rarely found on a boutique vessel: each featuring a private balcony, floor-to-ceiling windows, a walk-in wardrobe, and an ocean-view spa bath. After days spent exploring ashore, unwind in the spa’s hammam, or sip a chilled Villebois sauvignon blanc in the open air Aperitif Lounge. The dining experience is a journey in itself: savour velvety lobster bisque crowned with caviar pearls, Galápagos tuna tartare with citrus marinated avocado, and creamy Andean quinoa in a miso reduction laced with white truffle oil. Whether soaking in the Sun Deck’s jacuzzi beneath a canopy of stars or leafing through naturalist tomes in the onboard library, every moment hums with quiet indulgence.

Each day reveals nature at its most divine. Step ashore on Bartolomé Island to hike beside sculptural lava formations, while Galápagos penguins dart through sapphire shallows. Snorkel in waters alive with movement — sea turtles glide past, gentle blacktip reef sharks slink through the blue, and seals pirouette playfully just inches away. On Santa Cruz Island, walk Sail aboard an exclusive mega catamaran through the Gálapagos, where evolutionary wonders unfold amid moments of unhurried indulgence and tailored exploration through the lush highlands where giant tortoises roam freely and lava tunnels wind beneath your feet. In the lowland thickets, Darwin’s finches flit like whispers of the theory they helped inspire. Across the archipelago, freshwater and saltwater lagoons shimmer with life San Cristóbal’s among the most vivid, where flamingos dazzle in flashes of pink.

Guided by expert naturalists with the MC Hermes as your base, every encounter in the beating heart of this wild, wondrous world is shaped by insight, not intrusion — intimate, respectful, and truly transcendent.

Words by Alexander Simpson