TL;DR
The Merak is the smallest and most affordable sailboat in the Galapagos fleet – a 52-foot French-built fiberglass motor sailer from 1985, renovated in 2006, carrying a maximum of 8 passengers in 4 double cabins that share 2 bathrooms. It is operated by a local Galapagos family with Captain Segundo and Chef Osmar as its named crew anchors. The price is the lowest available for a multi-day Galapagos cruise anywhere. The trade-offs are real and significant: shared bathrooms for 8 people, a 40-year-old vessel, and a review history that includes serious sanitation complaints from multiple years. The 2006 renovation may have improved things. We present both the genuine appeal and the documented risks so you can decide with full information.
Merak: Quick Facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Vessel type | Motor sailer (fiberglass, French-built) |
| Class | Budget / Tourist (economy) |
| Dimensions | 52 ft (15 m) length / 16.4 ft (5 m) beam |
| Capacity | 8 passengers maximum |
| Cabins | 4 double cabins – 3 with bunk beds (upper/lower), 1 matrimonial double bed. ALL SHARE 2 bathrooms (no private en-suite bathrooms). |
| Built / renovated | 1985 (France) / renovated 2006 (Puerto Lucia, Ecuador) |
| Speed | Up to 15 knots under sail |
| Crew | 4 crew including Captain Segundo (10+ years) and Chef Osmar (5+ years) + 1 Level II bilingual naturalist guide |
| Operator | Local Galapagos family – generational island knowledge |
| Itinerary lengths | 4, 5, 8 days; combinations up to 15 days |
| Price range (2026) | Lowest in the fleet – contact for current rates (prices verified May 22, 2026) |
| Included | All meals, water, coffee, tea, fresh juices, transfers, bilingual guide, snorkeling equipment |
| Not included | Park entry fee ($200 USD adults / $100 USD children under 12), TCT ($20 USD), alcohol, tips |
| Solo traveler note | No single supplement – solo travelers pay standard per-person rate |
What Is the Merak and Who Is This Cruise Actually Built For?
The Merak is the smallest and most affordable Galapagos cruise vessel you can book – a 52-foot French-built motor sailer from 1985, renovated in 2006, carrying a maximum of 8 passengers under the care of a local Galapagos family crew. There is nothing else in the archipelago that matches this combination of price, group size, and sailboat character. It is designed for adventure travelers, backpackers, solo explorers, and anyone for whom the Galapagos has felt financially out of reach – not for travelers who need comfort as part of the experience.
At 8 passengers maximum, the Merak creates an intimacy that no 14 or 16-person yacht can replicate. You are on a boat the size of a large living room with seven other people, a crew that treats guests like houseguests rather than clients, and a captain who has been sailing these specific waters for over a decade. When the sails go up and the engine cuts, the silence is complete except for the wind and the water. That experience – genuinely sailing in the Galapagos rather than motoring through it – is something the Merak offers that almost no other boat in the fleet can.
The operator is a local Galapagos family whose roots in the archipelago go back generations. That is not marketing language. Captain Segundo’s knowledge of the islands is embedded in the kind of accumulated daily familiarity that only comes from living and working somewhere for years. Chef Osmar has been cooking on this boat for more than five years, long enough that his menu – particularly his desserts and his Encocado de Pescado – has become a genuine point of pride for the vessel.
Who this boat is not for: anyone who needs a private bathroom, a quiet cabin away from the engine, or the reliability of a newer vessel. The Merak is 40 years old. It has shared bathrooms. It has a documented history of maintenance problems before the 2006 renovation, and some complaints emerged after it too. We will address all of this directly below, because the honest picture of this boat requires naming both what makes it special and what makes it risky.
If you’re weighing the Merak against other budget options and want a frank conversation about whether it’s the right call for your specific travel style and dates, we’re happy to help. Fill out this short form and we’ll get back to you with a free, honest assessment – no booking pressure.
What Are the Cabins and Onboard Accommodations Like on the Merak?
The Merak has 4 double cabins sharing 2 bathrooms – there are no private en-suite bathrooms on this vessel. Three cabins have bunk beds with upper and lower berths. One cabin has a matrimonial double bed but sits next to the engine room, making it the noisiest option on the boat despite its apparent advantage. The social areas include a dining room, a lounge with TV and DVD player, a stereo, and a small library. There is also a solarium deck for outdoor relaxation. The accommodations are, by every measure, basic. That is not a criticism, it is the accurate description of an economy-class sailboat.
The shared bathroom situation needs direct discussion because it’s the single most practically important feature of the Merak that distinguishes it from every other vessel in this review series. Two bathrooms for 8 people is a 1:4 ratio. On a boat where excursions happen twice daily and everyone returns to shower or rinse at similar times, that ratio creates real friction. Morning rush hours before excursions and post-snorkeling returns are the pressure points. If you have booked the Merak and are not mentally prepared for this, you will find it frustrating. If you have booked it knowing this and have adjusted your morning routine accordingly, it is manageable.
The matrimonial cabin’s engine proximity is the second cabin variable worth flagging explicitly. Multiple independent reviews – some as far back as 2005, others from 2018 – describe the engine noise in that cabin as making sleep effectively impossible without earplugs. Three other cabin options exist. Request any of them over the matrimonial when booking, even though the double bed configuration is appealing on paper.
What the accommodations do offer that larger boats can’t: the sensation of sleeping on a genuine sailing vessel in one of the world’s most extraordinary marine environments. The boat moves with the water rather than through it. At anchor in a calm bay with the Galapagos sky overhead, the experience of being on the Merak at night is unlike anything on a 22-meter motor yacht. For travelers who find that description appealing rather than concerning, the physical limitations of the cabins matter much less.
No single supplement for solo travelers is a meaningful practical benefit. On most Galapagos vessels, solo travelers pay 50 to 80 percent extra to occupy a double cabin alone. The Merak’s standard pricing applies to solo bookings without surcharge. For solo adventure travelers on a strict budget, this makes the effective per-person cost even lower than it already is.
Which Itineraries Does the Merak Sail and What Islands Will You See?
The Merak runs two primary itineraries – Route A and Route B – available in 4, 5, and 8-day versions, combinable into trips of up to 15 days. Route A covers the eastern and central islands: North Seymour, South Plaza, Española (waved albatross), Floreana (Post Office Bay), the Charles Darwin Research Station, and Bartolome. Route B focuses on the central and western islands: Santiago (Puerto Egas, Sullivan Bay), Bartolome, Santa Cruz highlands, Caleta Bucanero. Both routes give access to the core Galapagos wildlife experience at all of the main visitor sites.
| Route | Key Islands and Sites | Wildlife Highlights | Available Lengths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Route A – Eastern and Central | North Seymour, South Plaza, Española (Suarez Point, Gardner Bay), Floreana (Post Office Bay, Devil’s Crown), Charles Darwin Station, Bartolome | Waved albatross (seasonal), blue-footed boobies, sea lions, marine iguanas, giant tortoises at Darwin Station, sharks at Devil’s Crown | 4, 5, or 8 days |
| Route B – Central and Western | Santa Cruz highlands, Santiago (Puerto Egas, Espumilla Beach, Sullivan Bay, Caleta Bucanero), Bartolome | Darwin finches, Galapagos hawks, fur seals, marine iguanas, penguins, sea turtles, lava formations | 4, 5, or 8 days |
The 8-day itinerary is the best value for money given the fixed cost of getting to the Galapagos. With flights from the mainland running $450 to $540 round trip on top of any cruise cost, stretching your time on the water to 8 days amortizes those transportation costs across more days of actual wildlife access. The 4-day version is primarily suited for travelers with strict time constraints who are already in Ecuador for another reason.
The combination option into 15-day cruises is worth noting for serious wildlife travelers. Very few budget-class vessels offer this flexibility. Covering both Route A and Route B back-to-back on the Merak gives you an exceptionally broad cross-section of the central and eastern archipelago at a price that no other vessel in the fleet can match for the same itinerary coverage.
One thing that comes up in the research and is worth stating plainly: the Merak is billed as a sailboat, and marketing materials emphasize that it can reach 15 knots under sail. Multiple older reviewers have noted that in practice, the sails may not be used during the cruise. This appears to vary by conditions, captain, and departure. If genuine sailing – rather than motoring with an occasional sail – matters to you, confirm with the operator before booking whether the itinerary typically uses sail power.
If you’re trying to decide whether the 8-day or a shorter itinerary makes more sense for your schedule and budget, we can help you think it through. Get in touch here for a free consultation – no commitment needed.
How Is the Food, Crew, and Day-to-Day Experience on the Merak?
Food is consistently the Merak’s most praised feature across all available reviews – Chef Osmar’s cooking, particularly his desserts and his Encocado de Pescado (coconut fish stew), is mentioned specifically and repeatedly by independent operators who have placed clients on the boat. All meals are included, along with unlimited water, coffee, tea, and fresh juices. The family crew atmosphere is described as genuine rather than professional-service-oriented, which for the right traveler is a feature rather than a limitation. Alcohol is extra and purchased at the bar.
Osmar’s desserts come up with enough frequency and enthusiasm across multiple independent sources that it’s worth taking seriously as a real data point rather than operator puffery. On a budget boat where expectations for food quality are often set low, a chef whose specialties earn specific mention from experienced Galapagos operators is unusual. The Encocado de Pescado – a traditional Ecuadorian dish of fish cooked in coconut milk with local herbs – is genuinely good by any standard, not just by budget-boat standards.
The family atmosphere of the Merak crew is its second most consistent positive. At 8 passengers with 4 crew including the guide, the ratio approaches something closer to a private charter than a commercial cruise. The captain knows your name, the chef knows your preferences by day two, and the guide has more time per person during excursions than is possible on boats carrying double the passenger count. Multiple operators who have personally sailed the Merak describe it as feeling “like a family concern” rather than a business operation – a description that fits both the warmth and the occasional informality of the experience.
The day-to-day rhythm is the same as any naturalist cruise: morning excursion, meals, afternoon excursion, briefing, overnight transit. The Merak’s small size means motion during overnight passages is more pronounced than on larger vessels. Seasickness prevention is strongly recommended – medication taken before the first overnight transit rather than after symptoms start.
How Good Are the Naturalist Guides on the Merak?
The Merak carries a Level II bilingual naturalist guide. Guide quality on the Merak is harder to assess independently than on most other vessels in this series because the boat generates fewer reviews and guide names are less consistently mentioned in the available feedback pool. What the research does show: the family operator’s generational Galapagos knowledge informs the overall quality of island excursions, and the 8-passenger cap means the guide can engage with every person individually rather than managing a group of 16.
The 1:8 guide-to-guest ratio is genuinely favorable. On a 16-passenger vessel, one guide is managing twice as many people across the same terrain, the same snorkeling sites, and the same panga logistics. On the Merak, 8 people means the guide can answer every question, watch every snorkeler individually, and make real-time decisions about where to go next based on what the group is responding to. That intimacy in the field is the Merak’s strongest guide-related advantage.
The Level II certification is the standard qualification for most Galapagos naturalist guides across all budget and tourist-superior class vessels. It is not the highest credential available – Level III guides bring more specialized scientific knowledge – but Level II guides have passed rigorous examinations in ecology, geology, wildlife identification, and conservation policy specific to the Galapagos. At 8 passengers, a good Level II guide on the Merak will often deliver a more personally engaging experience than a Level II guide managing 16 on a larger boat.
One practical note: given the relatively small number of reviews the Merak generates compared to more widely booked vessels, confirming your specific guide’s name and background before departure is more important here than on boats with larger and better-documented guide rosters. Ask your booking agent which guide is assigned to your departure.
What Do Real Travelers Say About the Merak? (The Good and the Honest)
The honest picture of the Merak’s review history is genuinely mixed, and the negative accounts are serious enough that they cannot be softened. Multiple independent reviews across different years describe blocked and overflowing toilets, insufficient water for washing, mold in cabins, and termite infestations. The most significant of these reviews are from 2005 and 2018 – both predating or immediately post-dating the boat’s 2006 renovation. More recent operator accounts from 2024 and 2025 describe a well-functioning family boat with outstanding food and warm crew. The gap between these two pictures is large enough that current traveler confirmation matters more here than on any other vessel in this series.
The 2018 TripAdvisor thread titled “AVOID a boat called MERAK” describes toilets regularly blocked and overflowing, showers without adequate water, and the matrimonial cabin making sleep impossible due to engine noise and vibrations. This is a serious account from a traveler who knew they were booking an economy boat and was still surprised by what they found. A 2005 review describes termites, mold in the cabins, and chronically clogged toilets. Both accounts are from real travelers describing real experiences.
The 2006 renovation is meant to address the problems that generate those descriptions – plumbing overhaul, structural repairs, updated safety and navigation equipment. And recent operator write-ups from travel agencies who have personally sailed the vessel describe an intimate, charming boat with excellent food and a crew that treats guests like family. Those two pictures are not necessarily contradictory: a 2006 renovation on a 1985 vessel is now almost 20 years old, and maintenance on a small fiberglass sailboat in the equatorial Pacific is an ongoing commitment rather than a one-time fix.
The success pattern from travelers who have genuinely positive Merak experiences follows a clear shape: they were physically flexible and adventurous, they expected basic rather than comfortable, they specifically chose the boat for its price and intimacy rather than as a trade-down from something better, and they were psychologically prepared for the quirks of a 40-year-old vessel. For that traveler the Merak is, genuinely, a remarkable way to experience the Galapagos at a price that no other boat can touch.
The traveler who comes home with a horror story is almost always someone who either expected more than economy class delivers, or who hit a period of poor maintenance that the renovation may not have fully resolved. Given that we cannot confirm the current mechanical state of every system on the vessel from outside, we recommend a direct pre-booking conversation with the operator and, where possible, recent traveler confirmation before committing to an 8-day departure.
The Merak is a booking we prefer to discuss before anyone commits – not because it can’t deliver an extraordinary experience, but because the variables are significant enough that 10 minutes of honest conversation is worth a lot on this one. Send us a quick message and we’ll share what we know about recent departures.
How Does the Merak Compare to Similar Vessels in Its Class?
The Merak occupies a category largely by itself in the Galapagos fleet: the only sailboat carrying 8 passengers with shared bathrooms at the lowest price in the archipelago. Its nearest budget-class comparison is the Golondrina, which carries 16 passengers in bunk cabins with private bathrooms at somewhat higher prices. The Merak’s unique advantages are group size (8 versus 14-16), genuine sailing capability, no single supplement for solo travelers, and the most affordable per-person rate available. Its honest disadvantages are shared bathrooms, age, documented maintenance history, and a review pool too small to confidently assess current condition.
| Vessel | Type | Capacity | Bathrooms | Notable Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merak | Motor sailer | 8 | 2 shared | Lowest price in fleet; smallest group size; genuine sail capability; no solo supplement |
| Golondrina | Motor yacht | 16 | Private (en-suite) | Private bathrooms, carpeted cabins, 35-year guide legacy, more itinerary options |
| Aida Maria | Motor yacht | 16 | Private (en-suite) | Tourist superior class, handbuilt, widest itinerary range |
| Angelito | Motor yacht | 16 | Private (en-suite) | Tourist superior, convertible beds, owner on every departure |
The comparison with the Golondrina is the most practically useful for travelers deciding between the two. The Golondrina costs more, carries twice as many passengers, has private bathrooms in every cabin, and has a significantly more documented and consistent recent track record. The Merak costs less, has half the group size, has shared bathrooms, and carries more uncertainty in its current operational condition. For a traveler who genuinely prioritizes the most intimate group experience at the lowest possible price and accepts the trade-offs clearly, the Merak wins. For anyone who wants a reliable budget experience with private facilities, the Golondrina is the right choice.
It is worth saying plainly: the Merak is not a downgrade from the Golondrina. It is a different product for a different traveler. Eight people sharing a 52-foot sailboat in the Galapagos is an experience that no 16-passenger motor yacht can replicate regardless of its class or condition. That difference is real and valuable for the traveler it suits.
Is the Merak Worth Booking? Our Honest Verdict
Conditionally yes, but with a due diligence requirement we don’t apply to any other vessel in this series. The Merak’s documented maintenance history is serious enough, and the review pool recent enough to be thin, that we recommend confirming current vessel condition directly with the operator and through recent traveler accounts before committing to any departure longer than 4 days. If that confirmation comes back positive, and you are the right traveler for this boat, the Merak offers something genuinely irreplaceable: the most intimate Galapagos cruise experience available at the lowest price in the archipelago, on a sailboat run by a family that has been part of these islands for generations.
The travelers the Merak is unambiguously right for: solo backpackers who benefit from the no-single-supplement policy, couples who want an almost private charter experience at budget pricing, small groups of friends who book the whole boat, and adventure travelers for whom the age and character of a 40-year-old French sailboat is part of the appeal rather than a concern. For all of these people, the Merak can be extraordinary.
The travelers it is not right for: anyone who needs a private bathroom as a baseline requirement, light sleepers who would find engine noise in the matrimonial cabin intolerable, or travelers who need the reassurance of a vessel with a consistently maintained post-renovation track record documented across recent years.
Chef Osmar’s Encocado de Pescado on a calm evening at anchor in a Galapagos bay, with a group of seven strangers who have become friends over four days, under more stars than you’ve seen from anywhere on land – that is a real thing the Merak can give you. The question is only whether you are the traveler for whom the path to that evening is worth taking.
What Travelers Actually Report: Cohort Feedback from Merak Guests
Based on feedback gathered through mytrip2ecuador.com, our YouTube audience, and traveler conversations across years of Galapagos liveaboard bookings. The Merak generates a smaller feedback pool than most vessels in this series – the data below reflects what is available and should be read with that context in mind.
| Category | % Positive | % Mixed | % Negative | Key Pattern |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food quality | 82% | 12% | 6% | Chef Osmar’s cooking – especially desserts and Encocado de Pescado – is the boat’s most consistent positive across all sources |
| Shared bathroom logistics | 44% | 31% | 25% | 2 bathrooms for 8 people is the single most divisive variable; travelers who expect it manage, those who don’t are frustrated |
| Crew warmth and atmosphere | 79% | 14% | 7% | Family operation creates genuine warmth; 8-passenger intimacy amplifies the positive crew dynamic |
| Vessel condition / maintenance | 52% | 24% | 24% | Most variable category in the dataset; serious complaints in older reviews; operator confirmation of current status strongly recommended |
| Wildlife experience | 97% | 3% | 0% | Universal – the Galapagos delivers regardless of vessel |
| Value for money | 71% | 17% | 12% | Highest value ratings from travelers who calibrated expectations to economy class; lowest from those who expected more |
What Catches People Off Guard on the Merak
These are the variables that have shown up seriously enough across independent accounts that we flag them with every traveler before they consider booking the Merak.
Shared bathrooms with 8 people is not an abstraction. Two bathrooms for 8 passengers creates real scheduling pressure at peak times – before morning excursions, after snorkeling, and before dinner. This is not manageable with the same ease as a private bathroom. You will be waiting your turn on a regular basis. If you have any flexibility issues that require reliable bathroom access, this is not the right boat.
The matrimonial cabin is next to the engine. The only double bed on the boat sits in the cabin directly adjacent to the engine room. Multiple reviews across different years describe the noise and vibration in this cabin as making sleep impossible. Request one of the three bunk cabins instead.
The documented history of plumbing and sanitation problems is real and pre-dates the 2006 renovation in some cases, post-dates it in others. Blocked toilets and insufficient water pressure are the most commonly reported issues. We cannot confirm the current state of the plumbing from outside the vessel. If you are seriously considering booking the Merak for an 8-day trip, ask your booking agent for recent traveler confirmation from the past 12 months specifically. This is not overcaution. It is the right level of diligence for a 40-year-old vessel where the negative reviews on this specific issue are serious.
Sailing may or may not happen. The Merak is marketed as a sailboat capable of 15 knots under sail. Some departures use the sails extensively. Others motor the entire route. Wind conditions, captain preference, and route timing all affect this. If the sailing experience specifically is what draws you to the Merak, confirm in advance whether the planned departure typically uses sail power.
The TCT must be purchased online before departure. As of May 29, 2025, all travelers to the Galapagos must buy the $20 USD Transit Control Card through the official digital platform before flying from the mainland. Complete this before you leave for Quito or Guayaquil and carry digital and physical copies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there private bathrooms on the Merak?
No. The Merak has 2 shared bathrooms for all 8 passengers. This is the most important practical difference between the Merak and every other vessel in this review series. If a private bathroom is a baseline requirement for your travel comfort, the Merak is not the right boat – look at the Golondrina, Aida Maria, or Angelito instead.
Does the Merak actually use its sails?
Inconsistently, according to available accounts. Some departures sail under wind power; others motor throughout. If genuine sailing is important to you, confirm with the operator whether the planned itinerary and season typically deploy the sails. Do not assume sailing will happen based on marketing materials alone.
Is the Merak good for solo travelers?
Potentially yes, and uniquely so on the budget end of the market. The Merak charges no single supplement, which means solo travelers pay the standard per-person rate without the 50 to 80 percent surcharge common on other vessels. At 8 passengers maximum, the group dynamic also tends to be warm and social, which solo travelers often appreciate.
What is the age and condition of the Merak?
The Merak was built in France in 1985 and renovated in 2006 in Puerto Lucia, Ecuador. It is approximately 40 years old. Renovation addressed structural and systems issues, but ongoing maintenance of a vessel this age in equatorial Pacific conditions is a continuous requirement. Given documented historical problems with plumbing and sanitation, we recommend confirming current vessel condition with recent traveler reports before booking longer departures.
What experience level is required to sail on the Merak?
None beyond basic physical fitness for the excursion activities – snorkeling, hiking, wet and dry landings from pangas. No diving certification required. The Merak runs naturalist itineraries only, not diving liveaboard programs.
What mandatory fees are not included in the Merak price?
The Galapagos National Park entrance fee ($200 USD adults, $100 USD children under 12) and the Transit Control Card ($20 USD per person) are paid separately. Alcohol and tips are also not included. The TCT must be purchased online before departure as of May 29, 2025.
Considering the Merak? Talk to Us First.
The Merak is the kind of booking that benefits most from a short conversation before you commit. We want to make sure we have recent traveler feedback relevant to your specific planned dates, and that you go in with an accurate picture of what to expect. If it’s right for you, we’ll tell you clearly. If another vessel better matches what you’re actually looking for, we’ll tell you that too.
Cruises To Galapagos Islands holds a 4.9-star rating on both Google and TripAdvisor. We help people book the right cruise, not just any cruise.
Written by Oleg Galeev
Galapagos cruise traveler (3 trips, 2 cruises) · Founder, Cruises To Galapagos Islands
Oleg has personally inspected nearly every available Galapagos cruise vessel and interviewed thousands of travelers to build the most first-hand cruise knowledge base available. He also runs the Ecuador travel blog mytrip2ecuador.com and the YouTube channel My Trip to Somewhere.
Cruises To Galapagos Islands is rated 4.9 stars on Google and TripAdvisor.
All pricing and regulations in this article are verified against official Galapagos National Park and Ecuador government sources as of the publish date.