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Rotary in the Galápagos · 0°40′S 90°33′W

Rotary in the Galápagos

We searched MatchingGrants.org, Rotary sources and island news and found no documented Rotary Foundation project in the Galápagos yet. The first one will carry the name of a friend of the mangroves.

In loving memory · 8 June 1972 to 9 September 2026

Dr. Meenakshi "Mina" Venkataraman

Mina served as a Director of the Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group (ESRAG) from 2021 to 2024 and was the founding Chair of ESRAG South Asia. She was also a Rotary Foundation Cadre adviser for the environment and convenor of the Rotary Friends of Environment mangrove team, and she helped carry mangrove restoration from village shorelines in India onto Rotary's global agenda. The Rotary Club of Newport Beach is forming a committee of clubs to plant and protect a Galápagos mangrove forest in her name, with the Galápagos National Park and local partners.

4mangrove species in the islands: red, black, white and button
~100mangrove finches left, one of the rarest birds on Earth
97%of the land is national park, protected since 1959

Join us in December 2028

Rotary Galápagos visit

We are planning a December 2028 group trip for Rotarians, families and friends: tortoises in the Santa Cruz highlands, sea lions and sharks below the surface, meetings with the national park, and a visit to help choose the site of the Mina mangrove forest. Planned for December 2028.

See the dive trip plan ↓

2028 Rotary Galápagos Dive Expedition · December 2028

One boat, one small crew: 12 to 16 divers

A week on a liveaboard to Darwin and Wolf, the two northern islands known for schooling hammerheads, whale sharks and Galápagos sharks, combined with land days on Santa Cruz to meet the national park and see the site of the Mina mangrove forest.

16guests is the most any Galápagos dive boat carries
7 nightstypical itinerary, 18 to 19 dives including Darwin and Wolf
$5,200 to $7,500per person for the boat week, 2026 and 2027 listed rates
~$10,000estimated all-in per diver from the U.S., including flights, fees and tips

The plan

12 to 16 divers

We charter one whole boat

Galápagos dive boats carry at most 16 guests, so we will book an entire boat for a week in December 2028 and fill every cabin with Rotarians, family and friends. A small, close group means the same dive buddies all week, our own briefings on board, and one shared visit to the Mina mangrove forest site on Santa Cruz at the end. If more than 16 people sign up, we will keep a waiting list.

Boats we can charter

BoatGuestsListed price per personNotes
Galapagos Aggressor III16$7,350 (7 nights, 2027)8 cabins; Aggressor fleet
Galaxy Diver II16From $7,500 (8 days)Darwin and Wolf itinerary
Galapagos Sky16From $7,495 (8 days)Wolf, Darwin, Bartolomé, Cousins Rock
Calipso16From $7,395 (8 days)Highly rated
Humboldt Explorer16Ask for charter quote8 cabins; hot tub; recommends 60+ logged dives
Aqua16 or fewerFrom $5,195 (8 days)Lower-cost option to Wolf and Darwin

Listed 2026 and 2027 prices from operator and agent websites in September 2026; 2028 prices will be higher. Charter prices, group discounts and 2028 availability must be confirmed with each operator.

When to go

  • July to November Cooler water (16 to 23°C), stronger currents and the best odds for whale sharks at Darwin and Wolf.
  • December to June Warmer water (20 to 28°C), better visibility and manta rays.
  • Our dates: December 2028 After Thanksgiving and before Christmas. December is the changeover month: water warms to about 20 to 24°C, seas calm down and visibility improves, while the sharks of Darwin and Wolf are still there. Exact dates will be set once we secure a boat.

What each diver needs

  • Experience Advanced certification and about 60 or more logged dives, with a dive in the six months before the trip. Currents are strong.
  • Paperwork Passport valid 3+ months, $200 national park fee (cash) and $20 transit card.
  • Extras Flights to Baltra through Quito or Guayaquil, nitrox, crew tips of 10 to 15 percent, fuel surcharge, dive insurance.

Timeline

  1. Late 2026 Collect names from interested divers.
  2. Early 2027 Request charter quotes and hold a December 2028 week with two or three operators.
  3. Mid 2027 Sign the charter and collect deposits.
  4. 2027 to 2028 Plan the Mina mangrove forest with the national park; meet the group at Earthx2027 and Earthx2028 in Dallas.
  5. December 2028 Dive Darwin and Wolf, then visit the Mina mangrove forest on Santa Cruz.

Galápagos boats book up early: when we checked in September 2026, Explorer Ventures already showed its November and early December 2027 departures as full. That is why we are planning for December 2028.

Rotary projects in and near the Galápagos

Description Project Website

Sources: MatchingGrants.org lists 40 global, 4 district and 28 legacy grants for Ecuador, none located in the Galápagos. Mainland projects are marked as mainland. Know of Rotary work in the islands? Tell us and we will add it to the register.