How amazing would it be to sail around the Galápagos islands in the company of Charles Darwin? We don’t have a time machine to loan you (sorry), but you can do the next best thing by embarking upon a sailing with Professor Kenneth Noll, a distinguished scientist who channels Darwin through a spot-on depiction, right down to hat, beard and period clothing.

© Quasar Expeditions

Noll’s portrayal of Darwin takes place during a small-ship excursion with Quasar Expeditions aboard the M/V Evolution yacht, July 19–26. The cruise will follow Darwin’s historic journey from 200 years ago aboard HMS Beagle, adding a fascinating historic context as Noll adopts the role of tour guide to bring Darwin’s 1831 expedition to life.

Noll, a naturalist and microbiologist, first took on the Darwin role for Quasar Expeditions in 2023. He’ll offer lectures and plenty of insight on the flora and fauna of each island, and demonstrate why Darwin claimed “the [Galápagos] archipelago is a little world within itself.”

© Quasar Expeditions

Along the way, guests have an opportunity to hike along little-known trails and visit isolated coves in guided adventures, go snorkeling and kayaking, and watch for majestic sea creatures including whales.

Limited to 32 guests, the journey aboard the family-owned M/V Evolution will visit nine islands, including Genovesa and Santa Fe, which remain inaccessible to larger ships. The scaled-down size of M/V Evolution also helps create less of an environmental impact through the intricate ecosystems of these remote destinations. Prices begin at $9,500 per person, and include entrance fees to Galápagos National Park, Transit Card, Starlink high-speed WiFi and an open bar.