Discover the amazing and fearless wildlife that you can see on a fascinating visit to the Galapagos Islands.
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South America
Sally lightfoot crab
Although weather conditions may dictate when you travel, the weather in any country that you are thinking to combine with the Galapagos Islands often has an overriding impact. The weather on the Galapagos itself allows for year-round travel but there are two distinct seasons.
The warmer, wet season runs from November through to April and during this time you can expect hot, sunny days with isolated downpours. The ocean is calmer at this time of year with warmer waters and better underwater visibility, so this period can be popular amongst snorkellers, swimmers as well as those prone to motion sickness.
The cooler, dry season begins in May and runs through to October. During this period a mist called the Garua descends on the islands. In the late dry season it does not burn off until late morning but after this you can expect a pleasant, sunny afternoon. Water temperatures are cooler and the ocean can be choppier, particularly in September, which has the roughest conditions around the archipelago.
Ecuador has a privileged position on the western coast of South America and a number of international airlines serve both Quito and Guayaquil opening up numerous possibilities. Popular combinations include the Ecuadorian mainland, complete with stunning Andean scenery and colourful market towns. Perennially popular is a combination with Peru to visit the Inca and pre-Inca civilisations. Venezuela, home to the Angel Falls and stunning beaches of Los Roques, Panama with the magnificent engineering feat of the Panama Canal or Costa Rica and Nicaragua with the mist shrouded cloud-forests, smouldering volcanoes, lush rainforests and white sandy beaches are all easily combined.
You will need to fly into either Quito or Guayaquil and spend a minimum of one night on the Ecuadorian mainland prior to your cruise, then take one of the daily flights to the islands. Upon arrival in the Galapagos you will be met by a representative from your cruise vessel.
This depends and there is no right or wrong answer. Factors such as timeframe, budget and the appeal all come into play. Most vessels operate 7 night cruises although more and more boats are offering shorter 3 and 4 night departures. It is very rare to hear anyone say that 7 nights.
Some, but not all, vessels are well equipped for children and our specialists will be able to advise on this. The larger vessels are generally more popular as they have more facilities to occupy children. Some boats offer dedicated family departures during the school holiday period with additional activities for children and an extra guide to cater for their interests. Please ask us for further details.
Galapagos cruises are very social occasions so any single traveller will quickly become part of a group. However, single cabins often carry a hefty single supplement. There are now a handful of boats that offer dedicated single cabins thus eliminating any supplement. We may also be able to offer you a ‘same sex share’ if there is more than one single person on board.
Some of the smaller vessels we use are available for charter, which is ideal if you have a group of friends and family. This can be a cost-effective and delightful way to see the islands.
There are no major fitness issues involved in visiting the Galapagos Islands but a reasonable degree of agility may be required to get on and off pangas (dinghy type boats) to and from the individual islands.
All your meals and excursions will be included while you are on your vessel, and the majority provide you with snorkelling gear as well. Wetsuits can be hired upon arrival, and you can usually pre-order your size of wetsuit for an extra fee. You will need money for the National Park entrance fee ($100 per person paid in cash on arrival), tips and drinks. We will provide you with guidelines before you travel. Some vessels include the entrance fees in their rates. Again we can advise on this at the time of booking.
All boat itineraries are strictly set by the National Park authorities and as such are subject to change without notice. Of course, it is not possible for any vessel to visit every island in seven days. All the vessels we offer have excellent and varied itineraries giving you the opportunity to see the full diversity of Galapagos wildlife.
For those who suffer from severe seasickness we recommend one of the larger vessels. The dryer season brings the choppiest waters with September being the worst month for ocean conditions.