The Galapagos Islands are not an easy place to get to, but increasing numbers of people visit this magical and isolated archipelago every year. Many go as a part of an organized cruise, frequently guided by experts who are a mixture of seasoned seafarers, or wildlife specialists.

"Although in oceanic islands the species are few in number, the portion of endemic kinds is often extremely large."
Charles Darwin, On the Origin of Species

Tourism in the Galapagos - The islands in brief

The Galapagos group consists of 13 major islands, 8 smaller islands and 40 islets. There are 3 airstrips on the larger islands of Isabela, Santa Cruz and San Cristóbal

The population is growing and numbers nearly 20,000 people in 2005, four of the islands Isabela, Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal and Floreana have major settlements.

Total sea area is 45,000 square kilometres and total land area is 7,882 square kilometres. Ecuador declared the Galapagos a wildlife sanctuary in 1935 and they were named a World Heritage Site in 1978 by UNESCO.

Groups of scientists and travellers from Ecuador and all over the world visit Galapagos National Park. To minimize the effects of tourism on the animals and unique environments, the park has established strict rules, including no camping on the islands. Visitors must overnight on ships. About 60,000 people visit the archipelago each year.

Visitors to the Galapagos must be accompanied at all times by guides who have been trained by the Charles Darwin Station and licensed by the National Park. These guides are intimately familiar with visitor sites and will share their wealth of knowledge with you daily. In the evenings, they will give briefings on the following day’s events.

The best way to visit the Galapagos Islands is as a part of a guided tour aboard a small cruising vessel, which functions as ‘floating home’ for the duration of your visit. Ships anchor aside islands and passengers are ferried ashore on pangas (small zodiacs) twice a day. Each island offers a different experience. Trained naturalists help travelers while ashore interpreting the islands’ wildlife.  These guides make nature come alive.

A cruise to the Galapagos Islands offers much to the traveler who enjoys the natural world.  Explore the environment that amazed Charles Darwin amongst other ship's naturalists in past centuries with its collection of exotic and unusual wild-life that wanders as freely and fearlessly today as it ever has. From cold-water penguins to marine iguana and blue-footed boobies, this volcanic archipelago continues to amaze visitors of all ages.

Each day of a Galapagos cruise will take you to new rich and varied sites. You may be Snorkellingamong sea turtles, playful sea lions, or Galapagos penguins. On land you'll see giant Galapagos tortoises creep slowly through lush green meadows, or climb to the rim of one of the largest volcano craters in the world.

Situated on the equator, the Galapagos is an excellent year-round destination. There is no “bad time” to visit. Most of the seabirds and reptiles nest year-round, so you will likely see courtship, mating, chicks hatching and rearing at any time of the year. It is worth bearing in mind that the sun rises at 0600 and sets at 1800 with very little variation throughout the year, so it is always worth making an early start to make the most of the available daylight hours.

Weather - Early mornings and late evenings can be cool, and mid-day can be very hot. Overall, the Galápagos Islands have a surprisingly cool, sub-tropical climate caused by the Humboldt and Peruvian currents, despite their situation on the equator. The Islands only receive an average of ten inches of rainfall per year. Coastal areas are dry and arid, while the highlands receive enough rainfall to support lush vegetation.

Some months are warmer than others of course. The temperature in the islands ranges from 60ºF in September to 80° - 90ºF (December – March), and 70° - 80ºF during other times of the year.  In recent years, however, climate changes have made weather predictions more challenging.

January - May: Warmest time of year; Slightly more rainfall; Lower elevations tend to stay arid; Ample blue skies and sunshine; Sea is calmer and at its warmest.

June – December: Air temperature slightly lower; Garua season (Garua: a mist that forms in the highlands, providing moisture); Antarctic Humboldt coming from the south causes slight drop in the water temperature; September is typically coolest.

• Beginning of rainy season
• Ideal time for Snorkelling
• Green turtles arrive to the beaches to lay their eggs

• Seabird communities are active
• Whales are more likely to be found off western side of Isabela
• Lava lizards start mating rituals

• Few penguins sighted on Bartholomew
• Masked boobies on Espanola are at the end of their nesting season

• Galapagos Hawks court on Espanola and Santiago
• Temperature of the ocean lowers to 18ºC (64ºC)
• Migrant shore birds start to arrive
• Giant tortoises return to the highlands of Santa Cruz

• Rainy season reaches the highest precipitation
• Sun and hot climate; air temperatures can reach up to 30ºC (86ºC)
• After Mar 21, arrival of waved albatross on Espanola

• Air temperature reaches its lowest 19ºC (66ºC)
• Penguins and Sea Lions are very active

• Courtship of waved albatross on Espanola begins
• Land iguanas hatch on Isabela
• Green sea turtles begin to hatch

• Galapagos fur seals begin their mating period
• Giant tortoises continue laying their eggs
• Boobies raise their young on Espanola

• Blue-footed boobies begin their courtship on North Seymour
• Most of the marine iguanas’ eggs hatch from nests on Santa Cruz
• Albatross on Espanola start laying their eggs

• Sea lion pups are born

• Beginning of the garua season
• Giant tortoises on Santa Cruz migrate from the highlands to the lowlands in search of nesting places

• Hatching of giant tortoise’s eggs begins & lasts through April
• Rainy season begins and the vegetation starts turning green again

Galapagos Temperatures

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Max air temp. ˚F

84

86

88

86

82

78

76

74

76

77

78

80

Min air temp. ˚F

70

74

74

72

72

68

66

64

62

64

66

68

Ave. sea temp ˚F

74

76

76

76

74

74

72

66

68

70

72

74

Ave. rainfall (inches)

1

1

2

1.5

.75

.25

.50

.25

.50

.25

.50

.50

There are four primary categories of vessels - Smaller vessels, Smaller dive vessels, Mid-sized vessels, and Larger vessels:

Smaller Vessels – 20 passengers or less

The advantages to sailing on a smaller vessel are many.  A smaller group size feels more expeditionary and less crowded when you go ashore. These vessels include motor and sailing vessels and range from basic to luxurious. All offer an intimate and personal atmosphere. Kayaks are typically available onboard as another method of exploration. One of the few drawbacks is that there is little privacy and passengers have only one guide, and therefore one trained perspective.

Smaller Dive Vessels – 16 passengers or less

For those who wish to experience diving in the Galapagos, we offer two types of diving departures:

1) Dive-only programs are for travellers wanting to spend most of their time exploring the underwater world of the Galapagos.  A diving itinerary typically consists of two to three dives a day along with land visits to the islands. At certain dive sites, there may be as many as four dives a day, and, night dives are also provided if conditions are good. 

2) Active departures offer a combo itinerary of both diving and other activities, such as hiking and snorkelling.  These cruises appeal to both divers and non-divers, as passengers are not limited to a specific activity.

Diving in the Galapagos Islands has long been recognized as some of the finest in the world. Galapagos offers a diversity of endemic marine and plant life found in no other place on earth.  However, Galapagos divers should understand that the Galapagos is a technical dive site and should be attempted only by certified experienced and advanced divers. Cold water currents and strong up swellings in different parts of the archipelago can produce sea temperatures as low as 50°F although the average is nearer 67°C throughout most of the year. During the warmer season, from December to March, water temperatures rise to about 75°F.

Make the effort to dive or at least snorkel
seals and penguins underwater are a never to be forgotten experience

Mid-sized Vessels – 40 passengers

Aboard mid-sized ships, you can enjoy the comfort and speed of a larger vessel, while travelling with a smaller group.  These vessels are slightly more spacious, allowing more privacy, and offer more cabin category options.  Additionally, they are generally more luxurious than smaller vessels, often with added amenities such as Jacuzzi, pool and more common areas (i.e. lounge, solarium, bar.  Unlike smaller vessels, these ships have 2-4 naturalists aboard as your guides, which can bring a greater breadth of knowledge onboard.

Galapagos cruises aboard larger vessels offer a high level of comfort, a variety of facilities - lounge, library, snorkelling equipment, hospital, lecture room, pool, gift shop  - and a wide range of accommodations, from single cabins to suites.  The ‘style’ of ship varies from expedition to cruise ship-like, and all have the ability to travel further distances, thus allowing you to see more in a short amount of time.  There is a wide selection of food, onboard snorkel gear and wetsuits, and several different guides.