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 Islands are part of the South American country
of Ecuador. They lie almost exactly on the equator
at latitude: 0° 54' South longitude: 89°
36' West. They are 1,088 km / 676 miles from the nearest
large city on the mainland - Guayaquil and 1,236 km / 768
miles from the capital city of Quito.
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.
Visitors fly into Quito or Guayaquil,
Ecuador, and then take a flight from the mainland
to the islands.
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 Snorkeling among 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.
How long are trips?
Cruises are offered in 4 to 11 day programs,
we recommend at least an 8-day cruise.
How much does it cost?
Rates from $1500 per person for a 4 day trip.
For an 8 day trip with plenty of "features"
and variety and a ship with a good level of comfort, expect to pay
around $4000 - $4500 per person, more affordable trips are
available as are more fully featured trips up to 11 days from
about $6000+
per person.
Family trips available, some cruises
cater particularly for families, child rates for aged 12 and under,
or discounts for the under 21's - details vary with the specific
cruise.
Not included:
Air fares to Ecuador
Flight tickets to Galapagos from Quito
or Guayaquil These can be booked
at a rate of around $420 - $460 per adult and $250 - $275 per child (under
12 at time of sailing). They must be booked at the same time
as the cruise booking, if you wish us to do this for you. These rates are subject to change.
An Ecuador National Park entrance fee
of $100 per adult and $50 per child (12 years and under
at time of sailing) will be due at time of final payment. The
Islands are part of the National Park system.
Galapagos Transit Card ($10 per person) paid in cash upon
arrival to airport.
When do trips take
place?
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 being on the equator, 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 á 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 an average of 19°C / 66°F in September to
26°C - 32°C / 80° - 90°F (December
- March), and 21°C - 26°C / 70° - 80°F 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.
January
Beginning of rainy season
Ideal time for Snorkeling
Green turtles arrive to the beaches to lay their
eggs
July
Seabird communities are active
Whales are more likely to be found off western side
of Isabela
Lava lizards start mating rituals
February
Few penguins sighted on Bartholomew
Masked boobies on Espanola are at the end of their
nesting season
August
Galapagos Hawks court on Espanola and Santiago
Temperature of the ocean lowers to 18°C -
64°F
Migrant shore birds start to arrive
Giant tortoises return to the highlands of Santa
Cruz
March
Rainy season reaches the highest precipitation
Sun and hot climate; air temperatures can reach
up to 30°C - 86°F
After Mar 21, arrival of waved albatross on Espanola
September
Air temperature reaches its lowest 19°C -
66°F
Penguins and Sea Lions are very active
April
Courtship of waved albatross on Espanola beginss
Land iguanas hatch on Isabela
Green sea turtles begin to hatch
October
Galapagos fur seals begin their mating period
Giant tortoises continue laying their eggs
Boobies raise their young on Espanola
May
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
November
Sea lion pups are born
June
Beginning of the garua season
Giant tortoises on Santa Cruz migrate from the highlands
to the lowlands in search of nesting places
December
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
0.75
0.25
0.50
0.25
0.50
0.25
0.50
0.50
Are the Galapagos
a good destination for children, families, seniors?
The
magic of the Galapagos captivates people of all ages, from youngsters
to seniors, and truly brings out the child in everyone. Daily
morning and afternoon activities - whether its hiking, beach combing,
snorkeling, or enjoying a Zodiac trip - give you the opportunity
to spend most of your time "off ship" exploring wildlife and vegetation
of the islands.
However, it is also important to note that these trips have a
great deal of flexibility, meaning you can choose the level of difficulty
of an activity, and you can, of course, opt to not participate in
an excursion.
The Galapagos is a wildlife wonderland for
children! We have had the opportunity to travel through the islands
with children ourselves, and have seen, first-hand their curiosity
and enthusiasm to snorkel two feet away from a sea lion pup, hike
past dancing blue-footed boobies, and admire a 170-year-old tortoise!
The islands give children an opportunity to gain a sense of connectedness
to nature, which for many is a new phenomenon, as well as a chance
to learn without even realizing!
Cruising in such an environment means that it
is the passengers who are "in the cage" and the wildlife
outside free to roam.
The boats and ships move around readily from
island to island making travel very relaxed and comfortable,
always surrounded by full facilities and the freedom to move
around the vessel.
Conversely with many cruises however, shore-trips
are regular and there are not protracted periods of sailing
in open sea.
Activities are on the basis of doing as much
as you want, if you simply don't want to join an excursion,
you don't need to, pick and choose according to ability
and preference.
Certain cruises are specifically aimed at families
with family oriented facilities and activities and of course
a greater chance that there will be other children on the vessel
for new found friends - always a boon for the parent on holiday!
Note: The National Park System asks
that visitors be at least 7 years old to protect the wildlife, the
nesting habitats, and the welfare of the child.
Boat size
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 snorkeling.
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 10°C
- 50°F
although the average is nearer 20°C - 67°C throughout most
of the year. During the warmer season, from December to
March, water temperatures rise to about 24°C - 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.
Larger Vessels - 80 to 100 passengers
Galapagos cruises aboard larger vessels offer a high level
of comfort, a variety of facilities - lounge, library, snorkeling
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.
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