Best Way to Travel to Galapagos Islands

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The Galapagos, located around 600 miles west of the continent of Latin America, is fairly probably the best possible location to see evolution throughout its natural beauty.

Named, in Spanish, after the species which is without any doubt the most famous of the island archipelago: The Galapagos Tortoise; the Galapagos offers quite a few groups of little dainty islands all of which are born of below surface volcanoes eruptions.

Situated entirely on the equator, the Galapagos gets all of the rewards of such a overseas position because the 16 islands have bright and sunny weather all year round! If that wasn’t enough they are in the crossroads for 2 really important trade winds: The North East trade winds (coming from North and the South East trade winds (from South America). These winds are likely precisely what begun the influx of self-sufficient life around the island chain – and are considered to have been the agent responsible for the vast forests covering the higher slopes of the islands.

These island of intense natural charm have generated the evolution of numerous varied, and fairly exclusive, habitats that have in turn allowed the local wildlife, both plants and creatures likewise, to grow in manners that basically has a lot of scientists surprised.

The rest of the Galapagos chain is also a scenario of unique, inter-dependent, not to mention really stunning fauna.

Galapagos Islands Weather Averages

The Galapagos Islands, positioned in the Pacific Ocean, around a thousand kilometers west of Ecuador, have a distinct weather conditions, warm and semi-arid, with a hot and relatively stormy season coming from January to May, and a cool and dry period, as well as cloudy and misty, coming from July to November.

The landscapes of the Galapagos are dry, with the exception of the highlands of the larger islands, which obtain more abundant rainfall. As was already observed by Charles Darwin, who as we know studied the details of the species living in the isles, their weather conditions are cooler than a person would likely anticipate from a place located close to the Equator, because of the Humboldt Current, which often reaches the area right after circulating in the ocean west of South America. Anyway, here the weather is not the same from one year to the other, since there are various sea currents which meet or alternate in the area (additionally there is a hot current coming from Central America, which runs at no great distance and is far more powerful in the periods El Niño), which means weather is tough to forecast.

As mentioned, in this isles there is two seasons: a hot season from January to May, having maximum temperature ranges close to 29/30 °C (84/86 °F), and a relatively cool period coming from July to November, named Garua, having daytime temperatures about 24/25 °C (75/77 °F). In the latter, night-time conditions stay appropriate, approximately 18/19 °C (64/66 °F), although you will find often mists, which result in the condensation of little droplets (named garua from where the season takes its name), and the sky is usually covered by very low clouds (because of the thermal inversion generated by the cool sea current). This time is the very least stormy of the entire year in shorelines and flatlands (because the Garua doesn’t create considerable rain accumulations), while on inland, there might be several real rains. The highest peak is the Vulcan Lobo, 1,707 meters (5,600 feet) high, positioned on Isabela Island.

The hot season, from January to May, is instead the time of rains, although normally the rains aren’t copious, and in any event they take place in the shape of evening showers, which do not eclipse too much the sunlight. The rainiest month is March.

On the coasts, the rainfall comes down to under 500 millimeters (20 inches) every year, therefore it is in no way abundant. This is the regular precipitation in Puerto Baquerizo; we can easily notice the simple fact that on the dry season, small amount of millimeters per month accumulate, because of mostly to drizzle and dew development.

However, people flock to the beach locations during the rainy period, because, it’s the one in that the water is the hottest.

It must be stated that rainfall is irregular, and may become more abundant in the seasons of El Niño. Through the more intense El Niño years, such as 1982-83 and 1997-98, the climate of these Galapagos turns into completely tropical, having high temperature conditions and also copious rainfall. In the years of La Niña, on the other hand, the rains become more rare, and there’s a reduction in both air and sea temperature.

When you should go

Typically, the Galapagos could be visited throughout every season. However, the optimum time to travel to Galapagos, in case you also wish to go swimming and also take sunbathes, runs from February to May, because it is the warmest and sunniest, even though there could possibly be some rains or severe storms in the evening.

The cold season, from July to November, can be highly recommended to explore nature, because it almost never rains in the flatlands and the temperatures are nice, even though you need to take under consideration mists, haze and cloudy air. From September to November the ocean could be a little tough, and this may upset those that have problems with movement sickness, during catamaran journeys from one island to the other.

What clothes you should bring

From December to May (hot cycle): light clothing, a lightweight sweatshirt for the evening hours, light raincoat or outdoor umbrella for rainfall showers; sun hat. For trekking in the hills and the Vulcan Wolf, a bit warmer sweatshirt and raincoat, walking footwear.

From June to November (cold cycle): light clothing, sweatshirt or sweater and light coat for the night time.

For the ocean, equipment for scuba diving, water shoes or plastic soled shoes.

The Islands are famous for their unique vegetation and enormous number of native species present nowhere else on the planet. Amongst these include; red and blue-footed boobies, frigate birds, giant vivid tortoises, flamingos as well as marine and land iguanas.

You may also complement your holiday experience with a few additional nights in Galapagos hotels to enjoy the peace and tranquility of these enchanted islands. Prior or following your Galapagos cruise, you are able to reserve one of our preferred resorts in the main Islands of the Archipelago. We’ve selected for you a few of the greatest hotels in the Galapagos. Each resort provides exceptional services, a friendly atmosphere, and comfortable rooms for relaxation and rest.

We also have an attractive alternate to unite the experience, as like the cruises, we have different price ranges based upon what you require. We provide the combined hotel and cruise packages to the Galapagos Islands. Our joint tours are the ideal way to see all of the main attraction of the Galapagos, and enjoy a stay in some fantastic accommodations. Each of tours provides trips in the Islands in which an English-speaking naturalist will come together to pass along information and answer all your queries. We offer several tours selected for you in order to fit all your particular needs.

Everyone of these Galapagos’ official guest websites has something unique to offer, but travelers are going to be able to experience the best hits — sea lions, marine iguanas, lava lizards, endemic birds — about the vast majority of islands. Here are a few of the most popular spots.

Santa Cruz includes the Galapagos’ most populous “city,” Puerto Ayora, and is the island chain’s main tourism hub. The island offers people the only opportunity to experience the Galapagos’ inside high-lands, one of a couple areas to spot giant tortoises in their natural habitat. The Charles Darwin research laboratory, a visit to which will be included on every cruise, can be situated there.

South Plaza encompasses less than one-tenth of a mile in area and is one of the Galapagos’ smallest visitor sites. Nevertheless, the very small island, that was shaped by volcanic uplift, makes a strong impression with its color-changing ground vegetation, sea birds and colony of Galapagos land iguanas. The successful male iguanas could be seen standing guard in front of a cactus tree, waiting patiently to offer a hungry female with a part of prickly fruit.

Rabida: creates a bold statement when you arrive at its iron-rich red beach. Just inland is a brackish lagoon where visitors often see flamingos, heads plunged submerged to spoon up crustaceans and algae with their bowl-like beaks.

Espanola is the southernmost island, home to the famous waved albatross, a child-sized bird with an eight-foot wingspan. According to the Galapagos Conservancy, every year that the Whole planet’s population of adult Waved Albatrosses yields to Espanola throughout the nesting season from April to December. “Spiritual expertise” is a frequent descriptor.

Fernandina, the Galapagos’ youngest and westernmost island is famous for its not-infrequent volcanic eruptions, the latest of which was in 2009. It is situated at the locus of this “hot spot” which generated, and is still creating and shaping, the Galapagos. As people step across lava flows and about the huge population of land iguanas, they develop a first-hand comprehension of the geological origins of those islands.

Floreana is home of the Galapagos’ very famous barrel-mailbox at Post Office Bay. For centuries, those visiting the famous Ecuadorian isles relied upon the unspoken responsibility of fellow pirates and whalers to acquire letters to a planned destination. A mariner would leave a dispatch, then select through the stack for missives he can personally send (travel schedule allowing). The tradition continues today; cruise passengers visiting the site may depart and take postcards out of a (contemporary) barrel. Floreana is home to the Galapagos’ famous barrel-mailbox at Post Office Bay. For centuries, those visiting the famous Ecuadorian isles relied on the unspoken duty of pirates and whalers to Puerto Villamil and Nearby Areas – Isabela Island Cruises take in an assortment of interesting points around the massive island. Puerto Villamil is a small vent in the south of this island, and it is home to the majority of the island’s population. It’s possible to take pleasure in this fishing-community vibe, sample tasty freshly caught fish, participate with all the merry children, shop for souvenirs in the colorful stores, and respect the islets that dot the shore. Stroll along the boardwalk, resulting through mangroves, and see flamingos, gallinules, whimbrels, and much more. The Tortoise Breeding Center sits at the end of the boardwalk, helping to conserve sea tortoises. The harbor is frequently filled with little luxury yachts and other sailing vessels, many of which take passengers on thrilling Galapagos cruises.

Are there some immunizations required?

For the Galapagos Islands there are no recommended immunizations. If you, however, intend to invest additional time in Ecuador, particularly in the jungle, immunization is recommended. As this changes from time to time please check with the regional health office (or even the Institute for Tropical Diseases) a couple weeks ahead of your trip.

Can we have to exchange some money before we travel to Ecuador or after in the nation?

Not if you’ve got US dollars. In 2000, Ecuador adopted the US dollar as its official currency. Just make sure that you bring money bills in good condition with you. Should they have tears in them, then they are very likely to be refused.

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