How to Travel Galapagos Islands

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A vacation to the Galapagos Islands is most likely the expedition of an individual’s lifetime. Located 1,000 kilometers from the Ecuadorian mainland, the islands chain is composed of 13 big islands, 5 of which are inhabited. Find out more about the famous Islands taking a vacation with us!

The Galapagos Islands will doubtless impact you pretty deep. Travel along with us and enjoy the journey of your life amidst sea lions, elegant albatrosses, reddish colored sally light-foot crabs, and sneaky frigate birds. Allow your dream happen and contact us right now!

When is the perfect time to visit the Galapagos?

The Galapagos Islands, based in the Pacific Ocean, about a thousand kilometers (600 miles) west of Ecuador, have a unusual climate, warm and semi-arid, with a very hot and relatively wet period through January to May, as well as a dry and cool time period, as well as foggy and misty, from July to November.

The surroundings of the Galapagos are dry, except in the larger islands, which usually receive much more abundant rain. As was already observed by Charles Darwin, who as you may know observed the peculiarities of the species living in the isles, their weather conditions are less hot than one could be expecting from a place based near the Equator, as a result of Humboldt Current, which reaches the area right after circulating in the water west of South America. However, here the climate is not the same from one year to another, since there are completely different marine currents that meet or alternate in the area (there’s also a warm current coming from Central America, that runs at a little length and is a lot more powerful on the periods El Niño), which means climate is difficult to estimate.

As stated, in this islands there are two seasons: a warm season from January to May, having highest temperature ranges close to 29/30 °C (84/86 °F), and a fairly cool period from July to November, known as Garua, having daytime temperatures around 24/25 °C (75/77 °F). In the latter, evening temperatures stay appropriate, approximately 18/19 °C (64/66 °F), but you’ll notice often mists, which result in the condensation of tiny droplets (called garua by which the season takes its name), and the sky is frequently covered by low clouds (because of the thermal inversion generated by the cool water current). This time period is the very least stormy of the year in shorelines and flatlands (because the Garua does not generate significant rain accumulations), though away from the coast, there may be quite a few actual rains. The top peak is the Vulcan Lobo, 1,707 meters (5,600 feet) high, positioned on Isabela Island.

Interestingly, visitors head to the beach locations during the rainy period, because in addition to being the sunniest, it is the one in which the ocean is definitely the warmest.

It should be said that rainfall is intermittent, and can become more abundant in the seasons of El Niño. During the most serious El Niño years, for example 1982-83 and 1997-98, the climate of these Galapagos turns into fully tropical, with higher temperature conditions and also considerable rainfall. In the periods of La Niña, on the other hand, the rains are more scarce, and there is a reduction in equally air and water temperatures.

In general, the Galapagos could be traveled to all year long. However, the optimum time to travel to the islands, in case you also want to swim and also sunbathe, runs from February to May, because it is the most warm and sunniest, even though there may be some downpours or thunderstorms in the morning.

The cold period, from July to November, is usually suggested to discover the outdoors, mainly because it almost never rains in the flatlands and the temperature is nice, even if you need to take into mind mists, haze and foggy air. From September to November the water can be a little tough, and this may disturb those who have problems with movement sickness, during catamaran trips from one island to the other.

What to pack

From December to May (hot season): light outfits, a lightweight sweatshirt for the evening hours, light raincoat or umbrella for rainfall showers; sun hat (of course, we’re at the Equator). For trekking in inland hills and the Vulcan Wolf, a bit more comfortable sweatshirt and raincoat, walking shoes.

From June to November (cool season): light clothing, t-shirt or sweater and light jacket for the evening.

For the reef, equipment for knee boarding, water shoes or rubberized soled footwear.

Galapagos Islands Cruise Itineraries

Every licensed vessel sailing the Galapagos follows a 15-day path approved and established by Galapagos National Park. During that period of time, a ship might not go to the same site twice, with the exception of the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz. How lines segment the 15 times can vary, but four-, five- and – eight-day choices are the norm. Passengers can often combine these segments into 11-, 12- and 15-day cruises.

All ships basically follow the identical protocol, regardless of itinerary: Island visits and extra-curricular tasks are done throughout the day, and also the majority of navigation is performed overnight.

Since the approach to cruising continues to be standardized, choosing the right itinerary has a lot to do with cruisers deciding which visitor sites are in their must-visit lists. Port research — especially photo searching — is key. Remember that the longer the cruise, the further west the ship will reach. That’s not to say the western islands are better — it’s an issue of personal preference. When you cruise is also an important consideration.

There’s one main exception: “Live aboard” ships carrying seasoned sailors are the only craft to see the northern islands, Darwin and Wolf, prime places for ski lovers. At Darwin, where there’s not any landing site, schools of hammerheads are known to congregate.

Galapagos cruises are often paired with land-based visits to Peru’s Machu Picchu, the Ecuadorian rain forest or other South American hotspots. Most passengers will spend a day or two exploring Quito or Guayaquil pre or post-cruise. It is basically necessary, given the flight logistics.

Sierra Negra Volcano: Hiking enthusiasts are sure to adore the opportunity of this steep ascent to the rim of Sierra Negra Volcano. The hike up takes approximately two hours with great vistas all around. Horse riding provides a different perspective of the beautiful area.

Urbina Bay – Sitting at the base of Alcedo Volcano, the land round Urbina Bay rose significantly from the 1950s, resulting in much stranded aquatic life. Today, you can wander across areas of soil which were once in the bottom of the ocean, marveling at dried coral and shells. Snorkeling enables you to explore the intriguing underwater world, seeing schools of fish, rays, and turtles. Hawks fly overhead, as well as the sandy beaches are rife with the large leathery-looking property iguanas and, in the wet season, giant tortoises.

Bolivar Channel: Lots of Isabela island cruises sail throughout the Bolivar Channel, a station that divides Isabela Island and the neighboring Fernandina Island. The coldest waters at the Galapagos area, it is normal to see dolphins and whales swimming near to your cruise boat.

Vicente Roca Point: In the north of Isabela Island, Vicente Roca Point is a top place for boating and snorkeling. The twin coves shelter an array of unusual species, such as sunfish, seahorses, and puffer fish. Bird lovers will not be disappointed either, with terns, blue-footed boobies, and penguins, amongst others.

Galapagos Facts

A bunch of wildlife, visitors can get up close and personal to some of the planet’s rarest animals. The Galapagos was home to the only surviving giant Pinta tortoise, “Lonesome George” which unfortunately died in June 2012. The convergence of three important oceanic currents brings an incredible mixture of marine life into Galapagos. The endemic Galapagos marine iguana is known as the only lizard to swim in the ocean. Darwin’s study in Galapagos resulted in the groundbreaking book of The Origin of Species.

In 1978 UNESCO designated Galapagos as the first World Heritage site. The film Captain and Commander was filmed around the islands of Bartholomew and Santiago. The name ‘galapagos’, an old Spanish word for ‘saddle’, was initially used by Bishop Tomas and his team to spell out the giant tortoises but the name stuck. As a result of early existence of both English and Spanish populations in Galapagos, the Islands have both Spanish and English names.

Darwin sailed to Galapagos on board the HMS Beagle in September 1835, when he was 26 years old. Throughout the five weeks he spent there, he moved to gather plants, stones, birds and insects. He observed the odd life forms and their adaptations to the harsh environment. He noticed it had been possible to differentiate which island that a tortoise came from by the shape of their shell. His most well-known research is of the several species of finches which inspired his groundbreaking theory The Origin of Species, published in 1859.

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