Tour Packages to Galapagos Islands
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Galapagos cruise vacation could be on top of almost all parent’s destination checklist. For several, the Galapagos Islands offers a prodigious amount of intrigue to those seeking out one of the handful of surviving wonderful fauna encounters on the planet. Having a ferocious, natural beauty and impressive fauna, the isolated Galapagos Islands needs to be explored by yacht, and more specially, a deluxe cruise giving the perfect degree of accommodation on board. Traveling in a Galapagos little ship cruise means that you will gain entry to a number of the finest visitor locations, most of which are usually forbidden to greater cruise ships.
Galapagos Islands Climate and Weather
The Galapagos Islands, situated in the Pacific Ocean, around a thousand kilometers (600 miles) west of Ecuador, have a very particular weather conditions, tropical and semi-arid, with a very hot and comparatively wet season through January to May, and a cool and dry period, as well as foggy and misty, from July to November.
The surroundings of the Galapagos are barren, except in the highlands of the bigger islands, which usually receive much more abundant rainfall. As was documented by Charles Darwin, who as you may know examined the details of the species located in the islands, their climate is much cooler than a person would likely expect from a place situated near the Equator, as a result of Humboldt Current, which often reaches the region right after circulating in the sea west of South America. In any case, here the climate is not the same from one year to the other, since there are different marine flows that encounter or alternate in the region (additionally there is a hot current coming from Central America, which flows at no great range and is a lot more powerful on the years of El Niño), which means weather is challenging to predict.
The warm period, from January to May, is alternatively the rainiest period, but normally the rains typically are not abundant, and in any event they occur in the form of evening showers, which do not overshadow excessively the sun. The rainiest month is March.
It must be declared precipitation is unpredictable, and can be rich in the seasons of El Niño. During the most serious El Niño years, such as 1982-83 and 1997-98, the weather of islands turns into totally tropical, with higher temperature conditions and considerable rainfall. In the years of La Niña, alternatively, the rains are more scarce, and there’s a decline in both air and ocean temperatures.
In general, the Galapagos may be visited throughout the year. However, the best time to go to the islands, if you also desire to go swimming and also sunbathe, runs from February to May, since it is the hottest and sunniest, although there may be a number of downpours or severe storms in the mid-day.
The low-temperature season, from July to November, is often highly recommended to explore nature, because it hardly ever rains in the plains and the temperature is pleasurable, even when you have to take under consideration mists, haze and gloomy skies. From September to November the water could be a little tough, and this situation may disturb those that have problems with movement illness, during catamaran trips from one isle to another.
What equipment you should pack
From December to May (warm season): light outfits, a light sweatshirt for the evening hours, light raincoat or umbrella for bad weather showers; sun hat (after all, we are at the Equator). For trekking in inland hills and the Vulcan Wolf, a bit more comfortable sport shirt and raincoat, walking footwear.
From June to November (low-temperature cycle): light clothes, t-shirt and lightweight coat for the evening hours.
For the ocean, equipment for snorkeling, water shoes or rubberized soled shoes.
The Galapagos were discovered by chance in 1535 by Father Tomas Berlanga, priest of Panama.
Because of the long distances involved, the only sensible way to explore the Galapagos is by live-aboard boats, which travel between islands, mostly at night, and also create different stops each day. Over 80 boats are licensed to operate from the archipelago and there are countless combinations of stops and routes. Most cruises go ashore twice per day: 10 total days on the boat typically means 20 coast landings, 10-20 snorkels, and several panga rides (pangas are little, open outboard-powered ships) to about 10 different islands.
Exploring on your own is considerably more difficult. Getting around separately is tricky and all visitors must be accompanied by a qualified naturalist guide at all landing websites. However four islands (Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, Floreana and Isabela) have hotels of varying dimensions and criteria and a few vessel operators provide day-trips.
Following in Darwin’s footsteps calls for a trip from Quito or Guayaquil, on the mainland, to Baltra or San Cristobal. Some cruises leave from Baltra (the dock is a five-minute drive from the air terminal). Other people go out of Puerto Ayora, the tourist hub on Santa Cruz and a comparatively crowded city, with a bank, ATM machine, taxis, pubs and even a cinema.
GalapagosInformation.com provides a variety of tailor-made live-aboard tours on many unique vessels carrying from 4 to 16 passengers.
Wildlife movements differ a lot, and every month has its own highlights. For example, green turtles begin their own egg-laying in January; penguins socialize with swimmers on Bartolome mainly from May until the end of September; humpback whales start to arrive at June; July through to the end of September is the best period for many seabird action; peak pupping for sea lions is approximately August, while their pups play aqua-aerobics with snorkelers at November; and December is the month to get hatching giant tortoise eggs. So, always there’s something going on.
The hot, humid, slightly rainy season (with occasional tropical showers) is from December to May (March and April are usually hottest and wettest). The seas tend to be calmer and clearer at this time of year (using 60ft-80ft visibility typical) and the water temperature averages 79° F (26°C), so this period is best for snorkeling.
The cool, drier, windier season (with occasional drizzle or mist) is from June to November. Sea temperatures at the time of year fall to as low as 66F (19C) and visibility frequently goes to 30ft-50ft, while sea swells can make some landings tricky.
How to Access to the Galapagos Islands
The Jose Joaquin de Olmedo International Airport in Guayaquil (GYE) receives flights out of U.S. cities of Miami and New York, European cities of Amsterdam and Madrid, and important cities of Central and South America. Mariscal Sucre International Airport of Quito (UIO) receives flights from the U.S. through Atlanta, Houston, Miami and New York; from Europe via Madrid and Amsterdam; and from many Big cities in Central and Southern America. We advise you to arrive at Ecuador at least 2 days before your Galapagos Cruise begins and catch your international flight home at least 2 days following your stay in the Galapagos. You can take profit of these two times by visiting Quito, Guayaquil, or even their environment. Once you have your trip to mainland Ecuador, becoming to the Galapagos Islands is easy. Located almost 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) from Ecuador’s coast, the only way to travel is by airplane. Whether Quito or Guayaquil, there are several flights every day that take passengers to the archipelago. TAME, AVIANCA and LAN will be the airlines which operate these routes. If you are flying from Quito, you will most likely have a short stop in Guayaquil on your way into the islands. Reserve your Galapagos tour before you purchase flight tickets to ensure correct dates. Check with your Galapagos tour or cruise company for advice on booking your trip to the Galapagos including optimal arrival times to the Islands according to cruise/program plans.
Galapagos Animals
The Galapagos penguin is the only to be found from the northern hemisphere and to strain in the tropics.
A Galapagos tortoise can weigh around 595lb (270kg) with a carapace length of 4ft (1.2m) and outlive many humans.
The endemic Galapagos fur sea lions are the smallest one of the world’s seven species of such animals
The Galapagos Marine Iguana is the only marine lizard to exist on the planet.
The Galapagos Islands are home to the world’s biggest cormorant and also the only one unable to fly.
Galapagos has among the planet’s rarest ecosystems in which the herbivores at the top of the food chain are reptiles.
Galapagos Swallow-tailed gulls are the only gulls on earth to feed at night .
The Galapagos boasts the world’s biggest and just red-footed booby colony.
The Galapagos is one of those few areas of the planet where turtles are still a common sight. Over 400 species of fish have now been recognized in the Galapagos, with 41 species unique to the islands.
In 30cm in length and with a massive pair of venomous jaws, the endemic centipede (Scolopendra galapagoensis) is one of the Islands’ most feared animals.
A lichen poll in June 2010 by the Charles Darwin Foundation uncovered over 60 brand new species in the Galapagos with a estimated ten species new to science.
You may want to read: Cruises to Galapagos on sale
GALAPAGOS CRUISES 2024
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