Galapagos Islands Travel and Tours

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 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 a 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  19C / 66F in September to 26C - 32C / 80 - 90F (December - March), and  21C - 26C / 70 - 80F 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.

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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.

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.

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.

Smaller Vessels - 16 passengers or less

For those who wish to experience diving in the Galapagos, there are 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 10C / 50F although the average is nearer 20C / 67C throughout most of the year. During the warmer season, from December to March, water temperatures rise to about 24C / 75F.

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

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