Galapagos Island Cruises
Visit the amazing Galapagos Islands on an Expedition Cruise
On this page:
General Galapagos facts
About the Galapagos Islands
Choosing when to visit the Galapagos
- High and low season
- Wet season
- Dry season
Learn about the specific islands we visit
About Galapagos Expedition Cruises
The Facts
• Official Name: Archipiélago de Colón
• Capital: Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (San Cristóbal Island)
• Government: The Galapagos Islands are a province of Ecuador
• Population: 40,000
• Total Area: 7,880 square km (3,042 sq. miles) of land spread over 45,000 square km (28,000 miles) of ocean, made up of 13 main islands, 6 smaller islands, and 107 rocks and islets (5 inhabited)
• Official Language: Spanish
• Time Difference: GMT/UTC -6 hours
• Conservation: 97% protected as Galapagos National Park in 1959, 3% inhabited. Listed as an UNESCO World Heritage Site 1978, UNESCO Biosphere Reserve 1985, UNESCO included the 70,000 square kilometres (43,496 sq mi.) of marine Reserve into the Galapagos world heritage site in 2001
About the Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands distributed around the equator, 972 km west of continental Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean. 97% of the land area of the islands are designated as a national park and visits can only be made to specific landing sites with certified naturalist guides. The Galapagos National Park coordinates visits to these sites, scrutinises ship itineraries and monitors ecological conditions.
The Galapagos Islands are a must-visit destination for anyone looking for the wildlife adventure of a lifetime as they are famous for the number of bird and animal species which are unique to the islands. Different sites are known for specific scenery, vegetation, and wildlife. However, many species, such as sea lions, marine iguanas, lava lizards, and a variety of coastal birds such as herons, tattlers, plovers, turnstones, and whimbrels, are common at most locations.
Charles Darwin visited the islands on the HMS Beagle. Based on his studies of the wildlife in the ‘Enchanted Isles’, Darwin wrote the Origin of Species, otherwise known as theory of evolution by natural selection, in 1859. In his book he noted that each island had its own species of tortoises, reptiles, finches, and other birds. Each of these species has adapted themselves to suit their unique island environments, passing their successful adaptations on to new generations. For example in the Galapagos today, there are 13 unique species of finches found on the various islands, while marine iguanas and land iguanas are also descended from a common ancestry but have adapted to very different environments. Some species, such as blue-footed boobies, are found nowhere else in the world.
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When to Visit the Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos is a year-round destination, with different wildlife activity happening throughout the year. Expedition Cruises are available throughout the year, so you have the option of seeing the Galapagos in different seasons for a very different experience of the islands.
High Season / Low Season
During the high season, which is generally around mid June to early September, and mid December to mid January, many expedition vessels are booked far in advance, so it’s best to make reservations months before you plan to travel. If you are making last minute reservations, you may not be able to take your first choice of ship.
For many cruise operators, the low season months are generally around April / May and September / October. Check individual tour pages for specific low and high season departure dates. During these months tourism in the Galapagos decreases and some operators lower their prices to attract more passengers on board.
While the Galapagos National Park limits the number of visitors to each island and coordinates each ship’s itinerary, it is likely that you notice more people around during the summer months.
Weather and Climate
The climate in the Galapagos Islands is subtropical, and regulated by the warm El Niño current and the cold Humboldt Current. The weather on the islands varies according to their size, location in relation to other islands, and the altitude. At higher altitudes, the temperature is cooler while there is also more rain due to the condensation of moisture in clouds on the slopes. Lower coastal areas tend to be warmer and drier.
June to November - dry season
During the dry season of June to November period the southern trade winds bring the colder Humbolt Current north to the Galapagos, bringing colder water and cooler land temperatures. The meeting of this current with warm air can cause mists over the islands, known as ‘garuas’, with overcast skies but little rainfall. Daily temperatures range from 19ºC to 28ºC
The sea temperature drops to between 19˚C and 23˚C. The water is surprisingly cold for snorkelling and seas can be rough at times so those suffering from severe sea sickness may like to consider coming at an alternative time of year.
Clouds of moisture support the thick vegetation in the higher altitude areas of the islands. These areas will be lush and green, while lower areas will not receive much rain and will appear drier and browner. Only plants that can survive long periods of time without water, such as lichens and cacti, thrive in coastal areas.
The Humbolt Current brings nutrient-rich water that attracts plankton and whales, fish and sea birds. Albatrosses arrive on Española Island and penguins are easier to encounter. This is the mating season for the blue-footed boobies and it’s a great chance to observe birds’ dramatic courtship displays. This is also a great time of year for diving, though the strong currents in the Galapagos can be tricky so diving is for for experienced divers only.
December to May - wet season
The warmest, wettest part of the wet season happens during the period from January to April. Average daily temperatures range from 22ºC to 35ºC and there can be occasional heavy showers or thunderstorms, especially in the afternoon. For the rest of the season, light rain falls for a short period of time each day, but the remainder of the day tends to be very sunny. The wet season usually means warm air, calm seas, clear skies and warm water. March is usually the hottest month of the year. This is a great time of year for swimming and snorkelling, due to the warmer sea temperature and calmer waters which offer very good underwater visability (particularly in January to March).
On the islands, heavy rains at higher altitudes send streams of water down the slopes to even the lowest elevations, resulting in a green and lush landscape. Flowers come into bloom and vegetation is more colourful. This is a very good time to observe land animals as they are very active during this period with plenty of food available to them. This is a good time to observe birds mating and this is also the time when sea turtles nest on the beaches.
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About the Galapagos Islands
Baltra Island (South Seymour)
Baltra is a small, flat island located near the centre of the Galapagos. Baltra Island offers one of the two gateway airports to the Galapagos and will be used as an arrival and departure point for most Expedition Cruises.
Bartolomé Island (Bartholomew)
On Bartolomé Island you will have the chance to see volcanic formations such as lava bombs, spatter and cinder cones. Bartolomé Island has a volcanic cone that is easy to climb and provides great views of the other islands. On the way to the summit you may see colonies of marine iguanas, lava lizards, tiquilla and various cacti.
Española Island (Hood)
The island's remote location has a large number of unique fauna. Secluded from the other islands, wildlife on Española adapted exclusively to the island's environment and natural resources. Marine iguanas on Española are the only ones that change colour during breeding season. The waved albatross is also found on the island. The island's steep cliffs serve as the perfect runways for these large birds which take off for their ocean feeding grounds near the mainland of Ecuador and Peru.
Española Island has two visitor sites. Gardner Bay is a swimming and snorkelling site as well as offering a great beach. Punta Suarez has migrant, resident, and endemic wildlife including brightly coloured marine iguana, Española lava lizards, hood mockingbirds, swallow tailed gulls, blue-footed boobies, red-footed boobies and Nazca boobies, Galapagos hawks, a selection of finches, and the waved albatross.
Fernandina Island (Narborough)
This is the youngest and westernmost island. Hundreds of marine iguanas gather on the black lava rocks of a narrow stretch of land known as Punta Espinosa. The famous flightless cormorant inhabits this island and also Galapagos penguins and sea lions are abundant. Here you may see the biggest marine iguanas mingling with Sally Lightfoot crabs as well as flightless cormorants at their nesting sites. Sometimes Galapagos penguins, Galapagos hawks and sea lions can also be seen. Among the flora and volcanic formations, observers will spot brachycereus cactus.
Floreana Island (Charles)
Floreana is one of the islands with the most interesting human history and one of the earliest to be inhabited. At Post Office Bay you can post your letters in a wooden barrel at that served as post office for whalers in the 18th century. Mail could be picked up and delivered to their destinations in mainly Europe and the United States by ships on their way home. Beware that your mail may arrive months later, if at all!
At Devil's Crown, an underwater volcanic cone, coral formations are found. Wander from mangrove beds to a large brackish lagoon which holds one of the biggest flamingo populations in the Galapagos. The island is best known for its endemic plants like the Galapagos milkwort, passion flower and button mangrove. Pink flamingos and green sea turtles nest (December to May) in this island. The "patapegada" or Galapagos petrel is also found here, a sea bird which spends most of its life away from land.
Genovesa Island (Tower)
Genovesa Island is formed by the remaining edge of a large crater that is submerged under the sea. Its nickname of ‘Bird Island’ is clearly justified. At Darwin Bay, frigate birds, swallow tailed gulls (which are the only nocturnal bird of its species in the world) can be seen. Red-footed boobies, noddy terns, lava gulls, tropic birds, doves, storm petrels and Darwin finches are also in sight. Prince Philip's Steps is a bird-watching plateau with Nazca and red-footed boobies. There is also a large Palo Santo (sacred stick) forest.
Isabela Island (Albemarle)
This island was named in honour of Queen Isabela and is the largest island in Galapagos. On this island Galapagos penguins, flightless cormorants, marine iguanas, pelicans and Sally lightfoot crabs abound. At the skirts and calderas of the volcanoes of Isabela, land iguanas and Galapagos tortoises can be observed, as well as Darwin finches, Galapagos hawks, Galapagos doves and very interesting lowland vegetation. The third largest human settlement of the archipelago, Puerto Villamil, is located at the south eastern tip of the island.
North Seymour Island
North Seymour Island is teeming with life. Visiting the island you may have to give way to a passing sea lion or marine iguana. Flocks of pelicans and swallow tailed gulls feed off shore and seasonally masked boobies can also be seen. North Seymour Island is an extraordinary place for breeding birds and is home to one of the largest populations of nesting blue-footed boobies and magnificent frigate birds. Pairs of blue-footed boobies can be seen conducting their mating ritual as they offer each other gifts, whistle and honk, stretch their necks towards the sky, spread their wings, and dance, showing off their bright blue feet. Magnificent frigate birds perch in low bushes, near the boobies, while watching over their large chicks. Male frigates can puff up their scarlet throat sacks to resemble a giant red balloon. Boobies and frigates have an interesting relationship: boobies are excellent hunters and fish in flocks. The frigates by comparison are pirates, they dive bomb the boobies to force them to drop their prey, and then the acrobatic frigate swoops down and picks up the food before it hits the water.
Rábida Island (Jervis)
The high amount of iron contained in the lava at Rábida Island gives it a distinctive red colour. White-cheeked pintail ducks live in a saltwater lagoon close to the beach, where brown pelicans and boobies have built their nests (July through September is a good time to observe brown pelicans nesting on the salt bushes). Up until recently, flamingos were also found in the saltwater lagoon, but they have since moved on to other islands, likely due to a lack of food on Rábida Island. Nine species of Finches have been reported in this island.
San Cristóbal Island (Chatham)
San Cristóbal hosts the 2nd gateway airport to the Galapagos Islands and is the point where some Expedition Cruises start and end. This island hosts frigate birds, sea lions, giant tortoises, blue and red-footed boobies, tropic birds, marine iguanas, dolphins and swallow-tailed gulls. Its vegetation includes Calandrinia galapagos, Lecocarpus darwinii, and trees such as Lignum vitae. The largest fresh water lake in the archipelago, Laguna El Junco, is located in the highlands of San Cristóbal. The capital of the province of Galapagos, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, lies at the southern tip of the island.
Santa Cruz Island (Indefatigable)
Santa Cruz Island hosts the largest human population in the archipelago at the town of Puerto Ayora. The Charles Darwin Research Station and the headquarters of the Galapagos National Park Service are located here. Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and admire the giant tortoises that are part of the breeding program. A saltwater lagoon can on occasion offer a colony of pink flamingos. Dragon Hill offers lovely views of the bay. Bachas beach offers the chance to encounter sea birds, marine iguanas and sea turtles.
Santiago Island (San Salvador, James)
Santiago Island is also known as San Salvador, after the first island discovered by Columbus in the Caribbean Sea. Marine iguanas, sea lions, fur seals, land and sea turtles, flamingos, dolphins and sharks are found here. Darwin’s finches and Galapagos hawks are usually seen as well as a colony of fur seals. At Sullivan Bay a recent (around 100 years ago) pahoehoe lava flow can be observed.
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About Galapagos Expedition Cruises
Tucan Travel offers a number of different Expedition Cruises and packages to the Galapagos Islands. We have selected the best first-class vessels available to ensure that you get the best service and value for money during your adventure. You can find itineraries using the Advanced Search function on our website, or you can visit the individual tour pages listed below for further information. You can find full details of our Expedition Cruises travel style on our travel styles page.
Why visit the Galapagos Islands on an Expedition Cruise?
- The Galapagos are a photographer’s delight. The animals are fearless, roaming free and unafraid, allowing you to capture amazing images without the aid of a long, heavy zoom lens.
- Swim with the only penguins found north of the equator.
- Walk alongside the endangered giant tortoises that gave the Galapagos Islands their name.
- Visit brightly-coloured blue-footed boobies, scarlet throated frigate birds and many other diverse and fascinating species.
- Snorkel in waters inhabited by many varieties of fish, sharks, rays and marine iguanas.
- Hike across varied volcanic landscapes, from barren lava rocks to lush green vistas.
- Learn about the species that entranced Charles Darwin and from knowledgeable guides and naturalists.
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