Ecuador & Galápagos Vacations

The Galápagos Islands lie on the equator so temperatures and weather conditions are generally warm and pleasant all year round. As such, there isn’t really a bad time to visit. The wildlife experiences are wonderful throughout the year.

The year goes in waves:

January through April are typically warmer both in the air (expect 30c) and water (expect 25c which is pretty nice...) but it's also a time of year when there is likely to be more in the way of rain and humidity. The dry season starts in April when the water temperatures are at their highest. In this period of the year you might see giant tortoises hatching, sea turtles laying, penguins migrating, marine iguanas nesting and frigate birds mating.

May and June are typically dry and sunny with air temperature dropping by a couple/few degrees on average. It's at this time of year that the cooler oceanic currents start to dominate so the waters are cooling down but the rich plankton of the Humboldt Current also means that you get the whales arriving. Don't worry, the water temperature drops a couple of degrees, you don't suddenly get icebergs on the equator! In terms of wildlife, you might be treated to the mating dance of the blue-footed booby, nesting waved albatross and humpback whales feeding offshore.

July through September doesn't tend to get any cooler, it's a pleasant 25c or so. Water temperatures drop a little more so snorkeling will usually be in a 'shorty' wetsuit for those who aren't open water swimmers. There is likely to be some precipitation but it's windier than other times of year so the seas are more likley to be choppy. However, the islands can be at their prettiest and you have birthing sea lions, nesting boobies and flightless cormorants, penguin courtship and whales.

October through December is a time of year when it's getting gradually warmer again in air and sea with a nice blend of clear and cloud cover. At this time of year you might see mating fur seals, whale sharks, booby chicks and, if you are lucky, hatching giant tortoises.
So you see, there really isn't a bad time of year to visit the Galapagos Islands.

What you might want to do is to vary your choice of landing sites or style of boat depending when you visit to maximize your chances of seeing particular species or to stay in the calmest waters - but that's where Pura Aventura's expert guidance and advice comes in!

For more specific timings regarding your vacation, simply e-mail us at [email protected].

It's a common question in people's minds, particularly those lovers of the natural world to whom the Galapagos Islands is likely to be a dream destination. The answer we would propose won't surprise you (it's 'yes') but we will set out some reasons which hopefully back up what we're saying.

Yes, you should visit the Galapagos but only if you do it well. That is to say, go for a proper amount of time - a week at least. Every plane travelling to the islands brings with it risk of transmission of invasive pests. The authorities have a good handle on this stuff (you get fumigated on the plane before you leave the mainland!) but nevertheless, the chances of something making it through simply increases the more flights there are. The shorter people's stay in the islands, the greater the number of flights.

Longer stays also tend to imply that people have time to disperse more widely across the archipelago so you get less crowding. In fact, the National Park authorities are world leaders in visitor management - live aboard boat licenses are limited to just under 100 with no new licenses issues (it's one out, one in). Each boat is permitted to land in any given visitor site only once every two weeks - that is to say that boats are effectively on a 14 night circuit of the islands (most/all of them split into week A & week B itineraries). However, not all the islands are national parks so it is possible for someone to fly out to the islands, spend the night in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz and then fly back again next day having never been in the national park and having done nothing for the island economy.

We love Galápagos Island stays (as in, staying in one of the towns/villages), they give you the chance to experience life in this extraordinary place. However, they work best when combined with time on board in more distant parts of the archipelago. This is a way of creating benefit for locals and for the national park and ecosystems.

Finally, eco tourism brings benefit to the Galápagos Islands. Back in the early 20^th century, the California Institute sent an expedition to the islands to capture one of every species. Essentially, they wanted to create a snapshot of the species diversity before humans destroyed and killed them all off. A hundred years later and over 95% of those species are still in the islands. Not necessarily safe and well but they are there and protected by the fact that tourism, well-managed tourism, ensures that the islands are worth more intact than destroyed.

The Galapagos Islands are located in the Pacific Ocean, around 600 miles west of mainland Ecuador. This remoteness has allowed the local wildlife to evolve largely undisturbed, accounting for the huge number of unique species that call the islands home.

Almost any nationality can visit Ecuador visa-free - UK, EU, US, Australian & Canadian citizens are all free to visit. Those that do require visas are generally African or Asian citizens.

To go to the Galápagos Islands you will need to possess a transit card which costs $20 and you will need to pay the national park entrance fee. The transit card is typically included in either your cruise rate or flight cost to the islands.

The national park fee is payable on landing in the Galápagos islands though on Pura Aventura vacations, we always include and pre-pay it just to save time and inconvenience.

Of course! If you want to tick these two incredible places off your South America bucket list in one trip, take a look at our Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley & Galápagos Islands or get in touch with our team for a tailor-made trip.

You can either use our enquiry form, or e-mail us at [email protected].

If you'd rather chat through the best options for your trip, simply give us a call.

One of our Ecuador & Galapagos specialists will work with you to create your perfect vacation.

Whilst our small-boat Galápagos cruises generally operate with set routes and departure dates, most other aspects of your trip can be completely tailored for you.

Want to stay a little longer on San Cristóbal Island? No problem. Feel like seeing a little more of mainland Ecuador? Or adding on Peru? Or Brazil?

Contact us and one of our experts will be happy to help plan your vacation.

We're only an email away on [email protected] if you have any queries.

Or call us tollfree if you'd prefer to chat through.