Galapagos
(Ecuador)
You will never visit anywhere else on earth like the Galapagos. Experience incredible and unique nature up close and personal. Come and wonder at the flora and fauna which fascinated Charles Darwin and all future visitors alike.
Your camera and your snorkel are essential items on your packing list and you’ll be fascinated by what this archipelago will treat you to.
As the sun sets each evening you’ll be discussing your adventures with your fellow travellers excited by the fact that each new day will bring an exciting new adventure.
Take a trip to the Galapagos for yourself, go on AsktheTraveller.
Local weather information
Puerto Ayora
When is the best time to travel
We could write a whole novel on when to visit as the wildlife is so diverse that there are many highlights every month throughout the year.
Dec - May is when the seas are generally calmer and the average temperature hovers around 80f. There will also be higher rainfall at this time.
Jun to Nov is a little cooler and the temperature drops to the low 70f. There will still be plenty of sunshine, but the sea temperature will be cooler too.
Visitors arrive all year round, but be aware that from late August until late September (approx) you’ll be required to bring your sea legs as the seas can be rougher during this period.
Here is a brief overview:
Penguins - September is the best time to see penguins on Isabela, Fernandina and Bartolome. Also Penguins can be seen on Bartolome in February.
Whales - June is the month to see Whale Sharks and the Humpback Whales migrating
Tortoises & Turtles - December - April sees the giant tortoise hatching season and the Green Turtle hatching season.
In June, the giant tortoises migrate from the highlands on Santa cruz to the lowlands looking for nesting spots. In August, they return to the highlands.
Sea Lions - September sees activity from Sea Lions throughout the archipelago. In November, the super cute sea lion pups are born.
Waved Albatross - The last week of March sees the arrival of the largest bird in the Galapagos. Espanola is the only place in the world where these magnificent birds land and breed.
Iguanas - January sees the only sea dwelling iguana in the world turn brightly coloured. It’s also mating season for their land based cousins with hatching season in April.
The islands of Santa Cruz (Feb) and Fernandina / North Seymour (Apr) see the Marine Iguanas nesting.
Blue footed boobies - A highlight for many bird watchers are the mating rituals of the Blue footed Boobies. This can be seen on North Seymour in May.
Galapagos in brief
Our focus at AskTheTraveller are the cruise vessels as we know you’ll love them.
Most visitors to the Galapagos choose to board a cruise vessel and island hop around the archipelago on a pre-set itinerary. By day, there will be plenty of water and land based activities which of course are all nature focussed. By night, these vessels sail onto the next location. For nature lovers, photographers, snorkelers and outdoor enthusiasts, this is the trip of a lifetime.
For those who do not want island hop, there are a few tented camps and simple lodges on the larger islands where you can get involved in different activities such as mountain biking, surfing, diving and kayaking.
Galapagos history & Culture
The HMS Beagle arrived in in the Galapagos in 1835 and Charles Darwin was amazed by the wildlife. Everything was unique and unfazed by the human presence to study them. This is due to the fact that the Galapagos have never been connected to the mainland and so the ‘locals’ have never been hunted by man. Darwin studied this wonderful place for five weeks and as we all know, this formed a major part of his theory of evolution.
Darwin also noted that the wildlife differed from island to island, not just from the mainland. There really is nowhere else on earth like this and should form part of everyone’s bucket list.