Galapagos Islands
Travel Guide

Galapagos Islands Map | Galapagos Pictures

Galapagos Cruises

Comfortable yachts at 3 price levels [or a hotel based tour], guides and plenty of activities - snorkeling, hiking, kayaking - make a memorable Galapagos Islands cruise. e.g. Wildlife Odyssey | Galapagos Cruises | Galapagos Multisport | Hiking Galapagos

Why go to the Galapagos Islands?

This is one of the must-sees in the world if you are interested in Charles Darwin, natural history or wildlife. Watching unique species of birds and animals that are totally fearless of humans is a stunning experience.

Galapagos and African wildlife safaris are both extreme wildlife experiences, but while Africa is land-based and offers more variety, the Galapagos Islands have more birds [relative to the land area] and tourists get a lot closer to fearless wild things, albeit at a heftier price.
Apart from the critters, the islands are also a fine place for diving, snorkelling and even just swimming with sea lions, marine iguanas, dolphins and sharks.

Downsides:
- Since it 1,000 km [620 miles] from the mainland, you need to travel there by air. Combine this with a boat tour and it will be an expensive trip. Alternatively see 'Organized wildlife tours' below.
- The islands are mostly bleak and blasted volcanic remnants, not exactly picturesque!
- It's not so good for seasick prone travellers, though you can reduce your chances of a daily chunder with some planning:
a] choose a calmer time of year.
b] pick the biggest, newest cruise ship possible and ask about stabilisers!
c] Sickly Bugbog members find acupressure wrist bands pretty effective and there are some good motion-sickness potions around these days too.

Galapagos Islands weather:

Best: December-May. Mainly warm [average high of 25C/77F] and sunny but occasional showers. Calmer, clearer ocean because the trade winds die down.

Worst: June-November due to frequent fog, drizzle rain, wind, rough seas, less services available [average high 22C/72F].

Length of stay:
Minimum worthwhile stay, not including flights:
5 days. [3-4 days is possible if you go with prearranged package tour.]
Recommended: at least 1 week.

Main Islands:
There are 13 larger islands and as many as 50 smaller islets. Most places should be visited with a guide.

***Isla Santa Cruz, the second largest of the archipelago [island group] and the most important island, with the Darwin Research Station as well as other facilities.
Turtle Bay, is one of the best marine sites, with a white, sandy, swimming beach. You can see Giant Tortoises at Tortoise Reserve near Santa Rosa.

***Isla Isabela, the largest island, is known for the Volcano Sierra Negra, located at the southern end - one of the best examples of volcanoes in the Galapagos. Isabela is home to a huge selection of wildlife - colourful land iguanas, penguins, flightless cormorants, marine iguanas, pelicans, Sally Lightfoot crabs, Galapagos tortoises, Darwin finches, Galapagos hawks and doves. A small human settlement, Puerto Villamil, squats in the southeast of the island.

***Isla Española is the most southerly of the islands, with the Galapagos' only colony of Waved Albatrosses [late March-early December].
The best site is Punta Suarez - follow the trail of lava rocks where Blue-footed Boobies make their nests and iguanas like to sunbathe. The trail continues on to a colony of Waved Albatrosses.
The island's best swimming beach can be found there too.

**Isla Seymour, covered with low, bushy vegetation and the best place to see a colony of puffed-up Frigate Birds.

***Isla Bartolome, known for its Pinnacle Rock and a favourite tourist view point, where sea lions and Galapagos Penguins like to hang out. On the beach in the south nesting sea turtles can be seen - seasonal though - as well as white-tipped reef sharks. This beach is excellent for swimming and snorkelling too.

***Fernandina [aka Narborough], hosting the most recent volcanic activity in 2005 as well as a mass of marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, penguins, pelicans, sea lions and seals.

***San Cristobal hosts an airport and the capital of the Galapagos, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, as well as a number of wildlife sites so this is a good island for seasick animal-lovers. Some of the creatures around are frigate birds, sea lions, Giant tortoises, marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies and many other tropical birds. There are a couple of good dive sites nearby. Photo of San Cristobal.

*Floreana is more about humans than animals as Post Office Bay was used by 18thC whalers as a mail pick up/drop-off point. It is a nesting place for green sea turtles from December to May and flamingoes for much of the year.

Flights arrive at two islands: Baltra [South Seymour] which only functions as an airport, and San Cristobal.

Activities:

Organized wildlife tours: Although most tourists travel with a package tour booked in advance from home or on the Ecuador mainland [Quito or Guayaquil], it can be arranged more cheaply on the islands if you are not on a tight schedule. This will require time, planning, organization and Spanish competence would help too!

Animals: you can expect to see - and get really, really close to - land and marine iguanas, fur seals, sea lions, Galapagos penguins, Giant Tortoises, sharks and - if you're lucky - Sperm Whales and Orcas.

Birds: This is a bird watcher's paradise, with Blue-footed Boobies at their silly best, varied herons, Oyster Catchers, Pelicans, Frigate Birds, Waved Albatrosses, Swallow-tailed Gulls and even Flamingos. See Galapagos Birds Pictures.

Scuba diving is excellent, but mainly for those experienced in underwater travel. You are advised to bring your own gear and book in advance. Be aware that most of the best sites have strong currents, surge and cold waters. The best dive centre is in Puerto Ayora on Isla Santa Cruz.

Snorkelling is also a great way to see the Galapagos' wildlife and is easy to arrange, though just swimming with sea creatures is possible and fun.
Equipment is provided by the boats, unless you prefer to bring your own. The islands of Isla Plaza Sur and Isla Bartolome have especially good snorkel sites.

Shopping:
Not much choice, but some crafts and Galapagos T-shirts are available. Needless to say you should not buy anything made of tortoise/turtle shell, or black coral - protected species.

Accommodation:
Although most travellers stay on boats, hotels or B& Bs and places to eat can be easily found at Puerto Ayora on Isla Santa Cruz. There are also a handful of hotels at Puerto Baquerizo on Isla San Cristobal and in Isla Isabela.
Note that in terms of human culture, comfort or geological attraction the inhabited islands have very little to offer.

Galapagos Islands Map | Galapagos Pictures | Galapagos Cruises

Also see Ecuador Travel Guide | Ecuador Map