The Crew at ExpeditionTrips.com: How to Choose the Right Galapagos Trip
by Galapagos Specialists at ExpeditionTrips.com

Why visit the Galapagos?
A cruise to the Galapagos Islands offers much to the traveler who enjoys the natural world. Explore Charles Darwin's favorite field site, where the wildlife wanders freely and fearlessly. From cold-water penguins to marine iguana and blue-footed boobies, this volcanic archipelago continues to amaze visitors of all ages.

Each day of a Galapagos cruise carries you to new sites that are rich and varied. Imagine snorkeling among sea turtles, playful sea lions, or Galapagos penguins; or watching a giant Galapagos tortoise creep slowly through a lush green meadow, or climbing to the rim of one of the largest volcano craters in the world. The unusual and wonderful wildlife of these islands never ceases to amaze its visitors.

How do I visit the Galapagos?
The best way to visit the Galapagos Islands is aboard a small cruising vessel, which functions as ‘floating home’ for the duration of your visit. Ships anchor aside islands and passengers are ferried ashore on pangas (small Zodiacs) two times a day. Each island offers of different experience. Trained naturalists help travelers while ashore interpreting the islands’ wildlife. These guides make nature come alive.

Visitors fly into Quito or Guayaquil, Ecuador, and then take a flight from the mainland to the islands. The cruises are offered in 4, 5, or 8-day programs; however, we recommend the 8-day cruises.

What is the weather like in the Galapagos?
Galapagos is a year-round destination, however, some months are warmer than others. Though situated directly on the Equator, the Galapagos Islands have a mild to warm subtropical climate caused by the Humboldt and Peruvian currents. Rain is uncommon, and the coastal areas are dry and arid, while the highlands receive enough rainfall to support a lush rainforest. It is coolest in September. The temperature in the islands ranges from 60ºF in September to 80° - 90ºF (December – March), and 70° - 80ºF during other times of the year. In recent years, however, climate changes have made weather predictions more challenging.

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 it’s 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 chose the level of difficulty of an activity, and you can, of course, opt to not participate in an excursion.

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!

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.

What are my vessel options?
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. Note, vessels with 16 passengers or less have only one guide and therefore one trained perspective; ships with 20 passengers or more have two guides.

Smaller Dive Vessels – 20 passengers or less
For those who wish to experience diving in the Galapagos, we offer two types of diving departures: 1) Dive-only programs are for travelers 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:
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 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 50°F although the average is nearer 67°C throughout most of the year. During the warmer season, from December to March, water temperatures rise to about 75°F.

Mid-sized Vessels – 32 to 48 passengers
Aboard mid-sized ships, you can enjoy the comfort and speed of a larger vessel, while traveling 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, and more common areas (ie; 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.

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, Jacuzzi, 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.

Calendar of Events

January
- Beginning of rainy season
- Ideal time for snorkeling
- Green turtles arrive to the beaches to lay their eggs

February
- Few penguins sighted on Bartholomew
- Masked boobies on Espanola are at the end of their nesting season

March
- Rainy season reaches the highest precipitation
- Sun and hot climate; air temperatures can reach up to 30ºC (86ºF)
- After Mar 21, arrival of waved albatross on Espanola

April
- Courtship of waved albatross on Espanola begins
- Land iguanas hatch on Isabela
- Green sea turtles begin to hatch

May
- Blue-footed boobies begin their courtship on North Seymour
- Most of the marine iguanas eggs hatch from nests on Santa Cruz
- Albatross on Espanola start laying their eggs

June
- Beginning of the garua season
- Giant tortoises on Santa Cruz migrate from the highlands to the lowlands
in search of nesting places

July
- Sea bird communities are active
- Whales are more likely to be found off western side of Isabela
- Lava lizards start mating rituals

August
- Galapagos hawks court on Espanola and Santiago
- Temperature of the ocean lowers to 18ºC (64ºF)
- Migrant shore birds start to arrive
- Giant tortoises return to the highlands of Santa Cruz

September
- Air temperature reaches its lowest 19ºC (66ºF)
- Penguins and sea lions are very active

October
- Galapagos fur seals begin their mating period
- Giant tortoises continue laying their eggs
- Boobies raise their young on Espanola

November
- Sea lion pups are born

December
- Hatching of giant tortoise’s eggs begins & lasts through April
- Rainy season begins and the vegetation starts turning green again

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To confirm your trip or if you have questions, please call our office toll-free 1 877-412-8527. We have all been to the Galapagos many times and are ready to help you make the right choice when choosing your Galapagos trip. We look forward to hearing from you soon!