The Galapagos Islands Guide: What You Should Know

When to go, what to see, what to pack and more.

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The Galapagos Islands are a bucket-list destination for good reason: Thanks to a lack of natural predators, friendly wildlife such as playful sea lions and gigantic sea tortoises let visitors get up close and personal. This archipelago of about 19 islands and many smaller islets sprinkled 620 miles off Ecuador’s coast in the Pacific Ocean is a double World Heritage site (both land and sea are protected) and served as the inspiration for Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. Each island boasts its own unique landscape, ranging from barren black, volcanic rocks to swaths of white sand beaches melting into gemstone-blue waters.

When to Go

Bartolome Island, Galapagos Islands

Photo by: Thinkstock

Thinkstock

This depends on what you’re looking to experience. Busiest months for tourism tend to be June, July and August, as well as mid-December to mid-January (prices are often highest at these times as well). The hot, rainy season of December through May is when the ocean is the calmest, daily rains give way to mostly-sunny skies, and temperatures are in the 80s.

The cooler, dryer season is June through November, thanks to the Humboldt Current which brings chilly water and cooler temperatures (in the 70s). Though the seas are rougher, experienced divers believe it’s the best time to visit because colder water attracts even more fantastic marine life (such as big schools of hammerhead sharks). It’s also when visitors have a better chance of spotting legendary whale sharks at Wolf and Darwin islands.

Tours

Photo by: Adventure Life

Adventure Life

Visits to most of the islands aren’t allowed without a guide licensed with the Galapagos National Park. You can book day trips to some of the islands from the main tourist hub of Puerto Ayora in Santa Cruz, but taking a cruise on a small yacht is the best way to see the more remote islands and wildlife in the Galapagos. The national park restricts the size of boats to 100 passengers, but even 100 can overload a beach when disembarking all at once. Ideal tour boats take only small groups, such as 16 to 32 passengers. Adventure Life is a sustainable travel company that books small cruises, as well as land-based hiking trips, eco-hotels, multi-sport tours, and dive excursion add-ons.

It’s best to book at least a few months in advance because boats often fill up during high season. You might find last-minute deals at deep discounts at travel agencies in the Mariscal district of Quito or along Avenida Charles Darwin in Puerto Ayora, but you’re taking a serious gamble with even finding an opening, or may have to wait awhile or resign to traveling on a lower-quality ship.

How to Get There

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Photo by: Thinkstock

Thinkstock

First, you must get to mainland Ecuador by flying into either the capital city of Quito or Guayaquil. The islands are nearer to Guayaquil. If you have the option, fly here to save time since most flights from Quito have a stopover here on the way to the Galapagos. American Airlines, Continental/Copa and Delta all fly to Ecuador from the U.S. Most Galapagos flights are either early morning or evening, so you’ll probably need an overnight stay on the mainland.

Your best bet for getting to the Galapagos is to fly into Baltra Island before taking a bus and ferry ride to Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, the most popular tourist hub. Another option is to fly into the capital of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristobal Island, but most cruises start in Santa Cruz. You can book through domestic airlines such as TAME, LAN, or Aerogal.

Many tours don’t include flights in their package prices, but ask about booking flights through the cruise company you're considering selecting. Some companies charge a fee for booking those internal flights on your own, since they may pre-arrange group flight bookings with the airlines to ensure best rates and that everyone arrive on the same flight.

Where to Stay

Photo by: The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd.

The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd.

If you’re flying into Quito, check out Mansion Del Angel, a 14-room boutique hotel with a peaceful garden and delicious buffet breakfast that’s only about a 10-minute walk from the main tourist area. Note that the new Quito airport is a long drive from Quito itself, so sleep somewhere closer if you’re flying in late and leaving early for your Galapagos flight.

When flying into Guayaquil, Hotel Oro Verde Guayaquil is a convenient option because it offers a free shuttle to the hotel (which is only about a 10-minute ride away), and has good service.

Most Galapagos tours begin and end in Santa Cruz. You might want to spend an extra night and splurge on a stay at the Finch Bay Eco Hotel. A quick ferry ride from the dock at Puerto Ayora, it has its own secluded beach where you can snorkel, kayak and swim.

What to Do

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Photo by: Perspectives / Getty Images

Perspectives / Getty Images

• Wildlife watching. Blue-footed boobies, albatross and penguins, oh my! Many species are unique to the Galapagos because of its isolation and remoteness. Tip: Ask your boat tour operator to do shore landings by 5:50 a.m. so you can beat the heat and the crowds.

• Diving. Liveaboards will take you to the best dive spots on Wolf and Darwin Islands, where you might see hammerhead sharks, whale sharks, eagle rays, large schools of jack fish and much more.

• Snorkeling. No matter which island you’re snorkeling off of, you’ll likely be swimming alongside sea lions and Pacific sea turtles. Isla Lobos and Kicker Rock off of San Cristobal are excellent spots.

• Hiking. Trek over dried lava beds along the rim of one of the archipelago’s active volcanoes or into the highlands to see a variety of vegetation. A good bet is hiking around Sierra Negra, the world’s second largest crater, on Isabela, the biggest island which also boasts 6 volcanoes.

• Kayaking. You can rent kayaks without a guide at Tortuga Bay in Santa Cruz.

• Surfing. Rent boards in port towns such as those in Santa Cruz and San Cristobal.

• Volunteering. You’ll find opportunities that can include working on a farm or helping with habitat restoration through EcuadorVolunteers.org and Ubelong.org.

Must-See Animals and Areas

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Photo by: Barcroft Media / Getty Images

Barcroft Media / Getty Images

• Giant Tortoise Breeding Centers. Most tours stop at Santa Cruz and San Cristobal Islands, and you can see these prehistoric-looking creatures at the Charles Darwin Research Center in Santa Cruz or the Galapagos Interpretation Center in San Cristobal. However, the less crowded and more interesting breeding center is in Puerto Villamil on Isabela. Here you can hold a baby tortoise egg and learn about the distinct tortoise types that are linked to the different volcanic areas on the island, each with distinct-shaped shells.

• Penguins. You’ll find the biggest population of Galapagos penguins around Tagus Cove (as well as about 35 percent of the archipelagos’ giant tortoises) on Isabela. Most cruises stick to the southern and central islands in the archipelago, but try to put this western island on your itinerary to see some wildlife gems. You’ll also see The Wall of Tears here, a stone wall remnant from the old penal colony built by prisoners with no purpose other than to serve as punishment.

• Marine iguanas. Fernandina has the largest colony of marine iguanas in the archipelago, in addition to a big sea lion colony at the visitor spot Punta Suarez and flightless cormorants. It’s also the youngest and most volcanically active island.

• Albatross. Punta Espinosa in Espanola is the place to go to spot the largest seabird with a wingspan of 2.5 meters. Albatross’s almost entire population nests on this island from April through November.

What to Pack

Photo by: Aqua Lung International

Aqua Lung International

• Waterproof camera or dry bag for electronics
• Binoculars
• Swimsuit
• Swim mask and fins. Tours usually provide them for snorkeling, but you don’t want to miss a marine-life spotting because you’re fiddling with ill-fitting gear. The best we’ve found are Aqua Lung’s Linea mask (advanced-fit technology means a better seal) and Shot FX fins (a spring-loaded foot strap makes for an adjustment-free fit).
• Sun hat, sunscreen, sunglasses
• A long-sleeved shirt with UPF. Wear it when you’re hiking or even snorkeling for extra sun protection.
• Refillable water bottle to reduce plastic waste.
• Motion sickness medication for boat tours.
• Quick-dry clothing. Try breathable, odor-resistant Merino wool material like the briefs, socks, and T-shirts from Icebreaker.
• Rain gear. Consider a waterproof jacket and umbrella (it protects from sun as well as rain!)
• Hiking shoes for uneven, dried lava terrain.
• Cash. A $100 park fee must be paid in cash and is often not included in tour packages. No need for money exchange because Ecuador’s currency is US dollars.