![]() ![]() Most passengers will at least spend a day or two exploring Quito or Guayaquil pre- or post-cruise. Galapagos cruises are often paired with land-based visits to Peru's Machu Picchu, the Ecuadorian rainforest or other South American hotspots. At Darwin, where there is no landing site, schools of hammerheads are known to congregate. There is one main exception: "Live aboard" boats carrying experienced divers are the only craft to visit the northern islands, Darwin and Wolf, prime spots for scuba enthusiasts. When you cruise is also an important consideration (see below). That's not to say the western islands are better - it's a matter of personal preference. Keep in mind that the longer the cruise, the farther west the ship will reach. Port research - particularly photo searching - is key. military outpost during WWII turned Ecuadorian air base, or San Cristobal, the Galapagos' second most populated island and home to the capital of the province, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.īecause the approach to cruising has been standardized, picking the right itinerary has a lot to do with cruisers determining which visitor sites are on their must-visit lists. Passengers can often combine these segments into 11-, 12- and 15-day cruises.Īll boats basically follow the same protocol, regardless of itinerary: Island visits and water-based activities are done during the day, and the majority of navigation is done overnight.Īll cruises begin or end at one of two islands with an airport: Baltra, a U.S. How lines segment the 15 days can vary, but four-, five- and eight-day options are the norm. During that period, a boat may not visit the same site twice, with the exception of the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz. Landscape on the Galapagos island of South Plaza Island (photo: BlueOrange Studio/Shutterstock)Įvery licensed vessel sailing the Galapagos follows a 15-day route established and approved by Galapagos National Park. Several species of birds mate during this period, and sea turtle nesting also occurs.Įl Nino, a weather phenomenon made famous on SNL by Chris Farley, can upend weather-related expectations, bringing a tropical feel to the surroundings at unexpected times. Land vegetation explodes, with flowers coming into bloom. Sun-worshippers may be tested in February and March, when equatorial heat scorches the lava. Light rain falls for a short period of time each day, but the spritz is balanced with potent sunshine. This is also the mating season for the blue-footed boobies and waved albatrosses.ĭecember through May, the air and water temperatures are typically warmer, in the high 80's, and seas are calmer. Given the colder water temps - sometimes in the low 60s - wearing a wetsuit is a smart move for snorkelers hoping to stay in the water longer. ![]() The change in water quality attracts fish and sea birds, making this a fantastic time to snorkel. Skies are often overcast, but rain is uncommon. Average highs are typically around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. From June through November, the Humboldt Current brings colder, nutrient-rich water and (slightly) cooler land temperatures. High season, when families often push occupancy levels to the max, is considered mid-June through early September and mid-December through mid-January. Still, there are two main "seasons," each of which has its draws and drawbacks. The Galapagos is a year-round destination, and nature-loving visitors can expect to be stunned by the flora and fauna in any month. Lava formations on Santiago Island (photo: Fotos593/Shutterstock) There are typically two excursions per day, and if you participate in every hike and snorkel, expect limited down time - and expect to be enthralled but slightly exhausted by debarkation day. And so forth until you hit the pillow after a post-dinner briefing and pisco sour. Given the Galapagos National Park's "sunrise to sunset" rule, the cruise experience is highly structured, almost military-like (though you can opt out of any activity without threat of pushups). A cruise, which lets visitors efficiently trace remarkable evolutionary variations from island to island, is the most immersive way to see the destination in a three- to 14-night stretch. A visit to the Ecuadorian islands is a science fiction adventure - ship as time machine visiting a prehistoric land of volcanic eruptions, alien cactus trees, swimming iguanas, flightless birds and tortoises of lumbering immensity. Be you bucket-lister or wildlife buff, the idea of the Galapagos pulses with animal magnetism.
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