Galápagos Islands Cruises

Travel experts recommend 7 to 10 days to cover the highlights of the islands. You can extend your stay for up to 14 days for a well-rounded experience.

The cluster of islands is part of Ecuador in South America, set around 600 miles off the mainland coast.

Although the archipelago is on the equator, it has a mix of tropical and semi-arid climate. The temperatures remain fairly mild with an average temperature of 24°C in daytime. The warm season typically runs from January to May, while the dry season is from June to November.

The rich and unspoiled biodiversity, with little to no human disturbance, draws many tourists to the remote islands every year. The Galápagos archipelago is an exotic haven where an abundance of rare species exclusive to the islands can be found, including the giant tortoises, marine iguanas, Darwin’s finches, waved albatross and more. The site also inspired the world-famous naturalist, Charles Darwin, in formulating his revolutionary theory of evolution and natural selection.

There’s no bad time to visit the Galápagos and sailings run year-round. However, December to May are generally the best months for a cruise, when the weather is warmer and the sea is calmer. There may be light rain, but the bloom of vegetation and turtle nesting make the experience worth it. December is also the hatching season for giant tortoises. Alternatively, June through November brings less rain and average highs of 25⁰C. The water can be a little bit choppier but is worth bearing as this is the mating season for many birds, including the waved albatross, blue-footed boobies and short-eared owls.