Plan Your Galápagos Islands Trip

The Galápagos Islands are relatively busy year-round and cruises frequently sell out. As a rule, the further in advance you can plan, the more options you will have. For the best selection, plan at least 6 to 9 months in advance, more for peak times when many people prefer to travel like school breaks and April through July, and a year or more for trips between December 18 – January 4

Due to the amount of time and money it takes to get to the Galápagos, we recommend a minimum of 5 days with more being ideal. Most people book 5 to 8-day cruises with extended 9 to 15-day cruises available for travelers who would like to see the entire archipelago. You must arrive in Ecuador at least one day prior to your cruise in order to catch your Galápagos flight.

With abundant wildlife and pleasant weather year-round, there isn’t a bad time to go to the Galápagos. You can find a wider selection of trip options by planning in advance and avoiding in-demand travel dates.

The Galápagos is an incredible destination, so no matter which islands you see, you will be impressed by the abundance of wildlife and unique landscapes. In general, we encourage people not to worry about the specific islands they are visiting unless they have a certain must-see species or a particular activity. Focus on other factors like level of luxury, budget, availability, and what kind of activities you want to do. Also, consider your travel style. We offer cruise and land-based tours, or combinations. We realize that this is a once-in-a-lifetime trip, so we encourage you to contact our destination specialists who can make personal recommendations for you.

Both options allow for great wildlife viewing opportunities on land and underwater, and a chance to see a variety of landscapes. Live-aboard cruises allow you to visit the uninhabited outlying islands, which land tours don’t visit, and to see more islands throughout your trip. Cruises are a nice way to unplug and enjoy the unique experience of sleeping on a boat. Land tours are more flexible and your excursions are longer and less regimented. Land-based tours are great for more active travelers who want to stay busy. Some of our land tours include biking and kayaking, as well as longer hikes than those on a cruise. Land tours also give you the opportunity to spend evenings and free time enjoying the island towns. One is not better than the other, they’re just different styles.

Yes! While cruise itineraries are set by the Galápagos National Park, everything else is flexible! We will customize your tour to work with your interests, budget, and timeframe.

Yes, but be prepared to be flexible with the type of trip and the dates. Keep in mind that Galápagos is not cheap, but a large discount on a luxury trip is a great last minute deal, even if the trip is still not “cheap”. It is easier to find discounts during slower months like January, October, November (but not U.S. Thanksgiving) or early December. These deals are usually best for people who are flexible with their dates and don’t have a specific trip in mind.

We offer a range of accommodation levels in the Galápagos. Our most economical cruise options are similar to a 3-star hotel. The cabins may be small and basic, but the vessels are clean and comfortable. Our mid-range cruises are like a 4-star hotel with larger cabins, generally with larger windows and more common spaces throughout the vessel. Luxury cruises are similar to a 5-star hotel. These come with much larger cabins and extra amenities such as private balconies. Hotel accommodations in mainland Ecuador are set to match the cruise level that you book. Land-based Galápagos accommodations vary from 3 to 5 stars.

The Galápagos has a sub-tropical climate with temperatures ranging from the mid 60s to high 80s throughout the year. There are two seasons caused by different prevailing ocean currents. The warmer, wetter season runs from December to May, and a cooler, dryer season takes over from June – November. Even in the wet season, rain is generally confined to brief afternoon showers and shouldn’t disrupt your trip.

While your days in the islands are full, Galápagos cruises are not particularly strenuous. As long as you are able to walk a couple of miles at a leisurely pace and are able to navigate uneven terrain, you will be able to enjoy the Galápagos. Land-based tours are typically more active, and may include adventure activities and longer excursions. If you have mobility or agility concerns, let us know and we can go more into detail so you know what to expect.

Snorkeling happens almost every day on all Galápagos cruises, and multiple times on land trips. Kayaking is only permitted in certain areas, as mandated by the Galápagos National Park. Many cruises have kayaks or SUPs on board, but not all do, and most land tours include some paddling opportunities. Be sure to check with your travel planner if this is a priority for you. Diving is only available on live-aboard, dive-intensive cruises, or as day trips on land-based tours. If you would like to add scuba diving to a naturalist cruise, we can arrange a land-based extension tour.

All guides on Galápagos cruises are freelance and hired directly by the vessels. Guides on any of the cruises we offer are experienced, fluent in English and hold a degree in relevant fields. Cruises that are mid-range or above will have the best guides possible. Our more economic options also have great guides, but they may have a little less experience, or developing English skills. Please note, many of the best guides in the Galápagos now choose to skip formal certification processes that define the level of each guide because of the high costs and the time it demands. Because of this, the designations of Level I, II, III are no longer an accurate indicator of the quality of your guide.

Travelers are responsible for their own international airfare. Internal flights, including Galápagos flights, are quoted separately from tour package costs but are included in your trip quote.

Our trips include most expenses. We do not include tips (guides, drivers, cruise/hotel staff), travel insurance, international flights, or other trip incidentals and personal equipment. There are occasional entrance fees that cannot be prepaid, but most are included in your trip costs and any exceptions will be clearly detailed.
 
The number of meals included vary by trip; you can tell which meals are included by looking for a B, L, or D at the end of each day’s description. This will indicate if (B)reakfast, (L)unch, and/or (D)inner is included.
 
Every trip is different, and each itinerary we send you, from initial trip proposals to your final confirmed itinerary, contains a detailed list of inclusions and exclusions. We also provide detailed tipping guides for all our confirmed travelers.

Review the policies section on this page for more details, but please note that each cruise has its own cancellation policy in addition to our own. This will be detailed in your specific itinerary.

Galápagos is safe for travel. However, travelers should take the same precautions that they would while traveling elsewhere, particularly in large cities like Quito and Guayaquil, to protect themselves from petty theft. Listen to the advice of your guide and hotel reception staff and take common sense precautions such as not going into unfamiliar areas alone, especially at night. Use the safety deposit box at your hotel for your passport and extra money (carry only as much as you might spend) and leave jewelry and expensive watches at home. There is virtually no crime in the Galápagos Islands, in fact, we consider sunburn a top concern.

Check your email for your payment confirmation and a link to access our online trip portal. Final payment due date is in your confirmation email, and we’ll send you a reminder later. Now is a good time to check into travel insurance!

Yes, travel insurance is highly recommended. There are a plethora of insurance providers but we recommend contacting Travelex Insurance Services or Travel Guard or using SquareMouth to compare other travel insurance websites.

If your plans are set and flights are available to purchase, then go ahead and book them! Some people like to watch fare trends before purchasing. Airlines post flight schedules about 10-12 months in advance, so for travelers booking trips over a year in advance, you’ll have to wait. It is relatively easy to find flights to our Latin American destinations, so unless you are traveling over the holidays or very last minute, don’t stress about finding flights!

After booking you will receive a link to our online trip portal, which includes all of the need-to-know information specific to your itinerary. This includes packing lists, restaurant recommendations, tipping guides, FAQs, electrical plugs and voltage, vaccine recommendations and money matters. Your travel planner will also be a great resource for any other information you may need.

Yes! We are happy to modify any tour to meet your needs and also add pre and post-excursion extensions. Galápagos cruises and some land tours have strict policies, so be sure your plans are set before you commit. Please bear in mind, we can’t change the cruise schedule but everything else is open to discussion.

Yes! Many people don’t book their international flights until after they confirm their Galápagos trip. Confirming your Galápagos trip is more urgent than extra days and mainland Ecuador side trips due to demand and availability, so most people focus on Galápagos first, and then later book their international flights and extension tours.

You can find more information about packing in the online trip portal. We have packing lists, footwear details, and things to consider. Review your final trip details that we send a couple of weeks prior to departure for luggage limitations and restrictions specific for your trip.

Typically flights have a 50 pound weight limit for checked bags and you can travel with one carry on plus one personal item. If your trip includes an interisland flight in the Galápagos, you are limited to 25lbs total for all luggage.

Yes! Please notify us in advance if you are celiac, gluten free, dairy-free, vegan, vegetarian, etc. If you have kids or picky eaters in your group, the more information you give us the better we can accommodate you. Kosher is logistically more challenging, but we have options for this, too! If you have allergies, please tell us! In the online trip portal, you will see a place to indicate allergies and dietary needs.

Check your online trip portal for the most up-to-date information regarding traveller health and immunization recommendations.

About two weeks before you depart, we will email your final trip details that will have all of the pertinent information you need for your trip. Generally, our trips do not require any physical vouchers or documents. Some trips may have informational documents which we will include in your final trip details.

Upon arrival in Ecuador you will meet your guide just outside of customs for the transfer to your hotel. Specific instructions will be included in your final itinerary.

Please refer to your final trip details and your welcome letter that you receive in country at the start of your trip. When in doubt, ask your guide.

Most people worry about motion sickness beforehand and then are fine once on the trip. However, you are on a boat and will feel some motion regardless of which type of vessel you are on. We recommend that all passengers who are prone to motion sickness consult their doctors to obtain preventative medication best suited to their individual needs. As long as you are prepared, you will be fine.

Review the money section in the online trip portal for details on local currency, ATMs, tipping guides, and local expenses and incidentals. When in doubt, ask your guide.

To ensure the safety of our travelers, our guides are linked with outside services 24 hours a day in all locations to provide assistance when necessary. Cruise vessels have emergency satellite phones. Our guides are experienced and well trained in dealing with emergencies. Because of the remote locations included on our itineraries, we recommend obtaining medical or travel insurance that includes emergency evacuation and medical coverage. A few weeks prior to departure we will provide you with our 24-hour emergency line number.

You can expect Wi-Fi access at most hotels. When in remote areas, Wi-Fi may be unreliable or unavailable. Cell phone service depends on your cellular provider and coverage plan. Many, but not all, cruises have Wi-Fi, but expect low bandwidth when available. We recommend that our travelers be ready to disconnect when heading to remote destinations. You are, after all, on vacation!

Quito and Guayaquil hotels offer laundry service for an additional charge, some Galápagos accommodations offer it but most do not. If you spend more than one night in a town or city, you can do laundry at a local lavanderia which will charge by the kilo. Galápagos cruise vessels do not offer laundry service. The quick dry clothing needed for Galápagos tours is easily handwashed in your room or cabin.

All of our confirmed travelers will receive a list of emergency contact numbers before departure, including a 24-hour emergency line. If your international flight is delayed please call this number so we can make the necessary arrangements and keep your trip running smoothly. Once on your trip and in contact with your local guide, please refer to them first for any issue you may have then contact the head office if you need additional assistance.