Some of our Galapagos Islands holiday ideas

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Best Time To Visit Galapagos Islands

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Quick Country Facts

Time Zone:GMT -6 hours

Captial:Puerto Baquerizo Moreno

Currency:United States Dollar

Temperature:21-30°

Why visit the Galapagos Islands?

If you would like to see a particular species at a particular time of year on your Galapagos holiday, then do ask us for advice on when to go and which island to visit. Sea lions are the largest mammals that have reached these volcanic islands and a result, the birdlife here is prolific.

Surrounded by thousands of miles of uninterrupted ocean, the islands are a natural breeding ground for seabirds. The Giant tortoise is one of the most sought after of the reptiles and is native to seven of the islands. See our Galapagos Islands holiday calendar for a summary of what species to see in which month, on each of the islands.

Sarah Frankish

Travel Specialist

I'm here to tailor-make your perfect holiday. Give me a call and I'll use my expertise to create your personalised experience.

A Galapagos islands cruise is the best way to see how species have evolved on different islands. There are different boat sizes and cruise lengths. We offer the full range of Galapagos cruises as well as specific trips tailored for:

  • Families
  • People who would prefer not to be with younger children
  • Those who want a more active trip with diving and marine activities

 

The boats we feature on our Galapagos holidays range from those with a capacity of 20 passengers to the maximum of 100. The mid-sized to larger boats (carrying between 40 and 100 passengers) will generally have more public facilities such as lounges and Jacuzzis. In general, the larger the boat, the longer it may take for embarking and disembarking for shore excursions. The smaller boats have the advantage of landing at islands such as Tower Island where you can see red-footed boobies for example. They can also sail closer to shore and visit more isolated bays.

On a typical Galapagos cruise holiday, the first excursion might start after an early breakfast and is likely to last for several hours. Passengers then return to the boat before it moves onto the next island or nature site. In the afternoon there is usually another landing and again, several hours spent ashore. At some nature sites there will be a choice of activity such as snorkelling, kayaking or excursions on a glass-bottomed boat. In the evening, dinner is preceded by a talk by one of the boat’s naturalist, reviewing the day, and also previewing the next.

Environmental concerns are paramount on all our Galapagos holidays and cruises. The Galapagos National Park authorities set rules and expectations for all visitors to observe to maintain the environmental beauty of the islands. This inclues limiting the number of visitors to each island to just 100 per day, in groups no larger than 20. Many of the operators we work with have achieved accreditation for their environmental practices. Ask us for details.

Holidays to Galapagos don't have to be cruise based. If you want to visit the islands but don’t want to spend too much time on a boat, there are some very good hotels in the archipelago, such as the Finch Bay Eco Hotel and the Galapagos Safari Camp, which operate day excursions to nearby islands. If you’d prefer to explore on foot, there are also walking tours that operate on Isabela Island.

Holiday types

Whether you want to explore the natural world with the whole family or encounter rare species with just a few other travellers.

Choose the tailor-made itinerary that's right for you.

Looking for inspiration?

You'll find expert travel guides, holiday ideas and insider tips now on the Rainbow blog

Why Choose Us?

Passionate travel experts

  • We've been leading wildlife travel since our first South Africa tours over 25 years ago
  • Our Travel Specialists have lived in their specialist area for years
  • We work with local guides to immerse you deeper in our diverse range of experiences

Personal & tailor-made

  • You'll speak to your own expert who'll share their first-hand knowledge
  • We'll make your itinerary seamless with 24/7 emergency contact available
  • Your Travel Specialist will listen to ensure you have the best chance of seeing the wildlife you love

Responsible by nature

  • We take care to actively contribute to the conservation of environments we visit
  • For select countries, we make a charitable donation on your behalf when you make your booking
  • We've partnered with conservation experts and NGOs to curate responsible tours
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