The Galapagos Islands are a lovely site to visit due to their brilliant turquoise ocean and white sand beaches and their remarkable array of unusual creatures and plants. The Galápagos Islands became Ecuador’s first national park in 1959 and a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1978.
Currently, more than 275,000 people visit the Galápagos Islands annually to witness these extraordinary species and environments. So, if you want to be among those people this year, you may be thinking about how to see the Galapagos Islands.
A cruise to the Galapagos Islands on a live-aboard ship might last anything from four days and three nights to twelve days and eleven nights. Another alternative is to remain on one of the more populous islands (Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal, or Isabela) and take day trips to the uninhabited ones.
Let’s get to know how to see the Galapagos Islands in detail.
How to See the Galapagos Islands?
The Galapagos Islands are a series of volcanic islands off Ecuador’s coast in South America. They are well-known for their unusual fauna and breathtaking scenery, making them a popular tourist destination for visitors from all over the world. Here are some ways to see the Galapagos Islands:
Take a cruise: Cruising is the most popular method to see the Galapagos Islands. Several tour firms provide cruises of varied lengths and prices. A cruise is an excellent opportunity to visit many islands and the wildlife on them.
A live-aboard trip to Galápagos can last between 4 days and 3 nights and 12 days and 11 nights. Four service categories for boats range from 12 to 110 passengers: economy, tourist, first class, and luxury.
Itineraries on cruise ships make use of nighttime hours to travel great distances between islands so that passengers arrive at the next destination refreshed and eager to explore.
Go on a land-based tour: If you want to stay on land, land-based tours are also available. These excursions usually include day trips to other islands as well as activities like hiking, snorkeling, and animal watching.
While this alternative is less expensive and offers passengers an unusual viewpoint, the number of islands that may be visited is restricted by distance. In addition, there are some animal species that are unlikely to be encountered on day journeys.
Island Hopping Tour: Island-hopping trips, which allow visitors to see Galápagos without being onboard for the entire journey, are growing in popularity. Tourists travel between inhabited islands by speedboats or public transit, staying overnight in hotels and viewing local landmarks, and enjoying activities around the towns.
Day excursions may be booked from San Cristóbal and Santa Cruz, although island-hopping is mostly headquartered from San Cristóbal and Santa Cruz, with Floreana and Isabela also offering accommodations.
Rent a private yacht: If you prefer a more luxurious and private experience, you may tour the islands in a private yacht. This option is more expensive, but it provides greater flexibility and specialized attention.
How To Reach Galapagos Islands?
You should start by traveling into one of Ecuador’s two major cities, Quito or Guayaquil, on the mainland. Guayaquil is closer to the islands. As most flights from Quito have a layover here on the route to the Galapagos, flying here is the most efficient method to get there.
U.S. carriers offering service to Quito include American, Continental/Copa, and Delta. There are no midday flights to the Galapagos, so you will likely have to spend the night on the mainland before continuing on to the islands.
To reach the main tourist center of Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island, visitors should fly onto Baltra Island and then take a bus and boat.
You may also fly into San Cristobal Island’s capital of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, but most cruises depart from Santa Cruz. Domestic carriers such as TAME, LAN, and Aerogal are your best bets for making reservations.
When To Visit Galapagos Islands?
There is no undesirable time to travel to the Galápagos Islands. No matter when you travel, the experience will be unique and fantastic. January through May are the warmest and wettest months, yet in between rains, the sky is crystal clear and ideal for photography.
March and April are often the warmest and wettest months, whilst August is typically the coolest. The months of June through December are colder and drier. Even though this is the dry season, misty precipitation is possible in December. There can be overcast and dreary skies.
The most popular months for tourism are June, July, and August, as well as mid-December to mid-January. So look for yourself, whether you want to come in busier months or not.
Bottom Line
This was all about How to see the Galapagos Islands. There are two ways to explore the islands, one is taking a cruise ship to visit and explore all islands, and another is land-staying, where you will see the islands yourself. Or you can even take a mid-way by taking an island hopping tour, in which you can visit various islands on the cruise without being onboard for the entire journey. So, choose as per your comfort!
We hope you found this article helpful & interesting. Thank you for reading!