01 · Vulkanske utsiktspunkter
Bartolomé
Gå opp den trappelagte stien for den ikoniske utsikten over Pinnacle Rock, lavakjegler og tvillingbukter. Oppstigningen er utsatt for sol og krever komfortable tursko.
Trapper og gange i motbakke
An archipelago like no other
The islands are the experience
A Galápagos adventure cruise is a journey between habitats, not a succession of crowded ports. Your ship carries you to remote visitor sites, while licensed naturalists bring each island’s wildlife and geology into focus.
One morning you might walk beside sea lions on a white-sand beach. The next brings cactus forests, seabird colonies or young black lava. Back on board, meals and overnight crossings connect the islands without repeated hotel moves.
These cruises focus on landings, nature walks and coastal exploration. Optional snorkelling and kayaking add another perspective where permitted. The exact islands, walking demands and activities depend on the vessel’s approved route.
When to go
Best time to travel: seasons & weather
Galápagos welcomes visitors all year. Choose between warm, often calmer months and cooler, windier conditions, then match your island circuit to the wildlife you most want to see.
Shore-excursion season in Galápagos at a glance
ExcellentGoodOff-season
Excellent, peak season (Dec – Apr)
Warm season: calmer seas, green islands, nesting land birds and sea-turtle hatchlings; shore walks are hot at midday.
Good, shoulder season (May – Nov)
Cool garúa season: busy seabird colonies, courting albatrosses and blue-footed boobies; choppier crossings but very active wildlife.
Typical patterns for planning shore excursions; weather varies year to year and is never guaranteed.
Warm season · Jan–May
Warmer water, greener lowlands and tropical showers. Often calmer crossings, but midday shore walks can be hot and humid.
Cool season · Jun–Dec
Cooler currents, stronger winds and mist in the highlands. Coastal rain is often limited, yet boat crossings can be choppier.
Season & shore-walk conditions
Jan
Warm
Showers
Yes
Feb
Warm
Showers
Yes
Mar
Warm
Showers
Yes
Apr
Warm
Showers
Yes
May
Warm
Showers
Yes
Jun
Cool
Garúa*
Yes
Jul
Cool
Garúa*
Yes
Aug
Cool
Garúa*
Yes
Sep
Cool
Garúa*
Yes
Oct
Cool
Garúa*
Yes
Nov
Cool
Garúa*
Yes
Dec
Cool
Garúa*
Yes
| Typical pattern | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Climate | Warm | Warm | Warm | Warm | Warm | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool |
| Rain / mist | Showers | Showers | Showers | Showers | Showers | Garúa* | Garúa* | Garúa* | Garúa* | Garúa* | Garúa* | Garúa* |
| Cruises | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
*Garúa is persistent mist or drizzle, especially on windward highlands. Seasonal transitions vary; there is no single bad month for the whole archipelago.
Air & sea temperatures through the year
Coastal daytime airSea temperature
Rounded, illustrative planning values, not a measured station series or forecast. Conditions differ between islands; western waters can be considerably cooler. El Niño and La Niña can shift the usual pattern.
Wildlife on land & along the coast
Meet the locals
The most memorable encounters often happen at walking pace. Animals live in specific habitats, so the islands on your route matter as much as your travel month. Keep at least two metres away and follow your guide.
Endemic island wildlife
Year-round
Kjempeskilpadde
Høylandet på Santa Cruz
Gå gjennom fuktige habitater i høylandet for å se etter frittgående skilpadder. Avlssentre tilbyr et annerledes, bevaringsfokusert besøk.
Endemic island wildlife
Year-round
Blåfotsule
North Seymour og kystkolonier
Se de umiskjennelige føttene og paringsdansen deres fra stien. Hekketiden varierer med mattilgang og øy.
Endemic island wildlife
Year-round
Haviguan
Steinete kyster over hele øygruppen
Se etter kolonier som varmer seg på lavaen etter å ha spist i havet. Dyrene på Española kan være spesielt fargerike i paringstiden.
Endemic island wildlife
Year-round
Galápagossjøløve
Gardner Bay og sandstrender
Strandkolonier er et høydepunkt på fotturer i land. Gi hvilende dyr god plass, og blokker aldri veien deres til vannet.
Endemic island wildlife
Usually April–December
Bølgealbatross
Española
Velg en reiserute som besøker Punta Suárez for å se hekkekolonien. De fleste fuglene er ute på havet tidlig på året.
Endemic island wildlife
Year-round, route-dependent
Galápagospingvin
Hovedsakelig vestlige Isabela og Fernandina
Speid langs de steinete kystlinjene fra en panga. En vestlig reiserute øker sjansene dine, men observasjoner kan aldri garanteres.
Endemic island wildlife
Year-round, western islands
Galápagosskarv
Isabela og Fernandina
Denne ekstraordinære endemiske fuglen lever langs vestkysten. Det er ikke en art du kan forvente å se på alle øyrundturene.
Endemic island wildlife
Year-round
Landiguan
South Plaza og utvalgte tørre øyer
Let langs kaktuskledde stier etter gule og gylne iguaner. Utbredelsen deres varierer mellom øyer og arter.
Endemic island wildlife
Year-round; displays vary
Praktfregattfugl
North Seymour og hekkekolonier langs kysten
Se disse langvingede sjøfuglene gli over kysten. I hekkekoloniene kan hannene blåse opp de knallrøde strupeposene sine under paringsleken; oppvisningene avhenger av hekkeaktiviteten.
Wildlife is wild: sightings, courtship displays and nesting activity cannot be guaranteed.
Show all other animalsEvery island tells a different story
Shore excursions worth planning around
These are examples of visitor sites and experiences, not a promised itinerary. Look for the actual landing names on your ship’s day-by-day program.
02 · Skilpadder og frodige landskap
Høylandet på Santa Cruz
Bytt ut den tørre kysten med grønnere høyland, frittgående kjempeskilpadder og vulkanske formasjoner. Høylandsbesøk kan være en del av et cruise eller en forlengelse før ombordstigning.
Ujevne stier; mulighet for regn
03 · Fuglekolonier
North Seymour
Følg stier med naturguide forbi blåfotsuler og fregattfugler. Hekkeaktiviteten endrer seg gjennom året, og den steinete ilandstigningen avhenger av forholdene.
Steinete, tørr ilandstigning
04 · Sjøfugler og sjøløver
Española
Punta Suárez kombinerer en dramatisk kystlinje med sjøfuglkolonier; Gardner Bay byr på hvit sand og sjøløver. Muligheten for å se albatross avhenger av årstid og de faktiske stoppene.
Steinete stier eller våt ilandstigning på strand
05 · Ung lava og endemisk dyreliv
Fernandina og vestlige Isabela
Vestlige ruter avslører nakne lavakyster, haviguaner og leveområder for galapagosskarv og pingviner. Sjekk de nøyaktige ilandstigningsstedene i stedet for bare øyas navn.
Lengre overfarter; ujevn lava
06 · Kaktusskoger og kystvandringer
South Plaza og Santa Fe
Ulike øyer, særegne habitater: South Plaza har sjøfugler på klippekantene og landiguaner; Santa Fe har sin egen landiguanart og høye fikenkaktuser.
Korte stier, lite skygge
Lava & volcanic history
Read the landscape in lava flows, tuff cones and uplifted coastlines.
The western islands, above all Fernandina and Isabela, still sit directly over the volcanic hot spot and are among the youngest land on Earth. Walks cross fresh black flows where rope textures, spatter cones and lava tunnels are easy to read. Older islands in the east show how the very same rock slowly weathers into soil, beaches and greenery.
Plants & island habitats
Spot prickly-pear cacti, salt-tolerant coastal plants and greener highland vegetation.
Each altitude brings its own vegetation zone, from salt-tolerant shore plants through arid cactus forest to humid highlands with ferns and giant daisies. Because so few species ever reached the islands, many of them grow nowhere else on the planet. Watching where a land iguana or tortoise feeds is often the quickest way to read these zones.
Conservation ashore
Santa Cruz research and breeding-centre visits explain habitat protection and tortoise recovery.
Visits to the Charles Darwin Research Station and the tortoise breeding centres on Santa Cruz show how eggs are hatched and young tortoises raised until they can survive on their own. Park fees and strict visitor rules directly fund this work. Your guide explains how biosecurity checks and marked trails keep the islands intact for the years ahead.
Choose islands before cabins
Which Galápagos route is right for you?
Route labels vary between operators. Compare the actual stops, not just “east” or “west”, and check how many days are devoted to your favourite habitats.
Western islands
For lava shores & rare endemics
Look for Fernandina and western Isabela if penguins, flightless cormorants and young volcanic landscapes are priorities.
Explore the western islands
Southern & eastern islands
For seabirds & sandy bays
An Española call is key for waved albatross in season. San Cristóbal and other eastern stops bring different colonies and coastlines.
Explore the southern & eastern islands
Central islands
For classic island variety
Routes including Santa Cruz, North Seymour, Bartolomé or South Plaza can combine highlands, seabirds, viewpoints and cactus habitat.
Explore the central islandsYour base between islands
Galápagos cruise ships
Explore the cruise ships already in our collection. Compare cabins, guest numbers and day-by-day routes; daily prices appear only when current pricing is available.
Loading Galápagos cruise ships…
Flights & arrival
How to get to the Galápagos
There are no international flights to the islands. Every trip goes through mainland Ecuador first, then on a domestic flight (Avianca, LATAM or Equair) to one of two island airports.
UIO
Mainland gateway
Quito – Mariscal Sucre International
Direct flights from Miami, Houston, Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale, Bogotá, Lima, Panama City, Madrid and Amsterdam. Galápagos flights from Quito usually stop briefly in Guayaquil.
GYE
Mainland gateway
Guayaquil – José Joaquín de Olmedo International
Closest mainland airport to the islands, with the shortest onward flight. Connections from Miami, New York, Madrid, Amsterdam, Panama City, Bogotá and Lima.
GPS
Island airport
Baltra – Seymour Airport
Main island airport, next to Santa Cruz. Most cruise ships embark here or at nearby Itabaca Channel / Puerto Ayora. Around 1 h 50 min from Guayaquil.
SCY
Island airport
San Cristóbal Airport
On the edge of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, a few minutes from the harbour. Used by eastern and some southern itineraries. Around 1 h 45 min from Guayaquil.
Best connections by region
Europe
Amsterdam or Madrid → Quito/Guayaquil (≈11–12 h)
Next morning: Guayaquil → Baltra or San Cristóbal
North America
Miami, Houston, Atlanta or New York → Quito/Guayaquil (≈4–7 h)
Next morning: Guayaquil → Baltra or San Cristóbal
South & Central America
Bogotá, Lima or Panama City → Quito/Guayaquil (≈1.5–3 h)
Next morning: Guayaquil → Baltra or San Cristóbal
Asia & Australia
Via the US, Madrid, Amsterdam or Santiago de Chile → Guayaquil
Plan at least one full night in Ecuador before the island flight
Arrive a day early – don’t miss your ship
- Arrive in Quito or Guayaquil at least one day before your island flight, ideally two from Europe or Asia
- Island flights leave mainland Ecuador in the morning only, so same-day international connections are risky
- Check whether your ship embarks at Baltra or San Cristóbal before booking. Arriving at the wrong island means missing the departure
- Book the island flight with the cruise operator where possible, so they can rebook you if a flight changes
- Buy the Transit Control Card at the airport before check-in and pay the national park fee in cash on arrival
- Your bags pass a biosecurity scan: no fresh fruit, seeds, plants or soil
- On the last day, plan a late afternoon or next-day international flight home
Flight times, airlines and fees change. Check current schedules and entry rules before booking.
Before you set sail
A little preparation makes a big difference
Pack for the landings
- Grippy walking shoes and footwear for wet beach landings
- Sun hat, high-protection sunscreen and refillable water bottle
- Light rain jacket and a wind layer for boat transfers
- Binoculars and a camera, with no flash around wildlife
- Personal medication and motion-sickness advice before departure
Respect the islands
- Explore designated park sites with an authorised naturalist guide
- Stay on marked trails and keep at least two metres from wildlife
- Never touch or feed animals; do not remove shells or natural objects
- Follow biosecurity checks and avoid bringing seeds or organic material
- Check current park fees, transit requirements and ship inclusions before travelling
Remote islands have limited medical facilities, so discuss health and mobility needs before choosing a route.
Good to know
Galápagos cruise questions
Når er den beste tiden å reise til Galápagos?
Cruise går året rundt. Januar til mai er vanligvis varmere med tropiske regnbyger og ofte roligere sjø. Juni til desember er kjøligere, med sterkere vind og garúa i høylandet. Velg ruten din og dyrelivet du vil oppleve først, deretter årstiden.
Er dette en dykkereise?
Nei. Dette er naturfokuserte opplevelsescruise med hovedvekt på guidede utflukter på land og dyreliv. Mange reiseruter tilbyr også snorkling eller kajakkpadling der det er tillatt, men aktiviteter og utstyr varierer fra skip til skip.
Besøker alle cruise alle disse øyene?
Nei. Hvert skip seiler en godkjent reiserute. Østlige, sørlige og vestlige runder besøker forskjellige øyer, og stoppene kan endres på grunn av værforhold eller instrukser fra nasjonalparken. Sammenlign ruten dag for dag før du bestiller.
Hvor mange netter bør jeg velge?
Et kortere cruise gir en smakebit av en bestemt rute; en uke gir som regel mer variasjon og tid på avsidesliggende øyer. Lengre, kombinerte ruter kan dekke svært ulike naturtyper. Hvilke øyer du besøker har mer å si enn bare antall netter.
Hvor krevende er utfluktene på land?
Forvent transport i småbåter, våte eller steinete ilandstigninger og ujevne stier. Noen utflukter innebærer trapper, varme eller turer i oppoverbakke. Spør om den spesifikke ruten og hvilken assistanse som er tilgjengelig hvis du har utfordringer med bevegeligheten; ikke alle ilandstigninger er tilrettelagt.
Hvor flyr jeg til, og hva bør jeg budsjettere med i tillegg til lugaren?
Flyvningene går vanligvis via Quito eller Guayaquil til Baltra eller San Cristóbal. Flyplassen du reiser til må stemme overens med reiseruten for ombordstigning. Sjekk flyreiser, inngangsbilletter til nasjonalparken, krav til transittkontroll, transport, tips, drikkevarer og utstyr opp mot hva som er inkludert på skipet; avgifter og fritak kan endres.
