Many wildlife species breed and nest year-round, such as the red-footed and masked boobies, flightless cormorants, penguins and greater flamingoes. Dolphin and whale spotting is very common in September & November on the crossing to Fernandina Island, and December marks the start of the warm season in the Galapagos and offers many wildlife encounters. Nutrient-rich waters brought in by the strong Humboldt current in August offer excellent opportunities to snorkel with sea-lion pups. Galapagos in January - May is the time when green sea turtles, marine and land iguanas start nesting, whereas June marks the start of when California Sea Lions start breeding, and August for Fur Seals to start breeding and tortoises in Santa Cruz island to lay eggs in the wild. The area has 2 main seasons the warm wet season from late December to June, or the cool dry season from July to early December, which means there are amazing Galapagos itineraries year-round. Best Time to Cruise Galapagosĭue to its proximity to the equator, the Galapagos Islands see very little rainfall and there is no set best time to visit the Galapagos Islands to see wildlife. With a mix of extensive lava fields in the north and dense vegetation and unique red mangroves in the south, Isabela Island offers many great visitor sites in the Galapagos.įor more information on the main islands visited on a Galapagos cruise, please see our Galapagos Island Cruises page. Isabela Island - the largest island in the archipelago, Isabela was formed by 5 young volcanoes joining together. ![]() During the dry season, the reserve offers visitors the chance to observe Giant Tortoises in the wild.įloreana Island - located at the south of the Galapagos Islands, Floreana is home to the ‘Post Office Bay’, where whalers placed an unofficial post box in the hope their letters would get sent home, as well as a great place to spot flamingos and sea turtles. With a beautiful white sandy beach, Tortuga Bay also offers amazing snorkelling in the Galapagos Islands.Įl Chato Tortoise Reserve - Also located on Santa Cruz, the El Chato Tortoise reserve is divided into 2 areas, Chato & Caseta. Tortuga Bay - located on Santa Cruz Island, Tortuga Bay gets its name from the black sea turtles that lay their eggs here. ![]() The station is an information centre, library, museum and breeding ground of tortoises which will be introduced into the wild. ![]() Whilst there are many things to see and do in the Galapagos, some of the best Galapagos tours involve visiting the below destinations īaltra Island - The home of the first airport in the Galapagos Islands, Baltra Island is where many Galapagos cruises start and finish.Ĭharles Darwin Research Station - Located close to Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island airport, a visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station is usually at the start or the end of the trip. From the stunning landscapes which looks like something from the Jurassic age, to the endemic wildlife with up to 26 species native to these islands and in their natural habitat, there really is nowhere else on earth like the Galapagos Islands. Made up of a cluster of around 13 volcanic islands, around 95% of this area is now part of the Galapagos National Park system and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Ī Galapagos cruise will offer a truly unique experience. The Galapagos Islands were first made famous when British scientist Charles Darwin based his ‘ Theory of Evolution’ on his findings there. All Galapagos small ship cruises have between 12 - 100 passengers, ensuring a more personalised service and experience. Escape the crowds and explore the islands on a Galapagos Cruise in small groups and with experienced naturalist guides. This means that most boats offer alternating itineraries to cover as many of the best Galapagos sites as possible. In order to preserve the natural beauty of the Galapagos Islands, the Galapagos National Park have reduced the number of guests to the visitor sites by requiring boats to wait 14 days before returning to the same area. Taking a Galapagos small ship cruise ensures that you will gain access to some of the best visitor sites, most of which are closed to bigger cruise ships. With its raw, natural beauty and amazing wildlife, the isolated Galapagos Islands are best visited by boat, and more specifically, a luxury cruise or liveaboard boat offering different levels of accommodation onboard. For many, the Galapagos Islands hold a certain amount of intrigue to those seeking one of the few remaining spectacular wildlife encounters on earth. A Galapagos cruise should be high on most peoples destination bucket list.
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