When Charles Darwin traveled to the Galapagos Islands in the 1830s, he came across a world of breathtaking biodiversity and beauty. Today’s visitors will find the same, as they venture into a wildlife reserve that is still largely unsullied by modern hands. Located some 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, these islands of volcanic rock are today home to giant tortoises, sea lions, iguanas, and dozens of other exotic species, all of which can be seen in their natural state. Our Galapagos Tours & Cruises will open your eyes to the wonders of this great national park.
Featured Galapagos Tours
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Quito and 4 Day Coral I & II Cruise – North/Central Galapagos Islands
7 Days/6 Nights from $2,709
Discover the wildlife and landscapes of the North/Central Galapagos Islands while traveling aboard the Coral I & II. Beginning in Quito, you will have a…
Quito and 4 Day Coral I & II Cruise – Eastern Galapagos Islands
7 Days/6 Nights from $2,709
Discover the wildlife and landscapes of the Eastern Galapagos Islands while traveling aboard the Coral I & II. Beginning in Quito, you will have…
Quito and 4 Day Galapagos Legend Cruise – Northern Islands
7 Days/6 Nights from $2,709
Experience Quito and the Northern Galapagos Islands on this wondrous tour of Ecuador. In Quito, the country’s capital and a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site…
Quito and 4 Day Galapagos Legend Cruise – Eastern Islands
7 Days/6 Nights from $2,709
Experience Quito and the Eastern Galapagos Islands on this wondrous tour of Ecuador. In Quito, the country’s capital and a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site…
Quito and 4 Day Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel
7 Days/6 Nights from $2,949
Discover the endemic wildlife and volcanic landscapes of the Galapagos Islands on this tour. With the Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel as your base for four…
Quito and Red Mangrove Galapagos Island Hopping
9 Days/8 Nights from $3,049
Experience the Galapagos from a different perspective by staying at hotels on Santa Cruz and Isabela islands. This tour is ideal for travelers that want…
Otavalo, Chaski Route Train, and 4 Day Galapagos Legend Cruise
9 Days/8 Nights from $3,229
This popular tour begins in Quito, the first city to be included on UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage list due to its art and architecture. It…
Quito and 5 Day Galapagos Legend Cruise – Southern Islands
8 Days/7 Nights from $3,469
Experience Quito and the Southern Galapagos Islands on this wondrous tour of Ecuador. In Quito, the country’s capital and a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site…
Quito and 5 Day Coral I & II Cruise – Western Galapagos Islands
8 Days/7 Nights from $3,469
Discover the wildlife and landscapes of the Western Galapagos Islands while traveling aboard the Coral I & II. Beginning in Quito, you will have a…
10 Best Galapagos Tours & Cruises for 2021-2022
| Tour Name | Price | Duration | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quito and 4 Day Coral I & II Cruise – Eastern Galapagos Islands | $2,709 | 7 Days | Discover the wildlife and landscapes of the Eastern Galapagos Islands while traveling aboard the Coral I & II. Beginning in Quito, you will have a city tour… |
| Quito and 5 Day Galapagos Legend Cruise – Southern Islands | $3,469 | 8 Days | Experience Quito and the Southern Galapagos Islands on this wondrous tour of Ecuador. In Quito, the country’s capital and a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site… |
| Quito and 5 Day Treasure of Galapagos Cruise – Central/Eastern Islands | $4,199 | 8 Days | Head to the Central/Eastern Galapagos Islands on this five-day cruise aboard the 16 passenger Treasure of the Galapagos. You will learn about the breeding… |
| Galapagos, Machu Picchu, and the Amazon | $4,999 | 16 Days | Galapagos, Machu Picchu, and the Peruvian Amazon are three of the most popular destinations in South America. Your tour will begin in Quito, which has a… |
| Quito and 5 Day La Pinta Cruise – Northern Galapagos Islands | $5,489 | 8 Days | Explore Quito and the northern Galapagos Islands on this luxury tour of Ecuador. The tour starts in Quito with a city tour and visit to… |
| Galapagos and Easter Island | $5,239 | 14 Days | Galapagos and Easter Island are two of the most fascinating destinations in South America. Your tour will begin in Quito, a UNESCO World Heritage site… |
| Quito and 7 Day Santa Cruz II Cruise – Eastern Galapagos Islands | $6,019 | 10 Days | Venture to Quito and the eastern Galapagos Islands on this fascinating Ecuador tour. In Quito, you will enjoy a city tour and visit to the… |
| Quito and 8 Day Camila Cruise – Western Galapagos Islands | $7,909 | 11 Days | Cruise the Western Galapagos Islands aboard the luxurious 16 passenger Camila trimaran, one of the newest ships in operation. Travel in comfort to the visitor… |
| Galapagos, Machu Picchu, and Easter Island | $5,529 | 18 Days | Galapagos, Machu Picchu, and Easter Island are three of the most popular destinations in South America. Your tour will begin in Quito which offers spectacular… |
| Luxury Galapagos and Machu Picchu | $10,379 | 13 Days | Treat yourself to the finest accommodations in Ecuador and Peru on this fabulous journey. In Quito, you will stay at Casa Gangotena, a boutique… |
Galapagos Tours Information
When is the best time to travel to the Galapagos?
It is always a good time to travel to a destination as unique and fascinating as the Galapagos. There are two seasons, the rainy season and the dry season. The rainy season runs from December to June, with higher daytime temperatures (80’s F) and humidity, and occasional rain showers. The ocean temperature is also higher (77 degrees F), making swimming and snorkeling more appealing. This is also the breeding season for land birds and sea lions, and nesting season for sea turtles.
The dry season runs from June to December. During this season, the weather and ocean temperature are cooled by the Humboldt Current, which brings cold water, nutrients, and plankton from the southern part of the South America. Temperatures average in the 70’s (F) during the day and lower at night. It is also windier, and the ocean is rougher. The nutrient rich waters attract fish, seabirds, and penguins. This is also mating season of the blue-footed boobies. See all Galapagos FAQ.
How To Plan A Galapagos Vacation
Planning a Galapagos vacation can seem like a daunting task when you are just starting out, but answering the following (basic) questions will make it easier for us to help you plan your trip…
- What is your budget per person not including international airfare?
- How many days do you have for your Galapagos vacation?
- When do you want to visit?
- Do you want a Galapagos Cruise or Galapagos Land Based Tour?
- What activities do you want to participate in?
- What type of wildlife do you want to see?
- What other destinations do you want to combine with the Galapagos Islands?
Contact one of our travel experts for help in planning your trip.
The Main Galapagos Islands and Visitor Sites
Marine iguanas that skitter up to you on seaside rocks, eyes darting. Frigatebirds, their crimson pouches inflating as they roost in bushes. Whitetip reef sharks, gliding past you as you snorkel in calm waters. Sound inspiring? It was to Charles Darwin, whose awe at the boldness of the Galapagos Islands’ wildlife was what set him on the path to his theory of natural selection. His 1831 voyage put this remote archipelago on the map, and ever since, the Galapagos’ fascination has continued to grow. Today, the natural marvels on this protected refuge are so abundant that choosing which of the main Galapagos islands to visit can be a challenge—even for the most serious eco-travelers…
Baltra Island / Bartolomé Island / Chinese Hat Islet / Eden Islet / Española Island / Fernandina Island / Floreana Island / Genovesa Island / Isabela Island / Mosquera Islet / North Seymour Island / Rábida Island / San Cristóbal Island / Santa Cruz Island / Santa Fe Island / Santiago Island / South Plaza Island
Top Galapagos Activities by Land or by Sea
So: you’ve deplaned at Baltra Island’s airport, been carted down to the docks on your shuttle, and just stepped off the barge onto Santa Cruz Island, the Galapagos’ main tourist hub. Congratulations—but don’t flop back in your hammock just yet. With 18 main islands, 107 islets, and 116 authorized visitor sites to choose from…
Top Galapagos Wildlife
American Flamingo / Blue-Footed Booby / Flightless Cormorant / Frigatebirds: Great and Magnificent / Galapagos Fur Seal / Galapagos Giant Tortoise / Galapagos Hawk / Galapagos Penguin / Galapagos Sea Lion / Land Iguana / Marine Iguana / Nazca Booby / Red-Footed Booby / Santa Fe Land Iguana / Waved Albatross
Galapagos Wildlife Calendar
In the Galapagos Islands, wildlife is the main attraction. Below is a Galapagos Wildlife Calendar indicating what you can expect to see during each month of the year while on a Galapagos Cruise or Galapagos Land-Based Tour…
Galapagos Packing List: What To Bring On Your Trip
From wildlife-spotting cruises to climbing an active volcano, or snorkeling amid a rainbow of tropical fish—a visit to the Galapagos is always an adventure. But with its unique climate, remote location, and abundance of land and sea activities, it can be hard to know what to pack. Don’t worry; our Galapagos packing list…
Galapagos Cruise Ships
Galapagos Legend / Santa Cruz II / La Pinta / Isabela II / Coral I & II / Galapagos Sea Star Journey / Camila / Treasure of Galapagos / Galapagos Seaman Journey
Galapagos Travel Articles
Pirates, Captains And Castaways: The First Visitors To The Galapagos
Charles Darwin is the man most associated with the Galapagos Islands, but he certainly wasn’t the first person to reach this remote and endlessly fascinating archipelago. Whether by accident or objective, other seafarers had reached the islands before Darwin and the voyage of the HMS Beagle in 1835, with widely…
How Darwin’s Findings in Galapagos Contributed to His Theory of Natural Selection
In 1835, not long before arriving at the Galapagos Islands, Charles Darwin wrote a letter to his friend and mentor John Stevens Henslow. “In a few days’ time,” he wrote, “the Beagle will sail for the Galapagos Islands. I look forward with joy and interest to this, both as being somewhat nearer to England and for the sake…
The Best Places For Snorkeling In The Galapagos
The Galapagos Marine Reserve is the second largest marine reserve in the world, and the largest in a developing country. Due to its protected status, many areas of the marine reserve are off-limits to snorkelers and divers. But there are plenty of sites open to visitors, where with just some basic snorkeling equipment…
Galapagos Giant Tortoise: 23 Interesting Facts
When it comes to wildlife-watching opportunities, the Galapagos Islands are second to none. Blue-footed boobies waddle along the shores, marine iguanas lounge on the rocks, and Galapagos penguins splash around in the waters, not to mention sea lions, fur seals, and sea turtles everywhere you turn. However…
Encountering Giant Tortoises On Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos
Santa Cruz, the most populated and commercially developed island in the Galapagos, is also the most visited. Near the international airport some 650 miles west of mainland Ecuador, Santa Cruz is the site of the Charles Darwin Research Station and Galapagos National Park, which lead conservation programs…
Land, Sea, And Air: The Varied Wildlife Of San Cristobal Island, Galapagos
San Cristobal, the farthest east and second most populated of all the Galapagos Islands, is also the site of one of the two main airports serving the Ecuadorian mainland, some 600 miles away. But it would be a shame to simply fly in and head straight for other islands, because San Cristóbal offers some of the best…
Top Wildlife Viewing On Isabela Island, Galapagos
Isabela Island, by far the largest island in the Galapagos, is also one of the richest in wildlife. Home to more wild tortoises than all the other Galapagos Islands combined, it’s also the best place to spot penguins in the archipelago, which harbors the most northerly penguin colony on earth. (Isabela lies directly on…
The Fascinating Wildlife Of Fernandina Island, Galapagos
Lying across a narrow channel from the much larger Isabela Island, Fernandina Island is best known for its abundance of marine iguanas: reptiles that the revered Charles Darwin himself called “hideous-looking” and “imps of darkness” — and, indeed, they have a prehistoric look that only a mother could love…
Genovesa Island, Galapagos: Prime Territory For Birds
To reach little Genovesa, the most northeastern island of the Galapagos, cruise vessels must sail up to eight hours from other more visited islands. Large cruise ships have to bypass Genovesa – also called Tower Island – because the reef makes it risky for them to enter into and anchor at Darwin Bay, where passengers…
