Practical information Galápagos Islands

Of course! The best way to get to the Galápagos Islands is to take a flight from Quito, Ecuador, to Baltra Island. You can fly to Quito’s Mariscal Sucre International Airport from a variety of locations across the globe. If you’re travelling from Australia, you can fly from either Melbourne or Sydney.

With Hurtigruten Expeditions, we offer several different itineraries including complete tours of the Galápagos Islands. If you want to take in some more highlights of South America on the same trip we also offer a 14-day cruise, Galápagos Islands, Ancient History & Highlights of South America, that takes you to some of the historic and natural wonders of the continent.

Children below the age of 6 cannot take part in cruises with MS Santa Cruz. For children under the age of 12 that board MS Santa Cruz a release of responsibility will need to be signed by the parents or guardian of the minor upon arrival to the vessel since cruise facilities are not adapted for children and there are no child-care facilities nor child-minders on board.

There are so many must-see Galápagos islands, but our top four cover some of the best wildlife spots in the archipelago.

Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is home to the Charles Darwin Research Station, where you can see baby tortoises and Darwin’s famous finches.

San Cristóbal

On San Cristóbal, you can visit the Cerro Colorado Tortoise Reserve to see the thriving giant tortoise population, as well as native species like the San Cristóbal lava lizard and San Cristóbal Mockingbird.

Española

From March to January, most of the world’s Waved Albatrosses congregate on Española to breed, so this island is a must-see for bird lovers. Blue-footed Boobies, Nazca Boobies and Swallow-tailed Gulls can also be found here.

North Seymour

North Seymour is rich in wildlife too. In the air, you can sport Frigatebirds, Swallow-tailed Gulls and Blue-footed Boobies. On land, sea lions and iguanas abound.

Being in the tropics, it’s always a good time to visit the Galápagos Islands, and there’s an array of extraordinary wildlife to discover all year round.

As the Galápagos Islands sit on the equator, the temperature doesn’t vary significantly throughout the year. January to May are the warmer months, but it’s also the rainy season. June to December are drier with marginally lower temperatures.

The sea is at its warmest in the early part of the year, making it a great time to get in the water and spot marine life. It’s also the breeding season for many birds, land animals and reptiles, such as the Galápagos giant tortoise.

The lower temperatures from June bring rougher seas and the beginning of the garúa – or sea mist – season. This cooler period is the ideal time to see whales, dolphins and penguins, who will be feasting on the bounty of the seas around the islands.

Wildlife watching is usually at the top of a Galápagos explorer’s list. These remote and varied islands are home to many endemic species, from giant tortoises and Galápagos Penguins, to marine iguanas and the delightfully curious Blue-footed Booby. You’ll definitely have the opportunity to see some of the ‘Big 15’ species there.

Expedition boat cruises are the ideal way to get to the more secluded spots. It’s often possible to have unforgettable encounters with tame land animals. If you want to get close to the archipelago’s marine life, try snorkelling or kayaking. You’ll be sharing the water with manta rays, turtles, and countless species of colourful fish.

The islands themselves are a sight to behold. From volcanic landscapes to white-sand shores and clear, turquoise lagoons, you’ll surely go home with a camera full of amazing pictures.

Shorts and loosely-fitting tops will see you through the warm season, and natural materials, like linen and cotton, will help you to stay dry and cool. Protect yourself from the intense sunlight with sunglasses, a cap or a wide-brimmed hat, and generous amounts of sunscreen. The warm season is also the rainy season, so make sure to bring a light waterproof jacket.

In the cool season, a southerly wind blows, and low clouds often shelter the islands from the sun. During these cooler months, the temperature can drop to 20°C at night, so a light jumper or cardigan will keep you comfortable in the chilly evenings.

No matter what time of year you’re visiting, you’ll likely have lots of fun activities planned. On a Hurtigruten cruise to the Galápagos Islands, you can explore the archipelago on excursions and landings, and see the best that these islands have to offer. You’ll need sturdy shoes or sandals for hiking, and swimming gear for snorkelling and kayaking.

Please take a few minutes to familiarise yourself with the required travel documents you will be asked to provide prior to boarding the ship. It is the sole responsibility of the guest to identify and obtain all required travel documents and have them available when necessary. A passport is the only valid identification. For Ecuador and Peru, your passport must be valid for more than six months after you return to your home country.

It is the responsibility of each guest to ensure they comply with any visa travel document requirements at the time of travel.

For the latest information please visit the Travel Requirements Page

The weather in the Galapagos is good year-round. From January to April, showers can be expected, so make sure you have a light rain jacket or poncho with you. These rains are usually not long and may be followed by strong sun and high humidity. It is best to wear light, cotton clothing in layers. June to October is dryer but cooler. A light windbreaker comes in handy as well as the rule of cotton clothing in layers. The rest of the months here are transitional, showing a blend of the two conditions described above and vary from year to year.

The climate in Quito is characterised by a constant temperature year-round. The rainy season is primarily throughout March and April and this is typically the coolest time of the year with an average temperature of 20°C (69°F). August and September is the warmest time of year is September with a maximum average temperature of 22°C (72°F).

The climate in Cusco (the starting point for Machu Picchu) is marked by two seasons: Rainy (from November to April) and dry (from May to October). During the rainy season the temperature is higher (between 7° and 21° C) and during the dry season, lower (between 0° and 20° C).

Regardless of what time of year you visit, a good pair of walking shoes is recommended for the hikes. Trails around the various islands vary in difficulty, but most are of volcanic nature. In some trails, and for wet landings, some guests appreciate aqua-shoes - or those that they don't mind getting wet.

Lightweight, breathable cotton trousers, convertible to shorts have proven to be useful for all seasons. Along with a broad-rim hat, polarized sunglasses and sunscreen.

Make sure you bring one or two bathing suits, to make use of the on-deck pool and hot tubs, as well as on various activities (snorkeling, paddleboard, etc.). For the cooler months, wetsuits (2mm shorties) are available for rent at a cost of $17 USD + tax per guest for the entire cruise.

When traveling in high altitudes (Quito and Cusco), the weather can be a bit cooler so we recommend bringing a warm sweater, gloves, scarf, and rain jacket.

Flights in Peru and Ecuador are operated by LATAM. LATAM´s economy class is available on flight stretches from/to Quito or Guayaquil to Galapagos Islands that we offer in combination with your ship voyage, and flight stretches to/from Lima-Cusco (Peru) in combination with the tour programme Machu Picchu. No upgrades in higher booking classes are possible.

Any flight times advised at the time of booking are provisional and subject to change; please check before you travel.

You can travel with checked luggage at a maximum weight of 23 kg, and bring one carry-on bag on board with a maximum of 8 kg. We kindly ask you to check your flight baggage conditions and confirm you are within all luggage allowances. Additional luggage can only be booked as a paid service at the check-in counter.

Please note that this luggage allowance can differ from the airline you use for your long-haul flight to/from Lima (for the Machu Picchu programme) and Quito/Guayaquil (for Galapagos Islands).

We offer every day, in addition to the core activity (generally, nature walks, a variety of activity options approved by the national park:

Snorkeling
Kayaking
Paddleboarding
Coastal explorations (aboard our inflatable dinghies, otherwise known as pangas)
Glass-bottom boat rides
Biking (on Santa Cruz Island only)

These activities will be explained in advance by the Expedition Leader and guides. A sign-up sheet is placed in the expedition room, Expedition deck. These activities cannot be booked in advance and are all free of charge.

Please note the number of participants per activity is limited.

Our expedition boats enable both water-based exploration and safe landings around the Galapagos Islands.

Should the ocean conditions be rough, our Expedition leader and the Officer on duty may do a scouting of the landing site to determine the safety of the programme. In the very rare event of a change in programme, the Expedition leader will announce the best alternative to all guests via the PA system.

You will need to be fairly agile to board the Expedition boats, but there is otherwise no need to worry about travelling in them. The crew will show you what to do and, as long as you follow their instructions, after a few times it will become second nature.

Visits to Galapagos may have one of these 3 possible landings:

NO LANDING: There is no trail on shore. Visitors are restricted to the expedition boats (pangas). You may wear water shoes, and sandals or go barefoot.
WET LANDINGS: This type of disembarking process is commonly made right on the edge of the beach, with the panga operator moving the small craft up against the sandy shores to have guests slide off the pontoons near the stern of the zodiac. Consequently, guests will almost always get their feet wet in the process. Some guests prefer to wear water shoes for this type of landing, dry their feet at the beach with the special beach towels we provide (free of charge) and put on sturdier footwear for the trail. Upon return, the process is reversed.
DRY LANDINGS: There is a dock or solid surface available for our guests to step off the dinghy without getting their feet wet. you’ll always count on the helping hands of the naturalist guides and/or the dinghy operator to safely disembark at the visitor site. You can wear your sturdy footwear right out of your cabin.

Due to the fragility of the archipelago, guides will request all guests to knock off any dirt attached to the soles of their footwear or dip them in the water before boarding the zodiac. Upon boarding Santa Cruz, this will be enhanced with the freshwater hoses available at the stern platform.

Our expedition boats enable both water-based exploration and safe landings around the Galapagos Islands.

To explore more of Ecuador, Hurtigruten offers optional Pre- and Post-Programmes to the Mashpi Lodge and to the Ecuadorian Amazon, or hotel extensions in Quito and Guayaquil.

Please note programmes can be added to your Hurtigruten journey starting from Quito or ending in Quito or Guayaquil. They are subject to change, and a minimum number of participants applies. For guests who are not fully mobile, Pre- and Post-Programmes are on request.

For more information please visit the Pre & Post Progamme section of the website.

An estimated 15,000 Galápagos tortoises remain in the wild. 14 distinct species of Galápagos tortoise were originally discovered, but after the death of the beloved Lonesome George, the last of the Pinta Island tortoises, 13 species are left. Despite their long lifespans, all remaining species of this iconic animal are under threat, ranging from vulnerable to critically endangered.

A lot of conservation work is being done on the islands to boost the population of Galápagos tortoises. On a Hurtigruten Expeditions cruise you’ll be able to visit the Charles Darwin Research Station, where you can see baby tortoises being incubated. You’ll also get to see them in their natural habitat on San Cristobal, at the tortoise reserve.

The Galápagos National Park is located in the eastern Pacific Ocean, just under 1000km west of continental Ecuador, and it encompasses all 21 of the Galápagos Islands. The archipelago sits on both sides of the equator, with some of its islands in the southern hemisphere and others in the north. Isabela Island is located on the equator itself.

The remoteness of the Galápagos Islands, combined with their unforgiving landscapes and lack of fresh water, meant that they were uninhabited by people until relatively recently. This allowed species to thrive undisturbed by humans and helped create some of the most unique ecosystems to be found anywhere on the planet.

The English naturalist Charles Darwin famously visited the Galápagos Islands in 1835, and his observations there inspired his ground-breaking book On the Origin of Species. He spent five years exploring and studying the flora and fauna of South America aboard HMS Beagle, and he arrived at the Galápagos Islands in September 1835.

Darwin spent five weeks there, exploring the various islands, observing their ecosystems, and collecting samples of plants, animals, birds, and reptiles to study back in England. While there, he noticed how different species had adapted to the various island environments, which sparked his theory of evolution driven by natural selection. Darwin noted the different species of finches whose beak shapes had evolved in line with the food sources available on each island.

There are at least 13 species of Darwin’s finches found across the Galápagos Islands.

Despite being called ‘finches’, these small songbirds have little in common with true finches, instead belonging to the Tanager family. They vary in size, with most being between 10cm and 20cm tall, and the size and shape of their beaks are famously adapted to suit their respective food sources.

Most species of Galápagos finches are thriving, but three of them (the Green Warbler Finch, Woodpecker Finch, and Large Tree Finch) are considered vulnerable. The Mangrove Finch is a rare bird found in a small area on Isabela Island, while the Medium Tree Finch is only found in Floreana’s highlands. Both of these species are critically endangered.

Practical information Galápagos Islands

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