You’ve researched the best Galapagos Tour Option available to you at galapagos tour options, and have already packed your bags following our “Galapagos Packing List”  at what to pack .
The next step is to head off for your trip of a lifetime!

What To Expect During Your Journey to GalapagosIf you are curious to know exactly how things are going to proceed on your trip from mainland Ecuador to the Galapagos Islands, here is a handy outline of what to expect:

Fasten your seatbelts, and enjoy the ride!

  • Upon arriving at Quito or Guayaquil airport, you will be met by your Boat Operator representative (holding a sign with the name of your cruise ship), who will provide you with your outward flight ticket and be happy to answer any questions you may have during check in.
  • All of your luggage will need to pass through a special Galapagos quarantine inspection machine to ensure that you are not bringing in any items that may harm the fragile Galapagos Islands.
  • You will then be required to buy your transit control card for $10 US.  If you are interested in finding out more about the Transit Card and what it is for, you can read more information at Ingala
  • Once you have purchased the card, you will proceed to check in your baggage and go through security.  As a passengerof certain boat operators, you will be entitled to wait for your flight in the very comfortable VIP lounge where you will be offered complimentary drinks and snacks as well as have access to the internet and newspapers.
  • If you board the plane in Quito, you will first fly to Guayaquil (approximately 30 minutes), where you will generally be required to remain onboard while other passengers get off or join the flight.   Occasionally you will be asked to disembark briefly while the plane refuels.  Flight times and free flights to Galapagos are available at galapagos flights
  • The plane will then continue to the Galapagos Islands (approximately 1hr 30 minutes). Towards the end of the flight, in an effort to further protect the ecosystem of the archipelago, the cabin will be sprayed by a crew member with disinfectant before landing.

What To Expect During Your Journey to Galapagos

  • When you land in Galapagos you will be required to show your passport along with the immigration form that you will have been given to complete on the plane, before paying $100 US ($50 US for children under 12) for the National Park entrance fee.
  • After collecting your luggage, you will be greeted by your Naturalist guide (identifiable by the name of your cruise ship), before boarding a bus to the harbour where a Panga (dinghy) boat will be waiting to transfer you to your ship.

Traveling January to June:

The Galapagos Islands offer a vibrant environment of mating and reproduction cycles, migrating habits, and varying weather conditions. Many travelers want to know what happens when in order to plan their trip – others having already made arrangements simply want to know what to expect at certain times of the year!

Traveling January to June

January
Birds:

  • Land birds, such as finches and warblers, begin to nest
  • Good time to see mockingbird and finch mating rituals
  • Hawks feast on young marine iguanas on Fernandina Island

Animals:

  • Española Marine Iguanas are still in their bright colors
  • Green Sea Turtles lay eggs: it may be possible to see some on shore
  • Isabela Land Iguanas begin breeding season

Weather:

  • Warm season begins
  • Moderate to high rainfall
  • Daily land temperatures around 77°F/25°C
  • Daily water temperatures around 73°F/23°C
February
Birds:

  • Flamingos begin nesting
  • Penguins head away from central islands to the cooler waters of Isabela and Fernandina
  • Pintail Ducks begin breeding season
  • Nazca Booby nesting season ends
  • Galapagos Doves nest

Animals:

  • Santa Cruz Marine Iguanas begin nesting

Weather:

  • Waters begin to cool, despite warm season
  • High rainfall
  • Daily land temperatures around 78°F/26°C
  • Daily water temperatures around 72°F/22°C
March
Birds:

  • On San Cristobal and Genovesa, Frigatebirds begin their mating season and males inflate their dazzling red-throat sacs
  • Waved Albatrosses begin returning to Española for the mating season.
  • Penguins common on Isabela and Fernandina
  • Most migratory shore birds gone by the end of the month
  • Sometimes, hawk chicks are visible in nests.

Animals:

  • Fernandina and North Seymour Marine Iguanas nest

Weather:

  • Warm season in full swing: one of the hottest months in Galapagos
  • High rainfall
  • Daily land temperatures around 83°F/28°C
  • Daily water temperatures around 70°F/21°C
April
Birds:

  • Waved Albatrosses perform courtship dances on Española
  • Blue-footed Boobies mate, also performing a mating dance
  • Frigatebird mating season is in full swing
  • Frigatebird pouches visible on Genovesa.

Animals:

  • Giant Tortoise hatching season ends
  • Sea turtle eggs begin to hatch
  • Isabela Land Iguana eggs hatch

Weather:

  • Warm season in full swing: one of the hottest months in Galapagos, although water cools drastically
  • High rainfall
  • Daily land temperatures around 83°F/28°C
  • Daily water temperatures around 62°F/16°C
May
Birds:

  • Waved Albatrosses begin laying eggs
  • Storm Petrels begin nesting season.
  • Booby mating season continues
  • Frigatebirds begin laying eggs

Animals:

  • Green sea turtles hatch on Punta Cormorant, Puerto Egas and Gardner Bay
  • Santa Cruz Marine Iguanas hatch

Weather:

  • End of warm season
  • Waters begin to warm up again
  • Moderate rainfall
  • Daily land temperatures around 77°F/25°C
  • Daily water temperatures around 63°F/17°C
June
Birds:

  • Many migrating birds visit Galapagos
  • Short-eared Owls on Genovesa begin nesting season
  • Boobies nest and lay eggs
  • A good month to see Frigatebird pouches on North Seymour

Animals:

  • Santa Cruz Giant Tortoises migrate down from the highlands to the lowlands to begin mating season
  • Humpback Whales migrate through Galapagos
  • Good time to see Whale Sharks off of Darwin and Wolf, until November or so

Weather:

  • Beginning of dry season
  • Low rainfall
  • Daily land temperatures around 72°F/23°C
  • Daily water temperatures around 70°F/21°C

Traveling January to June


Traveling July to December:

From nesting Flightless Cormorants to Lava Lizard mating rituals, the latter half of the year is full of amazing animal and bird habits. To know exactly what the islands have to offer during your stay, check out the second part of our guide that details weather conditions and animal and bird habits broken down by month from July to December.


JULY

Birds:

  • Flightless Cormorants court and nest on Fernandina Island
  • American Oystercatchers nest on Santiago Island
  • Booby and Frigatebird eggs begin hatching
  • Good time to see migratory birds

Animals:

  • Lava Lizards begin mating behavior which includes “push-ups”, which will continue into November
  • Whales and dolphins common, especially in the waters between Isabela and Fernandina

Weather:

  • Dry season
  • Low rainfall
  • Daily land temperatures around 75°F/24°C
  • Daily water temperatures around 74°F/23°C

AUGUST

Birds:

  • Flamingos begin mating rituals
  • Frigatebird and Booby eggs continue to hatch on North Seymour
  • Migratory shorebirds common
  • Nazca Booby Birds nest
  • Galapagos Hawks begin courtship
  • Galapagos Penguins start moving away from Isabela and Fernandina onto central islands like Bartolomé
  • Swallow-tailed Gulls nest on Genovesa
  • A good month to see Red-Footed Boobies on Genovesa, but relatively few Frigatebirds on Genovesa

Animals:

  • Giant Tortoises on Santa Cruz migrate back to the highlands
  • Galapagos Sea Lions begin to give birth, pups common

Weather:

  • Dry season, one of the coolest months in Galapagos
  • Low rainfall
  • Daily land temperatures around 70°F/22°C
  • Daily water temperatures around 74°F/23°C

SEPTEMBER

Birds:

  • Galapagos Penguins begin mating on the central islands
  • Most sea birds nest, making this a good time to see them

Animals:

  • Sea lions very active as breeding season kicks off: males often fight on land and in the water to defend their harems

Weather:

  • Dry season, one of the coolest months in Galápagos
  • Low rainfall
  • Daily land temperatures around 70°F/21°C
  • Daily water temperatures around 75°F/24°C

OCTOBER

Birds:

  • Blue-footed Booby chicks common at many sites
  • Lava Herons start nesting

Animals:

  • Galapagos Fur Sea Lion mating season begins

Weather:

  • Dry season
  • Low rainfall
  • Daily land temperatures around 71°F/22°C
  • Daily water temperatures around 75°F/24°C

NOVEMBER

Birds:

  • Brown Noddy are breeding
  • Storm Petrels nest for second time
  • Nazca Booby chicks are common

Animals:

  • Good time to see sea lion pups in shore nurseries

Weather:

  • Dry season
  • Low rainfall
  • Daily land temperatures around 71°F/22°C
  • Daily water temperatures around 75°F/24°C

DECEMBER

Birds:

  • Waved Albatross chicks big enough to fly: Albatrosses leave Española until March
  • Booby sightings uncommon, as they are busy fishing

Animals:

  • Giant Tortoise eggs begin to hatch, this will last until April
  • Green Sea Turtles often mating in shallow waters

Weather:

  • End of dry season
  • Low rainfall
  • Daily land temperatures around 74°F/23°C
  • Daily water temperatures around 74°F/23°C

Check out the Galapagos weather page for more information about conditions of the islands throughout the year. Ask our trip advisors for help planning your Galapagos trip at the perfect time!

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