Galapagos Islands News

For visitors, the best news coming out of the Galapagos Islands lately is this: there has never been a better time to go! Due to the economic downturn, prices are extremely low in Galapagos as ships struggle to fill spots. Furthermore, the North American summer is over, which means fewer Americans and Europeans are currently visiting Galapagos. The islands are the same, of course: the ageless Galapagos measure time in centuries, not months. So if you’ve ever thought of going to Galapagos, now is the time!

This begs the question, of course, of when is the best time to book and take a Galapagos trip. In terms of booking your trip, your best bet is either very early or very late. If you can plan your Galapagos vacation several months ahead of time, it is best to do so, as you’ll have your choice of ships and hotels. There are many fine ships and hotels in Galapagos: doing a little research will help you find the best one for you. You can book your trip with a travel agent at home or online. If you book online, be sure to use a reputable website like galapagosislands.com.

If you can’t book early, book late. If you can come to Quito, Guayaquil or even one of the cities in Galapagos and have a free week there, you can look for last-minute deals. If a Galapagos cruise with, say, 16 spaces is set to leave in a day or two and only 12 spots have been sold, the ship will often sell the final spaces at a huge discount: maybe even half off or more. The logic is that since the ship is going anyway with 12, why not fill it up? The advantage of a last minute trip is the price, which can be ridiculously low. But there are many disadvantages, not least of which is the fact that nothing may be available and you might not get to go! Again, reputable websites like Galapagosilslands.com are the best places to look for last-minute deals.

Time of year is also important. The Galapagos Islands, like any other major visitor attraction, tends to attract guests in predictable patterns. During the North American summer (end of May to end of August), many families travel with their children who are on break for school. These months are the busiest in Galapagos and it is tough to find a special deal. If you must book during this time, pick May or June, as many American families will be enjoying the nice weather before making any trips. The islands also tend to fill up in the second half of December. During Holy Week (the week before Easter) South Americans have vacation and the ships fill up fast. So if you’re looking to save some money, book your trip between September and November or between January and May (except for Holy Week).

As for the islands themselves, there is no “wrong” time to visit: during different times of the year, there are different things to see and do. The birds, tortoises and dazzling marine life are always there, waiting to have their photos taken. Most naturalist guides will tell you in confidence that the best time to visit the Galapagos Islands is in May, for many reasons: the temperature is warm but not too hot, the albatrosses are on Española Island (they are gone between January and April, feeding in deep waters around the world) and there are relatively few tourists.

Above all, get some good advice – the experts of Galapagosislands.com are the best alternative to start and book the trip that best suits your needs with a reputable ship or decent hotel. Galapagos can be expensive, but with these tips, you’ll save enough to be able to have the vacation you’ve always dreamed of!