Beyond Imagination - The Galápagos Islands

The Galápagos Islands are an Archipelago and National Park. They are also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Galápagos Islands are formed of lava piles and dotted with shield volcanoes, many of which are periodically active. The Galápagos Islands consist of 13 major islands, 6 smaller islands, & scores of islets and rocks lying near the Equator.

The Galápagos Islands are part of Ecuador.

The Galápagos Islands can be found 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador and 550 miles west of South America in the Pacific Ocean.

Galápagos penguins live and breed on the Galápagos Islands all year round. Visitors can find them on the Isabela & Fernandina islands. They can also be seen on the islands of Floreana, Santiago and Bartolome.

• The Giant Galápagos tortoise is the world’s biggest tortoise species. They can be more than 5 feet long and weigh over 225 kg. They have one of the longest life spans of all known vertebrates. They often live to be over 100 years old. They are endangered.
• Most people think of the Giant Tortoise when they think of the Galápagos Tortoise. In fact, it is a category of tortoise that has 12 species found on the different islands of the archipelago.
• Galápagos Tortoises cannot swim and live their lives on the islands in the Galápagos Archipelago.

To truly experience the most isolated and beautiful islands of the Galápagos archipelago, as well as to ensure that you have the opportunity to see the unique wildlife that can be found close by, we believe that you need a minimum of 5 days.

There are 56 species of birds native to the Galápagos Islands. They can be found there throughout the year. Additionally, there are 29 species of migratory birds.

There are 56 species of animals that live in the Galápagos archipelago, 27 of which are native and can only be found in the islands. Six of these native species are critically endangered.

The Galápagos Islands are an all-year-round destination. The equatorial climate makes the Galápagos weather consistent from month to month. There are subtle differences in seasons. The ‘warm’ season occurs from December until May and is the best time of year for snorkelling. The ‘cool’ season occurs from June until November. This is the best season to view dolphins, whales and other large marine animals. Visiting during the crossover between the warm and cool seasons in May & November can result in the best of both worlds.

• January: perfect for snorkelling and bird watching. Green sea turtles arrive on beaches to lay their eggs.
• February: Perfect for kayaking & snorkelling. Flamingos & marine iguanas begin to nest.
• March: the perfect time to snorkel with penguins and tropical fish. Waved albatrosses arrive on the islands.
• April: one of the most popular times of the year to visit. Perfect for snorkelling. End of hatching season for the giant tortoises. Eggs of green sea turtles begin to hatch & babies emerge. Land iguanas’ eggs hatch.
• May: dynamic weather & very active animals. Blue-footed boobies start their mating rituals, sea turtles start hatching, band-rumped storm petrels nest & Galápagos penguins are very active on the surface.
• June: cooler season. Giant tortoises begin migration for nesting, southern migratory birds stop over on their migration north. Humpback whales can be seen migrating off the coast of the archipelago.
• July: the seabird community is actively breeding, flightless cormorants perform beautiful courtship rituals, lava lizards begin mating rituals, whales & dolphins can be observed easily. This is also one of the best times to see the four life stages of the blue-footed boobies: eggs, chicks, juveniles & sub-adults.
• August: cooler weather, perfect for hiking. Migratory shore birds arrive, giant tortoises return to the highlands of Santa Cruz, and the main birthing season for the sea lions begins.
• September: coolest temperature of the year. Sea lions, penguins, & seabirds are the most active.
• October: lava herons are nesting, fur seals begin mating, blue-footed boobies raise chicks, giant tortoises are still laying eggs & sea lion pups are all around.
• November: the warm weather arrives, species of jellyfish can be seen throughout the archipelago, band-rumped storm petrels begin their second nesting period, and sea lion pups playfully watch snorkellers.
• December: hatching of giant tortoise eggs, green sea turtles mate, marine & land iguanas start their mating season, and waved albatrosses fledge.

Hurtigruten aims to protect the delicate and beautiful ecosystem that we explore. Modern engine technology economises fuel consumption and our onboard water-desalination and -treatment plants protect the waters around the Galápagos Islands. Guests’ ecological footprints are minimised and their visits become part of conservation efforts thanks to a company-wide commitment to sustainability. The footprint caused by your visit to the Galápagos Islands isn’t just reduced, it is actually offset and cancelled out via our exemplary Carbon Neutral Programme. Additionally, all our ships are single-use-plastic free, and we work to ensure that we take every precaution to protect the places we visit.