Wildlife in the Galapagos
When it comes to wildlife, no place on Earth compares to the Galapagos. Dragons that dive to over 30 feet beneath the waves in search for food, penguins over one thousand miles away from Antarctica, flightless birds that swim and fish underwater like bullet torpedoes and prehistoric giant tortoises with elephant-like feet that once roamed the earth with dinosaurs, are just a small fraction of the nearly 9,000 species, most found nowhere else in the world, that make the Galapagos Islands a haven for life. The abundant wildlife that inhabits the archipelago yearround includes; boobies (blue, nazca and red), flightless cormorants, flamingoes, finches, frigatebirds (great and magnificent), Galapagos hawks, iguanas (land and marine), Galapagos penguins, sea lions, fur seals, giant tortoises, dolphins, sea turtles, rays, whales and many more. There are a a handful of species that migrate to the islands including; the waved albatross, whale sharks, humpback whales and several other smaller bird species.
How to get there
All visitors traveling to the Galapagos must take a flight to the islands from one of mainland Ecuador’s two largest cities (Quito or Guayaquil). Due to flight schedules, this normally requires at least an overnight stay in continental Ecuador. Quito stands at roughly 9,500 ft (2,800 m) above sea level. Guayaquil is at sea level.
Flight time between Quito and Guayaquil: | 50 mins |
Flight time between Guayaquil and Galapagos: | 2 hours |
Best times to visit and how long for
Peak season usually starts around January with normal season between end of January to May. High season runs between June to August and low season from September to the beginning of December.
One of the biggest mistakes travellers make when visiting the Galapagos is simply not leaving enough time to experience the islands to the fullest. As a result, many times, you are not able to visit the very best and more remote visitor sites in the islands. Our partner have crafted the just-right 7 nights / 8 days itineraries to maximize your time for exploration, breath-taking wildlife encounters, and optimal relaxation. Over the course of 35 years of Galapagos experience, our partner has crafted 8-day itineraries of equal quality in terms of remoteness, site visitations, expedition activities, scenery, and wildlife encounters.
Why a yacht is the preferred way to experience Galapagos
97.4% of The Galapagos Archipelago is a National Park (an area of 51,000 sq mi / 133,000 sq km) and only 3% is inhabited by humans. Considering that 15 of the 18 major islands are only accessible by sea, taking Galapagos cruises by yacht is the ultimate and only way to really visit this natural paradise.
Why our supplier is the optimal choice for this expedition
Simply put, Galapagos is a one-of-a-kind destination. There is no other place on earth where you can safely get up close to and interact with wild animals in their natural habitats. Designed with Galapagos in mind, the experience our partner delivers and their flagship and intimate yachts offer an unparalleled, up-close experience with wildlife and nature, away from the crowds, more like that of a private yacht. Offering true personality and character, their yachts give you flexible, privileged access to the remote locations on the islands, taking you where large ships cannot and are complemented by hand-picked Naturalist Guides and staff that are there for you every step of the way.
Most of our partner's guests regularly stay in 5-star luxury properties as often as they like. However, their travellers are looking for more than nice accommodations; they are looking for experiences that change and transform them. Our partners yachts, complement their true specialty: the experience.
Awards and recognition
Our partner has been voted # 1 in the World for 4 years in a row by Travel + Leisure Worlds Best Awards and Best Small-Shop Ocean Cruise Line
