Galapagos Voyage: Back in Time - Premium Adventure

• One night Premium accommodation in Guayaquil and seven nights on board the Premium yacht MV Evolution
• Starts in San Cristobal and ends in Baltra
• Islands visited: San Cristóbal, South Plaza, Sombrero Chino, Santiago, Genovesa, North Seymour, Santa Fe, Floreana and Santa Cruz
• Group normally 26-32 passengers plus crew.

It is possible to visit the Galapagos at any time of year, but seasonal variations do affect what you see and there are climatic changes to note. The weather is controlled by the two main ocean currents of the region, the Humboldt, bringing cold water from the Antarctic, and El Niño, which brings tropical water from the Gulf of Panama. How close to Galapagos they converge (which varies from year to year) is the key to the weather.

Dry season

Typically, late May to early December is the cooler dry season. In this period, it is not necessarily dry, as there is a persistent light mist (garúa) and often light drizzle, and the higher mountain slopes are covered in cloud and fog or rain. At this time, the winds are in the southeast and are higher than at other times, so seas can be choppy – anyone worried about seasickness might be better advised to avoid it. Daytime maximum temperatures lie between 27C and 31C (81F and 88F), the cooler months being July to November. In July and August, the fairly strong winds introduce a chill factor, and it can feel quite cold at nights, though throughout the year the official night temperatures vary between 19C and 24C (66F and 77F).

Wet season

Depending on how close the convergence of the two currents comes to Galapagos, there may or may not be a wet season from January to April/May. Approximately every seven years, an El Niño current hits the islands bringing heavy rains. In other years, rain usually falls sporadically from otherwise clear skies. The ocean temperatures are higher, with generally calm seas and strong sunshine: pleasant, but potentially very hot. Outside El Niño years, the weather is usually better from December/January to April/May than at other times even if there is some rain. Most people regard these months as the best time to go.

There are plenty of wildlife highlights throughout the year:

January: Land birds nest; green sea turtles lay eggs on the beaches; land iguanas breed on Isabela

February: Marine iguanas nest on Santa Cruz; greater flamingos nest on Floreana

March: Frigatebirds inflate their bright-red throat pouches during mating season on Genovesa and San Cristobal

April: Huge numbers of waved albatross on Española display courtship rituals; eggs of green sea turtles hatch; land iguana eggs hatch on Isabela

May: Blue-footed boobies court on North Seymour; waved albatross lay eggs on Española

June: Giant tortoises migrate to the lowlands to nest; migrating birds rest in the Galapagos; migrating humpback whales appear around the western islands

July: Dolphins and whales are more likely to be seen around the western islands; blue-footed boobies on Española breed

August: Nazca boobies nest on Genovesa Island; sea lions give birth to pups

September: Penguins seen in the water when snorkelling around Bartolome

October: Galapagos fur seals mate; blue-footed boobies start raising chicks

November: Curious sea lion pups found in the water among snorkellers

December: Green sea turtles mate; waved albatross chicks fledge

This trip has been graded Activity Level 1 (Leisurely) with a Safari rating of 5.

This trip is great for wildlife enthusiasts, photographers and those with an interest in history or geology. Though you do not need to be particularly fit, you should note that, due to the volcanic nature of the Galapagos Islands, there will be some walking on rough ground and sharp volcanic rocks. The ability to withstand high temperatures and to swim will maximise your enjoyment. Due to local regulations, we have specific time slots for landings and site visits. There is usually very little disruption to the schedule, but this can mean little room for deviation in the event of poor weather or other circumstances.

In the Galapagos, each day will feature a mixture of walking, snorkelling and exploring the islands by boat. To get closer to the designated landing sites on each of the islands, we disembark into small pangas (motorised dinghies). Island landings are divided into two types: wet and dry. For dry landings, the panga will take you right up to a landing stage or rocky outcrop where you can disembark without getting wet. However, in some places where there is no landing stage, the panga will stop close to a beach and you will be expected to walk through shallow water (generally no more than ankle-deep) to the shore. The leader will always advise on conditions prior to leaving and it is possible to skip any particular excursion if you would rather relax on board the boat.

There are plenty of opportunities for snorkelling in the Galapagos and this is one of the best ways to experience the marine life. A mask and snorkel will reveal an exciting underwater world with sea lions, rays, turtles, marine iguanas and a colourful array of fish. On most days of the itinerary, there will be one or two snorkelling sessions.  Snorkelling in the Galapagos does not require any special skills, however, at times you will be snorkelling in open water where there are fairly strong currents. Before going into the water, the guide will evaluate the strength of the currents and the general sea conditions to make sure they are right for this to be a safe and enjoyable activity. The dinghy will remain very close at all times; if you get tired or feel like coming out of the water you only have to raise your arm and they will pick you up so you can rest for a while before going back in or stay in the dinghy until it is time to return to the boat. Snorkelling equipment (snorkel, fins, masks and wetsuits) will be provided. It is advisable to wear a wetsuit which not only protects you from the cold but also makes floating much easier without as much effort.

We offer this Galapagos cruise in conjunction with our Ecuadorian partners, and Exodus participants will join an international group, not all of whom have booked through Exodus. Occasionally some of these may be younger than Exodus' minimum age for this trip.

Booking conditions:

Please note, this tour is excluded from our standard booking conditions, and instead the following conditions will apply:

Deposit:              25 percent

Balance:             Due at 90 days

Cancellation within 90 days:

89 days to 71 days: 50 percent of trip costs retained

70 days of less: 100 percent of trip costs retained

Islands visited on this itinerary:

San Cristóbal:The easternmost island of the archipelago and the first landing point for Charles Darwin in 1835. The provincial capital of the Galapagos Islands, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, is on San Cristóbal, and the town is home to the excellent Galapagos Interpretation Centre. Popular sites include El Junco Lake (one of the few freshwater lagoons in the archipelago), Frigatebird Hill (named for the large colonies of magnificent and great frigatebirds), and Kicker Rock, a towering split rock that rises more than 328ft (100m) from the ocean. The highland cloud forests provide a natural habitat for giant tortoises. Huge numbers of sea lions are also present on San Cristóbal and nearby Isla Lobos, reachable by boat, is a big nesting site for blue-footed boobies.

South Plaza: A tiny island formed of lava and carpeted with cacti and plants that give it a red surface. There is abundant bird life here (including tropic birds and swallow-tailed gulls), plus a large number of land and marine iguanas that feed on the cacti.

Santiago:Home of the Galapagos fur seal, which likes the rocky shoreline and shady spots of Santiago. Around 30,000 to 40,000 fur seals live on the islands, and the majority can be found close to Puerto Egas, either on the rocks or on the black beaches. The island is a good place to see Galapagos hawks and Darwin finches, and there’s a popular snorkelling site called Chinese Hat where penguins, rays, turtles and playful sea lion pups reside.

Genovesa: Renowned for the sheer number of birds living on its volcanic cliffs, Genovesa is a true paradise for birdwatchers. There are large populations of red-footed boobies, storm petrels, frigatebirds, tropic birds and nocturnal swallow-tailed gulls. Prince Philip's Steps lead to a plateau where the visitor is almost totally surrounded by different bird species. It's not just the land that provides a great natural habitat – the nutrient-rich waters make for great snorkelling too.

North Seymour: A tiny island with a huge sea lion colony and a very large colony of frigatebirds – it's one of the best places to see the males displaying their bright red pouches during mating season. You may also get to see one of these relatively aggressive birds performing aerial tricks as they steal food from boobies or gulls.

Santa Fe: The dense vegetation of Santa Fe comprises some of the largest cactus species, including a forest of prickly pear. Large numbers of the endemic Santa Fe land iguana reside here – one of the largest land iguanas on the islands.

Floreana: One of the first islands to be inhabited, Floreana has a human history as interesting as its natural one. At Post Office Bay, 18th-century sailors (and now tourists) left mail in a wooden barrel so it could be collected by other ships and delivered to its final destination. It's still common practice for visitors to see if there are postcards or letters from their home town and deliver them on their return from the Galapagos. Notable wildlife on the island includes large flamingo colonies, the Galapagos petrel and, between December and May, nesting green turtles. Just off the coast is the Devil's Crown, an underwater coral-filled crater that offers some of the best snorkelling on the islands.

Santa Cruz: The second-largest island in the archipelago, Santa Cruz is home to Puerto Ayora – where most Galapagos ships are docked for embarkation – and the Charles Darwin Research Station, which conducts tortoise research programmes and is heavily involved in the management and conservation of the islands along with the national park authorities. The Santa Cruz highlands are much greener than the dry lowlands of the other islands and are home to free-roaming tortoises. In common with the rest of the archipelago, Santa Cruz has many interesting volcanic features, such as pit craters and lava tunnels, and there is also a noted flamingo lagoon at Cerro Dragón.

All guides have Level 3 National Park Certification

Guides will join all excursions and activities, providing daily recaps and briefings, and are always available to answer any questions. We can’t guarantee which guides will be available on which departure date but guide profiles are on our website to show who maybe leading your Galapagos adventure. If the boat is at full capacity, there will three guides on board and an average of 10 guests per guide. 

Please see our COVID Travel Guide for Ecuador (including the Galapagos Islands) for more information on current guidelines for travel in Ecuador.