Galapagos Voyage: Pirates & Darwin - Premium Adventure

• One night in premium accommodation in Guayaquil and seven nights on the premium yacht MV Evolution
• Starts in Baltra and ends in San Cristobal
• Islands visited: San Cristóbal, Santa Cruz, Isabela, Fernandina, Bartolomé, Santiago, Española and Rabida
• 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.

Great for wildlife enthusiasts, photographers and those with an interest in history or geology. Though you do not need to be particularly fit, though you should note there will be walking on rough ground and sharp volcanic rocks. The ability to withstand high temperatures and to swim will maximize your enjoyment. Due to local regulations, we have specific time slots for our 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, we disembark into small pangas (motorised dinghies). Landings on the islands 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. Where there is no landing stage, the panga will stop close to a beach and you will need to walk through shallow water (generally no more than ankle-deep) to the shore. Our wonderful guides will always advise on conditions prior to leaving and it is possible to skip any particular excursion if you would rather relax on 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 suitable. The dinghy will remain very close at all times; if you get tired or feel like coming out, 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 and masks) is provided; however, it is advisable to wear a wetsuit which not only protects you from the cold but also makes floating much easier.

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. The following conditions apply instead:

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 or less: 100 percent of trip costs retained

Islands visited on this itinerary

Isabela: One of the youngest and most volcanically active islands with stark lava fields blackening the landscape, Isabela is larger in size than all the other islands put together. Isabela was formed when six volcanoes merged and the lunar landscape of its interior is perfect for an unusual trekking experience, while the cloud forest is home to five distinct subspecies of the giant Galapagos tortoise. Marine life here is rich and varied – it’s possible to see stingrays, white-tipped reef sharks and turtles in the mangroves and submerged lava tunnels, plus playful dolphins and the odd glimpse of breaching humpback whales.

Fernandina: The third-largest island is an active shield volcano noted for its fine examples of aa and pahoehoe lava flows. The ecosystem is remarkably untouched, and the island has never been invaded by foreign species or predators. As a result, the cormorants here had no real need to fly, gradually evolving into flightless birds with small wings and feet that are extremely well-adapted to swimming. Land iguanas have also flourished due to the lack of predators, and the island is home to the largest colony in the Galapagos.

Bartolomé: One of the most photographed of all the islands, Bartolomé is an extinct volcano with many interesting geological features and a semi-lunar landscape. Pinnacle Rock, seen in countless photos, is actually a tuff cone – a column of hardened volcanic ash formed when molten rock fused after coming into contact with seawater. It’s possible to swim with Galápagos penguins here, and the island is home to sea lions, nesting marine turtles and white-tipped reef sharks.

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.

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 group, Santa Cruz has many interesting volcanic features, such as pit craters and lava tunnels, and there is a flamingo lagoon at Cerro Dragón.

Rabida: The striking russet sand differentiates Rabida from the other islands; rich in iron, this is one of the most colourful islands in the Galapagos. Pelicans nest among the red cliffs, while pink flamingos feed in the saltwater lagoon. 

Española: The southernmost island of the chain, Española is also the oldest. As it is relatively isolated from the other islands, it has developed endemic fauna, including the only marine iguanas that change colour to attract mates during breeding season. The island is the favoured breeding ground for almost the entire world’s population of waved albatross due to its easy access to prime fishing grounds and the steep cliffs that provide an ideal place for the large birds to take off. There are also large colonies of mockingbirds, boobies, Darwin finches and doves, plus sea lions, which surf the breaking waves.

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.

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 questions. We can’t guarantee which guides will be available on a specific departure date but guide profiles are on our website to show who may lead your Galapagos adventure. If the boat is at full capacity, there will be 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.