The Galápagos: how to plan a trip from the UK
Six hundred miles off the coast, the islands where animals still don’t run from people. The trip of a lifetime, and one that rewards a little planning.
- Distance from mainland
- About 1,000km
- Gateways
- Baltra and San Cristóbal airports
- From the UK
- Via Quito or Guayaquil
- World Heritage
- One of UNESCO’s first, in 1978
Why it is different
The Galápagos islands have never been joined to a continent. Everything that lives there arrived by sea or air and evolved in isolation, which is what Charles Darwin noticed when HMS Beagle called in 1835. Because the animals evolved without land predators, they are not afraid of people. You step around sea lions on the path and snorkel beside turtles, penguins and marine iguanas.
Cruise or island-hopping?
This is the first decision, and it shapes everything else.
| Small-ship cruise | Land-based island-hopping | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | You sleep on board and land on islands by dinghy each day | You stay in hotels on inhabited islands and take day trips by boat |
| What you see | Remote islands that day boats can’t reach | The inhabited islands and the sites near them |
| Cost | Higher | Lower, and more flexible |
| Best for | Wildlife first, and once-in-a-lifetime trips | Families, poor sailors, and adding the mainland |
| Seasickness | Nights at sea between islands | Shorter crossings, but some are rough |
When to go
The Galápagos are a year-round destination with two seasons. From roughly December to May the air and sea are warmer, the water calmer and the islands greener, with short tropical showers. From roughly June to November a cool current brings a misty, drier season the locals call garúa: rougher seas and colder water, but more marine life, because the current carries nutrients. UK school holidays in summer fall in the cooler season and book up early.
Getting there from the UK
There are no direct flights. Most routes connect through a European or American hub to Quito or Guayaquil, then on to the islands. Plan at least one night on the mainland each way, because island flights leave in the morning and international delays are common. That night is also the easiest way to add a few days in the Andes or the Amazon.
Visitors pay a national park entry fee on arrival and need a transit control card issued before the flight to the islands. The fee has changed several times, so check the current amount with your operator.
What to eat there
Island food is the coast’s food, built on what comes off the boats: ceviche, grilled fish, encocado and patacones. On Santa Cruz, the street of food stalls in Puerto Ayora fills every evening with fish cooked to order, and it is the best-value meal in the islands.
Planning with a specialist
Most UK visitors book through a specialist operator, which handles the park permits, island flights and cruise berths, all of which sell out. Book cruises 6 to 12 months ahead for peak dates.
Before you go
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