Galapagos Islands Cruises

The Galapagos Islands are one of the world’s premier destinations for wildlife viewing and expedition cruising, where travellers explore volcanic islands and marine reserves including Santa Cruz, Isabela, Española, Genovesa and Bartolomé.

Santa Cruz Island: Santa Cruz forms the central hub of the Galapagos where travellers visit giant tortoise reserves in the highlands and explore the Charles Darwin Research Station near Puerto Ayora.

Isabela Island: The largest island in the archipelago combines dramatic volcanoes, lava fields and wildlife-rich lagoons explored on guided walks and snorkelling excursions around Sierra Negra Volcano.

Española Island: Española offers some of the Galapagos’ richest wildlife viewing where visitors observe waved albatross, blue-footed boobies and marine iguanas along the cliffs of Punta Suarez.

Genovesa Island: Known as Bird Island, Genovesa supports vast seabird colonies where travellers explore the volcanic crater landscapes and observe frigatebirds around Darwin Bay.

Bartolomé Island: Bartolomé’s striking volcanic landscapes and Pinnacle Rock provide one of the Galapagos’ most famous viewpoints and excellent snorkelling among sea lions and reef fish.

The best time to travel to the Galápagos Islands for explorative cruising is generally December to May, when warmer temperatures and calmer seas create excellent conditions for exploring the islands by expedition vessel.

The Galápagos Islands have a warm equatorial climate with temperatures typically ranging between 21°C and 30°C (70°F–86°F). Weather conditions are influenced by ocean currents, bringing warmer, sunnier days earlier in the year.

From June to November, cooler ocean currents bring slightly lower temperatures and nutrient-rich waters that attract abundant marine life. While seas can be rougher, this season can offer exceptional wildlife viewing during explorative cruising between the islands.