The Galapagos Island in Ecuador

Home to over 9,000 animal species, the Galapagos Islands are South America’s ultimate travel destination for nature lovers. If you're a fan of wildlife and the outdoors, look no further than the Galapagos Islands.  

Catamarans are a favorite choice for cruising the Galapagos because they combine the best of both worlds of small boats and larger cruise ships.   Galapagos catamarans tend to be some of the newest boats that cruise the islands, and also the most luxurious.

Situated in the Pacific Ocean some 1,000 km from the South American continent, these 19 islands and the surrounding marine reserve have been called a unique ‘living museum and showcase of evolution’. 

Located at the confluence of three ocean currents, the Galápagos are a ‘melting pot’ of marine species. Ongoing seismic and volcanic activity reflects the processes that formed the islands. 

These processes, together with the extreme isolation of the islands, led to the development of unusual animal life – such as the land iguana, the giant tortoise and the many types of finch – that inspired Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection following his visit in 1835.

Time Zone Galapagos is 6 hours behind GMT (equivalent to USA Central Standard Time in the winter, and Mountain Time in the summer). The Galapagos Islands abide by this time which is different from the rest of Ecuador that is mainland; therefore the Galapagos Islands are one hour behind the rest of the country.   

The Galapagos is a place that can be visited at any time. There are two seasons: The warmest is between December to May when the sky is always clear and the sun shines strongly. If you love to dive, the best time to visit is between June and November because the temperatures are a bit cooler, and you will have a better chance to observe the Galapagos’ famous marine life.

December to May can be best described as the warm season. This period brings a unique mixture of warmth, rain, and sun. This season is driven by the El Niño Current, which brings a warm current, thus making both the water and the land warmer; this season is also known for afternoon showers.

June to November can be best described as the cool season. This season also makes a unique mixture in the climate, usually; cloudy, cool, and dry. The Humboldt Current is responsible for this; it brings a cooler current to the Islands, thus making both the water and the land cooler.