Galapagos Islands - 8 day boat cruise by Jamie and Tal

Walk among giant turtles, see the mating rituals of the albatross, and catch a glimpse of the blue footed boobie - these are just a few of the wildlife experiences you may have in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.

How to get there and when to go

If the Galapagos Islands is the main focus of your trip, or if it’s part of a larger trip to Ecuador or South America, you can hop on a plane in Quito with a stopover in Guayaquil before heading to one of the main islands, Santa Cruz or San Cristobal. From there, many travelers take a boat tour of the islands that lasts several days, this way you can get a sense of each island and get a chance to see an abundance of wildlife.

The peak season to is from June to September and the middle of December to the middle of January, so book your tour well in advance especially during these times. (more…)

What to expect

Wondering what it would be like to tour the islands? Here’s some insights from Jamie and Tal, two travelers who’ve recently visited this one of a kind destination:

“In the 3 days before our boat cruise we explored the island. We walked a 45 mins walk to Tortuga Bay, apparently one of the most beautiful beaches in the Galapagos. Here is where we saw loads of huge sea iguanas (the only seagoing lizard in the world, it eats seaweed) and sea turtles. Sea iguanas and sea turtles can get up to 40 years old, which is a lot less than the ones that live on land (60 years for land iguanas and up to a 100 years for land turtles).

In the harbour of Puerto Ayora itself we watched fisher men bring in their catch of the day and albatrosses, sea iguanas and Galapagos sea lions ´fighting´eachother to catch whatever the fishermen left behind after cleaning the fish. It is true that the animals here do not fear human beings and it is amazing how close you can approach them.” (more…)

More stories from RealTravelers
Galapalaps in the Galapagos by Craig & Jo
Millions of years of evolution by The Hallgrens

Other Useful Resources
Galapagos Islands Travel Guide
The Islands of Galapagos
Galapagos Park