The Climate and Best Time to Visit
You can dive all year round in the Galapagos but the best time to visit on a liveaboard cruise would depend on your own reasons to travel and your degree of aversion to cold water.
The Galapagos Islands experience equatorial weather with a wet and dry season. The wet season, from approximately January through June, is when you can experience more frequent showers, often with sunny spells either side of the brief but impressive showers (average air temps 75 to 82°F (24-28°C). Water temperatures hover in the range of 68 to 77°F (20-25°C) during this time, and January through April can even see highs of 81 to 82°F (27-28°C) at some of the dive sites. This can be the period with warmer water, calmer seas and better experiences with hammerhead sharks and manta rays, but whale shark sightings are rare.
Dry season, roughly from July through December, has clear skies and occasional afternoon showers, but also tends to be cooler (average daily air temperature 70 to 75°F (21-24°C), and the water temperature is lower, usually between 66 to 73°F (19-23°C). This is whale shark season in Galapagos and is the most popular period for a liveaboard diving trip, despite the discomfort of the lower sea temperature.
Of course this is not an exact science and some sites always experience colder water so you are advised to bring exposure suits and equipment on Galapagos liveaboards to cover the wide range of temperatures you will experience.
Guayaquil can be hot and humid although the temperature ranges between 68 and 93°F (20-34°C). January through June sees the most rain and the dry season runs from July until mid December.
Quito, Ecuador's capital, is subtropical and, because of its highland location (2,850m), maintains a cool temperature that stays fairly constant 73 to 80°F (mid 20's°C). The wet season is October through May, while the dry season is June through September.
Find more details about the seasons on our Galapagos dive sites page.
Ports of Departure and How to Get There
For vacationers, travel to the Galapagos National Park involves an international flight into Ecuador followed by a domestic flight out to the islands. The country has 2 international airports - Guayaquil (code GYE) and Quito (UIO). There are direct international flights from the USA, Canada, many South American countries and also from France, Spain and the Netherlands. The US airports that connect to Ecuador are Miami, New York and Houston.
Flying into José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport, Guayaquil (selected as "Best South American Airport") is our recommended route since onwards flights to the Galapagos are cheaper and better timed than from Quito. However, you can still go through Quito although both your outbound and inbound flights to the islands will stop in Guayaquil.
You will need to overnight in Guayaquil or Quito before flying on to Baltra (Santa Cruz, code GPS) or San Cristobal (SCY) in the Galapagos Islands, where the liveaboard cruises depart from. If overnighting on arrival you will stay in Santa Cruz or San Cristobal; Baltra has no accommodation options. On the return leg you will probably need to overnight in Guayaquil or Quito since most international flights depart too early to make the connection possible.
In order to board your flight to Galapagos, all passengers must obtain a Transit Control Card (TCT, migratory card). The card must be obtained online (cost is USD 20) and is no longer available at the airport. Passengers can register and apply for the TCT from the Governing Council of Galapagos website. The process helps to avoid the previously common long queues. Travellers must carry a digital or printed copy to the airport. A digital Sworn Declaration of Goods form must also be submitted up to 72 hours before travel. Once you arrive at the islands, you will need to pay the park entrance fee in cash in order to leave the airport (USD 200).
Often we will place your domestic flight requirements in Ecuador with the Galapagos liveaboard operator since they are responsible for booking the flights. We request your patience with this process since there are often waiting lists and slow confirmations of availability. You must inform us whether you are flying into Guayaquil or Quito before domestic flights can be considered. If you wish to extend your stay in Galapagos to enjoy land tours please decide that early in the booking process to ensure flight availability.
Note: all tourists entering Ecuador must show proof of a public or private health insurance program valid for the duration of their stay.
For comprehensive coverage, we strongly advise securing health, diving, and travel insurance, including protection for trip cancellations. Check out our insurance program for competitive rates:
Places to Stay
For pre- or post-liveaboard stays in Ecuador or the Galápagos, our trusted partner HotelsCombined.com offers a wide selection of accommodations to suit every traveler. On mainland Ecuador, popular places to visit include Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca, Manta and Salinas. At the Galapagos Islands - Santa Cruz and Isabela.
HotelsCombined.com offers easy bookings - secure your stay instantly with your credit card. You can get answers to your questions in real time through their live chat support. You'll always get great value with their 'Best Price Guarantee'. Browse options and book directly on their website for a seamless travel experience:
