105Essentials Climate Subtropical climate regulated by the cold Humboldt and the warm El Niño currents, weather varies during the year. December?May: hot season, warmer seas. June?November: cooler, garua season (mist in the mornings), cooler seas.Travelling from UK Time difference (GMT) -6hrs Travel time 17hrs 5ISABELA (ALBEMARLE)The largest island composed of 5 active volcanoes linked by lava flows. Tagus Cove is a natural harbour where pirates and whalers carved their ships' names on the rocks. The coral reef at Urbina Bay is home to land and marine iguanas, giant tortoises, flightless cormorants, blue-footed boobies and pelicans. At Punta Vicente Roca there are rookeries and canals, with year-round whale sightings and great snorkelling.3BARTOLOMÉ (BARTHOLOMEW)A small arid island with blue-black lava flows, white-sand beaches and mangroves. Good for snorkelling and penguin-spotting.6SAN CRISTÓBAL (CHATHAM)The island has eroded volcanic peaksin the north and vegetated slopes in thesouth. The little town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno is the capital of the Galápagos Province. The Chatham mockingbird is unique to the island. Cerro Brujo beach is good for swimming.4SANTA CRUZ (INDEFATIGABLE)The most populated island, with PuertoAyora and the Darwin Research Centre. White-sand Las Bachas is an egg-laying site for sea turtles. Mangroves grow in the lagoon at Black Turtle Cove and you may see white-tipped sharks, spotted rays and Pacific marine turtles.020 8747 8315 / journeylatinamerica.co.uk bookings, consultant advice and additional information Other islands you may visit Española (Hood)A relatively flat island, it hosts Gardner Bay, a sandybeach inhabited by a sea-lion colony. It's a nesting site for turtles, which snorkellers may spot, along with sharks, around the small islets nearby. Punta Suárez has many species visiting its cliffs and beaches (waved albatross, blue-footed booby, marine iguana). There's a spectacular blowhole, with spray shooting 30m high.Floreana (Charles)Best known for its colourful history involving pirates,whalers, convicts and colonists. Punta Cormoranthas a golden beach which is a nesting site for greenturtles (Dec?May) separated by a salt lagoon favoured by wading birds (pink flamingos, pintails). James (San Salvador or Santiago)Puerto Egas has a black lava shoreline inhabited by Sally Lightfoot crabs, marine iguanas and Galápagos fur sea-lions. Buccaneer Cove is a scenic area of steepcliffs, dark beaches and tortured lava.North SeymourA small island covered with boulders and scrubby bush. It is home to large colonies of seabirds (frigate birds, blue-footed boobies) and there is always a courting, mating or nesting ritual to see. PlazaA large colony of sea-lions lives on this tiny islet and there is a small cactus forest populated by land iguanas. Swallow-tailed gulls, tropicbirds and shearwaters nest along the cliff edge.Rábida (Jervis)Red-coloured cliffs back on to a beach with a sea-lion colony and there is a saltwater lagoon inhabited by flamingos. Pelicans, boobies and 5 species of finch have been spotted on the trail leading inland.Santa Fé (Barrington)This is one of the most beautiful islands, with a lovelyturquoise lagoon. Some of the giant cacti here growup to 10m high. There are land iguanas, sea-lions and lava lizards.20 Miles30 KMshutterstock.commetropolitan touringkatie phillipsraul gil / metroistockphoto.com

The whole cruise on Santa Cruz was excellent, the organisation was superb. A wonderful experience. PM, Lymm When to goBook well ahead. Demand always exceeds supply,because the number of visitors to this national park is strictly controlled. January to April it's hot and the sun is strong, with tropical showers. May to July and October to December is hazier; August and September can be cloudy and cool: a stiff breeze makes the waters choppier. High and Low seasons reflect demand rather than the best time to go.How to get thereFly from Quito or Guayaquil, to either Baltra Island or San Cristóbal Island to board your cruise vessel or transfer by land or sea to your hotel. Flight timings?and caution over connections?mean that we will usually book you two nights in a hotel in Quito or Guayaquil at either end of your cruise.How long to go forTraditionally, cruises have been designed to last from 4-8 days. From 2012, for conservation reasons, the national park authorities will modify the permitted itineraries to reduce the frequency of visits to the different sites from every 8 days to every 15. Visitors will be able to choose between 5, 10 or 15 day cruises. In 2011, some cruise companies will be adopting this policy in advance; others will maintain the previous duration.The itinerariesThe cruise itineraries have to be lodged with the port authorities months in advance. Cruise operators have previously been allowed a certain of amount flexibility but from 2012 these itineraries will be fixed, unless unforeseeable circumstance dictate otherwise. Galápagos Islands National Park feeThe fee of $US100 (under review) must in the vast majority of cases be paid locally in US dollars cash; whereas the $US20 tourist card is usually included in your holiday price.GuidesAll cruises are accompanied by at least one accredited naturalist guide?whose English will vary from excellent to reasonable.The type of vessel There are several options, ranging from luxury cruise liner to economical motor cruiser, as well as a combination of hotels with daytime sailings. Please note that all the boats we feature here have air-conditioned cabins with private facilities.PuertoBaquerizoMorenoPuntaSuárezPuertoAyoraPuntaCormorantPuntaEspinosaPuntaVicenteRocaPuertoEgasCerroDragonCerro BrujoBARTOLOMÉISABELAFERNANDINASANTA CRUZJAMESSAN CRISTÓBALFLOREANARÁBIDANORTH SEYMOURBALTRA---- 4 days/3 nights---- 5 days/4 nights- + - 8 days/7 nightsCruise liners and first class yachtsGalápagos?the optionsThe larger cruise ships offer spacious, well-appointed cabins and suites and a greater range of facilities than the smaller ships: frequently they have libraries, beauty salons, gourmet dining, Jacuzzis and medical services. They also minimise the element of swell and motion in the water (although the seas around Galápagos are usually calm).106 Galápagos IslandsOther cruise liners we recommend include: Isabela ll, La Pinta, Galápagos Explorer ll, Legend. Full details on our website.metropolitan touringSanta Cruz This imposing vessel has a maximum capacity of 90 passengers in 46 cabins. All but two cabins have outside views. Usually, young children are accepted. There is a sun-deck with bar and Jacuzzi; a lounge, library, glass-bottomed boat and observation deck. Departs Mondays, 5 or 8 days; Fridays, 4 or 8 days