Santa Cruz Island
Central island and the main base for visitors, home to the town of Puerto Ayora. It has a famous research station where giant tortoises are raised, plus highland trails and lava tunnels.
Galápagos Islands
On these volcanic islands, blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas, sea lions and giant tortoises can all be watched at close range.
Attractive locations
Isabela Island
Largest island of the archipelago, shaped like a seahorse and formed by several volcanoes. Visitors come for hikes to volcano rims, and for penguins, marine iguanas and sea turtles along the coast.
Bartolomé Island
Small volcanic island with a wooden stairway to a summit lookout. The view takes in the pointed Pinnacle Rock and the nearby bays, where visitors can snorkel and sometimes see penguins.
Tortuga Bay
Long white-sand beach near Puerto Ayora, reached on foot along a footpath from town. Marine iguanas rest on the sand, and a sheltered lagoon at one end is good for gentle swimming.
North Seymour Island
Flat, low island known for its seabird colonies. Blue-footed boobies and frigatebirds nest close to the trail, and sea lions rest along the shore. Visits are with a licensed guide.
Charles Darwin Research Station
Scientific and conservation base at Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz, where giant tortoises are raised for release. Visitors walk through exhibits, tortoise pens and cactus-dotted grounds close to town.
San Cristóbal Island
Easternmost of the main islands and home to the provincial capital, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Sea lions rest on the town waterfront, and nearby beaches, hills and snorkelling spots add variety.
Airports
Seymour Galapagos Ecological Airport GPS
It is about 39 km in a straight line from Galápagos Islands.
General Villamil Airport IBB
It is about 54 km in a straight line from Galápagos Islands.
San Cristóbal Airport SCY
It is about 107 km in a straight line from Galápagos Islands.
Scams and safe taxis
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the Ecuador page
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan25.4 °C44 mm
- Feb26.6 °C64 mm
- Mar26.9 °C53 mm
- Apr26.6 °C60 mm
- May25.4 °C17 mm
- Jun24.2 °C10 mm
- Jul23.1 °C9 mm
- Aug22.3 °C9 mm
- Sep22.2 °C7 mm
- Oct22.4 °C8 mm
- Nov23.0 °C9 mm
- Dec24.0 °C12 mm
Driest months: Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov. Wettest months: Feb, Mar, Apr.
Costs
Prices here are about 43% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Festivals and events
nature
Galapagos warm season
Islands are green, the water is warm and the seas are calm.
nature
Galapagos warm season
Islands are green, the water is warm and the seas are calm.
Who can help
Emergency
911 for all emergencies.
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Ecuador
Helps with: The UN migration agency in Ecuador. It works to protect people on the move, supports lasting solutions to displacement, and does emergency preparedness work with government and partners.
Who qualifies: Migrants and displaced people in Ecuador, and government or other partners. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +593 2 393 4400
Address: Julio Alarcón Ayala E5A y Alfonso Pereira, Edificio Zaigen, piso 12, Quito, Ecuador
local government
Emergency number 911 (police, ambulance and fire)
Helps with: Reaches the police, ambulance and fire services in Ecuador. The number comes from UK government travel advice.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors, can call this number.
Phone: 911