Galápagos at your own pace

Discover the endemic plants and wildlife of Galápagos.

Snorkel with turtles and sea lions, hike between volcanoes and follow an itinerary at your own pace. Galápagos is our specialty: we build the trip with you, island by island or by cruise, with local operators.

Design your trip

Park entry fee for foreign adults: US$200
Inhabited, where you can stay: 4 islands
The two seasons of the year: Dec–May / Jun–Nov

Islands

Each island offers a different way to discover the archipelago’s endemic plants and wildlife. Choose where to stay and which places to explore on a day trip or cruise.

Where you stay

Inhabited islands, with a town and places for visitors to stay.

Santa Cruz
An inhabited island with Puerto Ayora, the town many day trips and itineraries leave from. A practical base for sleeping on land.
San Cristóbal
An inhabited island with a seafront town and a calm pace. It works as a way into or out of the archipelago.
Isabela
An inhabited island of volcanic landscapes. You reach it by boat from Santa Cruz (about two hours) and can sleep there.
Floreana
An inhabited island usually combined with the others. It is the fourth with a resident population and places for visitors to stay.

Visited on day trips or cruises

You reach them by day or by boat; you do not sleep on them.

Seymour Norte
A small island visited on a day trip or as part of a cruise. There is nowhere to sleep on it. It is the island our agency takes its name from.
Española
Reached only by multi-day cruise. The waved albatross nests here between April and December.
Genovesa
Reached only by multi-day cruise; it cannot be reached from the inhabited islands.
Bartolomé
An island visited on a day trip or as part of a cruise. You do not sleep on it.
Fernandina
Reached only by multi-day cruise, like western Isabela.

Island by island or by cruise

Two ways to explore the archipelago, and the two can be combined. This is what changes between them.

Island by island

You sleep on land, on Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal, Isabela or Floreana, and visit sites on day trips. Between islands you travel by boat (about two hours).

By cruise

You sleep on board and the ship moves from island to island. It is the only way to reach Española, Genovesa, Fernandina and western Isabela.

Comparison between exploring Galápagos island by island, sleeping on land, and doing it by cruise
Aspect	Island by island	By cruise
Where you sleep	In hotels, on the inhabited islands.	On board the ship.
How you reach the visitor sites	On day trips from the island where you stay.	The ship brings you to each site as the itinerary moves along.
Islands you can reach	Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal, Isabela and Floreana, plus nearby sites on day trips.	Plus Española, Genovesa, Fernandina and western Isabela.
Pace	More flexible: you can choose free days. Changing islands means a boat ride of around two hours.	The itinerary moves along while you sleep. Between June and November the sea can be rougher.
Who it suits	Those who prefer to sleep on land and mix activity with rest.	Those who want to reach the farthest islands and do not mind living on board.

Seasons

Galápagos can be visited all year. The sea, the water and what you see change with the season.

January: Best time
February: Best time
March: Best time
April: Best time
May: Best time
June: Good season
July: Good season
August: Good season
September: Good season
October: Good season
November: Good season
December: Best time

Best time
Good season
Fair
Not recommended

Galápagos can be visited all year. From December to May the sea is usually calmer and warmer; from June to November it is cooler with more swell. The ratings are a guide and depend on what you want to see.

Warm and wet season
December to May
The sea is usually calmer and the water warmer.
To be confirmed
Cool and dry season (garúa)
June to November
The water is cooler, the sea rougher and the sky is often covered by garúa, a fine mist.
To be confirmed

Wildlife by month

What you can see and from which month. The text says until when.

January: All year: sea lions, iguanas, giant tortoises and penguins.To be confirmed
April: From April to December, the waved albatross nests on Española.To be confirmed
July: From July to November, whale sharks can be seen at Darwin and Wolf.To be confirmed

Requirements and fees

The Galápagos National Park entry fee varies by nationality, age and residency status. Different rates apply to foreign tourists, nationals of Andean Community (CAN) and Mercosur countries, and Ecuadorian tourists or foreign residents of Ecuador. The Transit Control Card (TCT) is a separate requirement. Before you travel, we help you confirm the requirements and the category that applies to you.

Do you live in Galápagos? Permanent or temporary residency must be documented with the Galápagos Governing Council (CGREG); it should not be confused with being a tourist who resides in mainland Ecuador. Check the conditions and exemptions that apply to your situation before travelling.

Check official visitor categories and entry fees

Requirements to travel

Requirements to travel to Galápagos, with their source and verification status
Requirement	Detail and source
National Park entry fee	Every visitor pays a park entry fee, depending on nationality and age. Current amounts are in the “National Park entry fee” table in this same section. The payment method can change, and we confirm it with you before you travel. Verified on October 7, 2026Source: galapagos.gob.ec (opens in a new tab)
Transit Control Card (TCT)	It is required for tourists travelling to Galápagos. Since May 2025 it can be registered and paid for online by card. The reported price is US$20, and it is also sold at the Quito and Guayaquil airport counters before check-in. To be confirmedSource: siig-cgreg.gobiernogalapagos.gob.ec (opens in a new tab)
Passport and return ticket	A return ticket and a passport valid for more than 3 months are required. To be confirmed
Biosecurity inspection	Luggage is inspected. Live plants, fruit, seeds and animals cannot be brought in. To be confirmed
Park rules	Visitor sites are explored with an authorized naturalist guide, on marked trails. Keep 2 metres from wildlife, do not touch or feed animals, do not use flash and take nothing with you. Do not bring food, animals or plants. To be confirmedSource: galapagos.org (opens in a new tab)

National Park entry fee

Galápagos National Park entry fee by visitor category, in US dollars
Category	Amount
Foreign visitors over 12	US$200
Foreign visitors under 12	US$100
Andean Community and Mercosur nationals, over 12	US$100
Andean Community and Mercosur nationals, under 12	US$50
Ecuadorian nationals and residents, over 12	US$30
Ecuadorian nationals and residents, under 12	US$15
Ecuadorian nationals and residents, over 65	US$15
CONADIS card holders (Ecuador)	US$15
Non-resident foreign students enrolled in Ecuador	US$50
Children under 2 and transient migratory statusExempt from the fee according to the official table.	Exempt

Verified on October 7, 2026Source: galapagos.gob.ec (opens in a new tab)

Items marked "To be confirmed" come from secondary sources or from information that can change. We confirm them with you before you travel.

Frequently asked questions

What people ask us most before travelling to Galápagos.

When is the best time to go to Galápagos?

You can travel all year. From December to May the sea is usually calmer and warmer; from June to November the water is cooler, the sea rougher and there is garúa. Some wildlife depends on the season: the waved albatross nests on Española between April and December, and from July to November whale sharks can be seen at Darwin and Wolf. We help you choose based on what you want to see.

Is it better to go island by island or on a cruise?

It depends on what you are after. Island by island you sleep on land (Santa Cruz, San Cristóbal, Isabela or Floreana) and take day trips. On a cruise you sleep on board and can reach Española, Genovesa, Fernandina and western Isabela, which cannot be reached from the inhabited islands. The two can also be combined.

How much is the park entry fee?

For foreign adults it is US$200, and for foreign children under 12 it is US$100. There are different amounts for Andean Community and Mercosur nationals, Ecuadorians and residents, and students. See the full “National Park entry fee” table in the “Requirements and fees” section, taken from the official Galápagos National Park table.

What is the Transit Control Card?

It is a mandatory registration for tourists travelling to Galápagos. Since May 2025 it can be processed and paid for online by card, and it is also sold at the Quito and Guayaquil airports before check-in. The reported price is US$20; we confirm it with you before your trip.

Which documents do I need and what can’t I bring?

You need a passport valid for more than 3 months and a return ticket. Luggage goes through a biosecurity inspection: live plants, fruit, seeds and animals cannot be brought in.

Can I visit the sites on my own?

No. All visitor sites are explored with an authorized naturalist guide, on marked trails. You keep 2 metres from the animals, do not touch or feed them, do not use flash and take nothing from the islands.

Which animals can I see, and when?

Sea lions, iguanas, giant tortoises and penguins can be seen all year. The waved albatross nests on Española from April to December, and whale sharks appear at Darwin and Wolf from July to November.

How does Seymour Travel help?

We do not sell fixed packages: we build your trip to measure with local operators. We support you on WhatsApp before, during and after the trip, at any time, for questions, changes and whatever comes up along the way.

Let’s build your Galápagos trip

Tell us your dates, how many are travelling and whether you prefer island by island or a cruise. We build the trip with you, with local operators.

Step 2 of 5

Chosen destination: Galápagos