Land based Galapagos tours

Think ‘Galápagos holidays’ and what springs to mind: island hopping on cruise ships? Sailing schedules? Nights at sea, at the mercy of the waves? In the past this was certainly the case, but these days, Galápagos land tours offer travellers a much more affordable opportunity to go beyond the boats and into the landscapes of one of the world’s most exciting, animal-filled archipelagos.

Land tours in Galapagos put tourist funds where they’re needed most: into the pockets of local people, the Galapagueños. Staying on land gives visitors a fuller understanding of the islands’ natural habitats as well as delving deeper into the cultural history and the day to day lives of around 30,000 human inhabitants. Land based tours encourage travellers to make the most of the inhabited islands of San Cristóbal, Floreana, Isabela and Santa Cruz, staying in locally owned hotels and guesthouses where you’ll experience the marketplaces, cafes and coastal village restaurants.

Daniel Pawlyn, from our Galápagos land based holiday supplier, Intrepid Travel: “Being land based, we got a good chance to absorb the different atmosphere and observe the way of life on the islands. We visited Santa Cruz’s fish market early in the morning, watched pelicans beg for scraps, ate wonderful seafood in local restaurants and bumped into sea lions on the way home from the pub… experiences that you might not get on a liveaboard. All the islands we stayed on were inhabited and we stayed in the ‘main towns’, often with sandy streets and a sleepy feel.”

Seasons are split into cool and dry (June – November) and warm and wet (December – June). Wildlife in the Galápagos doesn't actually disappear at any point during the year; however, warmer sea temperatures and clearer underwater visibility make any time between December and June the best time to go on a land based holiday, despite the threat of rain.

The majority of animals breed and nest during February, March and April, to coincide with spring flowers and insects, perfect for hiking trips, whereas giant tortoises hatch during November and December. Rougher sea conditions, including strong currents, from June to November, often cause sailing ships to batten down their hatches however, for land based travellers, cooler temperatures and a lack of rain signal a good time to go to the Galápagos without the crowds and without the humidity.