THINKGALAPAGOS

13/10/2026

We've updated our recent blog post about El Niño and the Galapagos Islands after hearing back from an expert local guide about conditions on the ground during October.

In short, as you'd expect, the sea is warmer and there has been some rain, but nothing dramatic. He’s been through two very strong El Niño events himself, in 1997 and 2015, and in both, trips ran more or less normally, with the odd rainy inconvenience and some wildlife impact toward the end of the phenomenon, nothing that stopped the islands being a wonderful place to visit.

You can read the update here: https://thinkgalapagos.com/el-nino-2026-galapagos-islands/

08/10/2026

Spotlight on Floreana Island...

Floreana usually gets less attention than the other inhabited islands of Santa Cruz or Isabela, but it has some of the best visitor sites. Devil's Crown there is considered one of the best snorkelling sites in the whole archipelago, and Punta Cormorant's olive-green sand beach backs onto a lagoon where you'll often spot flamingos wading. One family who visited this year put it simply: "I think we all agreed that our favourite stop was Floreana. Between the exceptional beaches and the snorkelling, it was the best."

Did you know? Floreana is one of the earliest islands to be inhabited. Named after Juan Jose Flores, the first President of Ecuador, during whose administration the government of Ecuador took possession of the archipelago. It has an area of 1087 square miles and a maximum altitude of 2,100 feet!!

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06/10/2026

Galapagos Day is this week, and only a few tickets remain! tinyurl.com/GalapagosDay2026

Galapagos is an extraordinary place to visit. But the rapid expansion of tourism over the past 50 years has undeniably transformed the social, political and environmental landscape.

Does that mean people shouldn’t visit? Or is there a fresh approach to tourism that allows both nature and people to thrive?

Join us and our panel of incredible speakers, including broadcaster Kate Humble and Galapagueño community leader Daniel Proaño, on Thursday 8 October at 1 Wimpole Street, London, to discover more.

📷 ©️ Olivia Spencer

29/09/2026

What are the Galapagos Islands like in October?

October marks the closing stretch of the Garúa season, the cool, dry period that has been running since June. The trade winds are beginning to ease and the cold currents that have driven so much marine activity over the past few months are starting to weaken, which means October has a slightly different character to August and September — still cool and dry, but with the first gentle signs of the warmer season to come. Sunrises in the western parts of Galapagos are particularly beautiful this month 🌞

This is a great month for spotting land iguanas and giant tortoises can be seen gathering in large numbers in the highlands. Finches and Mockingbirds are also more visible as they hunt for food.

Read more about October in the Galapagos in the month by month guide on our website 👉 https://thinkgalapagos.com/months/october/

29/09/2026

Galapagos Conservation Trust Galapagos Day, coming up 💚

Introducing our Galapagos Day speakers and panellists!

An incredible group of people will join us, each bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to help us address the all-important question: should you go to the Galapagos?

Join us on Thursday 8 October 2026 at 1 Wimpole Street, London. You won't want to miss out: tinyurl.com/GalapagosDay2026

Steppes Travel, Fundación Un Cambio por la Vida, Forum for the Future

📷 ©️ Imre Horváth-Papp

23/09/2026

One of the things families ask us about a lot is whether a trip to Galapagos actually works across generations — grandparents, parents, teenagers, all in one group. In a word, yes! There is so much to do that everyone can find something that suits them and their pace. And families bond over the incredible wildlife they're witnessing together.

One family who took a private charter with us this year told us the excursions gave “a good balance of activities for all — from young to me.” That's usually the aim on a private charter especially — enough for a teenager to genuinely enjoy, without leaving anyone else out.

Have you managed to get three generations on one trip together before? We'd love to hear how you made it work.

22/09/2026

If you love the Galapagos Islands then you'll love Galapagos Day! This event is held in London every year by Galapagos Conservation Trust, one of the key charities we support.

This year, they will be joined by wildlife television presenter and author Kate Humble and many other Galapagos experts. Details are below but if you're in London on 8th October, we highly recommend going.

Get ready for Galapagos Day! tinyurl.com/GalapagosDay2026

This year, we are thrilled to be joined by wildlife television presenter and author Kate Humble, who will help us unpack a very important question: should you go to Galapagos?

Galapagos is an extraordinary place to visit. But it is also undeniable that the rapid expansion of tourism over the past 50 years has transformed the social, political and environmental landscape.

Does this mean that tourists shouldn’t come? Or is there another way, a fresh approach to tourism that allows both people and nature to thrive?

📷 ©️ Chris Deeney

15/09/2026

A few of you have asked me about the "super" El Niño that's building in the Pacific right now, and what it might mean for your Galapagos trip, so I wanted to be upfront about where things stand.

Last week I was in touch with one of the guides we work with to get his honest take. His answer? Things still feel uncertain. All the signs point to a very strong event, but exactly how it plays out, nobody can say for certain yet.

What we do know from past events like this is that the islands turn lush and green due to increased rainfall, which is good news for land animals like the finches, tortoises and iguanas. It's tougher on the marine wildlife, since the warmer water carries fewer nutrients.

I've put together a full rundown of what we know so far, and what it means if you've got a trip booked with us, over on the blog.

A “super” El Niño is forecast for late 2026. Here's what it means for Galapagos wildlife and your trip, from our guides and the latest science.