Galapagos Islands Travel FAQs

Up to date information for vaccinations before you travel to Galapagos Islands are available from the NHS website

For up to date information around safety and security in Galapagos Islands read the Foreign & Commonwealth Office latest information for Galapagos Islands.

Seasons are split into cool and dry (June - November) and warm and wet (December - June), with the warmer seasonbeing the best time to visit Galápagos for warmer, calmer seas and good underwater visibility.

To enter Galapagos, the first official requirement is a valid Ecuadorian tourist visa stamp in your passport - this should have been issued to you upon arrival to mainland Ecuador.Similarlly, you don't need a visa for Galapagos Islands from UK, Germany, and most other European countries.

The official currency of Galapagos Islands is the United States Dollar.

Galápagos land iguana. Marine iguanas. Galápagos giant tortoise. Darwin's finches. Frigatebirds. Blue-footed boobies. Flightless cormorants. Sally Lightfoot crabs.

The cuisine in the Galapagos Islands resembles that of many Central and South American coastal nations, particularly Ecuador. The dishes are simple, light and fresh, combining the elements of Ecuadorian highland dishes with meat, potatoes and grains, along with coastal ingredients like yucca, fish and seafood.

Spanish is the official language of Ecuador and the Galapagos, but English is spoken nearly everywhere.

The currency in Galapagos Islands is the United States Dollar. Tipping for good service is an accepted fact and the Galapagos Islands are no exception. The boats usually give guidelines to how much you should tip the guides and crew at the end of your cruise, but these are guidelines only, and on some boats in particular they may seem exceptionally high.

Local Galapagos Islands travel experts are available.