Five Things You Didn’t Know About the Galapagos

By Allie E. Almario

If you’re intrigued by our most popular South America destination, the Galapagos Islands, here are five fascinating facts you should know about Darwin’s Enchanted Islands.

1. Annual number of visitors – 270,000 as of 2019, compared to about 4 million people who visited Yellowstone National Park.  Just about 70% of international tourists come from the United States, UK, Germany, Canada and Australia. By law, only small groups of 16 passengers or smaller are allowed on daily island excursions, ensuring an intimate natural experience.
2. Number of ships which operate in the Galapagos: Roughly 75. The majority of ships carry less than 48 passengers, and most ships are categorized as superior tourist class, first-class or luxury.
3. The average age of travelers is 52.  We do see a lot of families traveling, but know that we recommend that kids be at least seven years old in order to join a Galapagos cruise. That’s to make sure they understand the importance of following safety rules on board the ship and on nature hikes with wild animals. At that age, they can also better handle the physical activities on daily excursions.
4. The average cruise length is eight days, though we’ve been seeing a trend of more people choosing five-day sailing itineraries due to timing or budget constraints.  Five days should give you enough time to enjoy a variety of islands. On Day 1 of your cruise, you’ll embark just in time for lunch. On the last day of your cruise, you disembark after breakfast.
5. The average cruise length is eight days, though we’ve been seeing a trend of more people choosing five-day sailing itineraries due to timing or budget constraints.  Five days should give you enough time to enjoy a variety of islands. On Day 1 of your cruise, you’ll embark just in time for lunch. On the last day of your cruise, you disembark after breakfast.
6. While most people choose to sail around the Galapagos, land-based tourism is growing in popularity. But you won’t find any high-rise hotels here. As of 2019, the maximum capacity of hotels is just 35 rooms. We highly recommend booking as early as possible to guarantee your top choice for accommodations. Santa Cruz Island has the largest number of hotels, with just over 140. Floreana only has a handful of hotels, about nine.