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When to travel to Ecuador & Galapagos

Thanks to their location on the equator, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands make for great travel destinations pretty much year round. Temperatures vary minimally, with the only major climatic change coming between the very approximate "dry" and "green season" seasons.

On the mainland, green season roughly corresponds to the Northern Hemispheric winter, October - May, while dry season corresponds with the summer months of June - September. These variations are generally quite mild however, meaning that there really is no bad time to visit, and whenever you come it is best to be prepared for rain, sun, and the occasional chilly night (especially if you plan to head up to the paramo). Variations on the Galapagos are somewhat more marked: during the wet months of June - December, currents bring cooler water and air, along with rain and mists, while during the dry months of January - May the islands get much warmer and drier. These seasonal changes also have impacts on the activities and migration habits of the island wildlife, so if you are set on seeing a particular species it´s best to ask your travel agency for their recommendations regarding travel times.

High season for travel to the Galapagos is between the months of June 15 - September 14 and November 1 - April 30. During these dates, airfare to the islands increases, popular cruise options sell out months in advance, and it can be much more difficult to find the kind of last minute deals available during low season. On the mainland the number of visitors tends to peak during the midsummer months, with the fall and winter bringing more study abroad groups and exchange students. It is generally not necessary to book mainland tours and activities with as much advance notice, but if you are traveling during peak season and have little flexibility with your dates, it is best to make the necessary reservations with a month and a half to two months notice, if possible.

Getting to Ecuador and the Galapagos is fairly simple, although travelers ought to be aware that all flights to the Galapagos leave out of either Quito or Guayaquil with the airlines Aerogal and TAME -- i.e., there are no direct international flights linking to the islands. There are several major international aircarriers with service to the international airports in Quito and Guayaquil, including Delta, American Airlines, Continental, LAN, Iberia, KLM, Avianca, Taca, and Copa.

From the US there are direct flights to Ecuador out of New York City, Miami, Atlanta, and Houston, with major hubs in Detroit and Los Angeles. All flights from Canada are routed through one of the US connecting hubs. Flights times vary according to departure point and number of layovers involved, with the shortest flight being that from Miami (around 4 hours) and the longest being those out of Canada, which are between 12 and 16 hours with connections. The major aircarriers offering service from US and Canadian departure points to Ecuador are American Airlines, Continental, LAN and Delta. The Ecudorian national airline Aerogal has also recently opened a new direct flight route from New York CIty.

From Europe there are options for flights out of all of the large cities, with major hubs in Madrid, Amsterdam, and Frankfort. Airlines with service from the UK and the European Union include KLM (out of Amsterdam), Iberia, American Airlines and Delta. Flight times are considerably longer due to the distances involved, and range between 18 and 25 hours depending on the flight route and number of layovers. When booking flights, it is always best to consult a travel agency or investigate on websites such as travelocity.com or orbitz.com to compare flight times and pricing for different routes.

Within Latin America there are numerous options for flights into Ecuador: Santiago, Bogota, Lima and Panama City all have non-stop service, and rapid, single-layover flights can be taken out of San Jose, Buenos Aires, Caracas, and Sao Paulo. The main airlines servicing this region are Taca, Avianca, LAN and Copa, and the Ecuadorian national airlines Aerogal and Tame both now offering international flights to destinations such as Bogota and Habana.

When booking flights to Ecuador, it is always better to make your resevations well in advance, especially if you are travelling during the peak summer travel season or around holidays (when many Ecuadorian ex pats will also be traveling home to visit family and friends). When booking flights, it is recommended that check fares directly with the airlines which offer service from your departure point, along with using the comparison tools offered by websites such as kayak.com. If you are planning on taking a cruise to the Galapagos, tickets generally will be blocked and booked for you by the travel agency as part of the tour package; however, you will need to arrange your own international flights to arrive at least one day prior to the departure of your cruise.

Some general tips for air travel to Ecuador: make sure to carry your passport, valid for at least six months from the dates of travel, and bring both the original and a copy or two packed in separate locations; allow yourself plenty of time for connections when planning your trip, since it´s always better to wait a little longer than to risk missing a flight; check weather and flight conditions in Ecudor on the day of your departure -- good sources are the webpages for the Quito www.quiport.com and Guayaquil www.tagsa.aeroairports; and pack the essentials you would need for an overnight stay in your carry-on, in the event that your luggage is lost or delayed.