Looking to get away this Christmas but want to do something a little different? The warm, turquoise waters, fascinating wildlife and untouched landscapes of the Galápagos Islands invite you for the holiday of a lifetime. This UNESCO World Heritage-listed destination is on the “bucket list” for many travelers and here are just a few of the reasons why a Galapagos Christmas vacation 2017 should be at the top of your holiday travel list.
CHRISTMAS BREAK SPECIALS - CALL 800-214-0579
TRIPS WITH FLIGHTS INCLUDED! (limited, call fast)
Galapagos Islands Adventure
- Days: 6 days
- Rates: $3649 per guest (free Galapagos flights!)
Galapagos Islands Explorer
- Days: 10 days
- Rates: $4849 (free Galapagos flights!)
Galapagos Christmas Sailing
- Yacht Class: Tourist Superior
- Days: 7 or 8
- Rates: $3395-3645 (includes flights and park fees!)
Galapagos Land + Cruise Combo
- Cruise Class: First
- Days: 8 days
- Rates: $5750 per guest (free Galapagos flights)
TRIPS WITH GREAT DISCOUNTS!
Galapagos Signature Tour
- Days: 9 days
- Rates: $4599 per guest (take $200 off per person)
Galapagos By Kayak
- Days: 9 days
- Rates: $4150 per guest (take $300 off per person)
Galapagos Christmas Island Hopping Tour
- Days: 7 days
- Rates: $3397 per guest (take $200 off per person)
Soak up the warm and sunny weather
You might have read that December through to May is the “wet” season in the Galápagos, but contrary to what you might think, this is actually the sunniest time of year too! Both the water and air temperatures are much warmer, making it ideal for swimming, relaxing on the beaches and snorkeling, with short showers interspersed with sunny skies that won’t put a dampener on your explorations. You’ll also experience calmer waters, which is ideal for those prone to sea sickness!
Relax on the idyllic beaches
If you’re someone that likes to spend some of their vacation just soaking up the sun on an idyllic beach, a trip to the Galápagos will not disappoint. The white sandy beaches and warm, turquoise waters of the archipelago have to be seen to be believed, blissfully free of beach umbrellas and touts. In exchange, you might get boisterous sea lions and playful penguins, as well as an incredible underwater marine life to explore while snorkeling right off the sands.
Step into the Galápagos’ open-air classroom
Want to throw a little education into your vacation? A trip to the Galápagos is not just about lazing on beautiful beaches, but it’s an open-air classroom where you’ll be witnessing evolution in action. Ditch the textbooks and see what inspired Darwin with your own eyes, observing the Galápagos’ fascinating land and marine wildlife in their natural habitats. Your naturalist guide will indicate the evolving traits of particular species that led Darwin to his conclusions and how natural selection has become central to the sciences today.
Witness waved albatross in flight
A Christmas vacation in the Galápagos Islands is your last chance of the year to see magnificent Waved Albatrosses who come to breed on Española Island between April and December. They are famed for their elaborate mating dancing that can last up to five days, with plenty of beak-fencing and honking! While they look particularly clumsy on land, when these immense birds take to the air they are exceptionally graceful and an incredible sight to see. If you’re lucky, you may even see new hatchlings launching themselves off the cliffs of Española Island for the very first time.
See giant tortoise hatch and sea turtles mating
December is when giant tortoise eggs begin to hatch, offering a rare opportunity to witness the tiniest members of these immense reptiles enter the world. After hatching, they will remain in the nest for a few weeks before emerging out a small hole in the nest cap. This is also one of the best times of the year to witness sea turtles displaying their mating behavior, with males sometimes fighting one another for a female’s attention.
Experience rare wildlife sightings
From comical blue-footed boobies to giant tortoises and colorful marine iguanas, the Galápagos Islands are home to rare and endemic wildlife species found nowhere else on earth. Rather than making a trip to the zoo, treat your family to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see them in their native habitat and without enclosures. The wildlife of the Galápagos Islands are so accustomed to humans that they won’t be intimated by your presence, with few places in the world where you can get so close to observe wild animals in action.
Reconnect with your family
Want an opportunity to reconnect with your family over Christmas (rather than your kids being glued to the resort’s Wi-Fi)? A Galápagos christmas vacation means limited internet and cell phone connectivity, which will come as a welcome break from life back home. You’ll be completely in the moment, sharing each and every experience with one another, and without the distractions of social media or current affairs. It’s an opportunity to spend quality time with your family as the year comes to a close and start the new year afresh.
Have incredible underwater encounters
If you’re fascinated by the underwater world, then the Galápagos Islands are one destination to tick off your “bucket list”. It’s second only to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia when it comes to the size of its marine protected area, with around 450 different fish species recorded (10% of which are endemic). Snorkeling and scuba diving excursions will reveal colorful sponges, crabs, and sea slugs, as well as large species like manta rays and Galápagos sharks. But perhaps the most incredible underwater experience is swimming alongside playful sea lions and Galápagos penguins as they dive off the rocks to hunt for fish.
Take advantage of all-inclusive vacation packages
Take the stress out of planning flights, accommodation, transport logistics, meals and activities for your next adventure with all-inclusive Galápagos Christmas vacation in 2017. You won’t have to worry about a thing, with all of your needs met by highly experienced crew members and tour partners. From the moment you step off the plane in Ecuador to the time you wave goodbye to the Galápagos Islands, all you have to do is enjoy yourself and leave the hard work to someone else. Enjoy our all inclusive, award winning, Galapagos Unbound Signature tour for a Holiday you'll never forget!
Enjoy peace of mind with a sustainable vacation
In this day and age, many people are looking for vacation experiences that are environmentally responsible and won’t leave a detrimental footprint on our earth. The Galápagos Islands are one of the most protected places in the world and cruise operators conduct themselves with environmental awareness and ecological sensitivity. Visitor numbers are carefully restricted each holiday season to ensure that landing sights and wildlife populations are not overwhelmed and every group must travel with a licensed naturalist guide.
But with limited visitor numbers and high demand over the holiday period, this also means that Galápagos Christmas vacations book out early…so what are you waiting? Find your perfect Christmas vacation 2017 HERE.
