From July to December it is high season for diving. The Ecuadorian Pacific Coast is washed by the sea currents from the South (Humbolt current) This is favorable for scuba diving activities. Water temperature is between 14º and 22ºC (60º-70ºF) and air temperature is between 20º and 26ºC (68º-78ºF) Days are frequently clouded, there is little rain and the sea is rough.

Cold waters improve and stabilize visibility which can reach 30 meters (100 ft) Coolest month is September.

Considering tourist flow and costs, high season in Galapagos starts in mid December and ends at the end of January. Also from June to August, when most of the visitors that come to the islands have their vacation period.

In the warm season currents are not strong, so dive sites become easier to dive. In the cool season currents are very strong. There are no storms in Galapagos.

Normally, you will arrive on Ecuador by air. Both Quito and Guayaquil have international airports and frequent direct flights from Houston, Los Angeles, Miami and New York. Flights from Europe and Australia make a stop in some USA city or the Caribbean.
Some airlines offer direct flights from Central and South America, specially from Lima, Peru.

Some of the airlines that fly to Ecuador are: Avianca, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Copa, Lanchile, Iberia, KLM, Aerocontinente, Aerolíneas Argentinas, Avensa, Taca, Lufthansa and Varig. Departure tax is $25.

By land you can use the services of Panamericana de Transporte, Reina del Camino, Transportes Ecuador, Carlos Alberto Aray and Flota Imbabura.

From Quito and Guayaquil TAME and Aerogal have flights to the Galapagos where you land on the islands of Baltra or San Cristobal. There are no ferries to reach the islands.

Transportation (within Galapagos)

Once you arrive on Baltra Airport (the airport to reach Santa Cruz) you need to fly EMETEBE, a domestic airline that has two or three 16 passenger planes to fly to San Cristobal and Isabela.

There are also two 30 passenger boats that travel from San Cristobal to Santa Cruz and Isabela to Santa Cruz, round trip.

Another option is to jump on a live a board. There are a variety of companies that offer this service. You can contact them through a link at the Galapagos web site: www.galapagostour.org.ec . Some of these companies have their own web site with extra information.