As we head towards the end of another year, it’s hard not to start making plans for next year. Even though the New Year is really just a nominal date in a calendar, it’s human nature to delineate changes and impose timescales on our lives. And so with the New Year often comes a new job, a new exercise routine and a whole new holiday to look forward to.
If you’re looking for somewhere really different to visit this January then you’ve come to the right place. The Galapagos Islands make a stunning holiday destination at any time of year – being the world’s premier wildlife-watching destination. This remote archipelago is full of mysterious lava formations, lush green highlands, and turquoise subtropical bays.
Technically, December through to May is the high season in the Galapagos. The waters are warmer and there is more drizzle, and also more sunshine (things just don’t work the same way in the Galapagos). That means that you can expect some great weather during January. However, this being the Galapagos with its restrictions on some aspects of tourism, it never gets too busy.
January is also the time of year that the green turtles start to lay their eggs. And because the water is warmer and clearer, it’s also a great time to go snorkeling. Although you have to bear in mind that the warmer waters contain fewer nutrients and therefore fewer fish than later in the year.
Some of the best Galapagos Islands to visit in January are Santiago and Bartholome, the two islands that are primarily home to both the Galapagos penguin and flightless cormorant. If you want to catch a glimpse of the iconic marine iguana, then the central and western islands like Santa Fe are the best places to head for. And if you really do like giving the crowds a miss, an expedition to the most western islands in the archipelago, Isabela and Fernandina, should be a really unique adventure.
Of course, the best solution to finding the best Galapagos Islands to visit in January is to try and cram as many of them into your itinerary as possible. On a Galapagos Islands tour aboard vessels like the Eden yacht, you should be able to take in as much of the incredible wildlife and stunning scenery as possible. Any trip to the Galapagos at any time of year is a true once in a lifetime experience.
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