Written by Marcelo Guerrero Oquendo, Co-Owner of Galapagos Insiders since 2015. Last updated June 2026.
November is the second-best month of the year to cruise the Galapagos — calm seas have just returned, the last waved albatross are still on Española, and the holiday-week premium hasn't kicked in yet.
Talk with an expert insider — we'll match you to the right November departure in 24 hours. USA & Canada 1-773-280-9571 · Ecuador +593-987-004-404 · [email protected]
A regular question we get asked is, “Which month is best for me to visit the Galapagos Islands?” This is a tricky question to answer as all months have their advantages, so any month can be a very good month to visit the archipelago. Personal preference can also have an influence on which month will be the best for any particular person.
November is the year's second sweet spot — May is the first. In November, we book Galapagos cruises across our 40 vessels.
The southeast trade winds are easing, the Bolívar Channel swell is dropping back to its annual minimum, and the warm/wet season hasn't started — sea state is the calmest it's been since May. The wildlife signature: the last reliable waved albatross sightings on Española before they leave for the open ocean, sea-lion pups continuing across the southern beaches, and Galapagos penguins and flightless cormorants still active on the Western route after the August–October peak.
If we had one month to recommend to a first-time traveler asking "when's the best time?", November shares the answer with May. Both months land calm seas, signature wildlife, and sub-peak pricing in the same trip. November adds one thing May doesn't: the last call on waved albatross. By December, the entire global breeding population has left Española for the open Pacific. November is the closing window.
Our committed claim: November is the second-best month of the year to cruise the Galapagos for both Eastern and Western itineraries — May is the first. We say the same thing in our Galapagos in May 2026 guide — they're a matched pair.
November travelers tend to fall into three groups in our booking data: shoulder-season returners who've already been on a peak-month cruise and want the calmer alternative, photographers chasing the last-albatross window on Punta Suárez, and travelers who want to combine the cruise with mainland Ecuador before the December holiday rush starts. All three are well-served by November. The seas drop back toward their annual minimum, snorkel visibility starts to recover from the August–October Humboldt cool-water trough, and pricing sits in the shoulder band — generally below the December and August peaks across mid-range vessels.
Every month of the year is fantastic for seeing Galapagos wildlife up close and personal, which is what makes it such a wonderful destination for a vacation.
Both on the land and in the water, sea lion pups often steal the show during November. They are often ready to head down to the water in October and November, and they love to play with snorkelers. They swim up to snorkelers’ faces and dart away at the last minute. This is a very special experience while visiting the Galapagos Islands and is very worthwhile. However, the adult parent sea lions are very protective, so do watch out for them, while you play with their curious young. Further over, in the eastern islands, some sea lions may still be breeding, though there will likely to be young there already too. Also in the water, sea turtles start their courtship, with some visitors getting to see these rituals.
Among the birdlife there is a lot of activity too. In particular, boobies are nesting. You may get to see Nazca booby, blue footed booby and red footed booby species nesting if you visit during this month. Frigate birds are also in their nesting phase during November, and storm petrels also nest during this month. Waved albatross are starting to reach the end of their nesting season in November, and there will very likely be some chicks to see. This can be a real highlight for some. It is also brown noddy breeding season.
November's wildlife signature is the transition: it's the closing window on dry-season species and the opening window on warm-season ones. Here's how the month breaks down on the ground.
Source: Galapagos National Park seasonal-arrivals data; Charles Darwin Foundation waved-albatross page; Galapagos Insiders trip-report data 2024–2026.
In November, the Galapagos Islands is experiencing its cool and dry season. Temperatures will be on average around 74°F (23.3°C). The highest temperatures experienced at this time of year are usually 80°F (27°C) and the lowest temperatures (typically at night) will fall to approximately 69°F (20.7°C). There are fewer sunshine hours per day in November, averaging at around 5.6 and the skies can be fairly overcast. The temperatures are still strong though and the equatorial sun can still burn, so pack a hat and some good sunscreen. It is a good idea to bring some warmer layers and a light raincoat just in case. Both will help to keep you warm on your cruise if you like to be up on deck when traveling between islands.
Rainfall is usually low during November. The average rainfall during this month is 0.25-0.5 inches (0.6 – 1.3 centimeters). Most of this is likely to fall in the highlands. It is worth noting that given that it has been dry for several months by November, the vegetation on the islands is somewhat barren at this time of the year.
Because November is dry and cool, humidity is easier to deal with in this month than it is in some of the other months of the year. It may still feel humid, however.
November sits at the seasonal hinge on the way back: the dry/cool garúa season is winding down, the southeast trade winds are easing through the month, and the warm/wet season hasn't kicked in. Surface temperatures climb from the 19–22°C August trough back into the 22–24°C band by late November. The Bolívar Channel between Isabela and Fernandina — the roughest open water in the archipelago — drops back toward its annual swell minimum, the same minimum we see in May. We routinely book motion-sensitive travelers on Western itineraries in November for exactly this reason. If you missed the May calm-water window, November is your second chance — and the only chance you'll get to see the last albatross before they leave Española for a year.
For a deeper read on which months are calmer on which routes, see our seasickness on a Galapagos cruise guide.
"For November clients we always tell them to aim at the first three weeks of the month if the schedule allows. Two reasons. First, the waved albatross — by the last week of November, the colony at Punta Suárez has effectively left for the open Pacific, and you don't get them back until April. The first three weeks are the closing window. Second, US Thanksgiving — the last week of November sees a mild booking bump and a small price uptick, and the calmer-and-cheaper combination we love about November is best in the first three weeks. We send most of our November families to Eastern routes departing November 1–21."(Tripadvisor Review)
Two practical implications for your November booking. First, if waved albatross is on your wildlife shortlist, book before November 21. The fourth week is not where we'd send a traveler asking for the closing-albatross experience. Second, if your dates are flexible, the first three weeks beat the last week on price as well as wildlife. The Thanksgiving bump isn't August-level peak pricing, but it's enough to be worth knowing about before you lock dates.
Because November is the year's second-calmest month, you can pick a vessel by experience preference rather than by stability — the same November-and-May framing that doesn't apply to August or September. The smaller motorsailers and single-hull yachts that struggle on the August Bolívar swell are exactly where they want to be in November. Our luxury priority list runs both routes in November, and we recommend luxury or premium catamarans for both Eastern and Western — not because the Western route requires a multi-hull in November (it doesn't), but because the snorkel programs are stronger and the cabin platforms are larger.
Three vessels we're prioritizing for November departures. All three sit in our luxury priority list. All three run November rotations across Eastern, Western, or combined itineraries.
Strong snorkel program — 3 mm shorty wetsuits, in-water naturalist guidance on key snorkels, dedicated dry storage for cameras — and the family-with-teenagers vessel we book most often for November Eastern departures. The November calm-water window is what makes the Sea Star's snorkel program shine on the Eastern route. Devil's Crown and Champion Islet are both at the top of their visibility band by late November.
Stable platform, Eastern + Western rotations, popular with honeymooners. Endemic gives November couples both 3 mm shorties and 5 mm full suits, with high in-water guide involvement on the deep-water snorkels at Devil's Crown and Kicker Rock. The catamaran hull is a comfort upgrade rather than a stability necessity in November, but it shows up on the cabin platform — wider beam, larger cabins, more lounge space than a single-hull yacht of the same length. Endemic product page →
Eastern + Western variants, strong all-around November vessel. The yacht handles the lighter November Bolívar swell with no issue. At this point in the year the Western itinerary still delivers reliable Galapagos penguins and flightless cormorants — without the August roughness. Natural Paradise product page →
For the full menu of November-capable vessels (small ship, premium catamaran, motorsailer, luxury yacht), see our best Galapagos cruises 2026 ranking.
November is one of the rare months where any route works well — the same any-route-works profile we see in May, and one of only two such months in the year. The differences are subtle but they matter for your booking.
For the deep-dive on each route — day-by-day sequences, wildlife matrices, vessel recommendations — see our Galapagos cruise itineraries comparison.
The Galapagos Islands offer the same activities regardless of the month that you visit, making it a really good year-round vacation destination.
The cool, dry weather in November means that this month is really pleasant for hiking, as well as for walking on the nature trails on the islands. It is also a really good month for taking excellent photographs due to the weather conditions. With birds and animals close to, or even on the nature trails, and unafraid of humans, it is easy to get really good photographs. It is not the best month for people that like to sunbathe, but it will still be warm and sunny at times.
Turning to activities in the water, snorkeling and diving are both superb in November with plenty of species to view. The presence of the Humboldt current means that the water is packed with nutrients to support marine life, which leads to a lot of variety in the archipelago. This means both snorkeling and diving experiences are likely to be very rewarding. One slight disadvantage for snorkeling and diving in November is that the conditions in the water may not be as visible as at some other months of the year. You are still likely to see a great deal of species, however. Be mindful that the temperatures in the water are cooler at this time of year, and some might prefer to snorkel or dive in a wetsuit at this time, to stay in the water for longer. You might be able to rent one from your boat, or you might not, so it is worth checking in advance to be certain.
Prices for Galapagos Islands Cruises or Galapagos land-based options can vary somewhat in November, depending on the particular week in the month. Some weeks may be more expensive than others, and particularly the week around the US holiday of Thanksgiving. This happens during the last week of November and some US tourists like to get away at that time and travel to Galapagos Islands. This can push up prices. Equally, at the start of November there are local public holidays on 2nd and 3rd November which can drive prices up as well, as Ecuadorians take more trips around this time. Prices for flights and accommodation will be higher at these times, as well as prices for cruises. Booking well in advance for the busier times is highly recommended. Otherwise, prices will generally be lower, and it may be possible to get a good deal on a trip.
Demand in the Galapagos Islands is variable during the month of November. Generally speaking, it is not too busy in November as it is still low season. However, the archipelago has an influx of visitors at the start of the month due to local public holidays. Demand then dips significantly until later on in the month, coinciding with the Thanksgiving holiday during the last week of November. Higher demand does of course mean a greater number of people in the Galapagos Islands, but it is unlikely to ever feel really crowded. This is because cruises are carefully scheduled so that there are never too many people at a visitor site at any one time.
Various cruises enable us to offer excellent rates to our clients, but we will always have great deals for cruise tours on board the Hermes Galapagos Cruise and the Alya catamaran among others.
Most of our November travelers arrive in Quito the day before their domestic flight to Baltra, and we recommend at least one buffer night on either end of the cruise. November in the Ecuadorian Andes sits at the start of the rainy season — cool mornings, more frequent afternoon showers than May or August, comfortable for walking around the historic center if you pack a light rain shell.
A pattern that works well for November travelers: two nights in Quito before the cruise (jet-lag buffer + a half-day city tour at Plaza Grande, La Compañía, and the TelefériQo cable car), and one or two nights in Otavalo post-cruise on a Saturday — the Saturday Otavalo market is the one we send most travelers to, and the textile-and-leather artisans are at their best when the November tourism volume is moderate. The drive from Quito is about two hours and the Cuicocha crater lake sits 30 minutes beyond Otavalo if you want to make a day of it.
Yes — November is our top recommendation alongside May for travelers who want calm seas and signature wildlife in the same trip, and it's the only month of the year that combines a calm Bolívar Channel with the closing waved-albatross window. Three reasons. First, sea state: November is the year's second calm-water sweet spot, with the Bolívar Channel dropping back to its annual swell minimum and snorkel visibility recovering from the August Humboldt-cool trough. Second, the closing-albatross window: the last reliable waved albatross sightings on Punta Suárez before the entire global breeding population leaves for the year. Third, pricing: shoulder-band prices through the first three weeks before the US Thanksgiving bump and well below the December holiday peak.
The closing window for waved albatross on Punta Suárez, Española (most reliable in the first three weeks; effectively gone by week four), continued sea-lion pups on Gardner Bay and southern beaches, Galapagos penguins and flightless cormorants on the Western route at Punta Vicente Roca, Tagus Cove, and Punta Espinoza, frigatebird males with red inflated gular pouches on North Seymour (year-round), red-footed boobies year-round on Genovesa, green sea turtles gathering offshore for December nesting, hammerhead sharks at Kicker Rock with improving visibility, and marine iguanas archipelago-wide. Whale sharks at Darwin and Wolf are in their closing window (the dive-only June–November season ends in November).
Yes — November is the second-calmest month of the year, after May. The dry/cool garúa season is winding down, the southeast trade winds are easing through the month, and the warm/wet season hasn't started. The Bolívar Channel between Isabela and Fernandina — the roughest open water in the archipelago — drops back toward its annual swell minimum. Travelers prone to motion sickness can book a single-hull yacht in November with confidence, where in August we'd push the same traveler toward a catamaran. May and November are the two months we book the most motion-sensitive travelers on the Western route. For more, see our Galapagos cruise seasickness guide.
A November 8-day cruise runs from $3,570 on mid-range catamarans (promotional pricing) and from $4,733 on luxury yachts (promotional pricing) — generally below the August peak across mid-range vessels and well below the December holiday weeks. Shorter 5-day and 6-day departures start from $2,273 (5-day mid-range promotional pricing) and from $3,018 (6-day first-class). The first three weeks of November are the price sweet spot; US Thanksgiving week (November 23–29, 2026) sees a mild bump. Add $250–600 for domestic flights from Quito or Guayaquil, $200 Galapagos National Park entry fee, $20 INGALA Transit Control Card, and $200–400 in tips. Full breakdown: Galapagos cruise cost 2026.
Our answer. May and November are the two calm-water sweet spots of the year, and we recommend them as a matched pair. May edges ahead on courtship wildlife (blue-footed booby dances peak, first waved albatross arrivals at Punta Suárez from week three). November edges ahead on closing-window urgency (the last albatross before they leave for a year, sea-lion pups continuing). Pick May if you want courtship and don't need the albatross-departure window; pick November if you want the closing-albatross experience or your travel calendar lands later in the year. December opens the warm/wet season — green-turtle nesting starts, marine iguanas are getting ready to mate, but the holiday weeks (December 19 onward) carry the year's second peak-pricing premium and Christmas/New Year cabin availability vanishes 9–12 months ahead.
Yes — November is one of the two best family months of the year (May is the other). Calm seas mean fewer panga-ride bailouts, single-hull yachts and catamarans are both viable, and the wildlife that kids care about most (sea lions, penguins, marine iguanas, sea turtles) is all reliably present. Most vessels accept kids 6 and up; a few require 8 or 12. The November Eastern route on a 16-guest catamaran or stable yacht is our default family recommendation for the month. For the family-first land+cruise hybrid, see our Galapagos family vacation guide.
"From start to finish, Galapagos Insiders organized the trip well. Inquiries were answered in a timely manner. The yacht with its crew were excellent. The park interpreter was outstanding, knowledgeable and enthusiastic. I highly recommend this trip."Arabianwings from Canada (Tripadvisor Review) — Grand Majestic, November 2025
This traveler's note is the November testimonial we lead with on every November-month conversation we have with new travelers. Two things stand out. First, organization quality — the booking process from first inquiry through onboard sailing reflects the GI back-office model rather than a single travel agent's calendar, which is what makes the response timing reliable on a cruise that's planned six to nine months out. Second, the park interpreter call-out — every Galapagos cruise sails with a naturalist guide, and that comment lines up with the consistent feedback we get on the Grand Majestic's guide rotation. The Grand Majestic itself is a 16-guest yacht we charter for small private groups; on regular November departures it runs Eastern and combined itineraries.
Aggregate rating across our review sources: 4.9 / 5 across 350 verified reviews (2021–2026) — TripAdvisor, Trustpilot, Google Business Profile, WeTravel.
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USA & Canada 1-773-280-9571 · Ecuador +593-987-004-404 · [email protected]
If you seek cooler, drier weather and lower humidity than some of the other months, November may very well be a good month for your Galapagos Islands visit. There is plenty of wildlife to see, with the potential for a great opportunity to snorkel among baby sea lions. Several bird species are nesting, and you can walk around on the islands’ nature trails without feeling too hot most of the time. If you are looking for a cheaper trip you should try to avoid the early days of the month, as well as the last week of the month, as public holidays can lead to busier and costlier trips at these times. However, November is quieter than December and January when tourism really ramps up again in the Galapagos Islands. We can help you find the best deal for your November for Galapagos Islands Cruise or Galapagos land-based option so why not get in touch with us?
Use the live availability tool below to see current cabin openings for November departures across a variety of Galapagos yachts, catamarans, and small-ship cruises. Browse available dates, routes, and onboard features, then book your cruise with guidance from our knowledgeable Galapagos travel specialists to help ensure you choose the best fit for your travel interests and timing.
