Thanksgiving in the Galápagos, nine days, three PTO days and playful sea lion pups
Thanksgiving week turns three vacation days into nine — enough for a 5-day Galápagos cruise in one of the islands' best-kept seasons. Here is the day-by-day plan, what late November brings and how to book from the U.S.
Thanksgiving week is the one stretch of autumn when many Americans have four days off in a row — and late November is a lovely time in the Galápagos: the seas settle, the water warms, and the sea lion pups born in late summer are old enough to swim with snorkelers. With three PTO days, the week fits a 5-day cruise. This page is the U.S. plan; the islands' conditions are in the November guide.
The nine-day Thanksgiving plan (2027)
Thanksgiving falls on November 25, 2027. Taking Monday to Wednesday as PTO — plus Friday, if your employer does not already give it — turns the holiday into nine days, Saturday to Sunday.
| Day | Where | What |
|---|---|---|
| Sat, Nov 20 | Fly to Quito | Afternoon nonstop from Miami or Atlanta, evening from Houston; transfer to Mindo or an airport hotel. |
| Sun, Nov 21 | Mindo Cloud Forest | Buffer day for any delay; hummingbirds and waterfalls. |
| Mon, Nov 22 | Fly to the islands; embark | Morning flight; first landing that afternoon. |
| Mon – Fri | 5-day cruise | Thanksgiving Day is a cruise day: landings, snorkeling with sea lion pups, dinner at sea. |
| Fri, Nov 26 | Back to the mainland | Disembark after breakfast; night in Quito's old town. |
| Sat, Nov 27 | Fly home | Home the same evening on daytime routings; Sunday to recover. |
Two extra PTO days stretch it to an 8-day cruise and a full loop. How many days you need explains the trade-off.
Thanksgiving 2026 is close
This year Thanksgiving is November 26, 2026 — about six weeks away as this page is published. That is inside the window when yachts release unsold cabins at special fares: check the last-minute list and the November departures before assuming the week is sold out.
What you will find in late November
Water around 70–73 °F and warming, calmer crossings than in September, and the year's most playful sea lion pups. The last albatross chicks are still on Española and green sea turtles gather offshore ahead of mating. A light wetsuit is welcome early in the month and optional by the end.
Booking a Thanksgiving cruise from the U.S.
- Three to four months ahead for the week itself; it is one of the busiest weeks of the autumn, especially for family cabins.
- Hold the cabin, then buy flights: Thanksgiving airfares from the U.S. rise sharply from September.
- Ecuador's own holidays (November 2–3) fall earlier in the month and do not affect Thanksgiving week.
Step by step: how to book a Galápagos cruise from the U.S.
Thanksgiving-week departures, live
November dates for every yacht, special fares flagged, complimentary Mindo nights included.
Questions U.S. travelers ask
Can I do the Galápagos over Thanksgiving?
Yes. With three PTO days (Monday to Wednesday) the holiday becomes nine days, Saturday to Sunday — enough for a 5-day cruise with a buffer night on the mainland. Two more days allow an 8-day cruise.
Is late November a good time for the Galápagos?
Very good: seas are settling, the water is warming and the sea lion pups are at their most playful for snorkeling. It is quieter than the summer and winter peaks except during Thanksgiving week itself.
Is it too late to book Thanksgiving 2026?
Not necessarily. At about six weeks out, yachts are releasing unsold cabins at special fares — check the last-minute list and November departures on Galápagos Dana Tours.
Not sure which boat? Ask us.
Tell us your dates, your budget and what you most want to see: we will send you a shortlist with live fares. We reply within 24 hours, usually the same day.