Galapagos Islands

The main considerations are type of ship, class of ship, duration of cruise and itinerary. The different ship types are:

• Motor sailboats
• Catamarans
• Yachts
• Cruise ships

The classes of boats are:

• Standard
• Superior
• First Class
• Luxury

The main differences between the classes are space (cabins and common areas), private or shared facilities, experience of the guides, quality and quantity of food, availability of facilities such as air-conditioning, hot water, swimming pools and Jacuzzis, which will all affect the cost.

Galapagos tours generally range from 4 to 15 days allowing for different budgets and time constraints. 4, 5 and 8 day Galapagos cruises are the most common options and will include different islands, some of which may hold more interest to you than others.

Although the larger vessels are often more luxurious and stable and offer more facilities, the smaller boats offer a much more intimate experience with greater flexibility and more time on the islands.

We recommend that you visit your doctor or a traveller’s medical centre for current information specific to those places that you will be travelling through. As a general guide we recommend the following:

• Yellow Fever - Especially for jungle areas
• Hepatitis - Both A and B (twinrix)
• Typhoid
• Diphtheria
• Cholera
• Rabies
• Tetanus

In general, crime is not a problem on the Galapagos Islands although petty crime may occur in the towns. We advise you to keep personal items and valuables locked away in bags in your cabins. Most animal life on the islands is docile with the exception of the larger sea lions and in particular the bulls, who will vigorously protect their females, and can inflict dangerous and potentially lethal bites. Do not snorkel close to sea lion colonies. There is a minimal danger from sharks but in general sharks will not attack unless provoked.

Most of the newer boats have both 110 volt (USA) and 220 volt (Europe/ Australia) outlets on board, although some of the older boats will only have 110 volt outlets.

The Galapagos Islands currently use USD as their main currency.

Galapagos National Park rules state that no food is allowed to be taken onto the islands.

Casual, light quick-drying clothing is recommended on board the ships.

• Cotton long sleeved shirts

• T-shirts

• Lightweight pair of trousers

• Shorts

• Good walking shoes

• Thongs/flip flops or tevas

• Wide brimmed hat (with strap)

• Swimwear

• Sunglasses (with strap)

• Windproof and waterproof jacket and maybe an umbrella

• Light sweatshirt or fleece

• Sunscreen (30+ & waterproof)

• Camera with spare memory cards and batteries

• Dry bags for cameras and other electronic equipment

• Binoculars

• Refillable water bottle to reduce plastic waste

• Motion-sickness medication for boat tours

• US$ cash to cover the National Park fee and tips

Spanish is the official language of the Galapagos Islands, but English is widely spoken.

A pre-arranged visa is not required to enter Ecuador or the Galapagos for citizens of the following countries:

Australia

United Kingdom

The United States

Ireland

Canada

New Zealand

European Union

South Africa

For other nationalities please visit the website of the relevant consulate. In regard to local taxes, a charge of US$100 is currently in place for ALL tourists travelling to the Galapagos Islands. This is payable in cash on arrival and subject to change.

Not all Galapagos tour itineraries offer diving as an option. If you are a keen diver then you may want to consider choosing a dedicated diving boat for your Galapagos cruise. These boats tend to have better equipment and dive masters and the itineraries are designed around visiting the best dive sites in the Galapagos Islands, in particular around Darwin and Wolf Islands. Alternatively you could add on a couple of days in Puerto Ayora at the end of a Galapagos cruise enabling you to include diving excursions, or it may be possible to arrange a diving excursion from your boat.

Some Galapagos cruise passengers do suffer from sea sickness as the waters around the islands can be a little rough at times, in particular during August and September. If you are concerned about getting sea sick, please ensure that you bring motion-sickness remedies with you. You should also consider choosing a Galapagos cruise that is aboard a more stable vessel such as a catamaran or selecting a land-based island-hopping Galapagos tour. The waters tend to be calmer between January and April.

The majority of Galapagos tours and Galapagos cruises are between 4 and 15 days. The longer the tour, the more of the archipelago you will visit.

Most ships have snorkelling equipment and wetsuits on board - either for rent or included in the cruise price. If you have your own equipment (mask, fins, snorkel, wetsuit), you may wish to consider taking it with you as this will ensure you have well-fitting gear.

Land-based Galapagos tours give you the opportunity to stay on selected islands including Isabela, Santa Cruz, San Cristobal and Floreana Islands. Galapagos Island-Hopping Tours are a great alternative to Galapagos cruises, giving you the opportunity to explore the archipelago’s wildlife and natural wonders by day and staying overnight in island hotels. This allows non-seagoing travellers to enjoy the highlights of the Galapagos Islands without compromising on their comfort and need to be on firm land. Speed boats or public transportation take island-hoppers from island to island, with accommodation in clean, comfortable boutique hotels.

Galapagos tours, whether land-based or a cruise, include all accommodation, meals and transfers and so you will only need to budget for drinks, souvenirs and tipping. On board the boats, bottled water, coffee, tea and hot chocolate are included. Soft drinks, juices, wine, beer and a basic selection of spirits are available for purchase. A budget of USD25-35 per person per day is a rough guideline for additional spending money.

Apart from marvelling at the spectacular landscapes and impressive array of wildlife, there are opportunities to hike across volcanic beaches and to the crater of volcanoes, to explore lava tubes and to swim and snorkel amongst the marine life. There are tours to see giant tortoises in the wild and visits to the Charles Darwin Research Centre and the Interpretive Centre.

The Galapagos Islands are renowned for their wildlife with vast numbers and varieties found on the islands and in the waters surrounding the islands. There are whales, sharks, dolphins, sea lions and fur seals, bird species too numerous to mention ranging from blue-footed boobies and frigatebirds to penguins and hummingbirds, giant tortoises, turtles, iguanas and lava lizards. Some species are seen only at certain times of the year.

The majority of ships accept credit cards (Visa, MasterCard and American Express) but we recommend that you carry some USD cash with you for tips to your guides and crew.

Yes, the Galapagos Islands is a wonderful family friendly destination, although the minimum age is usually 6.

All of the islands offer something different and often unique. The western islands of Isabela and Fernandina offer great wildlife viewing opportunities with vast colonies of birds and marine iguanas and the opportunity to hike to the caldera of Sierra Negra on Isabela. The central islands include Santa Cruz, Santiago and Bartolome with its barren volcanic landscape, dramatic vistas and spectacular views from Pinnacle Rock. To the south, Espanola and Floreana offer white sand beaches and great snorkelling opportunities and of course the chance to visit Post Office Bay on Floreana, probably the most famous man-made site on the Galapagos, where mail can be left for another traveller to collect and hand-deliver. In the north, Genovesa is home to the largest nesting colonies of frigatebirds and red-footed boobies with a hiking trail to El Barranco.

Some Galapagos cruises do offer internet facilities via satellite but please be warned that it is expensive.