Read this list of ten tips about traveling to Galapagos brought to you by the local experts. You will find helpful hints that will make your Galapagos trip planning much easier, divided into four sections: transportation, money, what to bring and other points of interest.
The only way to get to the Galapagos is through daily flights from Quito or Guayaquil (cities in continental Ecuador). There are 3 companies traveling to the islands: Tame, LAN and Avianca. So, whether you’re in the highlands or on the coast, you've got two options for arriving to the Galapagos. All the local airlines operate two morning flights daily from Quito via Guayaquil to the the Baltra airport (two hours), which is just over an hour away from Puerto Ayora by public transportation. There are also daily flights to San Cristóbal Island.
When packing for your Galapagos vacation, remember that on your flight to the Galapagos from mainland Ecuador, you are allowed one checked bag weighing up to 50 lbs. (23 kg) and one small carry-on.
Expert hint: Take a daypack as your carry-on as you will want to take it with you on daily excursions and a strong water-resistant bag as your checked item.
For a seemingly small place, you may be surprised to find that there are two airports in the Galapagos Islands, Baltra, which is next to Santa Cruz Island and Puerto Baquerizo, located on San Cristobal Island. Depending on what airport you arrive to you will either embark or disembark from Baltra or Puerto Ayora, the main port in Santa Cruz or from Puerto Baquerizo Moreno in San Cristobal.
Talking money isn’t always fun but being left without cash to pay is even less fun, so we recommend reading on to find out about the different fees so you can have the right amount in cash ready before your departure.
Before leaving Quito or Guayaquil, you will need the transit control card, which costs $20. This is in addition to the $100 Galapagos National Park entrance fee for adults and $50 for children under 12, which you pay in cash upon arrival to Galapagos.
Any time of year in the Galapagos, you're guaranteed to see a wide arrange of flora and fauna, unlike anything you've ever seen before.
As the wildlife evolved away from human interaction, they don't experience humans as predators, and therefore, you may have a sea lion roll on top of you, a shark glide past you in the ocean or a blue-footed booby walk over you. Don't fear; this is all a day in the normal life in Galapagos. No matter when you go, wildlife is always present. You can check our wildlife calendar here.
All luxury class Galapagos cruises provide not only the most qualified and experienced naturalist guides, but are also spacious, comfortable, stable and provide the highest level of on-board services and amenities, which include: gourmet food, safety, comfortable cabins and other additional features you won’t find on just any Galapagos cruise. The M/Y Passion is the perfect example of barefoot luxury and highly recommended for its spacious cabins, excellent service featuring a 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio, and smooth ride thanks to its electronic stabilizers.
There are a lot of things that may come in handy for your trip, but we find the essentials are as follows:
*Please note to take the proper precautions if you are sensitive to motion-sicknessAs for the rest of what to bring, we recommend you pack appropriately for comfortable, lightweight adventure-ready clothing.
The rains in the Galápagos fall only during the rainy season (December to April). Drizzles on the islands usually occur in the afternoon hours and tend to last less than half an hour. It is important to mention that the rain will NOT be a problem for the visitors, since all the activities can be done during the drizzle and the temperature rarely drops below 20 degrees. A good thing about the rain: most of the coastal plants "Revive" in the rainy season, showing green shoots and flowers immediately after the first rains.
The sea is quieter in the wet season. During the dry period (and especially in August and September), the sea can be a bit hectic. This could cause cruise ships or yachts to move more than normal (this is why these dates should be avoided for passengers who are prone to dizziness or fear it).
There are options from 4 days. However, we recommend no less than 5 days, so you can discover an overview glance of what the Galapagos has to offer. With a 15-day itinerary you will be able to discover the main visitor sites in the islands from east to west. If you are not traveling by cruise, we recommend you up to 9 days. The Galapagos cruises can travel to some visitor sites that you will not reach on a land-based itinerary. That's why we recommend you take less days for your hotel-based adventure.
Due to the fragility of the ecosystem, only these 4 types of tourism are allowed (and with some restrictions) in the Galapagos Islands:
A. The navigable cruises.
B. The diving cruises.
C. Daily tours to the nearby islands from the inhabited islands.
D. The daily diving tours from the inhabited islands.