How to get there?
You will need to fly into either Quito or Guayaquil on the Ecuadorian mainland and spend a minimum of one night on the mainland prior to your cruise, then take one of the daily flights to the islands. Upon arrival you will be met by a representative from your cruise vessel.
How much will it cost?
The price of a trip varies enormously depending on factors such as the type of vessel and time of year. As a rough guideline, prices start from about £2,095 per person for a seven-night cruise on a tourist class vessel, including all flights and accommodation on the mainland. A ten-day trip combining a seven-night cruise on a first class vessel with two nights on the mainland starts from approximately £2,600 per person.
What's included?
All your meals and excursions will be included while you are on your vessel, and the majority provide you with snorkelling gear as well. Wetsuits can be hired upon arrival, and you can usually pre-order your size of wetsuit for an extra fee. You will need money for the National Park entrance fee ($100 per person paid in cash on arrival), tips and drinks. We will provide you with guidelines before you travel.
What to bring?
We will send you a specific list prior to departure. Generally, dress code is very informal but you will need a fleece as it can get quite chilly in the evening. Sports sandals are ideal for wet landings, and sun protection is also essential, so be sure to bring a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and high factor sunscreen.
Families
Some, but not all of the vessels are well equipped for children, and our specialists will be able to advise on this. The larger vessels are generally more popular as they have more facilities to occupy children, and some of them even have specialist family departures so please ask us for further details.
What length cruise should I take?
The longer the better! We recommend a sevennight cruise as you will visit different islands and habitats each day. Shorter cruises are sometimes available if you do not have a lot of time.
Private charters
Some of the smaller vessels featured in the brochure are available for charter, which is ideal if you have a group of friends and family. This can be a cost-effective and delightful way to see the islands.
Single travellers
Galapagos cruises are very social occasions so any single traveller will quickly become part of a group. However, single cabins are quite rare and single supplements can be hefty. Some vessels will operate a ‘same sex share’ policy if there is more than one single person on board.
Fitness
There are no major fitness issues involved in visiting the Galapagos Islands but a reasonable degree of agility may be required to get on and off pangas (dinghy type boats) to and from the individual islands.
Treading lightly
The islands’ ecology is fragile and there are strict regulations which your guide and boat crew will enforce. Whilst the fearlessness of the wildlife is renowned, you are not allowed to touch them in any way and once on land there are marked trails which must not be deviated from.
Boat routes
All boat itineraries are strictly set by the National Park authorities and as such are subject to change without notice. Of course, it is not possible for any vessel to visit every island in seven days. All the vessels we offer have excellent and varied itineraries giving you the opportunity to see the full diversity of Galapagos wildlife.
Seasickness
For those who suffer from severe seasickness we recommend one of the larger vessels. The sea is generally very calm, but we would suggest that you avoid July and August.