Galapagos Cruises

Frequently Asked Questions

Please find the following answers to frequently asked questions about cruises in the Galapagos Islands.

• When is the best time to visit the Galapagos?

The Galapagos Islands can be visited during any time of the year. The warmest season is from December to May (80°Fs to low 90°Fs (27ºC to 32ºC)). From June to November temperatures vary from low 70°Fs to high 80°Fs (21ºC to 26ºC). There is always an amazing amount of wildlife to be seen.

• What should I bring?

We recommend packing the following items in order to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable cruise in the Galapagos Islands:

Items	Reason(s)
Bathing suit	For those interested in snorkeling, swimming or diving during your cruise.
Binoculars	Get a more detailed look at the rare and unusual creatures.
Day pack	For easy and comfortable storage of personal items while on island tours.
Hat or cap	The sun can be intense, particularly in the late morning and early afternoon.
Camera	To capture your personal memories of the truly unique sights and sounds of the Galapagos.
Sandals	Most islands visits involve ‘wet landings' (water reaching up to one's calf's)
Shorts	The late morning/early afternoon heat is more pleasant with light clothing.
Sun cream/sun block	Adequate protection from direct sunlight & reflected sun from the water is essential.
Sun glasses	It is most often very sunny; & the sun's reflection off the water can be strong.
Sweatshirt or light jacket	The early morning/late evenings can get cool, often with a breeze
T-shirts	The late morning/early afternoon heat is more pleasant with light clothing.
Water bottle	Avoid dehydration and thirst in the heat and sunshine of the Islands.

• What is onboard a yacht?

Although the onboard design and layout varies from one vessel to another, most yachts have the following in common:

Private double cabins (some higher class yachts also offer suites and/or single cabins)
Common dining room
Common social areas (both indoor and outdoor)
Amenities - private bathrooms, air conditioning , television, DVD, bar, snorkeling equipment
Bilingual naturalist guide
Drinking water
110 volt / 60 Hz electrical outlets
Scuba diving equipment

What is a typical Cruise like?
Although there are varying itineraries from one vessel to another, they generally work in the same manner:

You will land in the late morning in Galapagos, where your guide will be awaiting you & where you pay (in cash) your Park fee;
Depending on the itinerary of the yacht you will either be taken to your yacht awaiting you in Baltra or you will board a small mini van or bus and make your way to Puerto Ayora harbour, some 40 minutes journey on Santa Cruz Island. Upon boarding your yacht, you will meet the crew and captain and be shown around the yacht and your quarters;
In the evening, you will have dinner aboard the yacht & where your guide will review the itinerary, island(s) and wildlife likely to be encountered during the day.
During the late evening or overnight your yacht will make its way to the next island, so that when you wake up in the morning you will at the next island;
Breakfast served early in the morning, after which you will board a small dingy which will take you and your guide to your first island visit. After which you will return to your yacht for lunch;
Following lunch, you will make another island visit with your guide, after which you will return to your yacht to relax. Take this time to snorkel or simply relax on deck in the glorious sunshine. Dinner is served and your guide will most probably review the day and explain the itinerary for the following day;
Steps 4 & 5 are repeated until the last day of your cruise; on the last evening, usually all the passengers get together to discuss the tips to be given to the crew & guide;
On the last day, you will have breakfast early as usual. Depending on the specific yacht's itinerary you will make your last visit directly after breakfast and be transferred with your guide to the airport to catch your flight back to mainland Ecuador.

What is included and not included in cruise packages?

* Price includes ALL of the following :

Bilingual local guide (minimum English & Spanish) throughout the cruise
All meals on board
Bottled water & sodas
Welcome cocktail
Snorkeling equipment
Use of all amenities on board (lap tops etc)
Airport Assistance - Mainland Ecuador
Airport Assistance – Galapagos Islands
Transfers between boat and airport
24 hour helpline for personal assistance for your entire time in Ecuador

* Unless specifically stated in promotions prices do not include:

Gratuities
Return airline ticket
Cancellation/medical insurance
Drinks (except water and sodas which are complimentary)
Galapagos National Park entrance fee
International Airport Departure tax
Airfare from mainland Ecuador
Wetsuit rental

• Can I combine my Galapagos Cruise with other tours?

The majority of visitors take the opportunity to combine their Galapagos cruise with other tours in the region. As part of our service we provide FREE TRIP ADVICE & PLANNING and our ECUADOR LAND TOURS .

We hope that you found the answer to your question but if you couldn't, don't worry. If you did not get the answers to your questions please do not hesitate to contact us and we will gladly assist. Contact Us

Travel Tips

Snorkeling in Galapagos

Documents Required
According to Ecuadorian Immigration regulations, every foreign passenger entering the Country must have a passport with a time validity of at least 6 months from the day of arrival to Ecuador. Most Western European and North American passport holders do not require a visa to enter Ecuador. However please contact your nearest Ecuadorian embassy for the latest visa requirements.

Flights to / from Galapagos

Flights are automatically reserved when you book a cruise. There are several daily flights to and from the Galapagos Islands, routed: Quito – Guayaquil – Galapagos – Guayaquil – Quito. Therefore, one can depart from either Quito or Guayaquil and then return to either Guayaquil or Quito.

The rates for return flights to the Galapagos Islands vary according to the routing and the time of year.

Flight Route	High Season	Low Season
	Adults	Adults
Quito – Galapagos – Quito	406.22	309.22
Quito– Galapagos – Guayaquil (or vv)
Guayaquil – Galapagos – Guayaquil	358.81	314.01

FLIGHTS
High Season	15th June to 14th September
Low Season	1st May to 14th June
High Season	1st November to 31st April
Low Season	15th September to 31st October

Galapagos National Park entrance fee

All visitors to the Galapagos Islands must pay a Galapagos National Park entrance fee. This is paid upon arrival in the Galapagos Islands and can only be paid is USD cash – Travelers Checks and credit cards are not accepted. These fees assist in the administration, conservation and preservation of the islands by the Galapagos National Park Authorities. The current fees (per person) are:

Adults $100
Children $50 (12 years of age and less)

Itinerary

The itinerary could be subject to change due to weather conditions or National Park Directives. The captain may deviate from the published itinerary for any reason he deems advisable. The Company reserves the right to change passengers from one yacht to another of equal category.

Climate
Located on the equator, the Galapagos climate is tempered by the Humbolt Current, so you do not experience extreme heat. The warmest weather is December to June, when temperatures range from 72 to 90 degrees, while the water temperature is in the mid 70 degrees. July to November is cooler, ranging from mid 60's to 75 degrees. The average water temperature rarely reaches 70 degrees.

Airport Assistance/ Transfers
You will always have somebody from Galasam Galapagos Cruises at the airport to assist you checking onto your flight to the islands. Once you arrive in the Galapagos, our guide and a member of the crew will greet you at the airport. The crew member will take care of your luggage and your guide will escort you to the boat where your captain and cruise manager will welcome you aboard.

All transfers from the airport on the Islands to the boat are included in your cruise

Baggage

There is a luggage allowance of one piece of 44lbs (20 kilos) plus 2 small carry-ones on flights to and from Galapagos. Any additional pieces can be left at your hotel desk on mainland. Excess baggage is charged at US$ 2 per kilo if the airline chooses to do so.

Food
We always receive great reviews about the food on board. There is a varied menu onboard, including international and local cuisines, designed to accommodate a variety of dietary needs including vegetarians. There is always a choice and at least one vegetarian option. If you have any special dietary needs please let us know in advance so that we can make the necessary arrangements. All meals on board are included in the cruise price.

Tipping

Tipping is at the sole discretion of the passenger and should be based on the level of service received. A tip box is provided for the general crew. Guides are tipped separately.

Insurance
We strongly recommend passengers to buy trip cancellation insurance. In addition, we also recommend the following insurances: life, international medicine, baggage loss and baggage delay, loss of personal belongings lost or stolen personal object

Money
The local currency in The Galapagos Islands and throughout Ecuador is US dollars. On the Islands, most major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express)

There are Banco del Pacifico branches on the islands of Santa Cruz and San Cristobal. Both have ATM machines that accept MasterCard, Visa and cards affiliated with the Cirrus, Maestro, Banred and ATM system.