how to: plan your galapagos adventure

7/31/2019 How To: Plan Your Galapagos Adventure

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How To: Plan Your

Galapagos Adventure

An InformaonalResource Courtesy Of


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Contents

Introducon

When to Visit

The Weather

Which Adventure Best Suits You?

Choose Your Cruise

Alternaves to Cruises

Geng There

What to Expect Upon Arrival

Galapagos Packing List

About Global Basecamps

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Introducon

V

ising the Galapagos Islands is, for most

people, a once-in-a-lifeme trip. Anamazing combinaon of safari-like wildlife

walks, prisne natural scenery, and a feeling

of being in paradise, the Galapagos Islands are

the perfect desnaon for people looking for

a unique experience unlike any other in the

world. Theyre also the perfect place to get

away from it all and enjoy a relaxing vacaon

amidst unbelievable natural surroundings.

When it comes to vising the Galapagos Islands,

the opons can seem endless. Should you do a

cruise, or a land-based trip? An island-hopping

non-cruise, or a combinaon of a short cruise

with a land-based exploraon?

This Galapagos Islands Introducon/Guide

is designed to make the process easy and

eecve. The goal is to help you gure out the

best way for you to get the most out of your

trip to the Galapagos Islands, based on your

personal preferences and travel style.

Please keep a few points in mind before you

read any further:

You can visit Galapagos at any me of year

(more details on weather are below).

There are Galapagos opons for people inevery budget range.

You should make your arrangements as far in

advance as possible, especially when planning

to visit during busy seasons.



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When to Visit

There is really not a bad me to visit the Galapagos Islands, so choosing a me to visit iseasy. Simply decide when is convenient for you, and then make it happen.Just remember: during the winter holiday season (i.e., over Christmas and New Years)

cruises and tours book up incredibly far in advance, and its wise to plan things several

months in advance if possible. The summer is also an extremely busy travel season.

At all other mes of year, its sll advised to plan as far in advance as you are able to, as

the best cruises, hotels/lodges, and trips can get fully booked months in advance.



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The Weather

The Galapagos Islands have a unique climate. Though theyre on the equator, the climate isnot a typical tropical one. Warm currents from the north, combined with cold currents fromthe south, combine to make this one of the most ecologically fascinang places on earth.

There are two basic seasons: the hot/wet season, and the dry season (also called garua). Thereare pros and cons to vising during either season.

The hot/wet season lasts from about

December May. During this me,

the ocean is warmer for swimming

and snorkeling. Wildlife is great during

this season, though marine wildlife

prefers the cooler waters of the dry/

garua season. Air temperatures rangefrom about 77 F to 90 F, while water

temperatures range from about 68 F

to 80 F.

The dry/garua season lasts from

about June December. This season

is more comfortably cool, drier, and

the ocean is a bit cooler for swimming

and snorkeling (most people wearwetsuits for snorkeling during these

months). Though the waters are

cooler, the marine wildlife during this

season is bounful. Air temperatures

range from about 68 F to 80 F, while

water temperatures range from about

64 F to 75 F.


2011Avg Temp

Max / Min

Avg Wind

Speeds

Avg Sea

Temp

Avg

Rainfall

January 87 / 70 F 9 mph 76 F .73 in

February 87 / 70 F 5 mph 77 F 3.68 in

March 88 / 69 F 4 mph 77 F 1.22 in

April 89 / 73 F 4 mph 77 F 6.8 in

May 87/ 69 F 11 mph 76 F 0.05 in

June 86 / 72 F 9 mph 73 F 0.32 in

July 82 / 69 F 10 mph 72 F 0.30 in

August 81 / 67 F 10 mph 71 F 0.02 in

September 79 / 66 F 11 mph 72 F 0.01 in

October 82 / 60 F 9 mph 73 F 0.05 in

November 81 / 67 F 10 mph 73 F 0.00 in

December 84 / 68 F 11 mph 73 F 0.19 in

Data for weather in 2011 courtesy of www.Wunderground.com


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The next essenal step is to decide whatyoure looking for in a Galapagos trip.Some quesons to ask yourself include:

What is my main priority?

How many days do I want to spend on the

islands?

What is my approximate budget?

How acve do I want to be (from very

acve/adventurous, to more relaxed and

laid-back)?

Am I looking for an island-hopping cruise,

a totally land-based excursion, or a mix of

both?

Dont be thrown o by the word cruise.

Most boats in the Galapagos are small yachts

and catamarans with an average of 8-10

cabins (16-20 passengers). There are a smal

number of larger boats (90-100 passengers),but none of the behemoth cruise ships found

in other parts of the world. The boats are

smaller to impact the environment less and

preserve the Galapagos Islands beer.

Cruises oer one of the best ways to see

the Galapagos archipelago. Each cruise has

a dierent inerary, but all go to mulple

islands, allowing you to see and experience

a wide variety of landscapes, ora and fauna

The longer the cruise, the more islands you

will get to see. Each island in the Galapagos

has a completely unique atmosphere, with

dierent species to observe.

Which Adventure Best Suits You?

Cruises range in length from as short as 4 days to as long as 14 days.

Shorter cruises give you a great introducon to the islands, and in 4 nights its

possible to visit a few of the islands.

A 1-week cruise will give you the chance to see more of the islands, and therefore

a wider array of landscapes, ora and fauna.

To get a comprehensive experience of the islands, a 2-week cruise will take you

throughout the archipelago, and oer a complete Galapagos experience.


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Choose Your Cruise

If you decide to do a cruise, then the nextstep is choosing a boat. The majority of theboats that cruise the Galapagos archipelago

are small yachts and catamarans, with 12-16passengers. The number of boats that can

cruise the archipelago is limited by a permit

system, in order to keep the impact of visitors

to the islands low. There are also some larger

cruise ships with 50-100 passengers.

The boats range from tourist class up to high-

end. There are small sailboats, catamarans,

yachts, and larger ships. Its important tokeep in mind that, to a certain extent, you

get what you pay for.

The smaller tourist-class boats have less

space to relax, may have bunk-bed-type

rooms, and in general will oer less in the

way of comfort and amenies. They are a

good opon for those on a ghter budget,

and are the least expensive way to explore

the Galapagos.

Catamarans can be quite comfortable, and are

available at dierent budget levels, primarily

in the mid-range. Recently, some higher end

catamarans have also begun to appear.

Yachts also range in price and level from

relavely budget to the high-end, and vary insize from inmate to quite large.

Its recommended to choose a boat that oers

both comfort and an appealing inerary

Your inerary will determine what kinds of

acvies you get to engage in, and which of

the islands many points of interests you visit

(reverse). But keep in mind that between

acvies you will spend all your me on theboat, so if you value comfort its important

to make sure the cabins and common areas

match your expectaons.

Higher-end boats have plenty of space on

top decks, with sun decks, Jacuzzis, shaded

areas, and more. Less luxurious boats lack

such comforts, so its necessary to disnguish

this when selecng yours.



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Alternaves

to Cruises

Land-based trips can include hiking,snorkeling, scuba diving, and muchmore. For those who dont have sea legs, orprefer to be based in a hotel/lodge rather

than on a boat, a land-based trip can be the

perfect choice.

How many days you have available to

travel will determine your opons. With

just a few days it may be best to base

yourself on just one island and explore it

in depth. Santa Cruz Island is the largest,

most developed island in the archipelago,

and travelers can easily nd weeks worth

of acvies to ll their days on just this one

island. You can do hiking, water sports, and

also day trips to nearby islands.

If you have more me, then you can base

yourself on mulple islands over the courseof 1-2 weeks. Airstrips and smaller docks

dot the islands all around the archipelago,

and island-hopping via small plane and

speedboat is both quicker and more private

than moving via yacht or cruise ship.

Staying on land is also perfect for those

travelers who dont like being on a

schedule. Any day can bring any kind of

adventure you feel like taking on. Feel like

snorkeling or diving every day? The gear is

waing for you. Want to relax at a resort for

2 days aer your cruise? The spa treatments

are ready to go.


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Geng There

The rst step in geng to the GalapagosIslands is to make your way to Ecuador. Itis necessary to y via mainland Ecuador, and

it is also usually necessary to spend a night

in Quito/

G u a y a q u i l

b e f o r e

connecting

to your

d o m e s t i c

ight to

Galapagos.

Flights from

m a i n l a n d

E c u a d o r

to the

Galapagos Islands depart from both Quito and

Guayaquil. Flights from the mainland depart

various mes daily,

beginning in the early

morning. The ight toGalapagos, well o the

coast, is about 2 hours.

It is highly recommend

not to book your ights

to the Galapagos Islands

unl aer you have

decided what your plan

in Galapagos will be,

as there are mulpleairports and you dont

want to be stuck ying

into the wrong one.

The main two airports

in the Galapagos Islands are Baltra and San

Cristobal, and it is imperave to y into the

correct one, depending on where your cruise/

trip is set to begin. For this reason, it is highly

recommended to book your domesc ight

aer youve decided on a plan in Galapagos.

When you book a cruise or other type of tour,

you will be instructed as to which airport to yinto. Most cruises and tours

will also book the appropriate

airfare for you (the domesc

legs), so that you dont have

to worry about it. They will, of

course, make sure to obtain

the ight suitable to match

your inerary.

Mainland Ecuador itself is

a fantasc place to explore,

though some people merely

pass through it en route to

the Galapagos Islands. If you have me, its

worth exploring the mainland, but if youre

planning to

simply visit

the GalapagosIslands on this

trip, youl

want to y

into either

Quito (the

capital city) or

Guayaquil (a

coastal city)

Both cies haveinternationa

airports, so

d e t e r m i n e

which is more

convenient for

you for most people it will be Quito.


It is highly recommended

to book your fights to the

Galapagos Islands aer you

have decided what your plans

there will be, as there are

mulple airports and you dontwant to be stuck fying to the

wrong one.


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What to Expect

Upon Arrival

The rst thing youll noce when leavingmainland Ecuador is that there is a separateprocedure at the airport for visitors going to

Galapagos. Your luggage will be screenedseparately, to ensure the

ecological safety of the islands.

You must also stand in line to

pay for your InGala Transit Card,

which costs US $10 (subject

to change per Galapagos

authories). You then check in

as usual and proceed to youright.

On arrival in the Galapagos

Islands, your luggage will be

checked again. You also need to

make sure to have US $100 cash

on hand to pay the Galapagos

Naonal Park Fee. This is payable when you

arrive, before deparng the airport.

Then its me to begin your Galapagos

adventure!

For all those who have booked trips in advance,

you will be met at the airport to be transferred

to your cruise, hotel, or lodge.


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Clothes:

Good walking shoes for short/long day hikes

Flip ops/sandals that can get wet for wet landings

Bathing suit

Light socks for walking/hiking

T-shirts/long-sleeved shirts for hiking

Shorts for walking and/or relaxing

Lightweight/comfortable walking/hiking pants

Clothes for relaxing during downme onboard

Nicer clothes (if desired) for dinners/evenings on

board

Sweatshirt/sweater for mornings/nights (it gets cool)

Light rain jacket/windbreaker

Gear:

Sunglasses

Sun hat/visor

Sunblock/sunscreen

Chapsck

Snorkeling gear (most boats provide this)

Insect repellentCamera and related gear

Underwater camera (disposable or other)

Lots of extra lm and/or plenty of USB/ash memory

Baeries for electronics if needed

Waterproof camera bag

Binoculars

Extra plasc bags

* Some of the above can be obtained in Galapagos,

but are generally more expensive there. Supplies are

generally not available once youre on a cruise.

First Aid:

Ginger chews (to prevent moon sickness)

Dramamine

Crackers

Other moon sickness remedies if needed

Extra set of eye glasses/contacts if used

Personal medicaons/drugs if needed

Basic rst-aid items like band aids

Aloe vera in case of sun burns

Tylenol/Ibuprofen

Pepto Bismol or similar in case of upset stomach

Immodium or similar in case of diarrhea

Other:

Passport

Copy of passport

Cash for InGala transit fee ($10 but subject to change)

Cash for Galapagos entrance fee ($100 but subject tochange)

Cash for ps to guide and other sta (best to carry $5,

$10, and $20 bills)

Copy of travel insurance policy and details

* Most boats accept only cash for bar tabs and other

extras. Be sure to have enough cash, as ATMs are not

always available (there are ATMs at Quitos airport).

Galapagos Packing List


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About Global BasecampsIntroduconGlobal Basecamps is a specialty travel company that helps

independent travelers research and book locally owned bouque

hotels, o-the-beaten path lodges and mul-day excursions al

over the world. Whether cruising around the Galapagos, hikingthe Inca Trail, experiencing a tradional Japanese Ryokan, or

relaxing on the beaches of Thailand, we specialize in designing

you a completely customized inerary to meet your specic trip

priories and match your travel style.

Start planning your custom trip now

We Love the GalapagosA cruise through the islands is a once-in-a-lifeme experience

and Global Basecamps is proud to work with a hand-pickedselecon of the most ecologically friendly and sustainable smal

ships on the water. Our Galapagos trips feature a variety of small-

ship cruising opons, truly unique mul-day walking safaris, and

lodge-based island exploraons.

Learn more about the Galapagos

Our MissionWe are dedicated to inspiring, empowering and simplifying

independent travel to the worlds most beauful and important

desnaons. We rmly believe that conservaon and capitalism

can work hand in hand to protect the planets cultural and

ecological resources and that independent travel furthers the

exchange of the ideas, understanding and common heritage

necessary to create posive change.

Learn more about our mission

Contact InfoGlobal Basecamps

374 North Coast Hwy 101, Suite F15

Encinitas, CA 92024

+1.866.577.2462

[email protected]
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