All water on board a Galapagos cruise is safe to drink and if you prefer bottled water, it is usually available on board. Tour operate with guidelines to prepare all food and drinks with clean, sanitized water on board.
If you plan on SCUBA diving in the Galapagos and have your own wetsuit, bring it. You will need at least a 6mm wetsuit, boots, gloves and possibly a hood. While most dive trips have wetsuits to rent, but your own will be the best fit. In addition, dive trips usually have a regulator, BCD, […]
There are 3 levels of naturalist guides in the Galapagos. Level III is the highest, and Level I the lowest rating. All of the Galapagos trips sold by Detour are either top-quality Level II or Level III naturalist guides.
Packing for a Galápagos Islands trip can be a bit challenging, because you’re trying to find that balance between taking too much and not taking enough! The main thing to keep in mind is that there is a restriction for the flights to and from the Galápagos, and if you are taking an inter-island flight […]
Most Galapagos trips will stop at the Charles Darwin Research Center, which is located on Santa Cruz Island. The Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) has carried out research for the conservation of the Galapagos ecosystem for almost 50 years. It is a world-class research organization and the leader in scientific information on Galapagos. The center in […]
Snorkeling in the Galapagos during the Garua season is best done with a wetsuit (unless you are a sea turtle, and then just a shell will suffice).
The Galapagos Islands lie directly on the Equator, so you can expect it to be warm for most of the year. However, it’s not always tropical and Caribbean-like: wind and rain are definitely possible at certain times of year. It’s wise to know these weather patterns before planning your trip so you know when to […]
The US dollar is the official currency of Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. The Ecuadorian government adopted the dollar as its national currency in 2000.
Most Galapagos Islands yachts operate on 110-volts/60-cycle currency, with standard North American outlets, as do the hotels in the Galapagos.
There are no vaccinations required to visit the Galapagos Islands. If you are planning to spend more time in Ecuador, especially in the rain forest or Amazon area, vaccinations and immunizations are strongly recommended. However, health recommendations and required vaccinations change frequently, so we recommend that you consult your health provider several weeks before your […]
Although never guaranteed, chances are that you will see an abundance of wildlife each and every day you are visiting the Galapagos Islands. There are 27 species of reptiles found on the Galapagos, which are divided into five families as follows: snakes, geckos, Iguanas, lava lizards and the giant tortoises. There are around 29 types […]
The Galapagos is always abuzz with wildlife activity, from curious mating dances and building nests, to drastic appearance changes (makeover!) and raising young. Although Mother Nature has a mind of her own and doesn’t always adhere to the following, below you will find what is most common to see in the Galapagos each month of […]
The best time to go SCUBA diving in the Galapagos is from September to November when the water is clearest. During these months, seal pups are abundant, booby, frigate and albatross chicks can be seen. However, also rougher seas can be present in these months. From Novermber to April, the water is warmer and calmer […]
The Galapagos Islands (or Archipelago de Colon) make up a Province of Ecuador. They are located 600 miles (1000 kilometers) directly west of the Ecuadorian coast on the Equator. They were formed from underwater volcanoes, with the oldest islands in the southeastern section of the archipelago. The nineteen islands vary widely in flora, fauna, size, and landscape.
The fuel surcharge for a Galapagos cruise is a rather complicated affair, as it has nothing to do with the retail price of gasoline or diesel in Ecuador. Fuel prices in Ecuador have been subsidized by the Ecuadorian government for quite some time. In 2008, for the first time, the government decided to adjust their […]
The Galapagos Islands are part of the Ecuador National Park system and a US$100 per adult, or US$50 per child (12 and under), user fee is charged (subject to change). Please keep in mind that the fee must be paid in cash upon entry at the airport; there is no ATM in the airport, so […]
A cruise is the classic way to explore the Galapagos Islands. For good reason. You’re able to reach more islands, explore more terrain, and see more wildlife. Many visitor sites are only available to cruises, so a cruise is the only way to visit them. By visiting many different island you also have a chance […]
When you’re excited about an upcoming trip, what do you do? Do you make all your friends jealous by talking about it non-stop? Do you check your passport expiration date for the millionth time? Or do you write poems?? World traveler Glenn Nelson was so excited about his upcoming trip to the Galapagos Islands that he […]
After months of delays Quito, Ecuador’s, new Mariscal Sucre airport in the northeast suburb of Tababela, 37 km from the northern part of Quito, will finally open on Wednesday, February 20th at 9 am. February 19th the “old airport,” which is within the city of Quito, will close down at 7 pm. The new airport […]
Trip: Galapagos Islands on the Eden We went aboard the Eden with very average expectations and were overly impressed in every area, especially the guide, Reuben Montalvo and the crew. Helpful, careful, knowledgeable, cheerful, fun and always sensitive, inclusive and caring. As good as good could be. We loved it all and were sad to […]
Galapagos Multisport Adventures can provide amazing active Galapagos experiences. Do you want to travel to the Galapagos Islands but you’re worried that the trip will be too passive? If so, you sound just like my wife. Unfortunately for her, when she visited the Galapagos Islands in 2004 there weren’t really any good options for a […]
Ecoventura, the owners of the Eric, Letty, and Flamingo I have a new video about their Galapagos cruises. Check it out below. If you haven’t been to the Galapagos, you need to go!
We’ve got a cool new trip, the Galapagos and Cotopaxi Multisport, from one of our great Ecuador providers Tropic, Journeys in Nature. This new trip combines a Galapagos Multisport Adventure with a great exploration of Quito and mainland Ecuador in a very active multisport trip that includes hiking, biking, horseback riding, zip-lining, kayaking, snorkeling, and wildlife […]
The Galapagos Islands are one of the world’s top family travel destinations, and a family cruise is a great way to experience the amazing archipelago. The weather is pleasant, the activities are not so strenuous or difficult that they can’t be enjoyed by multiple age groups at once, and the wildlife viewing is out of […]
Trip: Galapagos Islands Multisport Adventure This trip kept two very energetic people pretty darn busy! The snorkeling was so amazing. The animals did not spook easily. We played with a sea lion pup for 1.5 hours and could have stayed ALL day. We were the only people in the popular snorkeling area at the time […]
The way I see it, in the Galapagos, traveling by Stand-Up Paddleboard (or SUP) is way more entertaining and rewarding than kayaking. While I do like kayaking (I mean, who can argue with the ripped shoulders you get from some serious sea kayaking), SUPs really shine in the Galapagos. I’ll break it down:
Snorkeling is one of the top activities in the Galapagos Islands, as the wildlife under water is as unafraid of humans as the wildlife on land. On one trip there I found myself swimming in a living room sized cove with 5 large sea turtles, who, oblivious to my presence, were munching (happily I […]
The New Quito International Airport is scheduled to open on February 21, 2013. When this airport opens, all air traffic to and from Quito will be routed through this airport, and the old airport (Mariscal Sucre) will no longer be in use. So you don’t have to worry about which you will use for your […]
Lonesome George in the Galapagos National Park Logo Celebrating the Life of Lonesome George , from Detour partner Metropolitan Touring. When the Galápagos Islands became a National Park in 1959, conservation priorities were a top priority for the world’s scientific community. Giant tortoises, who gave their names to the remote archipelago, ranked high, together with […]
There are 3 islands that you can extend your stay on in the Galapagos: Santa Cruz, Isabela and San Cristobal. Most trips start/end at the Baltra Airport, which is right next to Santa Cruz Island. So, this island will have the most options for hotels, restaurants, renting kayaks and other gear, scuba diving and joining […]