Galapagos Islands Cruises

Included activities are different for each day and trip, but as a rule, most guided walking treks and snorkelling activities are included. Check your daily itinerary for specific information.

You will be using a zodiac boat (or panga) during wet and dry landings and when returning from snorkelling.

Meals will be prepared by your on-board chef for breakfast, lunch and dinner, using fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. For breakfast, expect toast, spreads, muesli and eggs with fresh fruit and juices. Lunch will typically be a mix of hot and cold dishes, as well as salads or vegetables, fruit salad and juice. Dinner includes fresh seafood, chicken or pork, pasta, rice, vegetables, salads, and dessert.

Coffee, tea, soft drink and water are available 24 hours. Each boat also comes with a fully stocked bar.

The weather in the Galapagos is fairly temperate all year round. In most cases you’ll either be in the water snorkelling or on an island walking. Otherwise you’ll be relaxing on the boat as you travel between islands. You should check the Essential Information of your trip for a specific list, but below is a suggested packing guide for the Galapagos:

• Daypack (a smaller backpack that you can take with you on island excursions)
• Comfortable clothing for warmer temperatures (shorts, t-shirts, light long sleeved tops and pants)
• A fleece or warmer jumper for the evenings or early mornings
• A light rain coat or poncho
• Comfortable shoes. Trainers or walking shoes are sufficient for most trips, however, a number of trips include a volcano walk and some travellers may feel more comfortable in hiking shoes or boots.
• Sandals or thongs/flip flops/sandals
• Sunscreen (bio degradable and waterproof if available) and lip balm (to combat the effects of wind burn)
• Sunglasses
• Sunhat (that can be secured as it can get windy out on the water)
• Swimming costume
• Water bottle (filtered water is available on board the boat)
• Bio-degradable shampoo, conditioner and soap
• Dry bag
• Pegs (so you can hang your swimming costume or towel out to dry)
• Insect repellent (for island visits)
• US adaptor/electrical plug
• Binoculars (for keen birdwatchers)
• Camera (underwater if you have one)
• Earplugs
• Any required medications
• Passport

Some passengers choose to bring their own snorkelling equipment, but this is a personal choice. Diving masks, snorkels and fins are provided on-board the vessel for use by all passengers. Beach towels are also provided. Wetsuits are available for hire at an additional cost.

Although each cabin has space to store bags, space is always restricted on a boat, so we suggest that you take a backpack or soft-sided duffle bag with you. These bags should be easily stored in your cabin. Larger fixed suitcases are usually too big to store in the cupboard space.

If you are travelling with a larger bag you do have the option of leaving it behind at the start hotel on Day 1and borrowing one of our kit bags, which hold about 12kg. This service is provided by the hotel, and although we haven’t had issues with theft in the past, we highly recommend that you don’t leave any valuables behind.

The airline that we use for our Galapagos trips has a check-in baggage allowance of 23kg per person and a cabin baggage allowance of 10kg.

Each trip is accompanied by an experienced naturalist guide. Our guides are registered and trained in conservation and natural sciences by the Charles Darwin Foundation and licensed by the Galapagos National Park Service. The guide will be on board with you for the duration of the trip and will accompany you on all excursions.

The wildlife in the Galapagos Islands is precisely why most people choose to visit. The sheer diversity and variety of life on land, in the air and under the water is mind-boggling, and it’s difficult to provide an exhaustive list. Here are just a few of the biggest drawcards to the islands:

• Giant Galapagos tortoises
• Darwin’s finches
• Galapagos land iguanas
• Marine iguanas
• Frigatebirds
• Blue-footed boobies
• Red-footed boobies
• Galapagos hawks
• Flightless cormorants
• Galapagos sea lion
• Sally Lightfoot crabs
• Waved albatross
• Galapagos penguins
• Lava lizards
• Galapagos mockingbirds
• Large painted locusts

You can charge your phone on-board, however, electricity in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands requires US plugs so you may need to take an adapter. Additionally, mobile phone coverage is almost non-existent whilst travelling around the islands. You may find that you only have some limited service when you are closer to the bigger islands.

Wi-Fi is not available on the boat at all whilst in the Galapagos Islands. There is limited access on the bigger islands of Santa Cruz, San Cristobal and Isabela and there may also be the occasional internet cafe for you to use if there is time.

Cabins are air-conditioned, as are communal indoor areas.

Though there is no risk of yellow fever in the Galapagos Islands, a vaccination certificate is required for travellers coming from infected areas.

It is always recommended that you visit your doctor or travel clinic for up to date advice and make sure to schedule vaccinations 4-6 weeks before your departure date, as some require time to become effective.

Recommended vaccines and precautions

• Hepatitis A (transmitted through contaminated water)
• Rabies (transmitted through bites of infected mammals)
• Yellow Fever (transmitted through bites of infected mosquitoes)
• Diphtheria (transmitted through person-to-person contact or contact with infected objects, such as a cup or tissue)
• Tetanus (transmitted through infections to cuts or puncture wounds)
• Typhoid (transmitted through contaminated water)
• Malaria (transmitted through bites of infected mosquitoes)