Galapagos Islands Travel FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about your Galapagos Cruise or Galapagos Travel
Where is Galapagos?
The Galapagos Islands are found several hundred miles west of Ecuador. They belong to Ecuador. The equator runs through the island chain such that about 1/3 of the area is in the northern hemisphere and 2/3 is in the southern hemisphere. Ecuador uses the US dollar as their exclusive currency, so there were no exchange worries.What was the weather like?
Despite being at sea-level on the equator, the weather was quite comfortable. Strong currents that eminate from as far away as Antarctica help to cool off the entire area. During the day it was probably in the 70s to low 80s. At night it got cooler such that a sweatshirt was helpful.Like most areas on the equator, the islands have 2 seasons -- wet and dry. July was the dry season. Even in the wet season it doesn't really rain, it just mists and drizzles a lot. It misted on us once in the afternoon. Each island can have its own weather pattern, but they're not too different from each other.
What was the water temperature?
The water was cold -- in the low 70s. If you go and you're a water wimp like me, you should bring a wetsuit. About half the tour got in the water and snorkeled without a wetsuit. Some of them got cold, some didn't. If you're snorkeling I would guess you could get away with a cheaper and thinner model. Dive shops exist where you can rent a wetsuit, but don't rely on your ship's coordination efforts to get you there and back.Did you go on a tour?
Yes. This trip was part of a larger tour package that included the Peruvian Amazon and Machu Picchu. This trip was the trip I was supposed to do in 1999, but we went to Antarctica instead. So I finally got to take it!I had numerous problems with the tour company so I am not going to recommend them. Problems included very poor guides, hidden expenses, circuitous travel, and misinformation. Our guide on the Galapagos ship was pretty good I guess -- I didn't get to hear him most of the time because he was always leading the group onto the next site when I was trying to take a picture. Our guide at the Darwin Research Center was absolutely terrible (see voyage section).
One of the stupider things the tour company did was to use Quito as the home base. It took all day to get there from Cusco, Peru. We made stops in Lima and Guayaquil. Then, the next day when we were going to the Galapagos, we traveled back through Guayaquil! The time, rest, and money we could have saved by making Guayaquil the home base! Ugh.
How much did it cost?
It's hard to say because it was part of a larger tour. Costs included flights to and from Quito -- unnecessary, we could have gone through Guayaquil, lodging in Quito, a 4-day inclusive tour on a boat, and flights back and forth to the USA. Park admission was pricey and not included in the tour -- $100.Where did you stay? Did you ever leave the ship?
We stayed on board the ship the whole time except for our Zodiac landings and tours which ran about twice a day. It was setup a lot like the Antarctica trip except it wasn't cold out 8-).What is a Zodiac?
A Zodiac is a type of inflatable raft. It has multiple air compartments so if one of them is damaged it will still stay afloat. by an Australian and Jaques stole the idea. The Zodiac has an outboard motor and a floor made of steel. When you ride in one, you sit on the inflated pontoon edge.Do people live on the islands?
There are a few islands that have inhabited towns. Most islands have no human inhabitants. Two of the islands have airports. Most of the people who live in the Galapagos were born there. Towns are small and well-equipped with modern conveniences. All of the residents are acutely aware of the ecological importance of the islands both for the animals and their economy.What were the ship's accomodations like?
There were 16 passengers, 2 to a room. Each room had its own tiny bathroom. Some bathrooms, like ours, had so little water pressure coming out of the shower that I probably could have turned off the trickle by holding the nozzle upside down. There was no hot water, a fact curiously omitted from all of the travel brochures.Food was excellent and plentiful. Staff was nice.
There were 3 levels to the ship. The lowest level had all of the sleeping rooms. The middle level had the dining room and kitchen. The upper level was a large sundeck half covered in shade. The sundeck had a large bunch of bananas hanging from the shade for anyone who ever wanted a snack.
I heard there was an oil spill a while ago. Did you see any affects?
In 2001 a cargo ship named Jessica ran aground near San Cristobal. We were in the area where the spill happened and I saw no affects. The oil spill damage was quite localized, its spill direction drifting out to sea instead of into the shore. For more information visit the Darwin Foundation.Can all the animals there only be seen in the Galapagos?
No, but some of them can. Scientists classify the animals into 4 categories based on their living situation:
| Label | Explanation | Example |
| Endemic | Found only in the Galapagos and nowhere else | giant tortoise, marine iguana, blue-footed booby |
| Native | Lives on the Galapagos, but is also found in other areas of the world | Frigate birds, hammerhead sharks, humans |
| Resident | Lives on the Galapaos for part of the year and resides elsewhere for the rest of the year. Migrators. | many seabirds, sea turtles |
| Introduced | Brought to the Galapagos by humans and are replicating uncontrollably. Also known as pests. | rats, goats |
There are 23 species of pests, many of which are undergoing expensive erradication programs.
Did the island/park have special rules?
Yes. You weren't allowed anywhere without a guide. You weren't allowed off of the trail at any time. Ship tour schedules were regulated by the national park so that there was never any overcrowding at any of the sites. Of course you weren't allowed to touch or disturb the animals.Did you get seasick?
I got a little queasy the first night, but then I got used to it. There was an evening when we traveled where it got very rough -- I was glad I was in bed for it. A few people got queasy here and there, but nothing major.How far away were each of the islands?
It took 4 hours to get to the next island, but my GPS told be each of our stops was only 30 miles away from the last one.Will a handicapped individual have problems on a Galapagos cruise?
You will have to go up and down stairs on your ship. You will have to get on and off motorboats. You will have to walk around the islands. The islands are mostly, but not entirely flat. Paths are not paved.If you can manage a few flights of stairs a day at home, and you can walk around the block a few times a day, you'll probably be fine. If you can't, I wouldn't recommend a Galapagos cruise.
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