Galapagos Islands Travel Preparation
Preparation for your Galapagos Cruise
Flights
Flights leave from Guayaquil and pretty much ONLY Guayaquil. Our tour forced us to stay in Quito, which was completely out of the way and just added cost while subtracting time. If you arrange a full tour and you aren't staying on mainland Ecuador for any length of time, make sure your hub is Guayquil.Money
After you land, and I think before you collect your luggage, you need to pay US$100 cash to get in. Must be cash. No credit cards, no travelers checks. Have the money the night before so that you aren't scrambling like I was trying to find an ATM that worked. I'm serious.Bring extra cash for the souveniers. Just outside the Baltra airport are some charming souvenier stands. While you wait for your tour bus or the rest of your party to get out of the airport you can shop a little bit.
Clothing/Weather
Despite being on the equator, the Galapagos Islands are remarkably cool. You will need warm clothes for the evening, and perhaps for the breezes while on deck of the moving ship. I always recommend bringing layers. You don't need rubber boots or gloves or a winter jacket. Check the weather before you go.Dive Equipment
Several towns on the Galapagos Islands have dive shops where you can easily rent equipment. Indeed, half of the astounding wildlife of the Islands are probably beneath the water. That water is in the low 70s, so you will probably need a wetsuit when your tour boat stops for snorkeling or swimming with the seals. There was NO time to rent a wetsuit from a diveshop between getting off the plane and getting on the boat. Also, our boat finished the tour in a different town than where we started, so I wouldn't have been able to return it. Some ships have the suits on board. For just snorkeling I'd recommend bringing a dive skin from home.Camera Equipment
This is one place where you don't have to fret too much if you don't have a long zoom lens. If you have one I'd certainly bring it. But since you almost trip over the animals, getting close is not a problem at all. Instead your enemy will be not enough film or flash storage. Figure at least 100 pictures per island if you are a beginner.I had trouble keeping up with my tour guide on all the islands. He would talk for a little bit and then move on. I wanted to take pictures and enjoy the animals longer. I was always 50 feet behind the rest of the group and I hardly ever heard what he was saying.
Seasickness
The water between the islands can be rough, but not really outrageous. One night the boat was en route across a very choppy channel, and my sleep was very strange. I couldn't help but dream that I could fly. Indeed I was flying - I was being lifted out of bed a little by the waves. Bring dramamine.For more information, see the FAQ.