7/31/2019 How To: Plan Your Galapagos Adventure
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How To: Plan Your
Galapagos Adventure
An InformaonalResource Courtesy Of
7/31/2019 How To: Plan Your Galapagos Adventure
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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.
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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.
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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
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