Explore Ecuador &
Galapagos

Travel Ecuador
Cruises
Hotels
Practical
Islands

THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

... AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE

If you travel to Ecuador visit the Galapagos Islands. Take a cruise between the islands or go on a hotel there. The islands are unique in the world!

As Charles Darwin wrote, “the natural history of these islands is very special – Galapagos seems like a little world unto itself.”
The islands are known for the animals’ fearless dealings with humans: you can snorkel with penguins and sea lions here, see 200-pound turtles wading through cactus forests, and enjoy close-up views of blue-footed gannets and frigate birds.

Ecuadorian governments were always working to preserve the islands’ fragile ecological balance. Galapagos has been recognized as a National Park since 1959. Since 1981, the islands have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the ocean around them has been declared a reserve.

If you are also visiting the Galapagos Islands during your trip to Ecuador, you may or may not visit the mainland.

Going on a cruise in Galapagos

It is best to visit the islands on a small cruise ship. Most of the ships take a maximum of 16 passengers. You eat and sleep aboard the ship during the cruise and usually sail at night. This way you also reach the more remote islands.

All ships permanently have 1 or more professional English-speaking guides on board.
At least two sites are visited during the day. You get up early, have breakfast on board and then go ashore where you are shown around by the guide. In the afternoon you return on board for lunch. The ship sails to the next site where you go ashore again for another visit. Sometimes there is swimming, snorkeling or kayaking, always according to the program.

Only about 80 ships have permission to sail visitors around the Galapagos Islands. Their permit is reviewed every year.

There are four CLASSES of ships

The difference is in the comfort and luxury offered by the ship: the furnishing of the ship, the food, etc. but also in the quality of the guides. But a cheap ship visits the same visitor sites as an expensive ship.

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Luxury Class
Ship of First Class, Galapagos, Ecuador
First Class
Ship of Superior Class, Galapagos, Ecuador
Superior Class
Ship of Tourist Class, Galapagos, Ecuador
Tourist Class

There are four TYPES of ships

Catamarans are in high demand because they are more spacious and stable. Sailing vessels only set sails occasionally. Larger ships have more recreational options on board but are cumbersome when docking and mooring.

Catamaran - Galapagos, Ecuador
Catamarans
Large ship - Galapagos, Ecuador
Large ships
Sailing Ship - Galapagos, Ecuador
Sailing yachts
Diving cruise ship - Galapagos, Ecuador
Dive Cruises

On a hotel in Galapagos

You can also visit the Galapagos Islands with overnight hotel stays. There are 4 inhabited islands in Galapagos: Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, Santa Isabela and Floreana. Here you will find hotels of different classes.

Take a look at the Hotels in Galapagos

INFORMATION ABOUT THE ISLANDS

Throughout history, these volcanic islands have never been connected to the mainland. Yet animals and plants have been able to migrate here in different ways. Adapting to local conditions, they evolved differently from their continental ancestors.

Because large mammals never came ashore, reptiles were dominant. The islands were uninhabited until 1535: the animals still have very little instinctive fear of humans today.

Look at all the islands in Galapagos

MORE INFO ON GALAPAGOS

If you want to know more about the practicalities of visiting Galapagos click below. You will find information about the climate (when is best to visit the islands …), access to the National Park and the quality of guides. Flights from the mainland to the islands are also reviewed here.
Practical info

ABOUT US

Tom guiding in the region of Guamote - EcuadorI am Tom from Belgium and I have been living in Ecuador for more than 10 years. I got my guiding diploma here. Traveling and discovering new places is my passion. Together with the travel agency Descubre-Ecuador, we offer tailor-made tours in Galapagos and on the Ecuadorian mainland.

GALAPAGOS

NOTICIAS

THE MAINLAND

INFORMACIÓN PRÁCTICA PARA VIAJAR

CONTACT

DESCUBRE-ECUADOR

Calle Rio Arajuno E6-124
Tumbaco - Quito
Ecuador

tom@explore-ecuador.be

+593 99 593 4900 (Ecuador)

WHATSAPP

+593 99 593 4900 (Ecuador)

© 2023 Descubre Ecuador All Rights Reserved.

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WHY TRAVEL WITH EXPLORE ECUADOR?

Tom, guide in EcuadorI’m Tom from Belgium and I’ll make sure your trip to Ecuador or cruise in Galapagos goes as smoothly and pleasantly as possible. I have been living in Ecuador for a decade and have been working in tourism for 8 years now. Before that, I obtained my guides diploma in Ecuador. Traveling and discovering new places is my passion.
Together with the local travel agency Descubre-Ecuador, we offer tailor-made tours in Galapagos and on the Ecuadorian mainland. Over the years, Descubre-Ecuador has built a reliable partnership with the best hotels and the best nature guides in Ecuador. Our small-scale way of working ensures easy accessibility and a lot of flexibility when traveling.
Customer satisfaction is the essence for us. And even in those rare moments of unforeseen difficult circumstances, we make sure that we are there to make sure your trip runs smoothly.
Explore Ecuador and Galapagos!

WHY TRAVEL TO ECUADOR?

Indian woman from SalasacasIn South America, Ecuador is one of the smaller countries, but the country is hugely diverse in terms of geography, climate and population. You can visit the Andes, the Amazon rainforest as well as the tropical coast without taking extremely long domestic flights or transfers. And then you have the Galapagos Islands, a once in a lifetime experience. The diversity of flora and fauna per square mile is enormous. Ecuador is South America in a nutshell. Moreover, the country is relatively safe and little visited. The national currency is the USD and you have a wide choice of direct flights to Quito and Guayaquil from Europe and the United States.

WAAROM REIZEN MET ONTDEK-ECUADOR?

Tom - guide in EcuadorIk ben Tom uit België en zorg ervoor dat jullie reis naar Ecuador of cruise in Galapagos zo vlot en aangenaam mogelijk kan verlopen. Ik woon al een tiental jaren in Ecuador en werk nu 8 jaren in toerisme. Daarvoor heb ik in Ecuador mijn gidsen-diploma behaald. Reizen en nieuwe plaatsen ontdekken is mijn passie. Samen met het lokale reiskantoor Descubre-Ecuador, bieden we reizen op maat in Galapagos en op het Ecuadoriaanse vasteland aan. Descubre-Ecuador heeft door de jaren heen een betrouwbare samenwerking opgebouwd met de beste hotels en de beste natuurgidsen van Ecuador. Onze kleinschalige manier van werken zorgt voor een vlotte bereikbaarheid en veel flexibiliteit bij het reizen. De tevredenheid van de klant is voor ons de essentie. En ook op die zeldzame momenten van onvoorziene moeilijke omstandigheden zorgen we dat we er zijn om jullie reis toch perfect te laten verlopen. Ontdek Ecuador en Galapagos!