It is best to book a cruise on Galapagos as long in advance as possible: some ships are in high demand and the best cabins on a ship leave first. If you want to book a cruise, send us the following information:
We then check the availability of the ship or ships of your choice and make a tailor-made program around it. A few days after your request, we will send you a fully detailed travel proposal.
When to visit?
As with most holiday destinations, the busiest season in Galapagos is also July, August and the Christmas period. During Easter week (Semana Santa) there is quite a bit of internal ecuatorial tourism. Many cruise ships charge different rates for high and low season. Also look at the climate of the Galapagos Islands.
National Park
Every foreign visitor to Galapagos pays USD 120 cash upon arrival at the airport. It concerns 100 USD entrance for the National Park and 20 USD Migration Card (locally called Ingala Card). This cost is usually not included in the price of cruises. The entrance to the National Park can only be paid on site. We can purchase the Ingala Migration Card for you in advance. This way you avoid (sometimes long) queues and loss of time. Keep your receipt with you during your entire stay in Galapagos.
Guides
During the cruise you will be permanently accompanied by an English-speaking guide who has a license to guide the Galapagos. The quality and expertise of the guides is permanently evaluated by the shipping companies. It can be said that the quality of the guide more or less parallels the quality of a cruise ship. Cruise ships with an excellent reputation pay their employees a higher salary, which means that you can expect a good guide. With budget boats you will generally also find budget guides.
Flights to Galapagos
All flights depart from Quito and fly via Guayaquil to Baltra or San Cristobal. There are 3 companies that provide the flights: Tame, Lan and Aerogal. A flight ticket to Galapagos is always booked together with the cruise. The owner of the ship that you book, therefore, determines with which company you fly.
Flights Quito – Galapagos – Quito and Quito – Galapagos – Guayaquil cost around USD 550 per person. Guayaquil – Galapagos – Guayaquil flights cost around USD 525 per person. These prices include airport taxes and costs. There is a discount of 30% for children under 12 years old.
Language
Spanish is the main language on Galapagos. But all nature guides speak English. The higher the cruise ship’s price range, the better the knowledge of English. On some larger ships you will find French and German speaking guides.
Time difference
The time difference between Galapagos and Belgium is 7 hours earlier during the Belgian winter time and 8 hours earlier during the Belgian summer time. If you want to know the exact time in Ecuador and Galapagos, click here
Other information
For information about money, telephone connections, security, languages, embassy of Ecuador, information about Ecuador, vaccines and other medical information see the page Practical information about Ecuador
I am Tom and I am from Belgium. I’ve lived in Ecuador for a decade and I’ve been working in tourism for 8 years. Therefore I obtained my tourism diploma in Ecuador. Traveling and discovering new places is my passion. Currently I live in Guamote, a small village between Riobamba and Alausi. Together with the local travel agency Descubre-Ecuador, we offer tailor-made tours in Galapagos and on the Ecuadorian mainland.
+593 99 593 4900 (Ecuador)
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