Galapagos

Entry Requirements

Only a valid passport is required to enter Ecuador. However, passports must be valid for six months after you intend to leave Ecuador. No Visa is required for visitors from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and most European countries. Visas are required for some Asian, Central American and Eastern European countries. It is the passenger's responsibility to check with local immigration offices or the Ecuadorian consulate prior to sailing to determine if a visa is necessary.

Vaccinations

No inoculations are required for visitors to Ecuador and Galapagos (excluding jungle areas). Please check with your local health office at least four weeks prior to your departure.

Included in Your Cruise Rate

The cruise rate includes your cabin accommodation on board, all meals and snacks, shore excursions, guide services, use of snorkeling equipment, sea kayaks and wet suits, mineral water, non-alcoholic beverages, transfers between the airport and dock in Galapagos.

Not Included in Your Cruise Rate

Airfare to Galapagos, Galapagos entrance fee (park tax), gratuities for guide(s) and crew, purchases on board, and alcoholic beverages.

Galapagos Entrance Fee

The Islands are part of the Ecuador National Park system and the entrance fee is $100.00 per person. Children ages 11 and younger pay a reduced rate of $50.00. The fee is divided up among various entities including the GNPS, Marine Reserve, agriculture, municipalities, INEFAN and INGALA. The park tax is not included in the cruise rate. However, it will be added to your cruise invoice and prepaid by us for your convenience. For any passenger who elects not to prepay the park tax through us, their fee will be collected at the airport upon arrival in Galapagos by National Park authorities. The park only accepts cash in U.S dollars as a form of payment and is subject to change without prior written notification.

Luggage Requirements

For international flights, please check with your carrier. Local customs authorities allow two suitcases with a total combined weight of 60 kilos per person. A fee of $200.00 is charged for a third suitcase and $400.00 for a fourth suitcase. This does not apply to carry-on bags. For the flights to Galapagos, the Airline allows one checked suitcase (44 lbs.) and one carry-on bag.

Time Zone

Ecuador is in the Eastern time zone (GMT-5 in the mainland). Daylight savings time is not observed. Galapagos is one hour behind mainland Ecuador. 

Currency

In 2000, Ecuador adopted the US Dollar as their monetary unit.

Language Spoken

English is spoken aboard the vessels by guides and Captains.

Electricity

110/AC 60 cycle.

Safety Boxes

We recommend that you leave all valuables at home. They are not appropriate for an adventure cruise. The yachts do not have safety boxes. Cabins lock from the inside only.

Medical Facilities on Board

The yachts carry first aid kits and the guides are trained in first aid procedures. All vessels have radio contact with the mainland for any medical emergencies.

Communication

It is possible to make long distance calls from our vessels through a radio patch phone call to our main office in Guayaquil, Ecuador, during office hours. In an emergency, you can be reached on board your vessel.

Smoking Policy

Smoking is prohibited in enclosed areas aboard the vessels & on the Islands. Smoking is only allowed on the outside decks in designated areas.

Drinking Water

Purified drinking water is available at all times free of charge. We do not recommend you drink water from the tap in your cabin.

Laundry Service

Laundry service is not available aboard the M/Y Infinity.

Sea Kayaks

Each yacht carries at least two sea kayaks (one single and one double). They are available at designated sites during the cruise at no charge on a first come first serve basis.

Snorkeling Equipment

Masks, fins and snorkels in average sizes are available on board free of charge for use during the cruise. There is no guarantee there will be all equipment available in your size and therefore passengers may bring their own equipment.

Wet Suits

Wet suits are available for passengers to use during the cruise at no additional charge. Wet suits are most popular from June to November when water temperatures are between 65 and 72 degrees. 

Scuba Diving

Scuba diving is available year-round on our custom 16-passenger dive live-aboard, the M/Y Sky Dancer. Diving is not available from the Letty, Infinity, and Origin. Galapagos is recommended for intermediate to advanced divers due to strong currents, cold water, thermo-clines and large marine life. Please inquire for information on daily dive trips offered from Santa Cruz with a local dive shop on Fridays.

Tipping

Aboard our vessels, gratuities are not included. We prefer that our guests reward our crew based on their performance. Tipping is a personal matter and passengers are encouraged to tip an amount they find appropriate. For those passengers who inquire, we suggest they follow our guidelines of US $300 – $350 per week. Gratuities are divided among all crew members including guides.

Motion Sickness

Due to strong currents, there will be moderate movement of the vessel while navigating. Most passengers are not affected. However, if you are prone to seasickness, we strongly urge you bring some type of medication to prevent motion sickness.

Physical Limitations

Passengers able to walk a few hours a day unassisted will be able to fully enjoy Galapagos. Some of the excursions require more physical activity than others involving short steep climbs or long walks in hot weather. However, most excursions require moderate activity and the walks are at a leisurely pace. Entering and exiting the pangas (local word for dingys) require that you need to be reasonably fit and sure footed. If you are concerned about your ability to do any particular day hike, please consult with the naturalist beforehand. In order to enjoy your trip to its fullest potential, it is a good idea to do some exercise before your trip, such as walking, swimming or bicycling. Please see your doctor for a check-up before traveling to Ecuador. Any medical condition or physical disability that may require special attention or treatment must be advised to Wild Planet at the time of booking.

Flight Misconnection

We recommend that all passengers traveling to Galapagos allow two nights in mainland Ecuador prior to their cruise to allow for potential flight delays and misconnections. This is particularly important for passengers traveling over holidays when flights tend to be overbooked and/or delayed caused by poor weather conditions.

Island Visits

The vessels anchor offshore at two visitor sites or Islands per day. Passengers are ferried to the landing point in small boats (locally called "PANGAS"). The landings are either wet (where one must step into water anywhere from your ankles to your knees and wade to shore) or dry (where one steps from the panga directly to the volcanic rock). Your guide and panga driver will assist you with a steady hand. On the Islands, one follows marked trails set by the National Park walking at a leisurely pace. You will spend 3-4 hours at each site allowing plenty of time to explore and photograph the wildlife.

Weather Conditions

Located on the equator, the Galapagos Islands have a surprisingly cool, sub-tropical climate. The larger islands with volcanic peaks have a variety of climatic zones. The coastal areas are arid and covered with plants adapted to desert conditions. The highland areas receive moisture almost all year round, which support lush vegetation. Temperatures are determined almost entirely by ocean currents, which are influenced by the trade winds.

There are two seasons, both of which have some precipitation. The Galapagos get an average of ten inches of rain per year, so it is never considered "rainy". During the months of December to May, the cooling currents subside, temperatures rise and the climate is warm and sunny with occasional showers. In June, the trend begins toward cooler temperatures with moderate breezes, which continue through November. This period is often referred to as the "garua" (pronounced gah-ru-ah) season, which means mist in Spanish.