Frequently Asked Questions about Galapagos Cruises

If you are taking an independent transfer you need to board the airline bus ($5 per passenger) that heads for the Itabaca Canal that separates Baltra Airport from Santa Cruz (NOT the service for Baltra dock). The buses are always crowded, but there i...

In Puerto Ayora, you can stop any taxi and ask the driver if they can take you to the Itabaca channel ("el canal Itabaca"). Taxis are are usually white pickup trucks, often Toyota HiLux or Nissan Frontier vehicles. They can accommodate up to 4 people...

The airport on San Cristóbal is less than 5 minutes drive from the center of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. You can simply jump into one of the taxis that wait outside the terminal. This will cost only $2-$4 per taxi (not per person). If you are tra...

Cruise: Pick a cruise if you are serious about seeing the variety the Galapagos has to offer, and you want to experience the outer, more remote islands. Most cruises offer very impressive itineraries, and because most of the sailing takes place at ni...

As a year-round destination, the High and Low Seasons in the Galapagos islands are dictated by the schedule of their visitors and not necessarily by the weather situation. The most popular times to travel to Galapagos are at Easter time, July and Aug...

The highlights of being in the Galapagos are the excursions, where you will set off on your yacht's panga - a sturdy inflatable raft that takes you quickly and safely to and from the shore. On arrival, your naturalist guide takes over, pointing out e...

The Galapagos Islands are a travel destination unlike any other. The entire archipelago forms the largest marine reserve in the Americas, and the islands themselves all belong to the Galapagos National Park. Because of the unique wildlife and habitat...

Every island in the Galapagos archipelago is unique and wonderful, with breathtaking vistas and remarkable wildlife. Not all the islands are open for visitors to land on, to protect their priceless habitats, but even these often provide stunning coas...

All cruises in Galapagos operate to itineraries that are fixed and approved by the National Park. Most cruises will offer a range of land-based and water-based activities that you will enjoy at various points in your cruise including:

Snorkeling (...

We believe in giving you the most extensive range of cruise options for visiting the Galapagos islands. Because of this, all our cruises differ in what's included in terms of amenities and excursions/activities. Each ship listing on our site give ful...

If you are taking an independent transfer you need to board the airline bus ($5 per passenger) that heads for the Itabaca Canal that separates Baltra Airport from Santa Cruz (NOT the service for Baltra dock). The buses are always crowded, but there i...

In Puerto Ayora, you can stop any taxi and ask the driver if they can take you to the Itabaca channel ("el canal Itabaca"). Taxis are are usually white pickup trucks, often Toyota HiLux or Nissan Frontier vehicles. They can accommodate up to 4 people...

The airport on San Cristóbal is less than 5 minutes drive from the center of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. You can simply jump into one of the taxis that wait outside the terminal. This will cost only $2-$4 per taxi (not per person). If you are tra...

Cruise: Pick a cruise if you are serious about seeing the variety the Galapagos has to offer, and you want to experience the outer, more remote islands. Most cruises offer very impressive itineraries, and because most of the sailing takes place at ni...

As a year-round destination, the High and Low Seasons in the Galapagos islands are dictated by the schedule of their visitors and not necessarily by the weather situation. The most popular times to travel to Galapagos are at Easter time, July and Aug...

Cruise: Pick a cruise if you are serious about seeing the variety the Galapagos has to offer, and you want to experience the outer, more remote islands. Most cruises offer very impressive itineraries, and because most of the sailing takes place at ni...

As a year-round destination, the High and Low Seasons in the Galapagos islands are dictated by the schedule of their visitors and not necessarily by the weather situation. The most popular times to travel to Galapagos are at Easter time, July and Aug...

Yes, absolutely - and what an adventure they will have! Usually, children under 12 years old receive a 20% discount, but each yacht has its own policy for children and babies. If you are planning a Galapagos adventure with children or babies please c...

Both sharing a room and paying a supplement to have a single room are possibilities. There are some boats that require no, or a very small, single supplement to be paid. To see all these ships, go to this page and adjust the search filter t...

Galapagos cruises are incredibly popular, and availability is limited all year round - there's not really such a thing as the best time to visit Galapagos! We will therefore always recommend planning as far ahead as possible. This is especially true ...

The highlights of being in the Galapagos are the excursions, where you will set off on your yacht's panga - a sturdy inflatable raft that takes you quickly and safely to and from the shore. On arrival, your naturalist guide takes over, pointing out e...

Every island in the Galapagos archipelago is unique and wonderful, with breathtaking vistas and remarkable wildlife. Not all the islands are open for visitors to land on, to protect their priceless habitats, but even these often provide stunning coas...

We love the Galapagos, and we spend as much of our time here as we can. Because we visit every boat in our fleet personally we have spent extensive time in Puerto Ayora - so here are our top recommendations for things to do!
1. Surfing or relaxing a...

San Cristobal is a lovely island to visit at the start or end of your Galapatours cruise around the archipelago. Officially the capital "city" of the Galapagos, the main town of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno is a delightful place to base yourself and ...

We make sure that all Galapatours cruises, whatever their length, will give you a fantastic experience of the Galapagos islands, their unique wildlife and incredible habitats.
However, if you are planning a trip to Galapagos as your sole destination...

The very short answer: There is no requirement to wear a wetsuit when swimming or snorkeling in Galapagos, but for the most enjoyable experience we do recommend you use one.
The longer answer: Snorkeling is one of the top activities that passengers ...

If you are prone to motion sickness then here are a few hints to help you.

Firstly, book a cruise on a bigger vessel or on a catamaran. Larger boats and catamarans are more stable, and so roll less in the swells. Some examples would be the Ocean S...

We encourage you to bring your own equipment to the Galapagos wherever possible. As a minimum, you should bring your own dive watch and any dive gadgets you like to use. You should also bring a valve adapter suitable for DIN valves. Unless you prefer...

There is good diving in Galapagos all year round, but June to December is usually felt to be the best time. The water temperature is coldest between September and November with thermoclines, although this also tends to coincide with the arrival ...

The Galapagos Islands are a year-round vacation option. Regulated by the coming together of cold water currents from the west and south (mainly the Humboldt Current) and warm water streams from the north (mainly the Panama Stream and El Niño c...

Most yachts cruising Galapagos will prohibit you from taking your own alcoholic drinks on board. However, if you are tactful and subtle and drink your own alcohol in private on some evenings, but still buy drinks from the bar on others, then most cre...

Since the year 2000, the official currency of the Galapagos Islands is the US dollar. It is best to use cash and cards, as traveller checks are not readily accepted. It's also best to bring smaller denomination notes - you won't be able to use anythi...

The official language of Ecuador (and therefore Galapagos) is Spanish. However, English is widely spoken and understood at hotels, restaurants and tourist shops. You will find that almost everyone involved in hosting you during your Galapatours cruis...

Unfortunately, we are not legally allowed to give you recommendations on vaccinations for your cruise to Galapagos. Please visit a travel health clinic or take advice from your personal physician at least 8 weeks before you travel. You will find reco...

Indeed we do! When we receive your booking deposit we send all our clients a comprehensive suggested packing list and lots of other useful information about your time in Galapagos. Here's a brief summary of our suggested packing list to get the most ...