Tips for travelling to Galapagos and Ecuador
Visas
Ecuador requires a valid passport issued by the traveler’s country of residence. Visa is only required for visitors of the following countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia. The traveler must also hold proof of return, or onward journey. We recommend all passengers check with respective authorities before departure.
Health
Vaccinations are not required for entering the country. However, yellow fever vaccination is required to enter some Amazon jungle lodges.
Because of the high altitudes in certain areas of continental Ecuador, travelers with particular heart conditions or high blood pressure should consult their doctors.
It is advisable to drink bottled water everywhere.
Sun rays are very strong in the Galapagos Islands, do not forget to take with you enough sun block.
Time Zone
Ecuador is located at GMT -5 (Eastern Standard Time zone). The Galapagos Islands are one hour behind mainland Ecuador, although vessels Galapagos Legend and Corals I & II all run on mainland time.
Weather in the Galapagos Islands
The warmest months are from December to June. January to March can be hot and humid, but also mostly green at this time. July to November are cooler. The average year-round temperature is 24°C. (76F).
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Business Hours
In Quito and Guayaquil most stores, banks, businesses, and money exchanges are open from 9:00 to 18:00 Monday to Friday. On Saturday
many stores and some businesses are opened from 9:00 to 13:00. Shopping Malls open daily including weekends from 10.00 to 20.00 hours
and have some bank branch offices, ATMs and money exchange.
ATM Networks:
Ecuador has a well-developed network of ATMs. Almost every bank in the country features ATMs, especially in major cities, towns, and tourist destinations.
Holidays:
January 1 New Year's Day
February or March Mardi Gras (Carnival)
March or April Holy Week (Good Friday)
May 1 Labor Day
May 24 Battle of Pichincha
July 25 Foundation of Guayaquil (local)
August 10 National Independence Day
October 9 Independence Day of Guayaquil
November 2 All Souls Day
November 3 Independence Day of Cuenca
December 6 Foundation of Quito, celebrated in Quito the first week of December with bullfights, parades and street dancers.
December 25 Christmas
Note:
• Although December 31st is not a holiday, there is a special end-of-year celebration with the burning of life-size effigies throughout the city on New Year's Eve (young people disguised as widows grieving for the dying year stop people in the streets and beg for money).
• Sometimes holidays are shifted to the following Friday so a long weekend can be enjoyed.
Main Indigenous Market Days:
Saturday: Otavalo, Latacunga, Zumbahua, Pelileo, Guaranda, Riobamba, Cotacachi, Guano, Azogues, Loja.
Sunday: Chordeleg, Guano, Machachi, Malacatos, Loja, Pujilí, Machachi, Peguche, Cuenca, Salcedo, Tulcán, Saraguro, Misahuallí, Lago Agrio, Penipe, Sangolquí, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Salasaca.
Monday: Ambato.
Tuesday: Latacunga, Riobamba, Guano.
Wednesday: Pujilí, Cotacachi, Peguche, Otavalo.
Thursday: Saquisilí, Cuenca, Guamote, Tulcán.
Friday: Ibarra, Ingapirca.
Photography and video
The unique wildlife sceneries, flora and fauna, will give you some of the best snapshots of your life. Make sure you bring a
zoom lens for wildlife close-ups and at least 1 GB of memory is suggested. For analog photography you may need 100 ASA film
for outdoor shots, 200 for cloudy days. A UV filter is necessary.
Galapagos travel
| Distance from continental Ecuador |
aprox. 600 miles / 2:30 hours flight |
| Transportation |
by plane from Quito or Guayaquil |
| Cruise length |
4, 5 and 8 days cruises |
| Departure days |
Monday, Thursday, Wednesday, Sunday |
| Accommodation |
M/YCoral I - M/YCoral II - M/YGalapagos Legend |
| Ship capacity |
M/YCoral I yatch 36 passengers
M/YCoral II yacht 20 passengers
M/VGalapagos Legend vessel 100 passengers
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| Tour leader |
1 for each 16 passengers on the cruise |
| Tour guides |
multilingual (ENGLISH,GERMAN, FRENCH, SPANISH) |
| Food |
Buffet / national and international food |
| Climate |
warm, sunny, occasionally windy |
| Temperature |
between 22 and 32ªC, 72 and 90ªF |
Taxes:
Government taxes such as the Galapagos National Park tax, the Galapagos National Institute Migration Control Card and International Airport taxes are not included in the tours and need to be paid in cash by every passenger. Credit cards and traveler's checks are NOT accepted.
Government taxes are subject to change without prior notice:
• Galapagos National Park fee: US$100.00.
• Galapagos National Institute Migration Control Card: US$10.00.
Check-in procedure at Quito or Guayaquil’s airport
If you have a transfer service included, the day before departure, our Operations Department will call you to reconfirm your pick-up time at your hotel or the meeting time at the AEROGAL counter. Check-in time is usually 2 HOURS before departure.
Go to the counter of AEROGAL, there will be one of our representatives with your boarding pass vouchers for the cruise ready and who will check your luggage with the airline after this has passed the control with SICGAL, which is located at the end of the room. For environmental reasons, your luggage will be checked for animals, seeds, plants, fruits, vegetables or anything that is forbidden on the Galapagos Islands. Luggage allowance is 20 kg suitcase p/p and a carry-on bag of 7kg p/p.
You will be given an identification tag for the cruise. Please wear it so you can easily be identified when you arrive at the airport in Galapagos. Please do NOT get in line for the INGALA (Transit Control Card); we already have your card.
Upon arrival you will be welcomed by our cruise staff, which will take you to the ship, take care of your checked luggage and show you to your assigned cabin.
Luggage’s restrictions
The airline that operates to Galapagos, allows one piece of luggage per person no more than 20 kilos (approximately 44 pounds). We recommend you to take a soft sided bag as it will be easier to store into your cabin. Please lock your luggage during the flight.
What to pack for your Galapagos cruise adventure
We advise you to bring comfortable breathable clothes; shorts, T-shirts, swimsuits, at least 2 pairs of tennis or hiking shoes, one to keep dry, others for wet landings, Teva-style sandals, personal medication, a good camera and plenty of memory sticks or film, sun block, sunglasses, binoculars, wide-brimmed hat, insect repellent, plastic bags to protect the camera in wet landings. Dinner can be a bit more formal, so a dress shirt or a simple sun dress might be a good idea.
Dry Landings and Wet Landings
On a dry landing, passengers step directly from a dinghy to rocks or onto a dock. Wet Landing means that the dinghy edges up onto a beach, where you step into knee-deep water assisted by crew members and guides.
Smoking policy on board the ships
It is forbidden to smoke inside the yachts or the vessel. Smoking is allowed ONLY on the sun decks.
Physical requirement for the cruise
We recommend that passengers be in reasonably good physical condition as some trails are difficult therefore elderly or disabled people may find them too hard. The passengers with difficulties must notify about their physical condition in order to make the necessary arrangements.
We reserve the right to refuse a passenger if someone failed to inform of any physical disability, or who in the opinion of the company, constitutes a danger to themselves, other guest, members of the crew, or the smooth operation of the vessel.
Paying expenses on board
Upon arrival, a bill will be opened for you. If you wish to pay with your credit card, we ask you to come to reception to sign a voucher and to make copies of your passport and credit card. Authorizations take about 48 hours, so please do this on your first cruise day. We accept all main credit cards: Diners, Visa, Mastercard , American Express. Travellers Checks, Euros and US Dollars are also accepted.
Internet access availability
Internet is not available yet, but you can always get internet in Puerto Ayora and San Cristóbal.
