THE PERFECT GALAPAGOS - FAQ'S FOR CREATING YOUR PERFECT TRIP

Deciding on the perfect way to see the Galapagos Islands depends a lot on you and the way you like to travel. There are a variety of options and making the decision on the right option for you can be worrisome. The experts at Galapagos Online are here to assist you in taking the worry out of Galapagos travel and creating the perfect Galapagos experience for you.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT GALAPAGOS?

Your first decision is when to travel - for many people this is predetermined by family or work vacation schedules. The Galapagos is an amazing destination year round. There is a reason to visit the islands every month of the year. In January the weather is warm, the seas are calm and it makes the perfect winter get-a-way. In September the weather is cooler, but for divers schools of hammerheads and diving with whale sharks make it an awesome experience.

In general the weather is warmer and the seas are calmer from December to May. This means more time swimming and snorkeling and the calm navigations. The weather tends to be cooler from June to December and the seas rougher this means you may want a wetsuit for swimming and snorkeling and those people who get seasick may want to travel with medication to take during the navigations.

Once you've decided when to go the next decision is deciding between a Galapagos Cruise and a tour or land-based adventure. Cruises are the traditional way of viewing the islands, until the last few years hotels and daily boats were virtually non-existent. The infrastructure did not exist to accommodate travelers this way. Since the early 1990's this has changed. There are now a variety of hotels on different islands and boats that offer a variety of excursion from diving to full day tours to tours of a few hours.

Galapagos Cruises are different from cruises to other destinations. Boats range from small boats less than 16 passengers to larger ships taking 100 passengers. The focus of all the cruises in the Galapagos is either the natural history of the islands or diving.

HOW ARE THE BOATS RATED?

The price of a trip can vary depending on the options you chose. The way the Galapagos National Park ranks cruises and hotels is quite different than how they are rated in other countries so you want to be sure of what you a purchasing before you make your selection.

According to the national park any boat or hotel that offers individual bathrooms and has air-conditioning is considered a luxury experience. This may not be your idea of a luxury experience, however many companies will represent products this way as it is "legally" correct. The best way to insure you are receiving what you are paying is to look at the photos and information about what you are purchasing. If you are on a strict budget typically your money will go further with a land based experience than with a cruise. However unless you are traveling with a number of other people or book into a pre-planned program you may need to be more flexible about your time to have the experience you seek.

IS THERE ANY DIFFERENCE IN THE EXPERIENCE BETWEEN A LARGE BOAT -VS- SMALSS BOAT?

In Galapagos there are a maximum of 16 passengers to each naturalist guide. When you arrive at a destination you will disembark the boat depending on your group. If you are on a smaller boat that means the whole group will disembark at the same time and all go ashore together and have the same experience. If you are on a larger boat, you will meet at the designated area and wait for your group to disembark. Each group will visit the area with a delay before the next group begins. Groups normally do not pass each other so your experience may be a bit of hurry up and wait. There are also a number of visitor sites and islands that are closed to larger boats. For example if you are on a boat of 40 passengers or more you are not permitted to visit the island of Genovesa (Tower) so if you are a big birder and want to see the red-footed boobies a smaller boat is the best option.

On board a smaller boat you will all eat together, have your lectures together and socialize together. On a larger boat you will do these things together as well, however you will have the option to sit with different people each meal and try out different guides.

WHAT IF I WANT TO DIVE?

There are a couple options for those interesting in Scuba Diving Galapagos. Deciding on which way to dive may depend on your experience level and with whom you are traveling. Live Aboard cruises for divers offer an amazing experience where you will be able to dive with hammerheads, rays, Galapagos Sharks, a combination of both tropical and cold water fish as well as whale sharks in season. Live aboard cruises are for advanced open-water divers only. A live-aboard cruise in the Galapagos will make the most of your time underwater.

If you are interested in diving in the Galapagos and are not an advanced diver or are traveling with someone who does not dive than using one of the local dive companies is the way to go. Working with a dive master you these companies provide services from a discovery diving class for those who are interested in diving but are not certified to advanced diving opportunities. Additionally our staff is happy to assist you in coordinating dives throughout your naturalist cruise offering you the best of both worlds.

CAN YOU STILL SEE WILDLIFE ON A ISLAND BASED GALAPAGOS TOUR?

Island Based Tours are more what many travelers think a vacation should be. Our land based trips are more flexible and less regimented way of viewing the Galapagos than a cruise. With our private trips you are able to discuss with your guide what time you want to begin your day, you can decide how much time hiking, snorkeling or kayaking even how many dives you do a day. Your excursions can be as long or as short as you prefer.

Generally speaking you have more time to explore the island you visit, and more time for taking photos, swimming, snorkeling and kayaking on a private land-based tour or on a private charter as your schedule will depend much more on you and your interests rather than a pre-determined schedule of events. On land-based trips at the end of the day you return to a comfortable hotel or home where you have the evening to relax, enjoy a glass of wine in a Jacuzzi, take a moon-lit stroll along the beach or maybe enjoy a night out dancing.

These trips are perfect for those people who have a tendency towards sea sickness, those traveling with smaller children (children under 7 are restricted as to cruises) , anyone who needs to have phone and internet access throughout their stay, as well as those with limited time in the Galapagos as they can be designed around you.