LUGGAGE
No more than 20 Kilos (44 pounds) of luggage (one suitcase) may be checked on flights to or from the Galapagos Islands.
Additional luggage may be stored at your hotel. These restrictions do not include small carry-on flight bags or camera cases.
CRUISE ATTIRE
For travel to the Galapagos, clothing ranges from informal to very informal. Essentials include sneakers, shorts, long- and short-sleeve lightweight shirts, bathing suit, a wide-brimmed hat, long pants, and a wind breaker or light jacket for evenings. Be sure to bring sunscreen, sunglasses and lots of film.
SHOES
Most walking ashore is over rocky lava terrain. Therefore tennis shoes, sneakers or walking shoes with rubber soles are recommended.
CLIMATE
The Galapagos Islands are located on the equator. The tropical heat, however, is tempered by Pacific breezes.
There are two seasons in the islands: the rainy, hot season, from December to June, when humidity is high and average temperatures are in the 80s F (26°-30° C). There may be occasional showers, but the days are generally warm and sunny.
From June to November, you can expect cool winds, occasionally bringing with them a light misty-type drizzle called "garúa." Temperatures average in the 70s F (20°-24° C) during the day and lower at night.
PASSPORTS
Passengers must travel to the Galapagos with their passports. Passport numbers must be furnished one month prior to arrival.
GALAPAGOS NATIONAL PARK ENTRANCE FEE
US $100 per person. It must be paid upon arrival at the airport in Galapagos (rate is subject to change without notice).
ELECTRIC CURRENT
110/AC. Electric shavers and hair dryers can be accommodated.
LOCAL TIME
GMT minus 6 hours in the Galapagos Islands. GMT minus 5 hours on mainland Ecuador.
PURCHASES ON BOARD
US dollars or travelers checks may be used for purchases on our properties. Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard and American Express) are also accepted.
SAFETY
All safety and fire prevention measures have been implemented on all vessels. There is a resident physician aboard the M/V SANTA CRUZ, Yacht ISABELA II and Yacht LA PINTA. Life jackets are mandatory for all "panga" or dinghy rides (usually outboard motorized Zodiacs).
MEALS
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. Wine, beer and soft drinks are extra. Bottled water is supplied free of charge.
BOOKING, PAYMENT AND CANCELLATIONS POLICIES
A deposit of US$150 per person is required at time of booking, refundable on cancellation with at least 60 days' notice. Full payment is due 60 days prior to departure. Special policies apply for groups.
PACKING CHECK LIST
• One small backpack (waterproof)
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Sneakers with rubber soles
• Shorts
• Long pants
• T-shirts
• Long and Short sleeved shirts
• Wind breaker
• Bathing suit -wetsuit for snorkeling in cold months
• Socks
• Underwear
• Hat or cap
• Toilette kit (biodegradable shampoo please)
• Sun block
• Sunglasses
• Binoculars
• Camera & camcorder
• Any medicine you may be taking
• Book/ Notebook
Galapagos Natural Facts
The islands emerged about five million years ago, give or take a million, as a result of violent volcanic action. In geological terms, this should be considered a recent event.
As the young islands were cooling off, say, two million years later, some species gradually arrived. They were live organisms riding on "rafts of vegetation" from the shores of Central and South America. Unusual climatic events, like flooding, can take lots of vegetation rafts eventually to the ocean. Therefore, it is pure chance that allows a raft to eventually reach Galápagos. These early immigrants had to adapt to a peculiar new environment, and simply evolved -- slowly -- in a different direction from their continental ancestors. And, wonders of nature, they developed into species unique to the islands, with features not seen in their past ancestors.
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