San Cristobal, Santa Cruz, Isabela and Floreana are the main islands in the Galapagos archipelago. — Photos: Pixabay
The Galapagos Islands are a bucket-list destination for many travellers, bird lovers and nature enthusiasts, and it’s no wonder why: The biodiverse region of the world has been famous for centuries as a natural paradise.
Like all destinations, the islands offer a unique list of requirements and considerations for travellers heading to the destination.
The Galapagos Islands are located off the coast of Ecuador and are accessible by plane from Quito or Guayaquil. Many travellers visit one of these cities for a day or two prior to flying into Baltra or San Cristobal, where the two main airports are located in the island chain.
Travellers staying on the mainland for a few days can explore the Ecuadorian Amazon, the Ecuadorian Andes or, in Quito, can discover Latin America’s best-preserved 16th-century historic centre and Unesco World Heritage Site.
San Cristobal Island, Santa Cruz Island, Isabela Island and Floreana Islands are the main islands that comprise the Galapagos Islands.
The best time to visit the islands is from June to December, when it’s their dry season. The peak tourist seasons are during the Christmas and New Year holidays, as well as from mid-June to September.
While the islands are a part of Ecuador, the US dollar is the main currency used.
“The Galapagos Islands are a unique and fragile place in terms of their ecosystem,” said Damon Corkin, founder and travel director for Andean Discovery, which also offers trips to the islands. “It is important to respect the rules and restrictions established to preserve the flora and fauna of the islands. Have a distance of about 2m from the animals.”
The biodiversity in the archipelago is amazing.
Required documents
Travellers are required to bring their passports and must be pre-approved prior to visiting the islands for a Galapagos immigration card. Some travellers may also be required to be vaccinated against yellow fever. Check out Ecuador Travel to read the latest travel requirements.
As with all other international travel, travellers should also bring their Covid-19 vaccine cards with them.
“To preserve the natural balance of the archipelago, it is forbidden to introduce plants, animals, or any other type of biological material to the Galapagos Islands,” said Corkin.
“Be sure to check your belongings before travelling and avoid bringing seeds, fruits, insects, or any other objects that may endanger the biodiversity of the place.”
Travellers can choose to visit the islands with a land-based tour or on a cruise.
Many cruise lines offer itineraries to the region on purpose-built ships that are smaller due to the nature of the island chain, such as Lindblad Expeditions or the luxury cruise line Silversea. There’s also a wide price range for these trips, making it easy for travellers of many price ranges to find the best fit for them.
Travellers who are worried about transiting between the islands by boat or who want more flexibility in their trip can choose to take a land-based tour, sleeping on-island and transiting between a few of them to visit key attractions with a private guide.
Many travellers will also wonder: Can children visit the islands, too? The answer is yes! Children will always come with different considerations, though many cruise lines and tours offer kid-friendly accommodations (though some will have age limits). Infants and younger children will find it harder to participate in some of the most rigorous excursion opportunities, it’s possible to visit the islands with children – and have an incredible family experience, too.
When in Galapagos, make sure to visit the giant turtles.
What to pack
Visitors should make sure to pack for a warm-weather trip, with sunscreen, a brimmed hat, at least two swimming suits and water shoes to protect them from any coral or rocky underwater terrain. Travellers should also pack hiking boots for any land-based hiking excursion.
Land and cruise-based travellers should also consider bringing along something to help with seasickness, such as Sea-Bands or anti-nausea patches or pills that they can take in case they feel sick during transit or while onboard their cruise.
Any traveller visiting the islands during its wet season should also bring along waterproof shoes or boots, as well as a waterproof jacket.
Travellers should also bring along a camera to document their bucket-list vacation. It could be an adequate one inside of a phone, or travellers can splurge for a physical camera with an enhanced zoom lens to get better photos of far-off animals. – TravelPulse/Tribune News Service
