IMPORTANT NOTE: Activities and procedures my be subject to change or modification without prior warning depending on necessary operational variations, seasonal changes, weather conditions, and adjustments in policies set by the Galapagos National Park, and /or other unforeseen circumstances.
Hotel Selection
The hotel selection depends on the category of hotel that you choose. Once you choose the hotel class of preference, we will specify to you which hotels are available for the dates of your trip. Hotels are categorized in the following classes: Economic Class, Tourist Class, Tourist Superior Class, and First Class. All the hotels we work with have been carefully chosen by us after close inspection. Nature Galapagos & Ecuador is the proud owner of the Hotel San Vicente Galapagos(Tourist Class), and La Laguna Galapagos (Tourist Superior Class), both of which are located on Isabela and for both the quality of service can be assured.
Airfare not included
The price of the tour does not include air tickets. We will gladly help your with the booking of the ticket from Quito or Guayaquil to Galapagos. You may also book the flights on your own if cheaper. PLEASE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT, which islands you, will arrive and leave from, and if you choose to book your own flight please try to book your arrival in the morning (before 11am) and your departure in the late afternoon (12 pm or after) so that you don’t miss any part of the tour. You can book your flight either through TAME, AEROGAL, LAN, or TAME (recommended).
Restaurants
We work with both hotel and local restaurants alike for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This also depends on the chosen hotel class, as some hotels have restaurant services, in which case food will be served on the hotel restaurant. Meals are served in the “meal of the day” style. In case food is not served at the hotel, the guide will specify the chosen restaurant (no transfers to and from the restaurants to the hotels are included in the cost of the program. However, distances are all at a minimum walking distance in Galapagos). LUNCH AND DINNER during our tours consist on the meal of the day (not a la carte). Most provisions are bought in form the mainland to Galapagos; hence, a limited variety of food can be found. If you require vegetarian meals let us know ahead of time so we can make all arrangements necessary within the possibilities
Guides
We organize excursion with local naturalist guides for each island (and sometimes for each activity). The guides will accompany you throughout all excursions, give explanations of the islands (flora and fauna) and coordinate the activities each day. Regarding lunch and dinner, the guide will specify the restaurant designated but he will not accompany you during this time. The guide’s activities will start and end with each daily excursion. The guide will not go with you on the speedboats between islands either. We work with local and independent guides certified by the Galapagos National Park – if you feel that their guidance does not meet your expectations, feel free to leave a complaint at the National Park Direction, if possible at the time of the tour, to help improve the quality of service in the islands.
Public Speedboats
We recommend that you take a seasickness pill before each ride between islands if you are prone to seasickness. It is also recommended that you carry small plastic bags with you in case of seasickness. The speedboats are not completely covered so please make sure that valuable objects and electronics are stored in a plastic bag. The guide will not go with you on the speedboats but a new guide will greet you on the other side. There are no services onboard as the speedboat space is limited and the journey is relatively short. A water taxi ride is sometimes required (depending on the tide) from the dock to the speedboat; the cost is 1 USD per person and per ride. Please, make sure you bring cash in small denominations in case this expense is needed. This is a Public service out of our control.
Schedule of Excursions
The schedule of the excursions will be coordinated and determined locally through the guide and those responsible for the operations. The guide will indicate what time each activity will start. The transfers between islands on the public speedboats are the only activities that have fixed departure times.
NAVIGABLE TOURS:
Navigable tours taking place either from Santa Cruz Island (Santa Fe, Bartolomé, North Seymour and Plazas), Isabela Island (Cabo Rosa – Los Tuneles) and San Cristóbal Island (Española, Kicker Rock) do not always include a hotel pick-up service. Sometimes these require you to meet with the guide on the dock. The day before the tour, the guide or the person in charge of the navigable day tour will inform you of the exact timing, and if there will be either a hotel pick-up or a meeting point at the dock.
