When you think of Galapagos, the wonderful world of nature, untouched landscapes and adventure come to mind!

To keep the archipelago beautiful for the wildlife, visitors, locals, and tourists, the Galapagos Islands have a range of different rules and laws that support the preservation and conservation of the unique environment. The Council of Galapagos manages the balance between the protected and populated areas. 

If you are planning a trip to the breathtaking landscapes and mesmerizing sceneries, you need to prepare accordingly. Check the article below to learn how to travel and explore the Galapagos Islands.

What are the Entry Requirements?

The government of Ecuador has announced in 2017, that foreign tourists must show certain documents before entering the country. The necessary documents are:

• A return ticket - from an airline;

• Proof of reservation in a hotel that will match the dates of arrival and departure on your tickets;

• TCC - Transit Control Card which can be acquired after arrival in Guayaquil or Quito and costs around $20;

How to Travel and Explore?

Choosing the right trip deal is crucial in how you will travel. Many visitors travel from Ecuador, before taking a flight from their native countries. The flights can be direct from Guayaquil or Quito, and currently, three companies operate flights in the area. Galapagos islands excursions can be via a boat, cruise, or day trips.

A Round Trip From Ecuador

At the time of writing, a round-trip ticket costs around $500 from Ecuador to the Galapagos Islands. A side note, non-residents must buy a return ticket! The main airports on the Galapagos Islands are San Cristobal and Baltra Island. An additional cost you need to consider is the $100 fee for entering the Galapagos National Park which is a mandatory fee. 

Take a Cruise

Your Galapagos itinerary will depend on your budget and travel preferences. You can visit it for a couple of days, or stay for more than 12 days, soaking in the beauty of the islands. If you decide to go with a cruise itinerary, you can take advantage of the long traveling hours and arrive at the next location refreshed. 

Island Hopping Tours

Another way of exploring the Galapagos is via an island hopping tour. It’s becoming more popular in the last couple of years as it provides visitors a chance to see more of the islands and experience the Galapagos without being onboard all the time. Visitors can take public transportation or boats and hop from one island to another, staying overnight and enjoying the local activities.

Stay Ashore

A popular option when traveling to Galapagos is to stay ashore, meaning you can book a hotel at one of the islands like Isabela, San Cristobal, or Santa Cruz.

Afterward, you can take a daily trip to the uninhabited islands and enjoy the wildlife views. It’s an interesting experience for nature lovers and adventure seekers to obtain a different perspective of the Galapagos lifestyle.

Watersports

A great way to explore Galapagos underwater life is via watersports. The islands are a world-class destination for scuba diving, snorkeling, diving, and kayaking, due to the abundance of fur seals, sea lions, sharks, manta rays, reef fishes, and marine iguanas.

Before booking your trip, make sure the travel agency you’ll be traveling with can offer these types of activities since you’ll need permission from the tour provider.

Special Permits

Even though tourists are allowed to travel to certain locations and explore visitor sites, in some areas they will need a Park certified naturalist guide. These areas are carefully monitored so not everybody can enter there.

All of the visitors will have a marked trail and must be accompanied by licensed guides when visiting the vegetation areas and sceneries with sea lions, lava lizards, marine iguanas, and a variety of bird species.

The Season is Relevant

The Galapagos is an amazing place to visit throughout the year. However, there are certain seasons you can visit it and enjoy the wildlife, sceneries, culture, historical sites, and sealife.

Due to the islands’ location on the Equator, the water temperature is stable most of the time. We’d recommend that you make your travel arrangements during the peak seasons so you can experience the most out of it.

June through December is the dry season, however, it’s still possible to see misty rain in December. January through May is the warmer and wetter season, but the rain knows how to burst with showers out from the blues skies. According to weather specialists, March and April are the wettest and hottest months, while August is the coolest one.

While the temperatures can change and vary throughout the year, we recommend that you check the weather forecast and plan your trip accordingly.

What Are You Waiting For?!

Make sure you are well-informed before deciding on your Galapagos trip. Last-minute deals are great for those who can afford to spend a couple of days searching for the right bargain. 

For the others, we can advise you to check the other articles on our blog related to traveling and planning your trip.