Galápagos Islands - What would you do differently?
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Anonymous
| We’ve got a Galápagos Islands cruise coming up. Any advice on things you would have done differently with either packing, activities, or other aspects of your trip looking back on it? We’re traveling with two teens during spring break. |
Anonymous
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I went on a small motor sailer yacht that was able to go to smaller coves and islands that most boats can’t visit. We also spontaneously hired a truck for our group at one point to go into the mountains to see lava tubes.
What I’d do differently- Secure items on boat as they roll around and become airborne, when you cross equator currents. Wear shoes with heatproof soles bc my sneakers started to melt when we walked on recent lava flow. Have a decent cash tip for every single crew member, to be presented as a thank you last night of trip. Nobody warned me. Take anti-nausea medicine every day without fail. I missed one day and had to be whisked back to yacht, sick as a dog. Bring snorkel gear to dive off the back of the boat and explore. Underwater camera was great for capturing antics of penguins and seals. A wetsuit jacket is nice as some water is cold. |
Anonymous
| Bring your own snorkel mask. You can borrow funds |
Anonymous
| We head out on Christmas Eve, will report back, OP. I can tell you that I’ve purchased enough Dramamine for a small city and we have our own snorkel gear. |
Anonymous
| I was here to say my best purchase was prescription snorkel mask, but yall seem covered. |
Anonymous
We are going over Christmas as well. Doing a land based tour, not a cruise. But will be on a few long boat rides. Did you buy anything else besides Dramamine for seasickness? Also, not to hijack the thread, but if anyone has any recommendations for good reef safe sunscreen please let me know! |
Anonymous
| Pp here - and I will report back on our trip afterwards as well! |
Anonymous
Blue Lizard sunscreen Enjoy! |
Anonymous
|
“Reef safe” is much more complicated than you’d like to believe - do some research. Ultimately most mineral sunscreens are better than chemical. Nothing is 100% and lots more research needs to be done. Most is now “reef compliant” which means it can be used legally in Hawaii.
On that note, the better advice I received was to wear a swim shirt - or wetsuit (waters can be chilly there for extended snorkeling at some of the islands) and I also wore swim tights. This hugely minimizes the amount of sunscreen you really need. I also took Blue Lizard to the Galapagos and hated it, though it’s well reviewed in terms of ingredients. It’s thick and goopy and doesn’t go on well. I prefer Coola or one of the compliant Sun Bums. |
Anonymous
| I like thinkbaby and thinksport. Mineral sunblock that's 50SPF. |
Anonymous
| PP who is going over Christmas. Anyone have any restaurant recommendations on Isabela or Santa Cruz? Thanks! |
Anonymous
Both of you please do! I think the Galápagos are a bucket list item for many who enjoy travel. |
Anonymous
I agree with a rash guard/ tights idea for snorkeling. |
Anonymous
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Skip the dramamine or Bonine and ask your doc for an rx for the patch. Goes behind your ear, won't come off in the water, and will keep you from getting sick.
Our small boat had a huge bin of seasick pills in the main area for anyone who wanted/needed them at any time. Only advise is to have fun and enjoy every minute. It's fun, and exhausting. Wake, eat, go out in the Zodiac go the island, explore and/or snorkeling, return, have lunch, go back to an island, go back to boat, have dinner, evening activity, fall asleep exhausted, repeat. The wildlife is incredible, and playing with the sea lions is something I'll never forget. I would say it was my favorite trip for our family, and I would go again and again if we could |
Anonymous
| What company are you using, OP? Or others who have gone or are going. |