Galápagos Islands - What would you do differently?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pp here - and I will report back on our trip afterwards as well!

Both of you please do!

I think the Galápagos are a bucket list item for many who enjoy travel.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What company are you using, OP? Or others who have gone or are going.

I’m the PP going next week. We are using Classic Journeys to do a land based tour. Will definitely report back!

[Anonymous]

Bring a good raincoat. It poured so much in short bursts. And on the boats to get to the island the waters arr choppy and you'll get splashed a lot

[Anonymous]

Full coverage sun clothing for sure.

For snorkeling, this might sound silly but watch some YouTube videos about how to clear water from your snorkel. It’s not fun to just float on the surface. You want to be able to dive down, and the snorkel makes that efficient and fun if you know how to clear the water when you surface. You basically just blow hard.

Lots of people just float on the surface the whole time and it’s a shame.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What company are you using, OP? Or others who have gone or are going.

I’m the PP going next week. We are using Classic Journeys to do a land based tour. Will definitely report back!

I’m the OP and we’re going with a National Geographic cruise.

[Anonymous]

If you bring a digital underwater camera, make sure you also have an SD card. They were like $100 in Santa Cruz for the same thing that would have been $15 on Amazon.

[Anonymous]

https://www.gadventures.com/trips/galapagos-from-quito-western-islands-aboard-the-reina-silvia-voyager/SEV10RB/?utm_campaign=USA-US-EN-GADS-PMAX-TP-GENERAL&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_id=19748658629&phonecode=PPC_SEM_NonBrand&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD2GInQjmHbaTJeEzNYHeJ8Mo8BYQ&gclid=CjwKCAiA65m7BhAwEiwAAgu4JD79lZHuBgrsCGm8_JdKnwZw2C2fQmmWUxLs9yG0j7qBVhBJJDHBBBoCO9kQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[Anonymous]

How many are singles?

This is my wife's dream trip.
I don't want to go and I especially don't want to waste the $$ for me to go.
I'd like to gift her the trip though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What company are you using, OP? Or others who have gone or are going.

I’m the PP going next week. We are using Classic Journeys to do a land based tour. Will definitely report back!

Just got back from our trip. It’s truly a remarkable place, totally unspoiled and amazing wildlife. Loved snorkeling with the sea lions and walking among the giant tortoises in their natural habitat. We did the land based tour on Santa Cruz and Isabella with a day trip to Santa Fe. We used Classic Journeys. We didn’t love Classic in terms of planning and communication, but our local guide on the ground was fantastic so overall it was a great experience.

I can’t speak to the cruises, but we definitely got a little seasick on the rides we did and were grateful to sleep on land. The hotels are pretty basic and the water is not safe to drink/brush teeth with, but we loved being able to explore and walk around the islands on our own and we couldn’t have done if we were on a cruise. Isabella is particularly undeveloped and beautiful. Would definitely recommend the hotel Iguana Crossing if you go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What company are you using, OP? Or others who have gone or are going.

I’m the PP going next week. We are using Classic Journeys to do a land based tour. Will definitely report back!

Just got back from our trip. It’s truly a remarkable place, totally unspoiled and amazing wildlife. Loved snorkeling with the sea lions and walking among the giant tortoises in their natural habitat. We did the land based tour on Santa Cruz and Isabella with a day trip to Santa Fe. We used Classic Journeys. We didn’t love Classic in terms of planning and communication, but our local guide on the ground was fantastic so overall it was a great experience.

I can’t speak to the cruises, but we definitely got a little seasick on the rides we did and were grateful to sleep on land. The hotels are pretty basic and the water is not safe to drink/brush teeth with, but we loved being able to explore and walk around the islands on our own and we couldn’t have done if we were on a cruise. Isabella is particularly undeveloped and beautiful. Would definitely recommend the hotel Iguana Crossing if you go.

We loved Iguana Crossing too!

[Anonymous]

For land-based or an add on to cruise, spend a few days on Isla Isabela. Snorkel los tuneles from there. If traveling with younger kids, bring your own PDFs unless you’re spending the whole time on a Nat Geo or comparable cruise.
We used wetsuits to swim but I agree with advice to use skin suits for swimming any other times to avoid sunscreen but with even better sun protection. A $30 one from Amazon is fine.
Don’t do two ferries in one day (eg cristobal to Isabela via Santa Cruz). The rides are long, rough, and a little uncomfortable.
Careful with food and drink on the islands - skip the ice even in nice places.

[Anonymous]

Is this what people mean by a skin suit?
https://www.amazon.com/Cokar-Womens-One-piece-Sleeve-Skyblue/dp/B0114WK0HU/ref=asc_df_B0114WK0HU?mcid=d682b4a124ff38f8b0a031c907894ca8&hvocijid=12264499848196493581-B0114WK0HU-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12264499848196493581&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9007767&hvtargid=pla-2281435178538&psc=1

Do you just wear that under the shortie wetsuits they give you? And then for the excursions that are part hike part swimming you just hike in it? Is that incomfortable? I always have a long sleeve rash guard but the whole body suit thing is new to me. But I do get really cold in the water.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this what people mean by a skin suit?
https://www.amazon.com/Cokar-Womens-One-piece-Sleeve-Skyblue/dp/B0114WK0HU/ref=asc_df_B0114WK0HU?mcid=d682b4a124ff38f8b0a031c907894ca8&hvocijid=12264499848196493581-B0114WK0HU-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12264499848196493581&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9007767&hvtargid=pla-2281435178538&psc=1

Do you just wear that under the shortie wetsuits they give you? And then for the excursions that are part hike part swimming you just hike in it? Is that incomfortable? I always have a long sleeve rash guard but the whole body suit thing is new to me. But I do get really cold in the water.

Yes. That’s the one I own.

I’ve never worn it under a wetsuit. I just wear a swimsuit. I wear the skin suit when I’m not wearing a wet suit. On a cruise, you’ll be wearing one of their wetsuits and won’t need a skin suit. If you’re on your own swimming from the beach or whatever, that’s when I used it.
I wore regular clothes hiking on excursions. It gets very hot and I wouldn’t want the skin suit on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What company are you using, OP? Or others who have gone or are going.

I’m the PP going next week. We are using Classic Journeys to do a land based tour. Will definitely report back!

Just got back from our trip. It’s truly a remarkable place, totally unspoiled and amazing wildlife. Loved snorkeling with the sea lions and walking among the giant tortoises in their natural habitat. We did the land based tour on Santa Cruz and Isabella with a day trip to Santa Fe. We used Classic Journeys. We didn’t love Classic in terms of planning and communication, but our local guide on the ground was fantastic so overall it was a great experience.

I can’t speak to the cruises, but we definitely got a little seasick on the rides we did and were grateful to sleep on land. The hotels are pretty basic and the water is not safe to drink/brush teeth with, but we loved being able to explore and walk around the islands on our own and we couldn’t have done if we were on a cruise. Isabella is particularly undeveloped and beautiful. Would definitely recommend the hotel Iguana Crossing if you go.

Totally unspoiled but you snorkeled with sea lions and walked among giant tortoises? Those are things that will spoil the place.

We loved Iguana Crossing too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What company are you using, OP? Or others who have gone or are going.

I’m the PP going next week. We are using Classic Journeys to do a land based tour. Will definitely report back!

Just got back from our trip. It’s truly a remarkable place, totally unspoiled and amazing wildlife. Loved snorkeling with the sea lions and walking among the giant tortoises in their natural habitat. We did the land based tour on Santa Cruz and Isabella with a day trip to Santa Fe. We used Classic Journeys. We didn’t love Classic in terms of planning and communication, but our local guide on the ground was fantastic so overall it was a great experience.

I can’t speak to the cruises, but we definitely got a little seasick on the rides we did and were grateful to sleep on land. The hotels are pretty basic and the water is not safe to drink/brush teeth with, but we loved being able to explore and walk around the islands on our own and we couldn’t have done if we were on a cruise. Isabella is particularly undeveloped and beautiful. Would definitely recommend the hotel Iguana Crossing if you go.

Totally unspoiled but you snorkeled with sea lions and walked among giant tortoises? Those are things that will spoil the place.

We loved Iguana Crossing too!

Have you actually been there or do you just comment on the travel forum to judge people who travel? There are very strict rules to protect all of the wildlife and environment that we followed. Unless you shut down all tourism (and the accompanying revenue and fees they collect for conservation efforts), I’m not sure what you would propose.