F.A.Q. - Frequently Asked Questions

A: There are many smart travel tips we can provide for your travels to Ecuador to ease your mind. Just like any other country, be aware of your surroundings and watch your valuables. We recommend not walking around at night in touristy areas, calling a taxi through your hotel or a hotel nearby (legitimate taxis in Ecuador have orange license plates or an orange stripe on top of the license plate), scheduling transportation services beforehand if possible, and watching your belongings in restaurants. Some things to be aware of are bag slashing and pickpocketing in crowded and tourist areas. In general, travel with care, use your street smarts, and feel free to contact your GTC agent at any time during your trip!

A: Since the climate is nice all year round, there is no "best" or "better" time to visit the Galapagos. However, you might take other factors, such as high season, low season, and other things into account. Take a look at our "When to go" page to give you a better idea of the best time for you to travel.

A: You have to fly to Ecuador first, either to Quito or Guayaquil, and from there you will fly to Galapagos.

A: Both cities have tourist attractions that can be visited before or after the cruise. However, Guayaquil is more of a passing or business city where you can visit the following attractions: Malecón 2000, Seminario (Iguana) Park, La Rotonda Monument, and Barrio Las Peñas. While in the city of Quito you can visit more places like: Ciudad Mitad del Mundo, Colonial Downtown, Cotopaxi Volcano, Mindo Cloud Forest, Otavalo Market, and Papallacta Hot Springs.

A: The number of days depends on the time you have to make your trip. In the event that you want to visit an attraction in Quito or Guayaquil, it is recommended at least two days before or after your trip to the Galapagos Islands. We offer programs up to 8 days in the mainland. In the event that you want to visit the Amazon Rainforest you will need a minimum of 4 days.

A: It depends on your time and budget, and also on the length of your cruise. We recommend you discuss this with your trip advisor who will be able to guide you and work on a detailed proposal for you.

A: Please make sure to arrive in Quito or Guayaquil at least 24 hours before your trip, however, the recommended time is 48 hours.

A: You have to take a bus from Baltra airport to Itabaca channel, then take a water taxi to cross the channel, and once there, you have to take a taxi to Puerto Ayora.

A: It depends from where you depart. Flights o the Galapagos leave from both Quito and Guayaquil. If you travel from Quito there will be a short layover in Guayaquil, which is normally about 30 minutes and you do not have to exit the plane. It takes 30 minutes to fly from Quito to Guayaquil and roughly 1 and 30 minutes from Guayaquil to the Islands.

A: One checked suitcase (44 lbs/ 20kg) and one carry-on bag are allowed. Thank goodness bathing suits and shorts don't weigh that much!

A: The flight will make a stop in Guayaquil to pick up passengers.

A: Your flights to and from the Galapagos are completely up to you. You can fly to and from either Quito or Guayaquil.

A: It is recommended to take the international flight back home, 24 hours after you return to mainland Ecuador. We recommend this option due to possible flight delays. However, if you prefer to travel back the same day, it is possible.

A: QUITO: The Mariscal Sucre International Airport is located in the town of Tababela, about 11 miles east of Quito. It takes approximately 45 minutes from the airport to the city of Quito. You can either take a taxi or book a private transfer through our company.

GUAYAQUIL: The Jose Joaquin de Olmedo International Airport is located inside the city of Guayaquil, is pretty close to most of the hotels, and taking a taxi is easy.

A: Most of the operators in Galapagos prefer to book the local flights with Avianca, however there are other airlines like LATAM that offer flights to the islands.

A: It depends on where you are flying from, we recommend you check with your travel agency to learn more about international flights to Ecuador.

A: Yes, it is possible to change your flight route before you send the final payment.

A: We don't offer trip insurance, but we highly recommend purchasing it before your trip.

A: We recommend reviewing the best travel insurance options with your local travel agency, or you can review it with Allianz or Travel Guard.

A: For the Galapagos Islands there are no required or recommended immunizations. However, If you intend to spend more time in Ecuador, specifically in the jungle, immunizations are recommended. As this does change from time to time, please check with your local health care provider (or the Institute for Tropical Diseases) for more specific information.

A: We suggest you check with your doctor before taking any motion-sickness medication. It is possible to buy this medication in Ecuador or purchase the medication recommended by your doctor in your home country.

A: Since the Islands are situated on the Equator, we recommend that you bring lightweight clothing and of course, don't forget your swimsuits, sunscreen, and good footwear for walking. Take a look at our packing list to get an idea of what else to bring.

A: On board the plane, passengers may take up to five liters of alcohol with alcohol contents between 24% and 70% per person, as checked luggage. On board a cruise, the amount depends on the boat, however most allow passengers to bring 1 bottle of an alcoholic drink per cabin.

A: You can buy souvenirs in the main towns at the beginning and end of your cruise.

A: You can buy a cell phone chip at any shopping center in Quito or Guayaquil.

A: There is limited phone coverage in Galapagos, but you can buy a SIM card that will work with the main towns. Once you start sailing, cellphone reception will be very limited/nonexistent.

A: Included in the price is: onboard accommodation, three meals a day, purified drinking water, visits/ excursions to the Islands with an English speaking naturalist guide, panga rides, our famous 24 hour client support service, and taxes.

A: Not included in the price are the flight tickets to and from the Galapagos Islands, the National Park entrance fee US$200 (subject to change), and the INGALA Transit Control Card (US$20, paid in either the Guayaquil or Quito airports), alcoholic drinks on board, tips, transfers, and all other personal expenses.

A: When your reservation has been confirmed, you will be required to pay 30% of the total trip price as a deposit. The remainder should be paid 60 days before departure. In the case of last minute bookings, you are required to pay the total amount stated in your invoice to confirm your reservation. For more detailed information, click here.

A: We accept payments with Visa, Master Card, American Express, Discover, e-checks, or payments from your PayPal account. To hold your reservation, we need a deposit of 30% of the total cruise price.

A: All tourists visiting the Galapagos Islands must pay an entry tax to visit the archipelago to the Ecuadorian National Park System. On its website, the Galapagos National Park announces that, "Funds from the entry tax for tourists are used to finance the conservation of biodiversity (...), and benefits the local community (...) and services directly related to tourists."

A: The Galapagos National Park fee must be paid in cash at the airport in Galapagos upon arrival. The amount of this entrance fee depends on the age and nationality of the tourist. Most foreign tourists over the age of 12 pay US$200, while children pay US$100.

Visitors from the Andean Community and Mercosur nations over the age of 12 pay US$50, and children pay US$25. Ecuadorian nationals over the age of 12 pay US$6, and children pay US$3.

A: It is not possible to pay the entry fee with a credit card, only with cash.

A: When you arrive to the Islands, you will find a special counter where you have to pay this fee.

A: The Governing Council of Galapagos uses the Transit Control Card (Tarjeta de Control de Tránsito or TCT) to monitor visitors’ time spent on the islands.

A: The Transit Control Card must be paid in cash at the Quito or Guayaquil airport before you take your fly to the island. Visitors must go to a booth in the airport with their plane tickets to get the card, which costs US$20 (cash only).

A: It is not possible to pay the entry fee with a credit card, only with cash.

A: There is an online service, in case passengers do not prepay for this service. You can enter your information online before traveling to the islands. However, it is mandatory to arrive two hours prior to your scheduled flight departure in order to pay and get the Transit Control Card from the Galapagos Government Council, which must be kept with you until you leave the archipelago.

A: Not if you have US dollars. In 2000, Ecuador adopted the US dollar as its official currency. Just make sure you bring cash bills in good condition with you; if they have tears in them, they are likely to be refused.

A: It depends on the length of your cruise, please note that you need enough cash for the Galapagos National Park fee (~US$200), Ingala Transit Control card (~US$20), alcoholic and soft drinks, souvenirs, tips, and in some yachts you will have to rent wetsuits and/or kayaks.

A: In Ecuador, there is no established amount for tipping. However, based on our clients’ experience, and if you think that the service has been excellent, we recommend for Ecuador Continental tours, US$8 to US$15 per traveller, per day. In Galapagos the average is US$10 - US$15 per day, per guest for budget / midrange trips, and US$20 - US$25 per day, per guest for first class / luxury cruises (the crew will divide it equally among them), plus any amount you leave to the guide.

A: The official currency of Ecuador is the US dollar. If you are coming from the United States you do not need to exchange your money. People coming from other countries are able to exchange money at the international airports in Quito or Guayaquil, located in banks and exchange areas.

A: Only a few itineraries offer free time in the main ports, where you can find a few ATMs; we recommend that you bring enough cash with you, before you arrive in the Islands, for your personal expenses.

A: You can call your family and friends from Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz Island), where you will have access to Internet facilities.

A: There is no dress code on board our Galapagos cruises. The only requirement, for lunch and dinner, is that you wear shoes. There are exceptions, such as with these ships: La Pinta, Silver Sea, Celebrity Xpedition, Santa Cruz, Isabella II, and Legend that will ask you to wear long pants during meals.

A: Most of our cruises will assign double cabins to all passengers, unless you want to pay a single supplement if you are traveling alone. Triple cabins can also be arranged on request, depending on availability and the vessel you choose.

A: In the cabins, as well as on the Galapagos Islands, smoking is not allowed. However, on smaller boats, you can smoke on the deck, and bigger ships normally offer designated smoking areas.

A: If you want to do a land based or island hopping tour, it’s possible to have internet access in the hotels and in different restaurants located in the towns on San Cristobal Island, Santa Cruz Island, and Isabela Island. However, connections are often slow and it will not be possible to use WiFi while on board the daily yacht tours.

Regarding cruises, most destinations are too far from the main towns to receive efficient signals for internet use. However, close to the inhabited Islands you may have better signal. It is important to know that just some cruises offer internet service with a slow satellite connection, and some will charge a fee for this service.

A: There are 110v (2 flat prongs, like the ones in the United States) in all ships and on the mainland. In some of the ships there is 220v on the social areas, we recommend to bring your own adapter if needed.

A: Most boats will offer free water, tea, and coffee. The prices will differ depending on the category of every boat. Usually a cocktail costs around US$10, a bottle of beer around US$6, a bottle of wine will vary depending on the quality, from around US$30 to US$60.

A: The rates for the wetsuits depends on the ship, contact your trip advisor for more details.

A: The corkage fee depends on the boat. The average price can range from US$10 to US$40 per bottle, as it depends on the type of alcoholic drink you bring on board.

A: Each trip advisor is responsible for sending a reminder of the final payment to their customers at least 5 days before the deadline.

A: Yes, you can send your renewed passport once you have it.

A: The service voucher will be sent via email. However, if you would like a physical copy, we can send it to your hotel if you send us the address at least 15 days before starting your tour.

A: You can get in contact with us through one of our emergency numbers detailed in the final voucher, or you can send an email directly to your trip advisor.

A: You will receive your service voucher 72 hours after the final payment of your tour has been credited, as long as you have sent all the required information.

A: The service voucher will be sent via email once you have sent the total payment for your reservation. The flight, hotel, and cruise reservation numbers will be sent in the service voucher document. Some operators will not send electronic air tickets because they will have reservation numbers for all tickets on the cruise.

A: Your guide may change, this is why we do not give you their name or phone number in advance. Generally, your guide will be the same throughout the trip and you will meet them at the beginning of your tour.

A: A representative from our company, the hotel, or the boat will have a sign with either the hotel or boat name, since most of the time the transfers are a shared service. In the event that you confirmed a private service, the sign will have your name on it.

A: Please make sure to look for a sign with the name of the ship or your last name.

A: The physical voucher is not necessary, you can have an electronic copy of the voucher without having the physical document.

A: In case there is a change to your itinerary, we need a phone number in order to contact you.

A: Each boat indicates meeting points, which depend on the confirmed itinerary. Both the meetinging points and itineraries can not be changed or altered as they are planned and established weeks/months in advance by the operator and the Galapagos National Park. It is not possible for boats to pick up each passenger from their hotels because time would be lost for the first activity that is established in the itinerary.

A: It is not necessary to print your voucher.

A: A copy of the credit card and passport of the cardholder must be sent in order to confirm that the card belongs to the client.

A: We highly recommend you do so! Have a look at our entire Trip Extension section where you can find out how to get to know mainland Ecuador and its major cities.

A: Yes, you can travel Galapagos however many days before your trip and stay in one of the islands; there are hotels in Puerto Ayora, San Cristobal, and Isabela.

A: Quito
Luxury: JW Marriott Hotel, Illa Experience Hotel, and Casa Gangotena.
First Class: Swissotel, and NH Collection Hotel.
Midrange & Budget: Vieja Cuba & Casa Gardenia

Guayaquil
Luxury: Hotel del Parque, and Hilton Colon Hotel.
First Class: Holiday Inn, and Courtyard
Midrange & Budget: Hotel Palace, and City Plaza

A: Of course, we are happy to arrange that for you! Just have a look at our recommended hotels in Ecuador and let us know where you'd like to stay.

A: Please check our section for Scuba Diving Galapagos Tours.

A: Please check our section for Galapagos Scuba Diving FAQs.

A: Please check our section for Galapagos Hotel Based Tours.

A: Please check our section for Galapagos Hotel-based Tours FAQs.