www.ecuadors.org

[Clint]

Hi,
Just starting planning my 6 week trip and the highlight (I'm sure) will by Galapagos Islands. Am buying the LP tomorrow, but was wandering if anybody can recommend boats/itineraries, and tell me approx prices and whether you can prebook it all on the internet with a reliable agency in Ecuador.
Thanks

[Denzil]

Returned from the Galapagos last week and am still floating on air from the experience. Land or cruise? Everybody has an opinion. I arrived in South America and Ecuador not even considering the Galapagos but so many people encouraged me to visit. I only had five days/four nights and could not arrange a boat stay so Puerto Ayora it was.

Puerto Ayora is a sweet beach side town. Laid back and the people are very accommodating. I found the three day trips I took great. I took all three on the Santa Fe and the crew was amazing. The two naturalists on board were extremely knowledgeable. I visited N. Plaza, Seymour, and Bartolome. Others I spoke with had trouble with their day trip operator whose boat was the Esmeralda. It was their recommendation that no one take their trips. So take the Santa Fe – they were great.

I was also able to hire a naturalist named Maria through the Charles Darwin Research Center for a ½-day tour of Santa Cruz. She answered so many questions about the Galapagos. She showed me volcanic formations, a lava tube; the turtle preserve, and gave me a tour of the research center. Our tour was great. I was also able to go on another ½ tour of Santa Cruz, which was wonderful.

From the two naturalist on the Santa Fe and Maria from the Charles Darwin Research Center, all who have lived in the Galapagos all their lives and have worked on overnight and day trip cruise boats I learned that the most respected boats are Lammer Law, Galapagos Explorer II, Nemo, and Eclipse. I know the first two are very expensive, the third middle of the road, not sure about the last.

In Puerto Ayora I stayed at the Grand Hotel Lobo del Mar and as October is “low” season, I was able to negotiate a great rate and had a beautiful room overlooking the bay. The hotel is nice and the staff excellent.

Another recommendation. DO NOT use Karin Kugele of Champions Tours to arrange your day tours, etc. She is a ….. Her snorkeling equipment is horrible. She is rude and treats people like dirt.

Use the day tour operator next to Cafeteria Chocolate. They are on Avenida Charles Darwin. Not hard to find.

Lastly. I did not use a travel agency. I purchased my plane ticket from the Tame office in Quito and made all my hotel and trip arrangements once I got to Santa Cruz. It IS NOT necessary to make all arraignments with a travel agency before you arrive UNLESS you want that assurance that you have a spot on a boat or hotel or day trip or whatever. There were boat operators offering last minute deals left and right. Again, it was “low” season, but who knows. You can improvise and save money here and there, especially if you have a small amount of time to visit.

I spoke with someone on the plane flying back to Quito. He had booked his trip in the states – three nights in Puerto Ayora, seven nights on a cruise, and two nights in Puerto Ayora. He believed it was too much. He spent too much and after awhile he felt he kept seeing the same animals. At some point, it became overkill.

I hadn’t reached my saturation point and can’t wait to return. Have fun.