These are the thing you should know before you book your Galapagos Cruise
Lying 970 km (600 miles) west of the Ecuadorian coast, at the Equator line, the Galapagos Islands consist of 6 main islands 12 smaller islands and over 40 small islets.
2 Most Galapagos Cruises Starts from Baltra airport, which is close to Santa Cruz island.
There is 3 ways to visit Galápagos Island:
* First – Galapagos Cruises: You can do a Galapagos Cruise for 4 days, 5 days or 8 days. The different types of Cruises are Economic, Tourist, Tourist Superior, First Class, and Luxury Class.
Every Flight arrives before 12 pm. Every Galapagos Cruises tour starts at mid-day, and every Galapagos Cruises tour finish in the morning because every flight leave back to the mainland at mid-day.
The difference between 4 days, 5 days, and 8 days Galápagos Cruises.
4 days Galapagos cruises: On this cruise you will get to see all the diversity of species in the Galapagos. You will receive a good understanding of the geology and history as well from your tour guide
5 days Galapagos cruises: On this cruise you will get to see massive communities of species like the marine Iguana, but you wont get to see all diversity.
8 days Galapagos cruises: This is a combination of the 4 and 5 days cruises. Some First Class and Luxury class goes around the biggest island Isabela Island non-stop.
The difference between Economic, Tourist, Tourist Superior, First Class, Luxury Class:
Economic Galapagos Cruise: Small yacht 16 passengers, less services, bilingual guide speaks one other language, older boat. This is like buying a used car and anything can happen.
*update: the only economic boat in the Galapagos has lost its license, and now this option is not available.
Tourist Galapagos Cruise: Small yacht or sailboat from 8 to 16 passengers, bilingual guide speaking one or more languages, older boat, but good conditions. Hot water and a\c.
Tourist Superior Galápagos Cruise: Small yacht or sail boat from 12 to 16 passengers, bilingual guide knowing two language, good conditions, good service, and more space on the boats. Hot water and a/c.
First Class Galapagos Cruises: Yacht or sail boat from 16 passengers to 100 passengers, more space, bilingual guide usually speaking three languages, great conditions, great service. Hot water, and a/c.
Luxury Class Galapagos Cruises: Yacht or Sail Boat from 16 passengers to 100 passengers, very spacious, big bathroom, bilingual guide speaking three languages who will be extremely knowledgible, very often a master divers aboard as well, hot water and a/c.
Second Way – You can visit the Galapagos with a land tour. If you don’t feel comfortable being on a boat for a long period of time, that might be an opportunity for you. All the land tours can only go so fare. These are greatly limited by access. 97% of the Galapagos Islands are protected and the cost of just going to one other island for the day can be very expensive.
Third Way – You probably heard of island hoping. This is not recommended! With Island hopping you will not be able to see the most exotic and interesting islands and in the end , you spend more that a cruise.
VERY IMPORTANTE NOTE: You must understand that inflation in south America is constant, so therefore the tour prices can fluctuate as well with the influence of increasing demands and necessities of Galapagos cruises. So do your homework to know exactly what you are looking for and be realistic on the price. I am sure you will find something that will be adequate to your needs.
Galapagos Island
Bartolome is located in Sullivan Bay off James Island, has two visitors sites: a climb to the summit of the island reveals both the varied volcanic formations of Bartholome and the immense black lava flows on nearby James.
Española has two important sites: Punta Suárez, is a rocky point that sustains one of the most impressive and varied colonies of sea birds in Galapagos. High cliffs rise up from the sea, for spectacular views of soaring birds, and the famous blowhole where water spouts from 50 to 75 feet into the air. Gardner Bay, located at the eastern coast of Hood Island, provides an excellent beach for swimming and the opportunity to observe the animals in the Galapagos Sea
Fernandina: The immense shield of Fernandina volcano provides an impressive backdrop for Punta Espinosa, a narrow spit of sand and lava rock extending from the base of the volcano into the sea. Renowned for its large colonies of marine iguanas, it is also home for a number of unique Galapagos species: the flightless cormorant, penguin, sea lion and marine turtle, the harshness of the recently formed landscape of Fernandina's slopes can be appreciated by taking the trail inland to the edge of a large AA lava flow.
Floreana has three important sites: Punta Cormorant, This is probably one of the best places:flamingo’s lagoon. Around it, nested between two volcanic hills, it is also possible to view a variety of shores birds, as well as numerous and unique species of plant life. Devil's Crown Consists of the picket fence-like remains of small volcanic cone which has been eroded away by the sea, creating in its interior an ideal habitat for several types of corals and marine life, it is perfect for snorkeling. And Post Office Barrel (wooden barrel placed there in the 18th century by the crew of a whaling ship) and the Lava Cave are the principal attractions.
Genovesa. Located at the inner part of Darwin Bay, this site contains an abundace of frigates and other seabirds. Behind the small beach are a number of tidepools, taking the visitor past nesting areas of frigates, red-footed boobies, and swallow-tailed gulls. At high tide it is likely that the trail will be covered with water. Excellent views of the cliff formations along the coast, as well as an idea of the dry interior of the island, may be obtained by following the trail to its finish.
Isabela Urvina Bay, located on the western coast of Albemarle Island at the foot of Alcedo Volcano, was uplifted from the sea in 1954. The site is relatively flat, distinguished by corals and other marine formations which were lifted out of the sea by the uplift. Flightless cormorants and pelicans nest along the coast during their nesting seasons. Caleta Tagus / Tagus Cove, a tour along the cliffs in a launch will give the visitors a good chance of seeing the exclusive Galapagos penguin, the flightless cormorant, and other sea birds. Elizabeth Bay is an extremely interesting area for observing marine life of many different forms. The Experimental Station is located very near the port of Villamil in the south of Albemarle. Here the Galapagos National Park experiments with the reproduction process of the subspecies of Geochelone elephantopus gunteri (tortoise). Las Tintoreras, located 5 minutes on a dinghy ride from Port of Villamil, permits the visitor to observe the White tipped shark. Volcano Alcedo is one of the five shield volcanoes that form Albemarle Island the famous "Geyser" or hot steam fumarole will be reached, while all around are Galapagos giant tortoises of the Alcedo race. At least one night should be spent on the rim to fully appreciate the area. Volcano Sierra Negra, located at the southern end of Isabela Island, is one of the best and most impressive examples of a volcano in the archipelago. Following the edge of the caldera to the north, a place called "Volcan Chico" is reached, comprising a group of small craters, their activity consisting of several different fumaroles. In another area, called the "Sulphur Volcano" the visitor can admire large quantities of sulphur as it has been deposited by the continuous action of fumaroles. Volcano Sierra Negra caldera is the second largest in the world after Ngorongoro in Africa.
South Plaza. One of a pair of small uplifted islands a short distance from the east coast of Sta. Cruz, South Plaza has a unique Sesuvium and Opuntia landscape which provides some of the most interesting wildlife observation available in Galapagos. Land iguanas are always easily seen from the trail, frequently in the shade of a cactus. Swallow-tailed gulls, along with various other sea birds. The protected rocky seashore is prime habitat for a large colony of noisy sea lions.
Rabida, located behind the picturesque dark red beach lies a salt water lagoon where the beautiful flamingo is usually seen.
San Cristobal. El Junco Lagoon, located in the high part of San Cristobal at an altitude of 700 meters, El Junco, almost round in shape and 6 meters deep, has been the object of a study in which the lake’s bottom sediments were analyzed for the purpose of discovering information about the vegetation and climate of the Archipelago many thousands of years ago. Kicker Rock, this giant uplifted rock has the shape of a sleeping lion. Small vessels pass through the rock which is divided in two parts forming a channel between them. Isla Lobos, this small island is separated from the main island by a narrow stretch of calm waters. Upon its rocky shores, blue-footed boobies nest (in season) and sea lions rest and play.
Santa Cruz. The trail to the highlands leaves Bellavista and passes through the agricultural zone and then, near the National Park boundary, the Miconia zone and the "pampa" or zone of low vegetation typical of the high areas of Galapagos. With clear weather (unpredictable) this area affords beautiful scenes of rolling hills and extinct volcanic cones covered with grass and lush greenery all rear round. Charles Darwin Research Station, by visiting the facilities of the Darwin Station and National Park, it is hoped that the visitor will begin to realize that not only scientists, but also professional administrators and Park wardens must exert an enormous, costly effort to maintain the Islands ecosystems, and some of the endangered species which comprise them, in their natural state so that people may enjoy them for many years to come. Turtle Cove, one of the impressive Galapagos marine sites, consists of a deep maze of tranquil sea water inlet. Its waters are still and usually rather murky and are the resting (and sometimes mating) place for marine turtles, rays and small sharks. Cerro Dragon, newly opened visitor site, it is located in the north of Santa Cruz island.
Santa Fe. The small bay on Barrington's north-east coast and extremely picturesque anchorage, provides the visitor with two trails. One of these leads to a scenic viewpoint on top of a cliff, and eventually leads to an area where a species of land iguana can sometimes be seen. The second trail is a short walk from the beach to an unusually tall forest of prickly pear cactus.
Santiago. This narrow, steep-sided point of land provides an extraordinarily beautiful landscape completed with cliffs and pinnacles upon which rest hundreds of marine birds. During, the 17th and 18th centuries, pirates used this site for maintaining their ships, and supplying themselves with fresh water, meat, and firewood.
North Seymour. Located slightly to the north of Baltra, North Seymour is a low, flat island, formed as a result of the uplift of a submarine lava formation. It is covered with low, bushy vegetation which contains the largest colony of magnificent frigate birds (Fregata magnificens) in the Galapagos. There is also a large population of blue-footed boobies when nesting conditions are right.
Sombrero Chino (Chinese Hat). Small Islet located on the southeast of Santiago Island |