What's involved in planning a trip to the Galapagos? No idea where to start with this idea.
Getting itchy feet for an adventure. Galapagos is on my bucket list...or seems it should be anyway. I'd love any information from persons that have been!
Reply to this It is on our short list also! Everyone I know who has gone has absolutely loved it.
Reply to this It is one of the most amazing places I have ever been. I hope my information is not out of date I was there in 2006!
There are many companies that do boat based tours, you can go around the islands sleeping on board, with a knowledgeable guide for the day trips on the various islands. You'll do hiking, horse riding and lots of snorkeling - even on the boat transferring from island to island there are some amazing things, I saw a distant pod of Killer Whales, and Manta Rays leaping out of the sea and spinning.
I was backpacking when I went so had time on my side and organized from Quito, getting a bit of a discount as I was prepared to go on short notice.
I'm not sure if you're a diver but for that you'd need to use a liveaboard. More expensive and something that would be the focus of the trip.
I was able to give my self a week based on the main island after the boat tour, and did some day trip diving and more exploring. Arranging accommodation when there, was a lot cheaper.
On the ethical considerations of visiting - there is a lot of pressure on the Galapagos from tourism, fishing, invasive species and migrants to the island. The pro in terms of tourism is that it is in order to see the unique wildlife, and worth a lot to the Ecuadorian government, which leads to policies that protect against the invasive species, over-fishing etc. Obviously a more complex issue than just that, but I choose to visit with that kind of argument winning out.
Hope that whets your appetite - that trip was one of the best I have done.
Reply to this Definitely worth going if you can, but prices have gone up quite a lot. Last year the government removed the subsidies on flights so a return flight is now around $500+ (mainland Ecuador to Galapagos.) Cruises can be got quite cheaply if you catch a good deal or are filling up dead spaces but that would generally be last minute. Otherwise island-hopping might be your best bet. Either way, start researching, shop around and, if you find a particular boat you want, ask other agencies their price or try and find the company that actually owns it and go through them. I've been twice, most recently last year, and the difference in price paid by people on our boat ranged from $1200 to $1900 for 6 days. In 2007 when I first went I paid $1100 for 8-day cruise (on a higher-tier boat) and 3 days on an island!
Reply to this Definitely worth going if you can, but prices have gone up quite a lot. Last year the government removed the subsidies on flights so a return flight is now around $500+ (mainland Ecuador to Galapagos.) Cruises can be got quite cheaply if you catch a good deal or are filling up dead spaces but that would generally be last minute. Otherwise island-hopping might be your best bet. Either way, start researching, shop around and, if you find a particular boat you want, ask other agencies their price or try and find the company that actually owns it and go through them. I've been twice, most recently last year, and the difference in price paid by people on our boat ranged from $1200 to $1900 for 6 days. In 2007 when I first went I paid $1100 for 8-day cruise (on a higher-tier boat) and 3 days on an island!
Reply to this 
