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More helpful
Galapagos tips
 

Dry and wet landings

Some shore excursions have dry landings, others, wet landings. With the first, you step out of the Zodiac directly on a dock or lava rock. With the second, you slide over the edge of the Zodiac to land into ankle- or calf-deep water, then walk ashore. For the latter, water-friendly sandals are useful.

Trails

Hiking paths at the visitor sites sometime cross small-boulder fields or rough lava terrain. This requires reasonable balance and sure-footedness. You also need to be in good physical shape because some hikes are long and one requires climbing 379 steps.

Hiking, though, normally goes at a leisurely pace with plenty of stops along the way to view the wildlife and listen to your naturalist's educational chat.

Galapagos National
Park Rules

To minimize the impact of visitors on the wildlife and environment, the park crafted strict rules. They include:

Do not set foot on the islands unless accompanied by a licensed guide
Do not stray from the marked paths
Do not touch, handle, feed, or water the wildlife
Do not use your camera flash when you are near the wildlife.
Do not leave any litter on the islands, or toss anything off your boat or Zodiac.
Do not remove or disturb anything (including a pebble or shell).

As the saying goes, leave footprints, take photos.

About naturalists

They are university graduates and have completed a comprehensive training course conducted by the Galapagos National Park Service. Unlike typical bus tour guides, naturalists have a love for and a deep knowledge of their subject - and they share it with you enthusiastically, not rotely.

The three official grades of naturalists are I, II, and III. The first has the least qualifications and experience and works on the lower quality boats. The third is the most proficient. He or she works on the higher quality boats.

The difference between being guided by a top-grade naturalist and one who has not yet made that grade makes a profound difference in your Galapagos experience, understanding, and take-home knowledge. So be sure to inquire about the level of the naturalist(s) that will be on the boat before you book.

Sunburn

It’s easy to get sunburned because the sun is directly overhead. This means there is less atmosphere to filter out the damaging rays. Use a high-factor sun screen. Wear a wide-brimmed hat or a long-billed cap. If the latter doesn't have a neck flap, wear a cotton neck scarf.

Not considering
the child factor

Child-free cruising
Should you desire a child-free boat cruise, think twice about going during the high seasons of the Galapagos Islands. That's when parents usually take their children because school vacation periods normally coincide with the high seasons.
Family cruising
On the other hand, should you be taking your children and want them to be with other children, your best bet is to travel during the high seasons - and to book a cruise that lists itself as a family cruise.
Age restrictions
Except in rare cases, children under 7 are not allowed to visit the Galapagos Island sites. Neither are those under 16 unless accompanied by an adult.

Kayaking

Some cruise boats have kayaks for their passengers. Often you have to share the available time with other guests. But a few small vessels are so kayak-focused that they have onboard enough kayaks for everyone.

Smoking

A Galapagos cruise is not smoker friendly. Onboard, you can smoke only in designated outdoor decks. And you cannot smoke on a Zodiac or at a visitors site.

Travel and
medical insurance

Don't leave home without trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance. Ditto for medical insurance that fully covers you in Ecuador. The policy should also cover emergency evacuations. That's critical because the Galapagos Islands have no full-service hospital and emergency evacuation to the South American mainland is painfully expensive.

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