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Galapagos
Island Travel - What to Know Before You Go
Documentation: A valid
passport is required for travel to the Galapagos Islands and
mainland Ecuador. Most tourists are allowed to stay up to
90 days. Please check with the Ecuadorian consulate or embassy
in your country to see if you need a visa to enter Ecuador.
Arriving in Ecuador:
On your flight to Ecuador you will fill out a T3 Tourist Information
Card that will be handed, together with your passport, to
the immigration officer upon arrival to the Passport Control
area. Have your flight tickets ready if they ask for
them. If asked about the purpose of the trip tell the officials
that you are on vacation and are traveling to the Galapagos
Islands. A copy of the T3 form will be returned to you along
with your passport. Please keep it in a safe place since you
will be required to turn it in when you leave the country.
You will then proceed to the baggage claim area to claim your
checked luggage and clear customs. Your bags will usually
be inspected. After leaving customs, you will be met by a
tour representative for an airport transfer to your hotel.
Safety and Security:
It is recommended that you make two photocopies of your passport
ID page, airline ticket, tour documents, traveler's check
ID numbers and airline itinerary. Leave one at home with friends
or relatives and take the other copy with you, keeping the
copies separate from the originals. While you travel in Ecuador
always carry your passport with you since it is a legal requirement
and you could be asked for it at any time. You will also need
it when changing money or paying with traveler's checks. Always
be careful in mainland Ecuador - keep a watchful eye over
your belongings, never set your camera down and be wary of
pickpockets.
Money: The local currency
is US dollars. MasterCard is widely accepted in Galapagos
and Ecuador, VISA is also widely accepted in Quito. Please
note that there is a 10% service charge on all credit card
payments within Ecuador. Bank hours in Quito are Monday to
Friday 9h00am - 16h00pm. There are several money exchange
businesses in Quito. In Galapagos there is only one bank and
you can only get cash with MasterCard. There are no official
money exchange businesses in the Galapagos. The islands are
a cash and traveler's check oriented destination.
Telephone Service: There
is full phone and cellular phone communication in the Galapagos.
To make a call once you have arrived on the Ecuadorian mainland,
it is recommended to use calling cards, since calls made from
your hotel can be very expensive. In Quito there are many
Internet cafes with cheap email and net-phone service; and
in Puerto Ayora, there are at least 3 Internet cafes.
Electricity: 110 VAC.
Language: Communication
on the mainland is difficult if you do not know Spanish. In
Galapagos, on the other hand, it is easier to communicate
because many people who live there can speak English.
Food and Water: Please
be careful about eating uncooked food, including vegetables
and peeled fruit. It is better to drink bottled water or desalinated
water that we provide on board our yachts. Almost all the
restaurants are careful about using clean or bottled water
and recognizing good sanitation but it is better to avoid
any health problem. All the services we offer are perfectly
select and follow all sanitary details.
Reconfirmation of International
Flights: It is extremely important to re-confirm your
international flights. If you will be staying in Quito after
your Galapagos tour, make sure to reconfirm. Let us know if
you will catch your international flight immediately after
returning from the Galapagos so we can reconfirm for you.
Luggage: There is a
luggage allowance of 20 kilos (one piece of luggage) and 2
small carry-ons on flights to and from Galapagos. Any
additional pieces can be left at the hotel desk on the mainland.
TAME charges approximately US$ 2 for each extra kilo but will
be send only if the airline decide to do so. Please note that
TAME flights do not always have overhead compartments and
the carry-ons should fit under the seat.
Coast
and Galapagos Islands
Galapagos Arrival: The
islands are part of the Ecuadorian National Parks system and
the entrance fee of US$ 100.oo (cash) is collected on arrival
to Baltra. We recommend that you bring new bills; this fee
is only payable in cash. Once the fee is paid, the boat“s
representative will meet you and take you to the boat.
On the Islands: The
yacht anchors on each island destination and passengers are
ferried to the landing point in small boat called pangas (dinghies).
On island walks follow marked paths, which may alter slightly
from season to season, to skirt nesting bird areas. Naturalist
guides accompany all groups. Some Islands have excellent swimming
beaches and snorkeling areas.
Climate on the Galapagos
Islands: The islands are isolated so the climate is determined
almost entirely by the ocean currents, which in turn are influenced
by trade winds that push the currents. In general, December
to June are the warmest months. January to March can be hot
and humid, but also mostly green at this time. July to November
are cooler. The average year-round temperature is 24 C.
What to Bring: Galįpagos
and coast: Visitors are advised to pack casual, comfortable
garments. Some additional handy items might include: snorkeling
equipment, short wetsuit, 2 pairs of sneakers, a light jacket
or windbreaker, a sweater, light, long, sleeved shirts, a
rain poncho, shorts, a wide brimmed hat, bathing suits, a
hat, sunglasses, binoculars, sunscreen, repellent, eye drops
and sea-sickness medication. Dressing is always casual.
Quito
Quito: Quito is at an
altitude of 2,870 meters (approx. 8500 feet). Quito's Mariscal
Sucre Airport is located 10 km north of the major hotel and
shopping area.
Climate: Days are warm,
usually around 21° Celsius. Nights are cooler, dropping to
10° Celsius. The rainy season is from October to May.
Shopping and Restaurants:
The main street is Avenida Rio Amazonas, which starts at the
Hotel Hilton Colon at Parque El Ejido and runs north all the
way to the airport. For the best shopping, stay between Av.
Amazonas and Juan Leon Mera, where there are many shops selling
arts, craft jewelry, clothes and leather goods. A good variety
of restaurants are in this area as well.
What to Bring: Wear
comfortable springtime clothing during the day and a sweater
or coat during the evening. There are chances of showers,
thus a rain parka and a jacket or sweater will always be needed.
Continental
Ecuador
Continental Ecuador:
In the highlands, it is spring-like most of the year, although
cold and rainy in the winter months from December to April.
Dry months are from May through October when the temperatures
are around 70 F (10-15 C) during the evening. The Coasts:
The average temperature is 83 F (28 C), with the hot, rainy
season from November to May and the dry season from June to
December. In the Jungle the climate is humid, warm and quite
rainy.
What to Bring: Warm,
winter-like clothing is essential.
Other
Tipping: At the end
of the cruise, the guide and crew are tipped separately, if
passengers feel it is appropriate.
Departure Tax: There
is a US$25 departure tax on international flights from Quito
and Guayaquil.
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