FAQs about Galapagos: Can you make hotel and other tour reservations for us in Ecuador?

With all cruises and tours you will always be accompanied by a professional Licensed Bilingual (English-Spanish) Guide for all excursions and visits as per National Park’s regulations. On Luxury and First class cruises your Guide will be level II-III while on Midrange and Economy class cruises your naturalist Guide will be Level II.

Cruises have strict policy on smoking on board: is prohibited in almost all social areas, dining rooms and cabins in cruises, but most of them do allow to smoke on designated areas in the sundeck prior request from passengers to the guide or cruise director. Smoking is strictly prohibited on inhabited islands and visitor sites during a cruise.

Upon arrival to Baltra or San Cristobal Islands as per your tour’s itinerary, you will be prompted to pay US$200 per person in Cash at the established booth to get your visitor pass to the Galapagos National Park.

It depends especially on the level of comfort and facilities on board you are looking for:

• On board Luxury class yachts & vessels you can expect large cabin or suites with panoramic windows, suites with balconies, large lower beds, high-end amenities, exceptional cuisine, personalized services, VIP services, cruise director, spacious social areas, sun deck with Jacuzzi plus special treats to complement your trip.
• On board First class yachts services are also quite personalized, large cabins with lower beds and large windows (some yachts have cabins with balcony), excellent cuisine, ample social areas, ample sun deck (some with Jacuzzi) plus complete amenities.
• On board Midrange or Economy class yachts you can still expect good quality service from the crew and your guide, good meals (mostly small buffet), cabins regularly have bunk-beds and port-holes (upper decks offer cabins with windows), cozy and comfortable social areas and sun deck.

On some luxury class cruises you can buy wonderful souvenirs and pay with your preferred Credit Card as major ones are accepted: MasterCard, Visa, Amex, among others; also you can pay for souvenirs at local shops in Puerto Ayora or San Cristobal with your Credit Card, but some of them will only accept cash payments. On board other category of cruises, payments must be done in cash (U.S. Dollars) for souvenirs and consumption.

Visitors entering Ecuador and the Galapagos are not required to present any proof of vaccination, but you will need to present your Travel Insurance document when entering the Galapagos. However, if your doctor recommend taking a vaccination, you can follow the advice at your own discretion.