FAQS & TRAVEL TIPS

- Could I travel to Galapagos with children?
Yes. The children's parents are responsible for their care, food and overalls if he is a baby.

- Do I need a visa to go to Galapagos?
U.S. citizens must carry a valid passport. No visas or inoculation are required.
Visitors from other countries should consult an Ecuadorian Consulate.

"U.S. citizens do not require a visa to enter Ecuador for up to 90 days.
The citizens of the following countries need visa and they should approach to the nearest Ecuadorian Consulate of their place of residence to process it (this list may change without previous notice):
Afganistán, Algeria, Bangla Desh, China, Corea del Norte, Corea del Sur, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Irán, Irak, Jordania, Líbano, Libia, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistán, Palestina, Sir Lanka, Siria, Tunes, Vietnam, and Yemen".
http://www.ecuador.org/ingles/consular/nonresident_visas.htm

- What I have to pack?
The life aboard the yachts is very informal. You must bring casual and comfortable cloths.
You will need shorts, bathing suits, preferably cotton shirts, 2 pairs of good rubber-soled walking shoes, windbreaker jacket, wide brimmed hat and a back-pack to carry camera, plenty of film, sun glasses and sun-screen.

- How many bags I could bring with me?
There is a 40 pound (1 bag) baggage allowance per person on Galapagos flights. If you bring more, there is a charge for the number of extra pieces. Also keep in mind that the cabins are not big enough. If you are thinking to go around the country after the cruise and you are bringing extra luggage, you should leave it in the hotel and pick up when you will return from the islands.

- Where I should pay the Galapagos National Park entrance fee?
This must be paid upon arrival in Galapagos ($100 USD per person, USD cash only).

- How is the weather in Galapagos/Ecuador like?
Located on the Equator, the Galapagos climate is tempered by the Humbolt Current, so you do not experience extreme heat. The warmest weather is December to June, when temperatures range from 72º (22.22ºC) to 90ºF (32.22ºC), while the water temperature is in the mid 70ºF (21.11ºC). July to November is cooler, ranging from mid 60ºF (15.56ºC) to 75ºF (23.89ºC). The average water temperature rarely reaches 70ºF (21.11ºC).
Recommended link to check cities weather:
http://www.weather.com/ (english version)

- What kind of cruises you offer?
The boats we operate are motor yachts and they realize navigable tours which means the passengers eat and sleep on board the ship.
The yacht navigates overnight which allows to the tourists to enjoy more time in land during the visits.

- How is a normal day schedule on board?
The normal day schedule consists of a excursion on the shore just after breakfast. Then, you return aboard for lunch and perhaps a "siesta" before the afternoon a excursion on the shore.(*).
After dinner your naturalist guide will brief you on the islands to be visited the following day.

(*) Passengers are ferried from the yacht to the shore by small boats called "Pangas".
The disembarks are either "dry" or "wet" where you might have to wade ashore in shallow water.
All the time you are accompanied by your naturalist guide. The terrain is often rough and passengers should be good physical condition.

- Will I get seasickness?
We have proved that the seasickness is a more a psychological problem that physical. That means that if the person comes thinking that will get seasick, is more probable that he might get it.
Keep in mind that our yachts navigate overnight and that the passengers mostly spend the day in land. Also, the stability of the ships is good in all the cases.
If you want it, you can bring pills or patches for the seasick.

- What kind of food is on board?
The meals on board are varied, the daily menu is always different, we offer fish, chicken, meat, shellfish, etc... If you, due to health problems, require a particular care with the meals, let us know and we will do everything we could.

- Can I get vegetarian food on board?
Vegetarian passengers must advice before to take the cruise, so then we will be able to send vegetarian food to the yacht.

- What about tipping?
Tipping is at the discretion of the passenger. A "tip box" is provided for the general crew. Guides are tipped separately.

- Can I make some dive on board?
Unfortunately no, at least that was a charter (group), because the structure of the yachts does not permit to keep the tanks, compressors and equipment required, besides that it would be not very practical to offer this service on board for a single person. That's why we offer it but just for groups.

- Can I stay in Galapagos by my own?
Of course, for a couple of days after the cruise, preferly. If you like the scuba diving, you can take a daily tour in Puerto Ayora in the Santa Cruz island - south of Baltra island.
Therefore it is better doing it if your cruise finishes in Baltra. You can find where to stay as in Santa Cruz as in San Cristobal. Both islands have different kinds of hotels.

- How long has been created the Galasam company?
Our trips and internal tourism operator agency had 26 years of created with base in the city of Guayaquil; we are one of the Galapagos cruise companies more respectful as local as internationally.

- How safer is booking through internet?
This department has over 7 years working, and we have brought a considerable number of foreign tourists. Our experience in this area, as well as the success that we have obtained with our passengers are our best backup. We are in constant development, in order to offer the best service to our customers.

- How much of discount I can obtain for last minute booking?
Sometimes we have "last minute" passengers (the backpackers) who are looking for a good tour for the lowest price possible, and to achieve it they worth of the following:

- generally come through Perú.

The risk that these people takes when looking for this alternative to get a discount in the price, is that sometimes the spaces are sold quickly and this leaves have no chance for negociation - just for trying the "last minute" trick.
What these people do not consider is that the operational costs of the boats in Galapagos are very high and when they force to us to low the price we are risking the operation itself.
We have no anything against them. We understand that this kind of trips could be a little expensive - considering what it is necessary to invest to come to Ecuador, etc... - but likewise we believe that it is a trip that it is worthwhile since it allows to be rediscovered with the nature and to live the most touched experience.
Our mission is to help our customers as better as we can, through the right ways.

- Is there a price for South American and/or Ecuadorians?
It depends of how many people would come and the date in which you all would take the tour.
In the case of the Ecuadorians, it is indispensable that they conserve their original ID (cédula de ciudadanía) to be able to get the price that corresponds to them for the air ticket.

- Can I pay using my credit card?
We do not take credit card payments by the Internet because the must of the credit card offices here do not accept the "signature on file" payment system, or charges a high % to the customer.
We preffer a bank-to-bank wire transfer to our account. The account details are explained in here. Also, a wire transfer is less expensive than the porcentage that the card would charge you. The bank transaction is a safer and quick procedure and we have no problems with it.

- Are ATM used in Ecuador?
Yes. We have ATM -Automatic Teller Machine or a bank machine where you can withdraw money from your account using your bank card or credit card- in Ecuador. You can get USD in the bank machines of the Banco del Pacifico.