Travel Tips

What to Pack to the Galapagos and the Amazon Jungle

The Galapagos:

Life aboard the vessels cruising the Galapagos Islands ranges from informal to very informal. Dress is casual - shorts, tee shirts, swim suits, jeans / slacks and a windbreaker or sweater. Be sure to bring comfortable walking shoes and ample protection from the Equatorial sun (including a hat). It is highly recommended that you bring a lightweight backpack to carry your camera, excess film and a towel (for drying off after wet landings). Do not over pack. There are weight restrictions on the flights (40 pounds per passenger) and you need only a minimum of casual clothing. Your excess luggage may be left at the hotel in Quito or Guayaquil, in storage.

The Amazon:

Please Note: There is a baggage limit of 20 lbs. per person on the aircraft for passengers traveling to the Ecuadorian Amazon Basin plus a carry-on bag per passenger. If you are going to be checking in more weight than the regulations allow, you will be charged directly by the local airline or may not be allowed to take it aboard the local airline. This limit should not pose a problem to most Amazon bound travelers, and most of the hotels in Quito will store your extra baggage or dress clothes and heavy jackets for you while you are traveling to the different destinations within Ecuador.

Highly Recommended:

Galapagos, Islands Lost In Time, by Tui de Roy Galapagos
Discovery on Darwin's Islands, by Steadman and Zousmer
Galapagos, a Terrestrial and Marine Phenomenon, by Paul Human Key Environments
Galapagos, by R. Perry
The Voyage of the Beagle, by Charles Darwin

Visit the Galapagos Islands book section at:

Climate

The Galapagos Archipelago is located on the equator and its climate is sub-tropical, allowing cruises to operate on a year round basis. Temperatures are determined almost entirely by the ocean currents that are influenced by the trade winds. Generally, December to May is warm and sunny; June to November is cool and breezy. Most birds nest year round, so you can see courtship, mating, chicks hatching, and rearing almost any time of the year.

Temperatures are shown in Fahrenheit:

Temperatures	JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC
Max. Air Temp.	84	86	88	86	82	78	76	74	76	77	78	80
Min. Air Temp.	70	74	74	72	72	68	66	64	62	64	66	68
Avg. Sea Temp.	74	76	76	76	74	74	72	66	68	70	72	74
Avg. Rainfall (in.)	1	1	2	1.5	0.75	0.25	0.5	0.25	0.5	0.25	0.5	0.5

Getting There

There are worldwide connecting flights to Quito and Guayaquil, on the Ecuadorian mainland. Specially arranged flights (contracted by the cruise operators) from the Equadorian mainland serve the Archipelago's two airports. The airports in Baltra and San Cristobal are served by TAME Airlines. The airport on San Cristobal is also served by AreoGal airlines. Passengers fly from the mainland on the morning of the departure date of the cruise. The cruises sail from Baltra or San Cristobal. The airport to which you fly will depend upon which ship you are booked on. The flights to and from the Galapagos are automatically confirmed when the cruise arrangements are confirmed. All passengers must arrive on the mainland at least one day prior to the departure date of the cruise. Passports for non-Ecuadorian citizens visiting Ecuador must be valid for at least 6 months from the travelers planned return date. As always, if you have any specific questions about traveling to the Galapagos Islands, you may contact us. We would be happy to answer your questions.

Other Information

Language

English and Spanish are spoken aboard the vessels by guides and officers.

Time Zone

GMT-6 in the Galapagos Islands and GMT-5 on the mainland. Ecuador does not observe Daylight Savings Time.

Currency

Ecuador has adopted the U.S. Dollar as its currency.

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