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Galapagos Cruise: Preparing For Your Trip

The Galapagos Islands are one of the most magically places in the world. You can hang out with massive tortoises and iguanas, swim with the sea life, and spot birds that live nowhere else in the world. Thanks to their remote location off the shore of Ecuador, the animal life on the islands has developed relatively undisturbed.

If you are an animal lover, or simply have a passion for nature, a cruise to the Galapagos Islands could be your dream Latin American vacation.

But before you try to hop on a boat and start your adventure, there are some things you should consider first. First of all the good news is that you do not need a visa to enter Ecuador—only a passport valid up to 6 months after your arrival date to Ecuador. If you are traveling to the Galapagos Island from the United States, you will probably have to take an international flight into Quito, the capital city of Ecuador. Then, to get to the island, most people take a 2.5 hour flight from Quito to the islands.

Visitors to this magical place can those to visit via a cruise or by a land-based tour. Note both ways you will be required to pay a $100 dollar park entrance fee. This is used to help conserve and protect the unique island wildlife. Usually, this price is not included in Galapagos cruise or Galapagos tours. If you choose to take a Galapagos cruise, you will be able to see several of the islands. Of the scattering of islands, four are inhabited by people and in terms of wildlife each island has unique offerings. During a cruise you also have the convenience of traveling in comfort. On land tours, you’ll be confined to one or two islands, but you’ll get to spend more time on shore. This is a slightly cheaper option and is good for people who get seasick.

Note that on any Galapagos vacation you will have to comply with environmental regulations. This mean you cannot interfere with the wildlife. Of course you can take a spectacular photo sitting next to one of those massive funny-looking tortoises, but don’t touch him or try to move him in anyway. Littering and smoking on the islands is strictly prohibited.

Although you cannot participate in any major outdoor activity on the islands because they are primarily to animal protection, you still need to pack lots of gear for lots of different activities. For example, you’ll want to bring swimming clothes, and perhaps even a snorkel and scuba stuff—although this equipment is usually provided by the tour company. You will also need to pack tennis shoes or hiking boots on land excursions; you will probably be walking across rough terrain and volcanic landscapes. Also, the sea breeze can be quite cold, so be sure to pack some warm clothes.

By: Henry Arnault

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This article about the planning for Galapagos cruises was written by a Latin America travel expert at Peru For Less, specializing in Galapagos cruises and Peru vacations.

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