The Galapagos Islands are the most special place I have ever visited. Thanks to their centuries of isolation, you’ll see animals and plant-life there that don’t exist anywhere else in the world. My trip there was actually life-changing. Seeing first-hand the effect humans have had on animals, plant-life, and ecosystem development made me re-think how much I needed certain modern conveniences and turned me into a passionate advocate for recycling and overall environmentalism.
While part of me wants everyone to experience the magic of these islands, another part of me wants to preserve them from human influence, as the very sense of being in a place that relatively few people have ever seen is part of what makes them special. Their remoteness and lack of robust tourism infrastructure mean they are likely to remain a hidden gem for years to come.
Get to the Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos Islands officially belong to Ecuador and are accessible via daily flights from Ecuador’s capital, Quito. The flights leave Quito in the morning and make a stop in Guayaquil to pick up additional passengers. It’s easiest to arrive in Quito or Guayaquil the night before your flight to the Galapagos islands. If you’re going with a tour group (see below), the cost of your flight may be included in the overall trip price. The flights will land in a tiny airport on the island of Santa Cruz where you can meet up with your tour group or get transportation to other islands.
Go with a Tour Group
Given the Galapagos Islands’ remoteness and lack of development—only a few islands are even inhabited and fewer still have facilities for visitors—I believe the best way to go is with a tour group. The group will take care of all transportation, lodging, and meal logistics, all of which can be challenging in the Galapagos Islands even for the most experienced, resourceful traveler. Transportation between islands alone is irregular and not always easy to schedule. Although I’m sure it’s possible to take a DIY trip to the Galapagos Islands, I recommend saving time and frustration by letting an experienced tour guide make the arrangements for you. I went with a group called Active Adventures, who partnered with local company Galakiwi, and couldn’t have been happier with their services.
Decide Whether to Lodge on Land or on a Boat
The majority of tourists who visit the Galapagos Islands do so via cruise-type tours, lodging on a boat and making day trips to the islands. National Geographic is one group who hosts large-group educational tours in the Galapagos Islands in this style. If being on a boat makes you sea sick or cruising just isn’t your thing, look for a tour company that stays on land. While the tourism infrastructure is limited, it is possible to lodge on some of the individual islands, using a boat to commute between them, rather than the other way around. As noted above, I traveled with Active Adventures, which puts up guests in very basic accommodations on the islands and uses a private speed boat to travel between them. (By “basic,” I mean that there is indoor plumbing and electricity, but don’t expect a hot shower or really much water pressure in the shower at all. Keep expectations low and you’ll be pleasantly surprised.)
Keep Your Food Expectations Moderate
As mentioned, most of the islands aren’t really set up for tourists. You’ll be fed three square meals a day and the food will be very edible and even tasty—nothing too exotic. Rice, eggs, meat, and fruit will all appear regularly on your plate. That said, you’re not going to encounter anything with a Michelin star and some food combinations might not ever have occurred to you. I kept a food photo diary on my trip because the food was such an integral part of the whole Galapagos experience. On the plus side, this might be the one place in the world where you won’t encounter any fast food joints.
Pack Your Bathing Suit
One of the highlights of a visit to the Galapagos Islands is snorkeling in the deep blue waters around the islands. You’ll see fleshy starfish, hammerhead sharks, fish in colors you didn’t think existed in nature, and, if you’re lucky, you’ll share the water with a giant sea turtle or frolicking sea lions. One of the most memorable moments of my trip there was snorkeling in a secluded bay when a blue-footed boobie did a dive-bomb into the water in front of me. It snatched up a fish in its beak and then shot out of the water again just as quickly. It was incredible.
Don’t Forget Your Camera
You’ll see some of the most unusual wildlife in the world in the Galapagos Islands, from blue-footed boobies to red-and-blue sally lightfoot crabs to bizarre tree-cactus hybrid plants. Sea lions are everywhere, lounging on the beaches and piers as if they own the place. I took at least a hundred photos of baby tortoises at the tortoise breeding center and developed an enduring fascination with mangrove trees. The scrubby landscape is so captivating you’ll be snapping photos from sunrise to sunset.
Bon Voyage!
Susan Myers
This is a place I never really had a yearning to visit, but this post may just change my mind. Thanks!