u/CNHTours

I was recently on an 8-day active cruise with CNH Tours, which meant snorkeling or kayaking, and hikes everyday. The sun is no joke out there, so I’m sharing this in hopes you’ll arrive better prepared. Take this with a grain of salt since I may have forgotten a thing or two!

Clothing:

• Loose-fitting long sleeve shirt/hoodie with UPF protection. Bonus points if it has thumb holes and extends over the tops of your hands. Bring 2 to rotate
• Long sleeve vented button-up over a tank seemed like a smart move for extra mosquito protection without overheating. I didn't bring this but it could be nice.
• REI Sahara convertible pants: perfect mosquito + sun protection and vented in all the right places.
• Boat-Wear: Loose wide-leg pants, like the kind you’d wear in Thailand. The humidity makes everything feel hotter than you expect. A sundress or flowy things are nice to lounge in.
• Quick-dry airy shorts for options.
• Sports bra/bralette. Great for under shirts because you will sweat a ton.

Shoes / Water Gear:

• I brought Keen Whisper closed-toe sandals and they were perfect for both wet and dry landings. You can wear socks with them for hikes.
• Water socks that go above your ankles are great with flippers and help prevent rubbing/blisters.
• Dry bag to hold your things for dinghy rides was useful
• Swim leggings were clutch for snorkeling since the wetsuits they provided were shorties. Don't forget a long sleeve rash guard too!

Sun + Bug Protection:

• Brimmed hat that covers your neck. You’ll want one with a little structure because floppy hats don’t photograph as well. Reverse split brims are nice too.
• Fingerless sun gloves: I didn’t bring these and regretted it. My hands are dramatically tanner than the rest of my body now.
• Polarized sunglasses made for water were especially useful on the dinghies for spotting eagle rays and turtles in the water, past the glare
• Sunscreen: We brought two 3 oz bottles of sensitive skin Blue Lizard. Mineral, reef-safe, and the perfect amount for me + my husband for 8 days.
• Bug repellent: DO NOT forget this. Picaridin spray/lotion worked well.
• Chapstick with sunscreen - I have sensitive lips! Protect your skin barrier.

Misc:

• Binoculars: Borrow from family or friends if you have to. I wouldn't have seen half the animals I did if I didn't bring one.
• Small handheld fan was surprisingly clutch.
• Electrolyte packets.
• Extra swimsuit so you’re not constantly putting on a damp one.
• Motion sickness meds. I used Bonine and took it the night before the cruise and then 1x every evening. It was perf
• Bring a book. The onboard WiFi was ok and honestly it was nice to digitally detox a bit.
• Small exfoliating wash cloth. This would've been nice to get all the sunscreen off in the shower at the end of the day. Mineral white cast really clings on.
• Small backpack for the hikes to hold all the extra things
• Water bottle

Notwithstanding some bees and wasps, the only poisonous land species in Galapagos are scorpions and centipedes. There are two Galapagos scorpion species - the Hadruroides maculatus galapagoensis, which occurs on most of the major islands and the Centruroides exsul, which occurs on Española, San Cristobal, Santa Cruz and Pinta islands.  You will likely not see them unless you have a good guide who knows how to find them.  None has a particularly dangerous sting, though they may cause a bit of pain.   There is also the Galapagos centipede, Scolopendra galapagoensis, which can grow up to 30 centimetres (12 inches) long, and has a wonderful pair of venomous pincers which can deliver a painful, poisonous bite but not deadly.

It has become easier to make one's own flight arrangements from continental Ecuador to Galapagos. Before considering doing so, it is very important to note that cruise ships have rigid schedules.  They sail at a set time, from one of three places in Galapagos, and drop off passengers for flights back to the continent at set times, again in one of three places in Galapagos.  Ship owners have access to guaranteed spaces aboard specific flights that ensure a seamless trip from the continent, to Galapagos, to the ship.  It is strongly recommended that you have the ship book your flights to avoid any problems.   Anyone booking flights independently assumes the consequences of being on the wrong flight and arriving after the ship has sailed, flying to the wrong airport in the islands.  This might mean missing your cruise, or having to hire a private transport to your ship at a cost of $1,000 or more.   

Taking a few days post-cruise to relax and enjoy the local scene is a great idea.

Cruises typically end at one of three places: i) Baltra Airport - from there, you can get to Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz island. ii) Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristobal island and iii) In Puerto Ayora proper (Santa Cruz Island).

Once off your ship, if you're just thinking of taking a couple of extra days, it's usually easier to just stay put in the nearest town. If you have more time, you can consider checking out other places as well.

Towns are:

i) Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island.  This is the largest (accessible via Baltra Island airport, a 1.5-hour trip by land and ferry) and has the most services in terms of restaurants, shops, bars, scuba outfitters and hotels.  The Charles Darwin Research Station is located here.

ii) Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, on San Cristobal Island.  This is the seat of the provincial government and comes across as more of a government town.  It has all the necessary infrastructure for visitors, but is about ¼ the size of Puerto Ayora.  Access is by San Cristobal airport, just 3 minutes away by taxi, or a 15-minute walk down the road!  The town is also connected to Puerto Ayora via a 3 hour ferry "speed boat" ferry service.

iii) Puerto Villamil, on Isabela Island.  Sand roads, a fairly quiet little town, ¼ again the size of Puerto Baquerizo Moreno but located close to many good natural visitor areas.  Hotel and restaurant options are more limited here. Access is by boat from Puerto Ayora or via small inter-island plane service. 

iv)  Puerto Velasco Ibarra, Floreana:  A tiny settlement, with only 110 residents, and extremely limited hotel/restaurant options.  You can't just show up - make sure you plan ahead.   Access is by boat from Puerto Ayora, but service is not regular.

The more flexibility you have in terms of cruise start / end dates, the great the number of ships and itineraries you'll be able to consider when choosing a cruise.   If you choose your international flights before you choose a cruise, you might end up with few options, none of which is ideal.  We strongly recommend that you choose your cruise first, and then deal with international flights.