r/galapagos

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

Hi all! I plan on taking my 14 year old son to Galapagos next year. Many threads on here have been super helpful, but I am feeling a little overwhelmed. The cruise option seems ideal in terms of hassle and convenience, but pricey. Are there any cruises anyone took that they'd recommend for 7 days that wasn't horribly expensive? Note: my son loves to fish, we both love to snorkel, and I'd like to do a dive or two. So that's the experience are are searching for. A cruise also seems ideal as it seems like less of a hassle in terms of getting from the airport to the islands and having to manage all of the transfers.

If we opt for island hopping, I was thinking of staying on one island for 3ish days and another island for 3ish days. What islands would you all recommend, and how do you get to these islands? Any hotel recommendations? If we opt for day excursions, does anyone have any recommendations for companies that do fishing, snorkeling and diving?

Thank you!

I am severely allergic to fire ants and taking allergy shots for the species found where I live. but I’ve seen that the Galapagos has three other species. I will bring epi pens and take antihistamines, but want to know how bad they are in reality. We are going on an 8-day cruise, including highland tour in Santa Cruz. Thanks!

Hey everyone,
I’m looking for insight from people familiar with real estate in the Galápagos — especially San Cristóbal Island near Puerto Baquerizo Moreno.
I’m interested in a residential lot of about 1 acre located just outside town near the gas station, and I’m trying to better understand both the buying side and future resale potential. The lot is empty with no water or electricity atm, but there are neighbors with both so it shouldn’t be an issue.
I have an Ecuadorian passport and understand there may be some other issues with residency. Those aside, a few things I’m hoping people here might know firsthand:
How active is the real estate market on San Cristóbal right now?
Are residential lots actually selling, or mostly just being listed?
What are realistic price ranges per square meter/hectare for land just outside town?
Are there restrictions for non-residents or foreigners buying or holding land in the Galápagos?
How strict are zoning, environmental, and building regulations?
Are utilities/infrastructure usually reliable outside the main town area?
Is tourism growth helping property values, or are regulations making investment harder?
What legal or title problems should buyers watch for?

I’ve also seen listings on San Cristóbal that seem surprisingly high compared to mainland Ecuador, so I’m trying to figure out whether those are realistic sale prices or just aspirational asking prices.
If anyone has:
personal experience buying/selling there,
knowledge of current market conditions,
advice about legal due diligence,
or thoughts on long-term value,
I’d really appreciate hearing it.
Thanks in advance.

We are considering booking a cruise on a smaller boat for May 2027, and wondering the pros and cons of one week (likely the east route) versus two weeks (east and west).

We’re in our late 40s and active. We are not generally fans of cruises, but we have not done a smaller expedition cruise before. Is two weeks on a nice boat with 300 sq foot room too long?

We’ve heard that the daily itinerary of hike, snorkel, panga, repeat, can get repetitive, but have not seen any other downsides beyond cost and total time on the boat.

Would especially love to hear from anyone who has done two weeks on a small boat in the Galapagos.

I dont usually write reviews but this operator deserve one from me. My first time in the Galapagos and i wanted to be memorable as possible so I signed up for a discovey dive yesterday at Aquaventures. I choosed a black fins during fitting the day before dive but the crew intentionally replaced them with PInk fins on the dive day. I didn't want this thing ruined my trip so i kept going . After dive I asked the crew at the office why my black fins were replaced with pink fins and they were all laughing.

Our group signed up for Darwin Bay and Carawa but we only end up circlIng around Darwin Bay, we never went to Carawa. There was no communications as to why we didn't go to Carawa.

Regardless of my experienced with aquaadventures i still believe The Galapagos islands is unique and wonderful and so are the people.

We will be in San Cristobal and have an available day to do one or the other. One of our group gets very seasick despite all the tricks, but may attempt using the patches this time. Travel in May. Looking at different operators.Thank you!

Ok, finally getting caught up with life back home after a 2 week trip to the Galapagos. We had initially planned on just winging it and doing day trips/land based tours on our own. I decided it was going to end up costing us more to do daily/last minute planning and ending up hiring a guide for our trip. I honestly do not think our experience would've been so wonderful if it weren't for Alex. I am going to copy my review that I left on his website. I am more than willing to answer any additional questions about logistics, cost, what we did/saw, etc, but definitely want to shout out the homie, Alex. This man literally knew everyone in Santa Cruz and was a magician. Whatever we needed, he knew exactly where it was, how to get it, and provided genuine insight into life on the island.

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We spent two weeks in the Galápagos this past April, and without question, the heart of the experience was our guide, Alex. If you spend any time with him, you'll understand quickly why our family started calling him "the Mayor." Everywhere we went across the islands, he knew everyone — the fishermen, the other guides/rangers, the locals tucked into the quieter corners of Isabela and Santa Cruz. It felt less like a tour and more like following a beloved neighbor through his own neighborhood. Alex has spent nearly 30 years in the Galápagos, and that depth of knowledge and love for the place simply cannot be faked. He was once a caretaker for Lonesome George — arguably the most famous tortoise in the world — and that connection to conservation history runs through everything he does. His background is remarkably broad: he has taught conservation and marine biology in Europe, traveled widely, and somehow distilled all of it into a generosity of spirit that makes you feel profoundly lucky to be in his company.

No question went unanswered. Whether we were asking about the mating habits of marine iguanas, the geopolitics of protected marine zones, or something happening far beyond these islands, Alex engaged with genuine curiosity and depth. He never made you feel like you were just another group passing through. Our teenager had to write a paper on an ecological issue affecting the Galapagos and Alex took the time to help him research his project and showed him firsthand to make the learning experience come to life for him.

Evenings were their own kind of magic. We'd gather over dinner and a cold cerveza, and the conversation would roam — from the ecological pressures facing the islands to stories from his decades of life and travel. These were the kinds of conversations you replay on the flight home.

Alex also generously opened his home on Isabela to us for part of our stay. It was warm, welcoming, and utterly lovely — exactly the kind of hospitality you can't book through a website. If you are considering a tour in the Galápagos, stop considering and book with Alex. He is the rare guide who doesn't just show you a place — he helps you understand why it matters, and why it deserves to be protected. We left the islands feeling like family, and that is entirely because of him.

https://www.alexguidesgalapagos.com/about-alex

https://www.instagram.com/galapagosalexventure/

Hi all

Currently on track to travel to the Galapagos in September and I'm trying to sort everything out as much as I can in advance. I'm trying to fill out the TCT pre registration online and one of my hotels doesn't come up in the drop box. The trouble I'm having is trying to send an email to what the website says is their email help address.

asistencias.consultas@gobiernogalapagos.gob.ec

The email I send returns as being undelivered. Could anyone please confirm if the above is the correct email address or if they've had this issue and know a solution? I'm aware I can fill out the TCT at the airport as a last option.

Thanks in advance!

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.   

We had originally made other plans for September (no flights booked yet but itinerary planned), however given the ongoing Iran war we are considering whether to avoid flights to Asia (we are in the U.K.) due to risks of cancellations. One alternative we were considering was the Galapagos. This is a bucket list destination for us but I had originally thought we might visit either next May or 2028 in May. The problem with visiting in September is that I am not sure whether the weather conditions would mean that we are actually going to regret not waiting until May….the information about the best times to visit online is a bit unclear…some websites say it is a year round destination, some say Dec - May is best, some seem to reach completely different conclusions on the best months! I am hoping someone who has visited at this time can let me know their thoughts!

I've seen it mentioned that last minute Galapagos cruise deals can commonly be found as the departure date nears. What are the logistics of making this happen? If you've done this, are you booking a hotel/airbnb and abandoning it if you find a deal? How common are these last minute deals? Do prices start dropping a couple of weeks out or just a few days from departure? It looks like the ships depart from different islands. There also seems to be a risk of delaying the flight purchase until the last minute to ensure I fly into the correct island.

Also, when looking at the cruises, they strongly recommend purchasing flights through them, otherwise they charge a fee. Is that fee waived if you purchase a last minute deal and are already on the island?

Thanks in advance for any advice!