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Time Zone
GMT - 6 hours, one hour behind Ecuador's mainland.
Language
Ecuador's official language is Spanish, but English is spoken in
major visitor centres. Both Spanish and English are spoken onboard
the Eclipse and Athala II.
Currency
Ecuador's currency is the US Dollar.
Money Matters
There are no ATM facilities in the Galapagos Islands. Onboard our
boats, the following are accepted for payments over US $50:
travellers cheques, Visa, MasterCard and American Express. You do
not need to carry cash on board and bills will be settled the
evening before the last day of the cruise in order to avoid any
inconveniences during disembarkation.
Tipping
We recommend an amount in the range of US $100 - 200 per passenger
per week for the crew (this will be divided among all the crew
members) and between US $40 - 80 per passenger per week for the
guide. The total tip would therefore be somewhere between US $140 -
280 per per passenger. However, this is merely a suggestion as we
consider gratuities to be a very personal matter.
FLIGHT ACCESS & TRANSFER DETAILS
Flights to the Galapagos Islands leave from Ecuador's capital
Quito with a stopover in Guayaquil. We recommend arriving to Quito
or Guayaquil 2 days prior to your cruise departure.
Upon arrival on Baltra Island passengers are met by our guides
after passing through passport control. Passengers are then
transported on Aerogal buses to the
vessel anchored nearby.
PASSPORT & VISA INFORMATION
All passports must be valid for at least six months from the date
of entry to Ecuador and have two free pages. Please check if a visa
is required for your nationality.
Weather
December to June is the hot season with occasional tropical
showers. Temperatures range from 25°C to 32°C (77°F to 90°F).
During this season, warm waters from the Panama Basin flow through
the Galapagos, producing a sea temperature of 20°C to 27°C (68°F to
80°F).
From July to November is the dry season and temperatures range
from 20°C to 27°C (68°F to 80°F). During this season, cooler waters
from the Humboldt
Current are driven to the islands, causing the water temperature
to drop to 18°C to 24°C (64°F to 75°F).
Health
No vaccinations are required for entry to Ecuador. However,
travellers with heart conditions or high blood pressure who will be
arriving in Quito before continuing to the Galapagos Islands should
check with their physicians about high altitude travel prior to
travel.
Good medical care is available in major cities. However, we
suggest seeing your doctor at least 4 weeks before your trip.
For Galapagos, guests should be in good physical health, due to
the fact that the daily nature treks may include walking on
irregular and elevated terrain. Getting in and out of the zodiacs
occasionally requires some physical effort and some of the landings
are on wet and slippery lava rocks. If a passenger suffers from any
medical condition, we advise him/her to consult a physician prior
to booking the cruise.
Electricity
110 volts, 60 cycles AC is used. Most outlets are for two flat
prongs. Onboard all cabins have both 110 & 220 volt electrical
outlets.
Photography
The main rule when visiting the Galapagos Islands is "take nothing
but photographs and leave nothing but footprints". If you wish to
take close-up photos of the animals, please always stay on the
trails that are marked out by the National Park Service, don't step
off the trail. Do not use flash photography for close-up animal
shots. We recommend disposable underwater cameras for capturing
amazing shots during snorkelling.
Clothing
There is no formal dress code on board, but we require that shoes,
shirts and trousers/shorts be worn in the lounge, dining room and
library. We also require that gentlemen wear long trousers for
dinner. Bring plenty of T-shirts, fast drying slacks, shorts,
wind-breaker, sweater in the cooler months, hat with a brim and
string, walking shoes/boots, sandals and comfortable shoes for on
board.
We suggest you pack the following: one small daypack/backpack;
t-shirts; shorts; light-weight waterproof jacket; sweater in the
cooler months; hat; walking shoes; sandals/flip flops; bathing
suit/swimming trunks; sunglasses; sunblock; insect repellent;
camera; extra camera batteries.
COMMUNICATIONS
Both boats are equipped with a satellite phone for emergency
calls. Internet service is currently unavailable on board; however,
during your visit to Puerto Ayora, Internet cafés will be available
and national and international calls can be made using the local
telephone company.