The accommodations included in this itinerary are 5-star hotel in Quito and 3-star hotel in Galapagos.

This trip involves a lot of travel by speedboat between the various Galapagos Islands, the rides can be quite bumpy at times. The good news is that seasickness can often be managed with medication. Consult a health professional before your trip. 

Wildlife is a big focus on this trip, with activities like bird watching and snorkeling.

This trip includes an 8+ mile hike (approximately 4-5 hours) on rocky terrain. We recommend bringing comfortable hiking boots with ankle support. 

The sun in the Galapagos Islands is incredibly strong due to its close proximity to the equator.  Ensure you are well prepared with sunscreen, a sun hat, sunglasses, and a rash guard if desired.

This trip includes snorkeling on multiple days throughout the itinerary. Strong swimming skills are required to take part in this tour.

This trip visits Quito, which is at a high altitude (9,350'), and as a result, some people can suffer from altitude sickness, regardless of age or physical health. We recommend bringing altitude sickness medication with you, just in case.

May is considered one of the best times to travel to Galapagos. Average outdoor temperatures are 68-82ºF and the average water temperature is 74ºF. This is also the tie when blue-footed boobies begin their courtship, sea turtles are hatching on Gardner Bay and Punta Cormorant, most of the marine iguanas' eggs hatch from their nests on Santa Cruz, waved Albatross on Espanola start laying their eggs, giant tortoises on Santa Cruz Island start to migrate from the highlands to the lowlands in search of suitable nesting places, the male frigatebirds on North Seymour start flaunting their red pouches and some species of whales and dolphins start to follow the pattern of migratory birds who use the islands as a rest stop on their journey south.

As Ecuador has a tipping culture, travelers are expected to tip small amounts for most services, so please be prepared. Your trip leader will help to provide you with some suggestions as to what amounts are appropriate. Your trip leader may also suggest a tipping kitty.

A Galapagos Transit Card fee of $20 USD is payable on departure from Quito Airport. The Galapagos park fee of $100USD is payable upon arrival to the islands and must be paid in cash only. These amounts are in addition to your trip cost.

When booking, please ensure that your details are correct and they match your passport. Your passport must match the booking details provided to us; otherwise, it could cause issues with your transit card and internal flights resulting in purchasing a new card and flights at your own expense.

Some of the hotels in the Galapagos do have internet connections, however, it’s often very slow and may not always be functional.

Please note that in the Galapagos, many of the hotel’s hot water services are limited and as such, hot water may not always be available and cold showers may be the only option.

Strict rules apply in the Galapagos Islands aimed at protecting and preserving its unique biodiversity. Adventure People strongly agree and support these rules which range from times of the day that a destination can be visited the distance kept between people and wildlife and especially not removing anything from the environment (shells and corals for example) -- all of these rules will be explained in more detail when you arrive in Galapagos. Not adhering to these rules can lead to hefty fines for travelers and can result in being removed from the trip without a refund.  For more information, please visit http://www.galapagos.org/travel/travel/park-rules/.