Tour Information
Ecuador and Galapagos Island Travel
All of our Galapagos tours start with a flight from either
Quito or Guayaquil (in Ecuador) to the Islands.
It takes approximately an hour and a half to fly from Guayaquil
to the Galapagos Islands and two and a half hours to fly from
Quito, which includes a stop in Guayaquil. Most flights arrive
at Baltra Island using TAME,
an Ecuadorian airline. The rest arrive at San Cristobal Island
using AeroGal.
Your crew will take you directly from the airport to your
boat.
Galapagos Island Tours
Boats navigate during the night and spend the day on the
islands. You will usually visit two islands a day and spend
two to three hours on each one.
We provide naturalist guides on all Galapagos tours. Many
are biologists. The guide’s role is to make sure the National
Park’s rules are enforced, to explain and answer questions
about the Galapagos wildlife and natural history and to escort
visitors on shore.
Some of our boats provide guests with the opportunity to
converse one-on-one with the naturalists and ask questions
about the Islands. One of our ships, the Galapagos Explorer
II, is the only vessel in the islands with one of the scientists
from the Darwin Research Station. The Station conducts land
and marine research for Galapagos conservation. This is the
most deluxe ship that provides Galapagos tours.
Guides on Galapagos tours also ensure that the National Park’s
rules are enforced. For example, visitors are restricted to
designated paths to help preserve the Islands’ ecosystem.
Individuals are not allowed to bring food, pets or plants
to the Islands.
Underwater Galapagos tours are some of the most exciting
in the world. The currents are a mix of warm tropical waters
and cold currents from the Antartic, creating the most diverse
diving in the world. Dive with sea lions, hammerhead sharks,
dolphins, equatorial penguins, sea turtles, diving iguanas,
rays and many more species. Please be aware that Galapagos
diving is for experienced divers only.
Galapagos Tours - Prices
Note: The price of the flight is not included in the price
for the cruise on our Web site.
Prices for return flights to the Galapagos Islands from Quito:
- High season: June 15 to September 14, November 1 to April
30: US$ 407,46
- Low season: Rest of the year: US$ 351,46
Prices for return flight to the Galapagos Islands from Guayaquil:
- High season: June 15 to September 14, November 1 to April
30: US$ 356,57
- Low season: Rest of the year: US$ 312,89
Time table from “Tame” (national airline):
| From |
To |
Days |
Departure |
Arrival |
| Quito/Guayaquil |
Baltra |
Monday through Sunday |
07H30 |
09H45 |
| Quito/Guayaquil |
Baltra |
Monday through Sunday |
09H30 |
11H45 |
| Baltra |
Quito/Guayaquil |
Monday through Sunday |
10H45 |
14H45 |
| Baltra |
Quito/Guayaquil |
Monday through Sunday |
12H45 |
16H40 |
| Quito/Guayaquil |
San Cristobál |
Mon, Wed, Sat |
10H00 |
12H15 |
| San Cristobál |
Quito/Guayaquil |
Mon, Wed, Sat |
13H15 |
17H15 |
In addition there is a $100 national park fee to be paid
by cash only upon arrival on the Islands.
Galapagos
Tours - How to Pay for your Cruise and Flights
Payment: The passengers will have to make a down payment
of at least 30% (depending on the policy of the boat) of the
total amount to secure the spaces after the confirmation of
the tour. The balance has to be deposited at the latest, 30
DAYS before the departure time . These are policies from the
boat operators and not Columbus Travel.
Insurance: We strongly recommend passengers buy trip
cancellation insurance. In addition we also recommend the
following insurances: life, international medicine, baggage
loss and baggage delay, loss of personal belongings lost or
stolen personal objects during the length of the trip.
Warning: Diving in the Galapagos Islands is advisable
for experienced divers only. Cold waters, strong currents
and surge may be present. Passenger participation in water
sports, snorkeling, skin diving, kayaking, etc. is done
at your own risk. COLUMBUS TRAVEL CIA LTDA. assumes no
liability for accidents occurring for passengers participating
in these activities.
Galapagos
Tours - Cancellation and Penalty Policy
- Cancellation at least 3 months before the trip: 100% refund
less USD 100 for administrative expenses.
- Cancellation between 2 months and 1 month before the trip:
50% refund of the full amount.
- Cancellation 1 month or less before the trip: No refund
NOTE: THE ITINERARY IS ALWAYS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT
PREVIOS NOTICE DUE TO OPERATIONAL PURPOSES, WHEATER CONDITIONS
OR POLITICS OF THE GALAPAGOS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITIES.
