Located off the coast of Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands were made famous by Charles Darwin, who used his observations there to form his theory on evolution. Now, the islands play host to thousands of visitors who come to see the blue footed boobies, seals, birds, fish, and landscape of these breathtaking and diverse islands.

Here are some tips for following in Darwin’s footsteps:

Pack Light!! No more than 20 kgs. of luggage may be checked on flights to or from the Galapagos Islands. Must haves are proper footwear, shorts, long- and short-sleeve shirts, a bathing suit (bathers), a wide-brimmed hat, long pants, sunglasses, all the essential toiletries, and a light jacket.

Bring Good Shoes!! If you head to the islands, you’ll be walking over rocky terrain. Most of the area is old lava so bringing sturdy walking shoes is a must. Sandals won’t cut it.

Know the Weather!! The hot season runs from December to May when humidity is high and average temperatures are between 26-30 C. Most days are hot and sunny. From June to November, you can expect cool winds, and some occasional rain.

Fly Smart! There are no international airlines that fly directly to the islands. You must fly to then take a national flight to the islands. These flights typically cost $US 400.

Know the rules! Guests must travel with their passports and numbers must be given to your tour operator before arrival. You’ll need to show your passport there so don’t consider leaving it at the hotel. You will also need to pay US$100 park fee upon arrival at the airport in Galapagos in order to enter to this national park.

Do Your Research!! Get the name of ship and do a bit of an internet search. Find out its history. The tourism board can help. A decent ship has 2 skiffs so that they can ferry passengers to the islands more quickly. They also have free kayaks on board, a decent outside deck to sit and relax comfortably on, good food, and a crew that won’t chase the women passengers around. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included on every ship cruising the Galapagos but you may want to find out beforehand what the meal is.

Check out the staff! Ask for the guide’s name and credentials. If you can’t get that info, go elsewhere. A good guide should have a degree, speak fluent Spanish and English, and a couple of years experience. This is the person who will be explaining the islands to you, you don’t want a bad guide to ruin your expensive vacation!

Check your route! Avoid ships that combine 8 day cruises with the 4 day cruise option. It means you’ll be sitting on the dock as they pick up a new set of passengers. There are numerous islands and you should try to see them all. However, if that’s not possible you should try to see at least 2 of the following: Genovesa, Punta Espinosa, and Punta Suarez. (These are the most impressive!)

Size Matters! The bigger the ship, the less intimate the experience. Large ships herd people like cattle. They are more comfortable but less intimate. Moreover, they can’t change their itinerary as easily to take advantage of things that might happen (stopping to watch whales, spending longer on one island, etc etc.)

No matter when and with who you go to the Galapagos with, research is very important. There are many, many tour operators, and though strict rules help keep the bad ones out, many still offer substandard tours. You get what you pay for so pay for something nice when you go to the Galapagos.

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