Adventure Travel Experiences in Ecuador and the Galapagos – Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

by Francisco Jarrin
(Ecuador)

If you’re planning a visit to Ecuador or the Galapagos Islands then there are a few things you should know first. Following are answers to the questions I get asked on a continual basis. At the end of the article there are more resources listed should you want more information.

How long do you stay at each island in the Galapagos?
You’ll stay two hours in the morning at one place, two hours in the afternoon at a second place, and then you’re out of time. The yachts must sail.

How many visitor sites are there in the Galapagos?
There are 139 visitor sites.

What are the rules regarding food in Galapagos?
All food served in Galapagos comes from Mainland Ecuador because there is very little farming in the Islands. Only 4% of the area is open to agriculture.

Food going into the Islands must come from registered suppliers, and to become a supplier you must complete the Ecuador sanitary regulations.

What this means to you is that you cannot bring your box lunch into the islands… not even an apple. All fruits or vegetables with seeds will be stopped and destroyed at the Quito Airport. Seafood served on the yachts comes from artisan fisherman in the Islands.

Can you go all over the Islands?
No, there’s a visitor’s path that you must follow. At the beach you must stay within the boundaries of given areas so that you don’t step onto the eggs of tortoises. They lay them at the edge of the sand. There are also safety concerns because the rocks are slippery due to the algae, and you can get hurt if you fall.

Do you visit more with a ship or with a land based stay?
Visits are equivalent between the two. With the new development model you cannot say you visit more with ships, and now you would need two weeks to see it all.

How long is the minimum stay in the Galapagos?
Three nights.

Can you fly direct into the Galapagos?
No. A basic two to three night stay on the mainland is required to match flights, but this is good because you get to see a bit of Ecuador.

What is the 2011 regulation for visits with yachts?
“15-day Itineraries Proposal of the Galapagos National Park”
The Galapagos National Park (GNP) has issued a notice to all Galapagos operators informing them that, as of February 1st, 2011 all Galapagos vessels must operate with 15-day/14-night itineraries, which can be cut into two 7-night itineraries or as two 6-day/5 night and one 5-day/4-night itinerary.


The purpose of this measure is to re-arrange all itineraries in an orderly way and to control the number of persons visiting a determined visitor site at a given time. Each vessel has to present its proposed itinerary for approval by the GNP, who will then assign the visitor sites according to each individual site’s acceptable load of visitors.

What is the least expensive way to book a stay?
A half pension program, including hotel and visits, is around US$350 per person, per day in double room.

Can you rely on last minute specials?
Not all the yachts offer every week at the last minute. Actually the rule is that they run out of spaces soon, so don’t count on getting a last minute deal.

Can you scuba dive from any yacht even if you have license?
There are boats for diving and boats for naturalist visits. Boats must follow the permit they have.

Regarding Mainland Ecuador, what are the basics everyone should know?
- Do not climb any mountain in the Andes ALONE, always hire a tour operator. You may spend a bit more money, but it’s safer and much more enjoyable with a guide.
- Local tour operators usually have better rates at all hotels.
- Water is not safe. Drink bottled water.
- Do not eat at cheap restaurants because you could get food poisoning.
- Bring small denominations of money for payments. There’s is lack of change.
- Do not overexert yourself during tours. Altitude is important... we are at 9300 ft.
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Francisco Jarrin lives in Quito, Ecuador and has been specializing in adventure tours for more than 10 years. He holds the official Tour Guide Degree offered by the Secretary of Tourism and the Secretary of Environment of Ecuador. His company, FlashTravel Inc., is a trusted deluxe eco cultural tour operator. Some of the adventures Francisco in known for include award-winning photography tours, visually stunning slide programs on nature and travel, guided nature walks that educate and inspire and professionally escorted nature tours in Latin America.

For more information, or to contact Francisco, you can visit his Web site at www.galapagosfirst.com. You can also visit him on facebook or any major social network by asking for flashtravel or galapagosfirst.com.