General Information
Note: The information presented here is an abbreviated version of our formal General Information for Tours to Ecuador: The Galápagos. Its sole purpose is to give readers a sense of what might be involved if they took this tour. Although we do our best to make sure what follows here is completely accurate, it should not be used as a replacement for the formal document which will be sent to all tour registrants, and whose contents supersedes any information contained here.
ENTERING AND LEAVING ECUADOR: Ecuadorian authorities require a passport that is valid for at least six months after the date of your arrival in Ecuador. Visas are not required for U.S. and Canadian citizens. Tourist cards are prepared by your arriving airline.
ECUADOR MAP AND COUNTRY INFORMATION: You can view maps of Ecuador in the University of Texas series here. You can review the U.S. Department of State background notes on Ecuador here.
HEALTH: Ecuador is quite clean, and we will be exploring places that have been visited by Americans and Europeans for some time. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention do not recommend a malarial prophylaxis for the areas we will be visiting, as there have been no recent cases of the disease. You may want to consider following the CDC’s precautions if visiting the Amazonian region of Ecuador before or after the cruise. Further, the CDC currently recommends the following vaccines: hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG); typhoid; yellow fever (although this is not required to enter the country); as needed, booster doses for tetanus-diphtheria and measles. See your doctor at least 4-6 weeks before departure to decide which of these is appropriate for you and to allow time for received immunizations to take effect. You can review the CDC latest advisories here.
On the Quito day, we may do some birding in the high-elevation páramo, at around 11,000 feet, where the air is thin. Although most people are not affected by such short exposure to high elevation, anyone with a history of altitude problems should discuss it with their physician.
If you are susceptible to sea sickness, please bring an ample supply of dramamine, bonine, scopolamine patches or other prevention. Note that snorkeling is a frequent option on our cruise. Common snorkeling safety practices will be observed.
PACE OF THE TOUR: Participants should expect relaxed starts on most mornings, with a warm breakfast at 7:00 a.m. On some days, we may have an earlier outing and come back for a slightly later breakfast. Lunches and dinners will be on the yacht, with the exception of one grilled dinner on the beach of Floreana. Meals before and after the cruise will be in restaurants. Our day of birding in the Andes will be on dirt roads, while land-based excursions in the Galapagos are on trails, often with extremely rough footing, such as uneven rocks and sharp lava flows.
If in the course of the trip however, you are concerned about your ability to do any particular hike or activity, please consult the guide or naturalist before you start. We have structured our itineraries in ways that permit you to skip a planned activity if you choose. Please note that the guides have the responsibility (and the authority) to require any passenger to remain at the hotel or on board the yacht whenever the guide believes that a passenger’s health and/or physical ability makes that activity a substantial risk to his/her well being, or would limit the enjoyment of the activity by the other trip members.
CLIMATE: Quito has been called the city of eternal spring, and the climate there is crisp and cool with chilly nights and pleasantly warm days. Rain is always possible, but sunburn is more likely.
July in the Galapagos can be surprisingly cool, with daytime highs over the ocean around 70-75°F, and in the more sheltered lowlands of the islands no higher than the low 80’s°F. The highlands are usually in the low- to mid-60’s and can be characterized by a constant mist or drizzle (garúa).
ACCOMMODATION All of our accommodations on this tour including our yacht have private bathroom facilities and electricity. .
SMOKING: We request that you do not smoke in the vehicles or when the group is gathered for meals, checklists, etc. If you are sharing a room with a non-smoker, please do not smoke in the room. If you smoke in the field, we ask that you do so well away and downwind from the group, if possible.
GENERAL INFORMATION & CONDITIONS: Please take a moment to read the WINGS General Information & Conditions. This section contains important information about how we conduct tours, e.g., what is included in the tour price, refund and cancellation policies, pace of the tours and other information that will help you prepare for the tour.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: A more complete General Information for Tours to Ecuador: The Galápagos will be sent to each registrant on receipt of their booking. Final information with instructions for meeting the group, hotel addresses, etc., will be mailed about three weeks before trip departure. Other news will be communicated as necessary. If you have any questions, please contact us.