I think I will skip the Galapagos islands

Hello, I lent from my library the tL.P. travel guide for the above country The more I read the more I found out that I can live without visiting the islands. To cruise is too expensive. For day trips, I might spend most of the time on the boat and not much exploring the grounds. The sea according the season might be rough and I suffer from seasickness. The water is not clear turquoise with almost no visibility. People dive to see the fauna and I do not dive but snorkel. I enjoy to see and be surrounded by animals but for that price. Please let me know if I am wrong. I live in Florida and i can go on a cruise for much less than touring the Galapagos islands. Sure that the scenery and surroundings won't be the same. I might change my mind upon arrival in Quito or Guayaquil. For the time being I continue reading the guide. Hope to hear from you who has already went there.

Yes you can do a cruise in the caribbean from Florida for much less than visiting the Galapagos but the two things can't really be compared. The first is a dull, tacky, experience shared with 2000 people which is more about being force fed at the buffet than seeing/doing anything of interest. The second is a fantastic wildlife extravaganza which you share with 15 others (don't go for a boat bigger than 16 pax), snorkelling with turtles, sharks, sea lions, iguanas and penguins, walking on beaches with sea lions, iguanas, boobies, albatros, frigate birds (and those nasty finches), heading into the hills with the tortoises.

That said, it depends on your own interests and priorities. As you may have gathered from my answer above a caribbean cruise is my idea of holiday from hell whereas the Galapagos was one of the best experiences in my travels, but that's because that's where my interests lie and I'm happy to spend more money on that and get more value from it. I have friends who are not too fussed by wildlife and prefer urban experiences, they wouldn't want to fork out the money for a Galapagos trip.

Toad says it well. I would add, having been twice, that since you obviously don't have a burning desire to go, then you shouldn't. The islands are already overrun with people who think they "must" go, who have little understanding of the islands' importance in natural history. For the amount of money you'd have to spend just to get there and pay the park fees, you could have a fantastic trip on the mainland in nice hotels and private transport.

BTW, very few people go diving there. The naturalist cruises offer snorkeling excursions a couple of times a day, not diving. Diving requires dedicated dive boats.

thank you so much. yes it is getting difficult to plan a trip to the islands and the cost could turn to be exorbitant. i won't instead use the money saved to stay at expensive hotels or use private transport. i enjoy traveling the way I do and do wish not to be disappointed with what I would see or not upon landing on the islands. Once being there, I won't be able to go backwards.

thanks for your honest response to my comment. if i would have to see all the above as you did, how much approximately I should spend between cruise and shore day trips? Also there are a lot of walking and hiking not on easy trails.

I spent a week on a boat and saw all of that. there's no difficult hiking really (some can be done on Isabella but you don't have to). Also depending on when you go and which set of islands you visit you may see pelagic species (whales, dolphins...)

thanks again for your support. I might change my mind upon landing in Ecuador. Also do not wish to pay double occupancy fee traveling solo. The L.P. travel guide alerts me that once on shore the walking and hiking is not easy. I do not have walking problems but cannot hike up hills for a long time. I need to have some breaks. which kind of boat did you use? a day boat trip moving from one island to the next one? I think that I should invest at least $2.000 to visit the islands with airfare, accommodation and food inclusive if not more. Thanks again!

The Mary Anne does not charge a single supplement for their smallest cabin, but getting it last-minute might not work out. Other boats will not charge the s.s. if you are willing to share a cabin with a same-sex passenger, but you do have to read the fine print.

thanks for your feedback. I know that here in florida all cruise ships charge a single supplement for solo travelers.
I understand that you cruised with Mary Anne.

I have not cruised on the Mary Anne. I've been on the Lammer Law and Ecoventura's Eric.

Hi eliyakim. We just got back from Ecuador in November and decided to skip the Galapagos as well. Though I am sure it would have been amazing, it would probably be for another time and with more money. It seems like you spend the whole trip there alone.

We opted to tour around the other parts of the country and found some amazing places. Guayaquil was not one of them... :)

I've written about our favourite places here: http://hub.me/aj29A

Enjoy your trip!

Hi Stephanie, I started reading the nice report you wrote for the above country. I plan to print it and read it at my leisure time and place. How long approximately would you suggest to visit Ecuador with no rush and skipping the Galapagos? I spent 2 months in Colombia with no rush and visiting San Andres island. Also what would you suggest to do prior to land on the highest city in the world? Would you suggest me to start with Guayaquil which has nothing to offer only to get familiar with the altitude and arriving by bus? I know Guayaquil is not high. Thanks again.

I would fly in to Quito and spend a couple of days there acclimatising and sightseeing around the the city. If you fly into Guayaquil you would still have to acclimatise yourself if you want to explore the sierra unless of course you head off to Cuenca and spend a couple of days there before heading north.... Guayaquil is sea level so is of no benefit at all for acclimatising if you are travelling up into the Andes. It is a pity you have not decided to spend a couple of weeks in Galapagos and then 2-3 weeks on the mainland afterwards or before...Ecuador is a small country so it will be easier to see a bit of most of everything you want in less time than you took in Colombia without any rush...

It really depends on what your interests are as to what you will want do in Ecuador... distances aren't huge like in other countries so enjoy your trip...

Hello, are those ships good to cruise the islands please?

Hi Stephanie, thanks for sharing your travel link. I have just printed the report and will read it at my leisure time. I decided to get back to all Thorn Tree old emails and print the important documents/comments from all the nice travelers. I booked my trip to Ecuador and the islands with my miles. I will decide there if I would go or not. Thanks.

hi, I do not know if i have already replied to your note. I booked my flight to Ecuador and the Galapagos with my miles.
I will check the cost in Quito or upon arrival on the island. Thanks for your comments. I am printing them.

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