Land Based Visit: Suggestions/Advice required

We are an active 60 something couple who love nature and really want to see the wildlife of the Galapagos. We have looked at many boat tours, which all include snorkeling and kayaking , which is not really what we want to do. We are wondering if we stay for three nights in Puerto Ayora and three in Puerto Villamil and take local trips if this will give us a good taste of the animals and birds. Your suggestions and advice will be appreciated.

Your itinerary sounds perfectly viable, but the local trips will be tours aimed at tourists and a huge proportion of these include snorkelling. You might also want to look into going to S Cristobal. It's has a huge population of sealions that loll and bark and snore all over the beach in the centre of town. Great for wildlife lovers and no need to get in the water.

Usually the cruises visit two sites per day (not on the first and last day when there is only one) and added to that there is snorkeling once and twice per day. Some people don’t snorkel and stay on board to relax instead.

Even if you stay on land and not take a cruise or day trips to other islands you can see lots of wildlife. Here are some examples:
From Puerto Ayora you can take a tour to the highlands of Santa Cruz and visit one of the tortoise ranches. There are organized tours, but you can also go there by taxi. If you walk to Tortuga Bay you will definitely see lava lizards and finches along the path and in the end of the long beach at Tortuga Bay there are Marine Iguanas (you can also see that near Charles Darwin Research Station and around the old pier). Around the piers in town and at Tortuga Bay you will probably also see Great Blue Herons, Striated Herons and Pelicans. At the Fish Market there are not only pelicans waiting for leftovers, but also sea lions.

In Puerto Villamil there are several ponds were you can see flamingos, and down by the watch tower on the beach there are marine iguanas. At Muro de Las Lagrimas, and along the way there, I have seen a few tortoises.

Which animals are you most interested in seeing?

I have been to Galapagos Islands three times and have done two cruises, several day trips and some exploring on my own. I have written several tips about my visits in different travel pages (some are updated since my last visit and others are not):

Puerto Ayora: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/3fbdb/183a7f/
Isla Santa Cruz: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/3fbdb/183755/

Puerto Villamil: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/3fbdb/183a3a/
Isla Isabela: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/3fbdb/184091/

Puerto Baquerizo Moreno: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/3fbdb/183a79/
Isla San Cristobal: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/3fbdb/1838b8/

Very interesting your travel notes/comments/reports which I print and keep them for my future trip to Galapagos Islands. Thanks a lot.

eliyakim, I hope you will find my tips useful in planing your trip to Galapagos. Let me know if you ave any questions.

hi Snowflakes, i printed all your recorded information and will carry it with me. thanks. yes i have some questions please:
. does the water temperature cold in June in the islands? i do not wish to use a wet suit.
. which budget accommodation would you recommend on the three main islands? I assume that lodging in the smaller ones cannot be possible.
. where would be the best seat side on the airplane to sit on in order to photograph the islands from above? right? left?
thanks again, if i will think about something else, I will contact you.

Hello eliyakim,
In Puerto Ayora (on Isla Santa Cruz) I have stayed in four different hotels. The one of them that I would like to stay in when I visit next time is Hotel Crossman. I have written about all four hotels here: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/3fbdb/183a7f/3/

In Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (on Isla San Cristobal) I have stayed in two hotels and the one I would recommend is Hostal Casa de Laura. I have written about the hotels here: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/3fbdb/183a79/3/

In Puerto Villamil (on Isla Isabela) I have stayed at three different hotels. The one I want to stay in when I visit again is Las Gardenias, a small place run by a friendly family. So far I have not had time to write a tip about that place, but only about La Jungla (it was also good) where I stayed in 2011: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/p/m/213867/

I get cold in the water and would use a dry suite to be able to enjoy staying in the water longer. If you go on a day trip that includes snorkelling you can rent a shortie. It was $5 last year. If you also plan to go on a cruise you can rent a shortie on the cruise boat. Both times I have been on a cruise it was $30 for the whole week.

Sorry, but can't remember what side of the plane it is best to sit on.

Hi Snowflakes,
A big thank you for all the important information you provided me.
I read with great interest your listing for the 4 accommodation places on island Santa Cruz (P. Ayora). I have questions. Where it would be the best location to stay? Close to the Iguana statue or the church, right? It would be very convenient to consult the cruise agents and depart from there instead of walking long distance or spend money with cabs. Hotel Lirio indeed is listed on the L.P. guide. Was the water hot in the showers? Do the hotels/hostels have internet connection please? I usually do not carry my cell phone but use my laptop instead to book ahead of time my next accommodation.
For islands San Cristobal and Isabela, the links are not right now available. You might be working on them. Both hotels are not listed in the travel guide. I will try to visit your links later one. Thanks a million.

Hello eliyakim,
All links work fine for me. Maybe it was just a temporary glitch:

Most hotels/hostels have wi-fi, at least in the lobby. Otherwise there are Internet cafés.

Yes, in Puerto Ayora it is a good location to stay near the Iguana Statue and church, but it is also good to stay near Pelican Bay. Puerto Ayora is not a very large place and it is easy to walk everywhere.

Do I understand it right that you plan to take both a cruise and than visit the three major islands independently (between these islands there are speedboats).

Hello again Snowflakes,
Thanks again. Yes i will visit those links again today and record your information. It is time consuming not easy to travel organizing my trip. I read a lot, write down notes, type and print. I am sure that I will have more paperwork to carry on me than my own clothes. Ha, ha, ha! The internet symbol is missing in the accommodation and this is why I asked you.Thanks for letting me know that the location seen on the L.P map guide is good. I did not yet make my mind how I would visit those islands for the first time of my life and might be the last one. First in Quito, I will consult the tour operators and see what I can find. Definitively I will decide landing on the islands to benefit of a last minute discount. I have 18 days and this is not enough I will change my departure date from the islands back to Quito. With a cruise, I will be among a lot of passengers and will waste time but per sure will see more islands than the ones close by as Isabel, Cruz and Cristobal. Also the rides with speedboats between one island to the next one is not short and possibly rough. Right now, I do not know what would be the best. I think that if I see those 3 islands with their fauna would be enough. Do the cruise ships going around the islands are big enough to stand the sea? If not, then why paying so much and be among a large bunch of people? I better use the camarans as recommended and see the only 3 main islands and possibly more. I hope that I will be able to open your links and keep you updated. Thanks again!

Yes I succeeded to open the 3 links and bolded/copied everything on my Word document. By the way, I should mention to you that you have done a Wonderful work with photos and everything recorded in details. Very nice of you to share those important travel information with us. G*d bless you! How many times have you been there? I see that you are not getting tired visiting those islands. Good for you! Thanks again! If you plan to visit Colombia, I have written something about accommodation and transport cost which I can pass to you. No photos!

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g294310-i6637-k7582296-o40-Rumor_of_12_VAT_to_foreigners_on_Galapagos_tour_bookings-Galapagos_Islands.html
hello again, did you hear about this new tax to visit the Galapagos? I do not know if it is in force. It would be too expensive.Thanks.

Eliyakim, you wrote this: “With a cruise, I will be among a lot of passengers and will waste time but per sure will see more islands than the ones close by as Isabel, Cruz and Cristobal”

I must say that many cruise boats in Galapagos Islands only take 16 passenger so you will not be among too many people and you will not waste a lot of time. However, there are a few large cruise ships taking up to 100 people. I have been on two cruises and on the first cruise we were only 8 passengers and the second time 15 passengers. If you book a cruise you definitely check the itinerary as they at some points spend time on the large inhabited islands, and visit places you can see on your own, but they also go to islands that you can’t visit on day trips. Some of the highlights are Isla Española, Isla Genovesa and Isla Fernandina.

I know it takes a lot of time to plan a trip, sometimes it can almost feel like a full time job, but it can also be fun. When you clicked on the links I gave you, did you see that I have also written tips about transportation and things to do. And another thing about the website Virtual Tourist, where I have written the tips, is that if you are logged in as a member you can save the tips a member has written in a trip planer that you than print.

I don’t know anything more about that new tax than what is written in that thread on Tripadvisor. It still seem to be very unclear. I plan to visit Ecuador too later this year. It will be the 5th time in Ecuador and the 4th time to Galapagos. I’m also a bit worried it will be too expensive, especially as the dollar recently has become much more expensive for me.

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