Galapagos local tour operators

Hi,
Does anyone know and would recommend a good local tour operator (i.e. not UK based) who orgaises tours to the Galapagos Islands and where I can book something online already for August 2015?
Thank you in advance.

There a a number of these in. Quito including CarpDm.ca near the Secret Garden Hostel and a whole lot more in the Mariscal Sucre area most of which have websites..

Thank you. Have you travelled with them and would you recommend them?

In 2013 I booked a last minute Galapagos cruise through Happy Gringo in Quito. I really enjoyed the cruise and I recommend Happy Gringo.

Thank you. Did you do all the islands? Most tours either cover the south or the north or the east or the west islands. What is the best to see? Thank you for your help again

Hi hzjq9
I did a 7 days cruise covering the route: Santa Cruz Island (Puerto Ayora, Highlands) – Santiago Island (Puerto Egas, Esqumilla Beach, Buccaneer Cove) –Bartholomew Island – Santiago Island (Sullivan Bay) – North Seymour Island – Mosquera Island – San Cristobal Island (Pitt Point, Cerro Brujo, Leon Dormido, Isla Lobos)- Santa Cruz Island (Puerto Ayora, Charles Darwin Station)
The highlights during the cruise were:
• Giant tortoises in the Highlands of Santa Cruz
• Snorkeling with Sea lions at Isla Lobos
• Galápagos Penguins and spectacular views at Bartholomew Island
• Magnificent Frigate Birds, Blue-Footed Boobies, Galápagos Fur seals at North Seymour Island
• Snorkeling above sharks at Leon Dormido

To protect the wildlife parts of the islands are off limits to tourists. But there are more than 60 approved visitor sites in the Galápagos. When a cruise ship visits one site it isn’t allowed to return within the next 14 days in order to reduce the impact on the environment. Many cruise ships have itineraries for their boats that last for 15 days and you can choose to cruise 15 days or just do parts of the itinerary like 8 or 4 days. In my opinion you should choose at least a 7 or 8 days cruise.

The itineraries of two cruise ships could look very similar but it could be entirely different cruises. When choosing an itinerary and a cruise ship you should consider

-what kind of wildlife and nature do you want to see? In which Islands could that kind of wildlife and nature be found?
- do you want an active and adventure itinerary with hikes and snorkeling or an itinerary with more time to relax.
- do you want to go on a big cruise ship or a small boat?

When you go to the Galápagos don´t forget to bring high protection sun cream and seasick pills!
Enjoy your trip to the Galapagos!

Thankyou for a most informative post Jodah because not many have mentioned much about the environmental impact visits to these islands have....