There are two sides to every story, and there are two ways of exploring the Galapagos Islands: by island-hopping and by cruise. Travelers are commonly paralyzed by these options, and rightly so — if you’ve never been to the Galapagos, how are you supposed to know how you should experience them? Let’s be clear about what the difference is between these two in the first place. Island-hopping (also referred to as land-based) means you’ll be staying at hotels on the main islands, and doing day trips (‘hopping’) from there. A cruise involves you travelling on a boat during the duration of your trip, and the boat being your base for all activities (lodging, meals, excursions, etc.).

While we hope this guide is thorough, any well-planned trip involves your own research and having a clear idea of the kind of Galapagos experience you’re after. So, our biggest recommendation as you decide is to do your homework on the islands and the wildlife, and map out what your priorities are — this will be the main driver behind the type of tour you choose. It all comes down to a matter of preference, so knowing what you want is key. Finally, keep in mind that careful planning is especially important during Galapagos high seasons, which are: 1) the last two weeks of April, 2) July to mid-September, and 3) the last two weeks of December.  For cruises, the months of May and November are also considered high season, since many boats are on deck receiving maintenance.

Below, we break down the main differences between each type of tour: cost, accomodation, flexibility, range of visit (including wildlife sightings), activities, duration of trip, and overall comfort. To make the differences even more clear, we go into further detail (including pros and cons) in the last part of this guide. We hope this is as handy for you as it has been for all our travelers!

The main differences:

Cost: The cheaper option is definitely island-hopping. The all-inclusive nature of cruises makes their rates higher and less flexible. That said, the variety of cruises do suit different budgets, but even your cheapest option will be comparable or more expensive than an island-hopping itinerary. Island-hopping allows you to be more flexible with your budget, as you can choose which excursions and activities to engage in, and where to stay for any given day. For reference, a 5-day cruise can go anywhere from $ 2,000 – $ 4,000, while a 5-day island-hopping tour ranges from $ 900 – $ 2,500.

Accomodation: The biggest difference here is that for cruises, your lodging (including meals!) will be on the boat, whereas for island-hopping you will stay at a hotel on one of the main islands. Lodging options on the islands range from hostels to high-end hotels, so again, island-hopping has more flexibility built into it. Cruises usually include the following accommodation categories: Luxury, First Class, Tourist Superior, and Tourist (and the main difference between these is of course, space and comfort). If you’re particular about space, be sure to inquire about specifics for your boat.

Flexibility: Simply put, cruises lack flexibility and independence, whereas island-hopping is fully dependent on them. When you book a cruise, you book a package deal — your schedule, excursions, and activities are pre-determined for you (and if you want to take the hassle out of planning, this can be a good thing!). With a cruise, the only thing you’ll get to decide is its duration. With island-hopping, you get to choose where to stay, what to do, when to do it, and at what pace (although it may take more planning on your end!)

Range of visit (islands and wildlife): The Galapagos archipelago consists of 13 major islands, 5 medium-sized islands, and 215 islets. That’s a lot of ground to cover! And you’ll get to see a lot more of it (including wildlife) by cruise. Cruises do most of their travel by night, so you’ll get to reach more remote areas that otherwise cannot be reached by day tour. Additionally, some places are strictly accessible to cruise boats. Island-hopping means you’ll remain mainly on the three main islands (Santa Cruz, San Cristobal, and Isabela), and your visits to other islands are limited to those that can be reached during the day.

Activities: Island-hopping offers a wider range of activities than cruises, and these activities tend to be more active and adventurous. Island-hopping gives you an opportunity to do a little bit of both, and to choose how adventurous you want the activity to be. The activities that are more available to island-hoppers are: hiking, cycling, surfing, kayaking, scuba diving, and snorkeling. Cruise-based excursions tend to be wildlife-focused, and you have more limited time for activities on land (such as hiking). They don’t include as wide a range because of scheduling limitations, but also because activities have to accommodate all passengers (and not everyone has the same comfort level or physical ability to participate).

Trip duration: Typically, cruises are 4,5,6,8, or 15 days long (there are very few in between). For reference, a semi-loop of the archipelago is 8 days, and a full loop is 15 days (but these terms can mean different things for each travel company, so be sure to ask about that). Island-hopping allows you to be more flexible in choosing the duration, although most agencies have set itineraries that you can request to customize if you so wish. Another thing to consider is that cruises do maximize your range of visit on a shorter time frame — that is, you’ll get to see significantly more on a 4-day cruise than on a 4-day island-hopping tour.

Het bericht Island-hopping vs. Cruise-based Tours to the Galapagos Islands verscheen eerst op Community Adventures Ecuador.

The Galápagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands nestled in the Western Hemisphere in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with their closest neighbor being Ecuador. Famed naturalist Charles Darwin mused over and studied the islands incessantly because of their enormous number of unique endemic species. In fact, Darwin’s findings while on the islands heavily contributed to his groundbreaking theories on evolution thanks to the discovery of natural selection.

Galápagos Islands are Breathtakingly Beautiful

One of the biggest draws of the Galápagos Islands is that they are a stunningly beautiful natural location. Man has only inhabited the islands for a short 150 years, which has gone a long way in preserving the environmental majesty of the location. The islands boast the generally expected treasures, such as soft sandy beaches, lush green highlands, clear blue seas, and magnificent underwater communities and seascapes; but they have so much more to offer than that.

Because of the diverse geology of the islands, of which there are 61 in total, the landscapes are different in every direction that you look. You can hike from the ocean shores, to a lush, thriving forest area, then straight on up to the volcanic mountains while traveling. Because much of the land mass is covered in volcanoes, the physical geographic layout of the islands shifts constantly. While that does not bode well for the map makers, it makes the Galápagos Islands a fascinating location to visit.

The Galápagos Wildlife Should Not be Missed

As previously mentioned, Charles Darwin himself was completely enamored with the Galápagos Islands thanks to the robust wildlife that inhabited them. We have these species to thank for our current day understanding of evolution and natural selection. And while most may assume that the wildlife that lives on the Galápagos Islands is large and diverse, they would be wrong. In fact, compared to other locations in the Amazon basin, their mere 25 (or less) species of reptile is laughable as far as the Amazon is concerned, with their more than 300 reptiles.

The impressive thing about the Galápagos wildlife is that it has somehow figured out a way to endure on the isolated, harsh landscape. These animals have evolved so that they are now born with the required equipment to not only survive, but thrive, on the otherwise uninhabitable land.  Because of these nontraditional living conditions, natural selection is rife on the islands. Any new species that spawns or travels there must be ready to really want it. If they do not evolve, well, let us just say it was nice knowing them. Conversely, thanks to these remote and uninviting conditions, the Galápagos Island are one of the most pristine locations on Earth, thanks to the lack of invasive species being introduced to the ecosystems. Silver linings are everywhere.

The Galápagos Islands have no wildlife quite so prevalent as their birds, for no other reason than it was easier for birds to get there than any other species other than fish. With over 181 species of both land and sea birds, with smaller birds like finches particularly thriving, there is no shortage of bird watching opportunities available. Some other species found on the islands include Galápagos Hawks, short-eared owls, mockingbirds, and Galápagos Doves; as well as such sea birds like flamingos, frigate birds, the waved albatross, and the red-footed, Nazca, and blue-footed boobies.

There are also several fishes, marine animals, and mammals that call Galápagos home, such as sea turtles, sea lions, sharks, rays, parrot fish, sergeant-major, king angelfish, dolphins, whales, rice rats, bats, and many others.

Guided Galápagos Excursions are a Must Do

The Galápagos Islands do not mess around when it comes to their guided tours. In fact, since 1975, every visitor that steps foot on to the islands must be accompanied by their own personal certified naturalist guide. These guides must take and pass an officially mandated course, and help by not only guiding tourists, but by being the eyes and ears of the natural park service, reporting introduced species, enforcing rules, informing staff about trails that need grooming and maintenance, etc.

There are four different types of naturalist guides:

• Class one: Guides that have graduated high school and taken and passed the course.
• Class two: Guides that have spent at least four years as a class one guide and that pass an additional test.
• Class three: Guides that have a degree in tourism, biology, or another relevant field and speak at least two languages in addition to Spanish. They also must meet all class two criteria.
• Marine Reserves: Class one, two, or three guides that also are certified to guide scuba trips in the Galápagos Marine Reserve.

Your guide accompanies you on every land outing and is an expert on the local flora and fauna and wildlife. Many tourist testimonials praise their guide as one of the best parts of their trip, thanks to their endless knowledge and cheerful dispositions.

The Scuba Diving is Something You Can Never Forget

The Galápagos Islands have some of the most breathtaking underwater seascapes in the world. In the year 2000, it was named the world’s top dive site by Rodale’s Scuba Diving and has been chosen as the top spot for “Best Value,” “Best Big Animal Dive,” “Best Fish Life,” “Best Advanced Diving,” and “Healthiest Marine Environment.” If scuba diving is on your bucket list of things to do, Galápagos is the place to do it.

Experts have happily shared some tips when it comes to diving in and around the Galápagos Islands, and novice and expert divers alike would be wise to heed their advice.

• The costs of Live Aboards is the same all year long, but from April to May and September to October, airfare to and from Ecuador typically slightly decreases.
• Wolf and Darwin Islands are a must see because of the habitual sightings of enormous schools of hammerhead sharks, as well as whale sharks.
• While there is good diving to be had all year long, the best times tend to be between June and December, thanks to the presence of whales, hammerheads, rays, and other large marine animals.
• You are going to want to procure a dive package if you choose the live aboard options, because they take care of every single element of the adventure from start to finish.
  If you inquire at your hotel about combining land and diving tours, you may find more availability and accommodations.
• Dive trips and packages that are offered daily to and from Santa Cruz and San Cristobal allow divers to experience all of the diverse underwater seascapes that the Galápagos Islands have to offer.
• Gordon Rocks is an out of this world dive site as it allows the diver the opportunity to get up close and personal with Galápagos sharks, hammerheads, and rays.

Every single underwater adventure is curated and executed by your own island guide, so it is sure to be a memorable experience, one that you are not likely to soon forget or regret.

Snorkeling is Also Available for the Slightly Less Adventurous

Thanks to the healthy reef and marine life in the Galápagos Islands, one does not have to pass a test to experience the wonder of the sea. Snorkeling offers visitors a magnificent opportunity to see the unspeakable beauty of the underwater communities surrounding the islands. With only a mask and a snorkel, you have the opportunity of coming face to face with a penguin, a sea turtle, and an octopus all within the same day.

Every boat tour in the Galápagos Islands offers snorkeling opportunities, and after quickly suiting up and a quick dip in the ocean, you too can create these memories that last a lifetime. Just do not forget to bring your underwater camera!

There Are Options for Adventure Travelers

If you are one of those travelers that fancies themselves adrenaline junkies, Galápagos may just be the place for you. The islands now offer special adventure travel packages that go far beyond the typical tourist activities previously discussed above. The Galápagos active travel adventure allows visitors to horseback ride, kayak, mountain bike, or snorkel up close and personal with fearless marine life. These packages are typically a combination of land and sea adventures and offers visitors the opportunity to travel between islands via speedboat or private plane, while also partaking in their favorite adventure sports.

Some tour highlights of  Community Adventures:

Floreana Tour: Hike to the Asilo de la Paz visitors site. Snorkeling with endemic animal of the island.

Santa Fe Tour: Visit the Santa Fe cliffs. Snorkeling (Hidden Beach).

North Seymour Tour: Hike through lava pillows. Snorkeling with endemic animal of the island.

Isabela Tour: Sierra Negra Volcano Trekking.

Pinzon Tour: Snorkeling with endemic animals.

Bartolome Tour: Hiking and Snorkeling.

Galapagos Island Hopping Tours: Visit Loberia Beach on San Cristobal Island where you can go snorkeling. Visit PEace Asylum on Floreana Island and see the Giant Tortoises. Make a volcano hike mon Isabela Island and visit the Cabo Rosa Tunnels. Get to know  visit the Tintoreras Islet and visit Tortuga Bay on Santa Cruz.

More information about our Galapagos land based tours.

Island Hopping Gives You a Chance to See it All

These specialized tours give travelers the opportunity to visit and stay on up to three different islands within the area. Each tour offers different sights, experiences, adventures, and accommodations, so it is important to know what you want to see before you lock yourself into anything.

Some of the tours offered include the Galápagos full pack, the Darwin Footsteps tour, the Sea Lion expedition, the Flight of the Albatross tour, The Penguin Pursuit, the Forgotten Path and Beyond, the Cabinet of Evolution, and the Golden Finch trail. Each of these tours and expeditions includes visiting different islands, which also includes seeing different wildlife, plant life, and topography. While none of the tours are disappointing, they do not all offer the same things, so research is key.

Hotel Based Tours Help Take the Anxiety out of Planning

For those travelers who prefer a more land locked approach to their adventures, hotel-based tours are a great option. These tours keep you on solid ground while still offering day trips to different islands so that your travel experience is a rich and diverse one. These tours also offer more freedom as to what islands you see and when you see them.

Travel services in the Galápagos islands have partnered with local communities to ensure that each tourist is receiving the best possible travel experience, while still ensuring that the splendor of the natural and fragile environment is protected. Not only do these services handle every aspect of your daily itinerary from the moment you arrive to the moment you leave, they provide you your naturalist guide so that you have the full Galápagos experience.

Some of the tours offered through the hotel programs are Treasure Quest, Galápagos Dream, Express Program, and Island Secrets. Any one of these tours would provide an exceptional tourist experience for every traveler.

The Galápagos Climate Allows for Year-Round Travel

The Galápagos Islands do not tend to reach higher than 77 degrees Fahrenheit. That is the average temperature during their warm months, which runs from December to May. Their cooler season, which runs from June to November, tends to hang right around the 72-degree mark, making it a nearly perfect vacation spot. During the warm season, the wind is still, the rain is sporadic, and there are clear, blue skies almost every single day. Whereas in the cooler months, steady, chilly winds blow in from the south and southeast, dense fog covers the islands, and there are frequent cold drizzles that typically last the better part of the day. These conditions obviously shift depending on the terrain, altitude, and general island location, as conditions are wont to do. The higher up the mountain you go, the colder it gets, it stays more humid in the forested areas, and the breeze is always stronger on the ocean.

Anyone that choose Galápagos for their vacation destination has a trip of wonder in store for them. There is so much to do and see on the islands that you better be ready to go, go, go all day, every day.

Het bericht Things to do in the Galapagos Islands verscheen eerst op Community Adventures Ecuador.