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Documentation:
A valid passport is required for travel to mainland Ecuador and
the Galapagos Islands. Most tourists are allowed to stay up 90 days.
Please check with the Ecuadorian consulate or embassy in your country
to see if you need a visa to enter Ecuador.
Arriving
in Ecuador: On your flight to Ecuador you will fill out a T3
Tourist Information Card that will be handed, together with your
passport, to the immigration officer upon arrival at the Passport
Control area. Have your flight tickets ready if they ask
for them. If asked about the purpose of the trip tell the officials
that you are on vacation and are going to the Galapagos Islands.
A copy of the T3 form will be returned to you along with your passport.
Please keep it in a safe place since you will be required to turn
it in when you leave the country. You will then proceed to the baggage
claim area to claim your checked luggage and clear customs. Your
bags will usually be inspected. After leaving customs, you will
be met by a tour representative for an airport transfer to your
hotel.
Safety
and Security: It is recommended that you make two photocopies
of your passport ID page, airline ticket, tour documents, traveler's
check ID numbers and airline itinerary. Leave one at home with friends
or relatives and take the other copy with you, keeping the copies
separate from the originals. While you travel in Ecuador always
carry your passport with you since it is a legal requirement and
you could be asked for it at any time. You will also need it when
changing money or paying with traveler's checks. Always be careful
in mainland Ecuador - keep a watchful eye over your belongings,
never set your camera down and be wary of pickpockets.
Money:
The local currency is US dollars. MasterCard is widely accepted
in Galapagos and Ecuador, VISA is also widely accepted in Quito.
Please note that there is a 10% service charge on all credit card
payments within Ecuador. Bank hours in Quito are Monday to Friday
9h00am - 16h00pm. There are several money exchange businesses in
Quito. In Galapagos there is only one bank and you can only get
cash with MasterCard. There are no official money exchange businesses
in the Galapagos. The islands are a cash and traveler's check oriented
destination.
Telephone
Service: There is full phone and cellular phone communication
in the Galapagos. To make a call once you have arrived on the Ecuadorian
mainland, it is recommended to use calling cards, since calls made
from your hotel can be very expensive. In Quito there are many Internet
cafes with cheap email and net-phone service; and in Puerto Ayora,
there are at least 3 Internet cafes.
Electricity:
110 VAC.
Language:
Communication on the mainland is difficult if you do not know
Spanish. In Galapagos, on the other hand, it is easier to communicate
because many people who live there can speak English.
Food
and Water: Please be careful about eating uncooked food, including
vegetables and peeled fruit. It is better to drink bottled water
or desalinated water that we provide on board our yachts. Almost
all the restaurants are careful Free Trip Planninging clean or bottled water
and recognizing good sanitation but it is better to avoid any health
problem. All the services we offer are perfectly select and
follow all sanitary details.
Reconfirmation of International Flights: It is extremely important
to re-confirm your international flights. If you will be staying
in Quito after your Galapagos tour, make sure to reconfirm. Let
us know if you will catch your international flight immediately
after returning from the Galapagos so we can reconfirm for you.
Luggage:
There is a luggage allowance of 20 kilos (one piece of luggage)
and 2 small carry-ons on flights to and from Galapagos. Any
additional pieces can be left at hotel desk on mainland. TAME
charges approximately US$ 2 for each extra kilo but will be send
only if the airline decide to do so. Please note that TAME flights
do not always have overhead compartments and the carry-ons should
fit under the seat.
Coast
and Galapagos Islands
Galapagos
Arrival: The islands are part of the Ecuadorian National Parks
system and the entrance fee of US$ 100.oo (cash) is collected on
arrival to Baltra. We recommend that you bring new bills; this fee
is only payable in cash. Once the fee is paid, the boat�s representative
will meet you and take you to the boat.
On
the Islands: The yacht anchors on each island destination and
passengers are ferried to the landing point in small boat called
pangas (dinghies). On island walks follow marked paths, which may
alter slightly from season to season, to skirt nesting bird areas.
Naturalist guides accompany all groups. Some Islands have excellent
swimming beaches and snorkeling areas.
Climate
on the Galapagos Islands: The islands are isolated so the climate
is determined almost entirely by the ocean currents, which in turn
are influenced by trade winds that push the currents. In general,
December to June are the warmest months. January to March can be
hot and humid, but also mostly green at this time. July to November
are cooler. The average year-round temperature is 24 C.
What
to Bring: Gal�pagos and coast: Visitors are advised to pack
casual, comfortable garments. Some additional handy items might
include: snorkeling equipment, short wetsuit, 2 pairs of sneakers,
a light jacket or windbreaker, a sweater, light, long, sleeved shirts,
a rain poncho, shorts, a wide brimmed hat, bathing suits, a hat,
sunglasses, binoculars, sunscreen, repellent, eye drops and sea-sickness
medication. Dressing is always casual.
Quito
Quito:
Quito is at an altitude of 2,870 meters (approx. 8500 feet).
Quito's Mariscal Sucre Airport is located 10 km north of the major
hotel and shopping area.
Climate:
Days are warm, usually around 21� Celsius. Nights are cooler,
dropping to 10� Celsius. The rainy season is from October to May.
Shopping and Restaurants: The main street is Avenida
Rio Amazonas, which starts at the Hotel Hilton Colon at Parque El
Ejido and runs north all the way to the airport. For the best shopping,
stay between Av. Amazonas and Juan Leon Mera, where there are many
shops selling arts, craft jewelry, clothes and leather goods. A
good variety of restaurants are in this area as well.
What
to Bring: Wear comfortable springtime clothing during the day
and a sweater or coat during the evening. There are chances of showers,
thus a rain parka and a jacket or sweater will always be needed.
Continental
Ecuador
Continental
Ecuador: In the highlands, it is spring-like most of the year,
although cold and rainy in the winter months from December to April.
Dry months are from May through October when the temperatures are
around 70 F (10-15 C) during the evening. The Coasts: The average
temperature is 83 F (28 C), with the hot, rainy season from November
to May and the dry season from June to December. In the Jungle the
climate is humid, warm and quite rainy.
What
to Bring: Warm, winter-like clothing is essential.
Other
Tipping:
At the end of the cruise, guide and crew are tipped separately,
if passengers feel it is appropriate.
Departure
Tax: There is a US$38 departure tax on international flights
from Quito and Guayaquil.
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