Galapagos Boat Tours Arranged Locally
Posted September 21st, 2008 by Bob the Sea LionMost people arrive in the islands with a prearranged
tour, although it’s generally cheaper
to arrange a tour in Puerto Ayora or Baquerizo
Moreno. Generally, only the cheaper
boats are available in the Galápagos; the better
boats are almost always booked. Don’t
fly to the Galápagos hoping to get on a really
good boat for less money. Arranging a tour
from the Galápagos is not uncommon, but
neither is it as straightforward as it sounds.
It can take several days – sometimes a week
or more – and is therefore not an option for
people with a limited amount of time.
The best place to organize a tour is from
Puerto Ayora. It is also possible to arrange
it in Baquerizo Moreno, but there are fewer
boats available. If you are alone or with a
friend, you’ll need to find more people, as
even the smallest boats take no fewer than
four passengers. There are usually people
looking for boats, and agencies can help in
putting travelers and boats together.
Finding boats both in August and around
Christmas and Easter is especially difficult.
The less busy months have fewer travelers on
the islands, but boats are often being repaired
or overhauled at this time, particularly in
October. Despite the caveats, travelers who
arrive in Puerto Ayora looking for a boat
can almost always find one within a week
(often in just a few days) if they work at it.
This method isn’t always cost effective since
by the time you pay for hotels and meals in
Puerto Ayora, you may not save anything.
The most important thing to find is a
good captain and an enthusiastic naturalist
guide. You should be able to meet both and
inspect the boat before booking.
Tags: Galapagos Tours
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