I just got back from being on the Galapagos Legend, what a great ship! The guides were excellent, especially Juan Carlos! NO problems being on a big ship. Very nice to have a great room and bathroom to come back to after the long hot hikes! It was the cool season, but doesn't feel cool on the equator! If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask.

jojosm33

Hi There:

Did you tour the island on the first day after arriving at the Galapagos.
I hear the flight to the Galapagos is a very early flight from Quito.

How many days did you go for on the Galapagos Islands tour.
Was this an adequate amount of days to get the Galapagos flavour.?
Were all rooms the same size.?
Was the food good.?
Please mention anything else of note .
Thank you
Percy

Percy,
When you arrive at Baltra Airport, you find the crew from your ship, get on a bus to the dock, and get out to the boat! it's all very organized! After the cruise I was staying on the island for a day, but I still had to bus to the airport with everyone,(5 mins) then bus, ferry & taxi to my hotel.
You get on the boat, get settled, eat lunch, then you're off on your 1st excursion! 2 excursions per day except the 1st and last days.
I was picked up at 7:30 am to get to Quito airport. The plane stops at Guyaquill, so if you are there, you get to get up later. Nothing special about about Quito if your just there for the night.
The boat was 8 days, 7 nights.That was enough! After you have seen several hundred iguanas and blue footed boobies, more than 7 days would be too much for exploration, but not for swimming and snorkeling!
I had a junior suite by myself, it was decent size, had a big window. The rooms seem standard, but there was a bigger suite.
The food, breakfast and lunch is buffet. Some local food, but some things that were american like hamburgers didn't taste like hamburgers! It was good though. Dinner was served, several courses, 2 choices of appitizers and main course. Appitizers were the best!
Everyone on the ship is soooo nice!
Hammock deck is popular after lunch, only 4 hammocks! After excursions, there is usually a snack when you come in, just something on a table to sample, different things but good!
I stayed on the island after the boat trip for a day, and went back to the Darwin center, nice without a guide around, as I plopped down next to a tortise, talked to and petted him!
Ask any questions you like!

Hi There
Thanks you for your information.

I am thinking of doing this:
While in Quito I will tour Cotopaxi
Bellvista Cloud Forest
See the market at Otavalo.
Take a City Tour and see Mitad del Mundo which as you know is at the Equator.
I plan to doa 4 nights -5 days Galapagos trip , because I do not think my wife would want to do the full seven days, and hopefully we will see enough of what we want to see.
7 days would be better,but no use getting her exhausted.?!!
What do you think of this.?
Also what do you wear there? Just light clothes, shorts ( or long pants) sandals, hat,sun tan lotion etc.

Thanks you once again for your help..
add any helpful hints you can think of.
I am in Edmonton Alberta Canada

Percy

Percy,
I didn't get to the market in Otavalo, as it's on Sat, I arrived on Sunday for my Monday cruise. I reccomend a week cruise, but if you're doing the Legend, get on Monday. There seemed to be better stops early in the week compared to when the others got on Thurs.
Very light clothes! With all the hiking, sweating and sun! Plenty of sunscreen, hats, sun glasses. I brought my Teva's, had the sneakers that you can hike in and go in the water, sandels, and sneakers. They tell you the nite before about the next day, and show a film, so they'll tell you if it's a wet or dry landing, and what footwear is good.
The boat is VERY casual, shorts, t-shirts. I usually went to dinner with bare feet! I never wore the one pair of jeans I brought, and never used my light jacket!
We had some rocky days, didn't see anyone sick, but it felt like you were drunk!!!
It was fun though!
Bring tons of film, disposible underwater camera (Kodak) as on board it cost over twice the price of New York!
Think about staying on the island also, it's so quiet and beautiful, not too much english, but you can point to the menu! It was amazing to see small kids, maybe 3 yrs old out on the street at dark, no worries!
Quito and Guyaquill are like NYC! That's why I liked the islands so much! Something different!
When you go on excursions on the habited islands, the cheapest and best surveniors are by the dock on the street. They are made by the fisherman's wives. All handmade carvings, stuffed animals, ect.
Have fun, let me know how your trip went! Feel free to ask more questions.
Joanne

Hi Joanne

Well our trip is going to be for 5 days.
It is on the Isabella 2 which is classifed as Luxury class and has a Capacity for 40 people and is full up now.
If fact our fellow in quito e - mailed me a few days ago and he got me a package deal with flights from Quito to Galapagos included.
I sort of wanted to do the 7 days but was not able to get the seven days as there was only 2 cabins left, but I think if I really pushed it I could have gone 7 days but my wife says 5 will be just fine.
I also have prior tours to Bellavista Cloud Forest ,Cotopaxi and Otavalo& Mitad del Mundo( the Equator line).
When I arrive from the Galapagos, they willpick me up aty the airport and give me the Quito City Tour as our flight for home is not until almost midnight.

I hope I see all I want to see.
You mentioned Teva ( or Tevas) sandals,so far cannot find them here, but will keep looking.
What is similar to the Tevas?
Are these rubber sandals that dry well.
Some people have said bring Tennis shoes,they must mean sneakers , the common one every one wears.
Did you bring any long pants or was it all shorts.
I intend to use Visa and Mastercard and not bring too much cash,except for tips.
I guess you tip your tours guide(s) at the end don,t you.?
Glad to hear no one got sick while on board.

Thank you again ( [email protected])
percy

Percy,
Teva has their own web site. I bought the sandels at a store, and the water proof sneakers online. They dry fast, and have great traction for slippery rocks! Yes, bring sneakers! You don't need long pants!
Yes, tip at the end, they give you envelopes. I actually tipped certain people seperatly, as I really liked them!
I used travelers checks also. Some small shops on the islands just do cash. I used a combo of all 3.
5 days should be ok! 3 would not be! Have fun!

Joanne

Joanne

Thanks, I will ask again ,as questions arise.

Percy

ttt for smasher

Joanne

Hi ,from Edmonton, you say that you only wore shorts all the time you were at the Galapagos, is this what all others wore also.?
Some say bring tennis shoes as they dry quickly.!
By sneakers do you mean like Nike or Brooks or Dr.Scholl's etc.
How much did you tip for each day at the end of the trip? Is there a set amount like on a cruise ship ,or is it just whatever you want.

Thanks
Percy

Percy,
I wore Rebock sneakers, along with Teva waterproof shoes, and Teva sandels. At night there were people in slacks, as there were a lot of older people on board.
I didn't tip all in the envelopes, as I gave my guide $60.00, bartender $10.00, waiter $20.00, I personally handed these to them. I put money in the envelopes also, as they split it, and even the guys that drive the Pangas are very nice, and you do spend time with them! I think I put in $60.00 to share. You can tip whatever you want, they just give the envelopes.