To those who've been there,

Do wet landings from a cruise ship involve a short swim to shore? If so, what's the approx. distance?

I am thinking of a week-long trip there but my dear beloved is a poor paddler....and I did not know if wet landings meant treading a few feet of shallow water or a longer swim. I do hope that most cruises would allow for life jackets as a minor concession to those aquatically challenged.

Thanks,

A wet landing mostly means that your feet and calves get wet--- you generally get from your boat to the island you will be visiting on a panga (big rubber, motorized raft)-- some islands may have a little dock or rocky area that the raft pulls up to ( a dry landing) and on others, the panga goes as close as it can to the shore/beach , and you step out into anywhere from a couple of inches to maybe a foot of water (wet landing). The boat guides will assist you in and out. Everyone wears a life vest on the panga. No swimming required unless you take part in the snorkeling opportunities.

Thanks janeq!

brufen

If you trust your e-mail address on Fodors.... I can send you a nice picture of people getting off a panga for a wet landing!!

Sure please do Percy...must be fun, thanks!

brufen

I need your e-mail address !

I do not have my Galapagos pictures in an on-line album !

But I can attach the picture via an e-mail

Wear a pair of sandals which are suitable for wading in water and wear either shorts or roll up pants. The hardest part of wet landings for me was not getting out of the panga but was getting back in. Sometimes the waves keep it rolling up and down and with my short legs the crew had to pull me up and in.

brufen, this site explains wet landings in the Galapagos very well. It is a fascinating place and I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time!

http://www.galapagos-islands-tourgui...-vacation.html

Sorry for the delay, was working this weekend.

Percy, my email is [email protected], please feel free to email me the pics...thank you.

Appreciate the link ovenbird, much thanks.

SusieQQ, that was a great description..personally have experienced a similar feeling while white-water rafting when after taking a dip it's been a tremendous effort to clamber back onto the inflatable raft with jelly legs and arms!

Thank you all,now I hope I can swing a real last minute deal.

brufen

I sent you four pictures from the Galapagos.

Have a good time

Brufen, You and your beloved poor paddler will both enjoy the Galapagos very much.

Depending on the terrain, I carried sturdier shoes in a pack and put them on after the short walk to shore in Tevas or similar. On some of the lava surfaces, I wanted more foot protection than sandals.

Ovenbird, we go the same places. Someday it may be at the same time.

A big thank you to Percy, SusieQQ, janeq, atravelynn and ovenbird.....if you drop by this forum/message again.

I did manage a brief, last minute 4D/3N deal on the Athala II and enjoyed the Galapagos, especially the snorkelling off Rabida and Isabella islands.

Poor paddler had a great time too; though she needs some time to recover from sun burn.

Thank you all once again!