seamaster

Is it possible to take day trips to various islands from Puerto Ayora and spend time on these islands without a group and a guide? It seems everything I've looked into requires a guided tour on the individual islands.

jmvp

There are strict rules for the Galapagos Islands.

You cannot go there on your own.
You must have a guide and stay on the trails when you are touring the Islands.

Can you just imagine what would happen if us tourist could just go wandering on our own!!!??

Cigarette butts empty bottles etc.

It is a protected wildlife sanctuary.

The guides I had there all had University Degrees in Marine Wildlife and Biology.

Day trips from Puerto Ayora...yes but NOT on your own.

jmvp

GrannyJoan

Seamaster,

I haven't been to galapagos yet, but am planning a trip in August with a tour.

But I stumbled across this nice journal by a young man who took a last minute trip to GI and booked day trips. You might want to check out his posts at

http://community.iexplore.com/planni...aptism+of+Fire

-Granny Joan

trekker238

I was visiting the Galapagos last Dec'06 and almost all the land tours were escorted by a travel guide. Despite the clear instructions from the guide to remain within the designated paths, someone in our group kept violating the instructions and wandered into the areas where the birds were nesting. One particular woman even tried to lift the shell of one of a giant tortoise. The Galapagos are under a lot of ecological and environmental stress from tourists like us and also from Ecuadorians attracted to the islands for jobs. I do encourage everyone to visit the islands but please follow the instructions of the tour guides.

pault14

We went last May and stayed on PAyora. We did day trips from that island. The good thing is that sometimes there are not alot of people on those trips. Once it was just the two of us and our guide. You can wander around on P ayora somewhat alone and you get a ggod feel of the islands staying there for a week. After reading things I think that is the best opption for visiting these islands. Only drawback is you cannot get to certain islands in a day...too far. when I go back I will take a 3 or 4 day baot trip to the far away islands and stay on P Ayora again. If you need to know where to stay let me know. [email protected].