kleroux

We are 2 independant travelers thinking of going to Peru in Oct. 08. We'd like to see the Galapagos but what information I've seen so far its very expensive. 7 Day cruises seem to be about 3K each (Celebrity)..there must be a cheaper way to visit the islands? If anyone has any information about the best way to get there from Lima, I'd appreciate it.

Elizabeth_S

Hi - I was waiting for Percy to jump in but maybe he started celebrating Xmas early!

He saved money by using a local TA in Quito - here's a link to a posting with the contact info

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=35014797

We saved money by being in the Galapagos with flexibility......we were able to get the Eclipse at a 2 for 1 rate of $3150 for 7 days.....but you may not have that opportunity.

There are less expensive boats - we toured the Floreana and met the owners - it's a nice boat for much less (and friends went on it this February and were very happy with it - basic, but comfortable and good food)

http://www.yatefloreana.com/

Percy

Thanks Elizabeth_S

for putting up the e-mail information about Martin.

As my previous posting in June stated , I was very pleased Martin.

He is local, in downtown Quito and has his pulse on what goes on for the Galapagos.

Your right I am not home right now, doing my Christmas rounds !!

Merry Christmas

Percy

Percy

Whoa wait a minute !!!!!!!!!!!

I am back home now and can give you Martin's new e-mail address.

He has his own Travel Agency Company now with his brother.

Here is his new e-mail address:

[email protected]


<font color="red"> Merry Christmas
</font>
Percy

gpotvin

We spent 5 days and 4 nights on the Floreana in late June for about $850 +/-, $100 Park Entry Fee (payable at airport on arrival in American funds) and airfare from Quito at $400. We toured Baltra, North Seymour, Santa Cruz, Floreana Island, Post Office, Espa&ntilde;ola Island: Punta Suarez / Gardner Bay and Charles Darwin Research Station.

We booked through Jaguar Touring (recommended by another traveller on this site) a small eco-tourism company in Quito. They were great although I was somewhat unnerved by sending $3600 (There were three of us) via Paypal. I just looked at their web-site and it looks like the Floreana is just doing 8 day trips right now, but they also have another boat for a 4 day trip.

The smaller boats - Florena holds 16 passengers and six crew - all appear to be about the same. We traveled with 4 or 5 other boats, moving after dark and waking in a new location each day. The experience was incredible. We snorkeled twice each day and that was truly the highlight of the trip. The guide, Victor, had a wonderful sense of humor and a good command of English.

If you do a google search for the Galapagos you will find a number of tourists companies offering the same boats at different amounts.

ELinaaa

from experience I would say the cheapest way to visit Galapagos, is to book with local Galapagos agencies, because they operate direct, i traveled with manolo yepez nowe they have website it's sharksky.com

frank_hanner

We were extremely please with the service provided Sangay Tours ([email protected]) in setting up and arranging our Galapagos cruise. They were extremely responsive, answering my emails quickly and always full of advise and suggestions. We ended up on the Cormorant II, with one of the best cabins, and all of this paying much less than most others on the trip.