Details
Important
Before you decide to travel with GEEO, it is important that you read all of the program information on this page. Our programs are quite adventurous, and we find that travelers who review the full trip details are happier with their experiences.
Trip Notes & Expectations
ACCOMMODATION
Our program fees are based on double-occupancy accommodation (see "Single Travelers" below if you do not have a travel companion and would be interested in a private room). Our accommodations are chosen to provide a safe, conveniently located place to sleep. While you may be pleasantly surprised, please don't expect luxury, as we prioritize keeping our programs affordable.
TRANSPORTATION
We use a mix of transportation that gets our guests from location to location safely. Sometimes you will have full days and/or nights of transportation as our trips tend to cover a lot of ground. Transportation will often be an adventure in itself.
LUGGAGE
The maximum baggage allowance for domestic flights between Quito and the Galapagos Islands is one piece of luggage per person weighing a maximum of 23 kilograms (50 pounds), plus one carry-on piece weighing a maximum of 10 kilograms (22 pounds). You must be able to easily carry or roll your luggage, so do not over-pack. The carrying of your luggage remains your responsibility at all times.
ITINERARY CHANGES
The itinerary is subject to further changes, dependent upon new regulations made by the Galápagos National Park or seasonal points of interest. The Galápagos National Park Service dictates the itinerary to G Adventures and GEEO, therefore the details of this itinerary could change a bit when you arrive. The content will be pretty much the same, but the order of the activities may change.
TRANSIT CONTROL CARDS AND TAX
The Consejo de Gobierno (local government council) has implemented a system of Transit Control Cards at a fee of $20 USD per person . This card is to be purchased in CASH at a counter in the Quito airport before boarding the flight to the Galápagos. Please retain this card along with your passport as you will be required to present this upon arrival to the Galápagos Islands. Please note that this applies to all tourists entering the Galápagos Islands and is a supplement to the existing entry fee to the National Park and is not controlled by tour operators or travel agencies. It is the first of a number of initiatives to track, control, and maintain the sustainable tourism targets set out by the Galápagos National Park and the Ecuadorian government in an attempt to preserve the fragile environment of the archipelago. There will also be a municipal tax of $5 USD per person charged locally upon departure from Isabela Island.
GALÁPAGOS ISLAND PARK ENTRY FEE
The Ecuadorian government currently levies a Galápagos Islands Park entry fee of $200 USD per person . This is payable at the airport upon arrival in the park. It is not included in the cost of the tour and must be paid in CASH. This fee funds Park maintenance and supervision in Galápagos, as well as ecological study, conservation, and infrastructure development in Ecuador’s other National Parks. Entry fees, and the funds they generate for the National Park System, are among measures taken by the Ecuadorian government to protect its natural heritage.
SEA SICKNESS
The water is unpredictable (sometimes choppy, sometimes not), so definitely bring motion sickness pills for the boat rides between islands.
INTERNATIONAL TICKET NUMBERS
Foreign travelers are exempt from paying a tax on domestic flights in Ecuador. To prove that you are indeed a foreign traveler, you must enter your international ticket number (ITN) into the Good To Go check-in system. Travelers who do not submit ITNs at least 30 days prior to Day 1 of their tour will be required to pay the domestic tax on all included flights.
ALTITUDE
Quito is at a high altitude and can be chilly in the evenings. Make sure you check the weather and have appropriate clothing. Also, you may have a headache and nausea when you arrive, which might be caused by mild altitude sickness. The best thing to do is to take it easy and try not to be too active. See a doctor in the rare circumstance that your symptoms are severe.
SAFETY IN QUITO
Please take care when wandering about the city on your own, as pickpockets and purse-snatchers are common, particularly in the Old Town. Be safe and leave your passport, credit cards, and cash you don’t need in the hotel’s safety deposit box. Most Quiteños are honest and genuinely helpful and friendly, but be safe and enjoy the city!
ACTIVITY LEVEL & PACE
This trip includes plenty of walking and some light hiking, and requires at least an average level of fitness. On the more active days, expect to walk quite a bit. Some of the optional excursions on this trip require participants to be in good shape, capable of hiking up to five hours. You are of course welcome to skip these optional excursions if you do not feel up for it. Those who choose to snorkel must be cautious that they can handle the water conditions, as some parts of the waters around the Galápagos have strong currents. We recommend always carrying snacks with you. Meals can sometimes be far apart.
GROUP LEADER
All GEEO/G Adventures trips are led by a Chief Experience Officer (CEO), whose role is to take the hassle out of travel and help you get the most from your trip. They’ll share information about the places you visit, suggest activities and restaurants, and introduce you to our local friends. While not traditional guides, CEOs have broad knowledge of the region’s history, culture, and daily life. On some excursions, local guides are used for deeper insight—giving you the best of both worlds.
PROGRAM DETAILS
Single Travelers
Traveling solo? You’re in good company—about half of our participants do the same.
Shared room by default. The program fee covers one person in a twin room. We’ll pair you with a roommate of the same gender if you don’t have a travel companion.
Want a private room? Most trips offer a
“My Own Room” (single-supplement) upgrade. Check the price in the
Extra Services section, then email travel@geeo.org to reserve it. You pay the single-supplement only if you request it.
Emergency Contacts
Should you need to contact G Adventures during a situation of dire need, it is best to first call their local G Adventures office. If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information so they may return your call and assist you as soon as possible.
EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS:
G Adventures Office - Lima, Peru
During office hours (weekdays, 9am-6pm local time): +51 1 241 1650
After hours emergency number: +51 99 758 2712 (WhatsApp Available)
If for any reason you are unable to reach the G Adventures local office, please call the numbers listed below to connect with their Sales team, who will happily assist you.
Toll-free, North America only: 1 888 800 4100
Calls from UK: 0344 272 0000
Calls from Germany: 0800 365 1000
Calls from Australia: 1 300 796 618
Calls from New Zealand: 0800 333 307
Outside North America, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and the UK: +1 416 260 0999
Packing List
See our blog post of
staff recommended gear to help you pack for your upcoming travels. You must be able to carry your own luggage—up stairs, on and off of transport, and during 15 to 20 minute walks. Space is limited on transportation, so oversized bags cannot travel.
Baggage Allowance for Galápagos Flights: Luggage limits are strict for domestic flights between Quito to the Galápagos Islands. You may have
1 checked bag (up to 23 kg| 0 lbs) and
1 carry-on (up to 10 kg|22 lbs). Extra bags or overweight luggage may result in additional charges, which are the traveler’s responsibility.
Galápagos Luggage Inspections: Because the Galápagos Islands are a protected National Park, your luggage will be inspected both before arrival and departure.
Do not bring any fresh food, seeds, or organic materials—these can harm the delicate ecosystem. Processed foods (like protein bars, packaged nuts, granola, etc.) are allowed.
As you prepare your packing list, we recommend checking average weather conditions for your destination on a site like
Weather Spark for the time of year you will be traveling.
SuggestedOptionalDocuments
- Windproof/waterproof rain jacket (very important)
- Personal clothing for cool to hot weather – we recommend packing 7 or 8 days of outfits so you only have to do laundry once
- Fleece top – it can fall into the 40s Fahrenheit!
- Light hiking boots or sturdy walking shoes
- Sport sandals or flip-flops
- Two bathing suits and a small quick-dry towel
- Daypack
- Sunblock
- Sunglasses
- Sun hat
- Water bottle
- Watch or alarm clock (or use your phone)
- Toiletries – important: some hotels do not give you soap and shampoo
- Camera (or use your phone)
- Motion sickness pills – Dramamine, bring both less-drowsy and regular formulas
- First-aid kit, including contain lip salve, aspirin, bandaids, anti-histamine, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, electrolyte powder, insect repellent, extra prescription drugs you may be taking
- Underwater camera or waterproof phone bag
- Snorkeling mask (there will be times where you can go snorkeling, but there might not always be a mask rental available)
- Wetsuit (the water can be chilly, and some have said in the past they wish they had brought their wetsuit)
- Rubber boots – optional: the hikes can be really muddy
- Binoculars
- Travel pillow
- Light weight silk sleep sheet
- Money belt
- Phone/tablet for internet – most hotels have WiFi
- Chargers for electronics as well as converters/adapters, if needed
- AirTags or Tile trackers
- Packing cubes
- Earplugs
- Snacks – packing a few granola bars is a good idea; you can buy snacks when you get there too, so don’t go crazy
- Ziplock bags
- Reading/writing material
- Hand sanitizer/baby wipes
- Passport (with photocopies)
- Any entry visas or vaccination certificates required
- Travel insurance ID card
- Flight itinerary/boarding pass(es)
- USD/EUR cash
- Credit/debit card
- G Adventures vouchers
- GEEO Classroom action plans for your group – this is sent a few days before departure
: Laundry facilities are offered by some of our hotels for a charge. You can also use a local laundromat, if necessary. We recommend packing enough clothes so you don't have to do laundry.
Passports and Visas
Travelers are responsible for securing all required travel documents and meeting the entry requirements for every country on their itinerary, including applicable transit/layover countries.
PASSPORT
All travelers must have a passport valid for
at least 6 months beyond your trip dates with enough blank pages for stamps.
Need to apply or renew? Start here.
ENTRY/VISA REQUIREMENTS
Visa rules change frequently—always verify the latest requirements on the
U.S. State Department Country Information Pages. Non-U.S. passport holders should verify requirements with your country's official government resources. Use the tool below to see entry requirements for your specific itinerary.
Entry information below is provided by Sherpa, a third-party service and trusted G Adventures partner. You must search each of your destination countries separately; “Add connection” solely searches transit visa requirements. Additional fees apply if you choose to purchase any services through Sherpa.
Money Exchange
The local currency in Ecuador is the
U.S. dollar.
Credit/Debit Cards: Credit cards are rarely accepted on the islands.
Cash: Make sure you bring plenty of cash to the islands—we recommend
at least $700–800 USD as ATMs can be hard to find or out of service, especially on Floreana. Small bills are better, so bring plenty of $5s and $1s.
Emergency Funds: Bring
at least $200 USD (or the equivalent in local currency) in cash for emergencies in case of ATM or card issues. Always carry more rather than less to avoid feeling short of funds while traveling.
See the Estimated Trip Costs section at the bottom of this page for budgeting guidance.
Tipping
Tipping is optional but appreciated and goes a long way for the people who look after you on the trip. If you are happy with the service, use these ballpark amounts and adjust as you see fit:
- Service providers/Waiters:
$1-2 USD for snacks or
10% of the bill.
- Local guides and drivers:
$5-10 USD per person per day.
- G Adventures tour leader (CEO):
$5-10 USD per person per day.
(We suggest pooling contributions in an envelope and presenting it as a group)
Tipping Kitty: On some trips, your CEO may suggest a
“tipping kitty” where everyone contributes at the start of the tour, and the CEO uses that pooled amount to tip service providers for the group as a whole (not including your CEO). If your CEO doesn’t mention it and you’d like to use a kitty, we recommend asking about it early in the trip. Your CEO will advise the suggested amount and preferred currency for the kitty.
Vaccinations
GEEO cannot provide any medical advice, so it is very important to consult your doctor or a travel clinic about which vaccinations you will need for your trip. We recommend contacting
Passport Health, which has travel clinics located throughout the United States. You can also check the
CDC's recommended vaccinations for your destination. Please take this seriously!
According to the CDC, the risk of yellow fever is considered very low or absent in the parts of Ecuador that you will visit. It is compulsory to show a valid Yellow Fever vaccination certificate if you are traveling in from a
Yellow Fever endemic country. If required, Yellow Fever inoculations need to be administered at least 10 days prior to your entry into the country.
Flights
Wait for official trip confirmation via email from GEEO before booking your flights. Prices tend to be lowest 90–120 days out, but that window varies by route and year. Neither GEEO nor G Adventures bear responsibility for any flights purchased before the trip is confirmed.
This program begins and ends in Quito. Check the itinerary for the required arrival date. Aim to arrive no later than mid-afternoon for the 6 p.m. Day-1 welcome meeting, and consider arriving a day or two early to buffer flight delays and see more of Quito. You can depart any time on the final day of the program.
Plugs and Converters
Ecuador uses the same plug design and voltage found in the United States—a
type-A plug and 120 Volts—so there is no need for electrical adapters or converters.
Weather
Quito, although close to the equator, is at a high altitude. Therefore, the temperature during the day tends to be in 60s F, and at night it can get into the 40s F. Please make sure you have the proper clothing packed!
The climate of the Galápagos Islands is tempered by the Humboldt Current, so you will not experience the extreme heat found elsewhere at this latitude. The warmest weather is from December to June, when temperatures range from 72-90° F, and the water temperature is in the mid 70s F. From July to November, temperatures are cooler and range from 60-75° F (18-24°C), and average water temperature rarely reaches 70° F.
Advice From Past Participants
“There are not many alternative activities. If you choose not to do something, you have to sit around and wait for the other people (because tourism in the Galapagos is strictly regulated).”
“We did a lot of snorkeling, and I think I would have bought a wetsuit top, if I knew the water was going to be a bit chilly.”
"Wetsuits are rentable in the Galapagos."
“Quito is a remarkable city and touring it and the surrounding area should not be missed. Visitors should be encouraged to plan to add a day or two to see it.”
“It gets cold at night on most of the islands!”
“It was much hotter than I thought it would be! I packed more warm things. Also, it is important to have a lot – maybe $700 to $800 – of cash on you. A lot of us ran out of cash, and it was hard to get to an ATM.”
“A collapsible walking stick might help with hiking but no need for boots. Bring lots of sunscreen. Also, altitude sickness medicine really helped in Quito. I had a much better time there than other group members because I took it. Also, seasickness medicine is a must for the island boat transfers.”
“Be prepared for the hike to the volcano! It was long, and I got soaked by the end, which got cold! Dress in layers. Food in the islands is much more expensive than in Quito. “
“Ecuador and Galapagos are essentially a cash-only destination. Very few places accepted credit cards, and extra activities all had to be paid in cash. I think I spent at least $1,000 in cash during my time in Ecuador/Galápagos. It is very important to emphasize the need to have bills in small denominations.”
Snorkeling and Diving Gear
You can bring your own snorkeling gear and wetsuit, or rent gear in the Galápagos. G Adventures provides the snorkeling gear for free and then you would need to rent a wetsuit for $5-$10 a day. They sometimes don’t have wetsuits for larger people or petite sizes. The water can be cold in the Galápagos, but one participant told me that she did not rent the wetsuit and was just fine without it.
While our itinerary does not list much snorkeling, I have been told by our group that there were lots of opportunities for snorkeling on the trip and that they snorkeled on four separate occasions. Some of the locations have a strong current and are too deep to stand, other locations are much calmer and easier to handle. You must use your judgment and tour leader’s advice to determine whether it is safe for you to go into the water.
If you wish to go diving, there are dive shops on the islands and your tour leader can help put you in touch with one of them.
Time in Quito
Advice from GEEO’s Executive Director Jesse Weisz:
“Quito is a nice city to visit and having at least one day to explore is advised. Quito’s old town is a UNESCO world heritage site and can be explored on foot during the day. You should not miss the Basilica of the National Vow (Spanish: Basílica del Voto Nacional). The building is noted for its grotesques in the form of native Ecuadorian animals, such as armadillos, iguana, and Galápagos Tortoises instead of the typical Gargoyles you find on a Neo-Gothic cathedral. If don’t have a fear of heights, you should climb to the top of the back tower for a great view of the city.
Another way to get a great view of the city is by taking a taxi to the top of Panecillo, a hill south of the old town. Please do not attempt to climb this hill, as there are muggings on a regular basis reported in that area. A taxi ride to the top and return to your hotel typically costs about $20.
Lastly, if you want to see Quito from above, you can take a cable car (teleférico) to the top of a mountain overlooking Quito. It costs $8.50 and the 10-minute ride takes you up to an altitude of 13,290 feet. If you want a physical challenge you can then hike to the top of Vulcan Pichincha. The hike takes an estimated 2-2.5 hours each way, so this is an activity that could fill a whole afternoon. It is windy and can be cold, so make sure you have the appropriate clothing.
The actual Equator is only a 30-45 minute drive north of Quito. At the Equator, you will find a large monument that has an admission fee. This is where the French thought the equator was, but they were wrong and the actual equator is about 240 meters from the Equator Monument. Feel free to visit the nearby Intiñan Solar Museum, which claims to have the real equator running through their property. Just keep in mind that the science experiments they show you there are mostly inaccurate and downright silly. If you are a science teacher, this is a can’t miss attraction for a good laugh.
While I did not have time to go, there are three-day trips that have been recommended to me, which we list in the Optional Activities section of this webpage. Saquisili Market and Cotopaxi National Park make for a full day of hiking and shopping. I would make sure you have a few days to acclimatize to the elevation before signing up for that one. Bellavista Cloud Forest is at a lower altitude and seems like a wonderful way to see the nature of the area. Another option is Otavalo where you will be able to see one of the largest markets in all of South America.
You should be able to book all of these activities at the front desk of our hotel in Quito.
Lastly, if you are traveling around the city by taxi, make sure it is an official taxi. Your hotel can hail one for you which can be trusted.”
"Recommendations:
1. Take a waterproof bag or backpack for boats and snorkeling. Assume boat rides will be wet. 2. An underwater camera pouch worked fine for snorkeling but definitely not as clear as underwater camera.
2. Consider rain pants if choosing the Cotopaxi hike: There was sleet during our hike up.
3. If you like the water, take your own snorkel and mask. It doesn't take much space and avoids having to adjust a different mask every time you snorkel. (I really appreciated having my $40 prescription mask to see.) Some of the boats have flippers on board.
4. While the water isn't cold in June, I was happy to have brought and used a wetsuit vest and a long-sleeve swimsuit. Made all the difference in enjoying the water."
"Check a few weather websites before final packing. Quito is cool in June/July. BUT you only need one or two long-sleeved shirts if you're not in the city long. Bring more shorts and tees because the islands are dreadfully humid."
