Galápagos : Tips and considerations

Booking a cruise

If you have the time to spare, you may want to book a cruise in Galápagos (instead of online or in advance). 
Pro: Many people have been led to believe that the last minute bookings can cost as cheap as half the original listed price. A boat sails with the same crew and similar fuel and food supply regardless if it is full or half full – from a cut loss perspective, it therefore makes sense to sell the last slots cheap than not at all. (The agents would request that the ‘special price’ not to be discussed with others on the boat. As nobody discusses the price, I really cannot confirm if it is a case of everyone paying half the price or only some people pay half the price.) 
Cons: You may not be able to travel on the boat/date/route that you prefer. You may also have to stay on the island for a few days before departure date.

When comparing prices, you may want to check if snorkeling gears are included for free and also what type of gears would be available. I have read reviews that some boats charge for snorkeling gear (our gears on M/S Samba were available for free and most were in very good conditions). On our last snorkeling trip at Isla Isabella, we were wearing long wetsuits and still felt very cold. At the same snorkeling site, we saw people from another boat wearing shorties or swimming costumes (our guess was that the boat only rent shorties and those wearing swimming costumes did not rent the wetsuits because it cost extra). Nobody would enjoy the snorkeling at all in freezing water.

I think both the North and South routes provide fantastic opportunities to get close to real action and unless one is after specific birds, there is really no right or wrong answer to choosing a route. For those with sufficient funds and time, you may even want to do both routes. In the case of M/S Samba, the starting point for the North route and the South route is the Baltra airport and Puerto Ayora respectively. I think both end at the Baltra airport. If you want to do both the North and South routes, it would therefore make more sense to start with the North route (ie you will be picked up from the airport when you arrive, instead of having to make the way on your own to Puerto Ayora), followed by the South route.

There is probably no right or wrong season to go. The animals seem to behave differently on each island. For example, the breeding season for marine iguana is January in Isabela, June in Fernandina and September in Santa Cruz. You will probably catch something unique at any time during the year.

For people who are new to snorkeling, you may want join a cruise instead of day trip for snorkeling. I am not sure if it is the norm but when I was at San Cristobal for the day tour, the guide had left it to the participants to snorkel on their own. I think the assumption may be that whomever join the snorkeling day trip would know how to use the gear and how to snorkel. I was glad my first snorkeling experience was with the cruise. Both captain and guide made sure I knew how to use the gear and took turns to stay with me until I was comfortable in the water.

Equipment

One of my favourite photographs of the Galápagos penguins
Photo credit: Sari

Bring a camera with quick shuttle speed. I found taking photographs on the boats difficult as both and wildlife moved at the same time. 

Bring a dry sack or something waterproof to protect your camera.  When you are moving from boat to shore, water can splash into the dinghy. Sometimes during wet landing, the water can be knee deep.

I found out about GoPro camera in Antarctica and was quite impressed by it. It is very small, can take both photographs and videos and strapped on one's chest or head. I thought it would be a good idea to use GoPro instead of a waterproof camera when snorkelling as it frees up your hands and also allow you to look at the wildlife and environment with your eyes instead of the viewfinder while the camera continuously and automatically take photographs or videos.

Others

There would be 1 million photo opportunities – everything is cute/ beautiful/ interesting/ so close… Do take time, however, to look away from the view finder – only then, would you be able to open 100% of your senses to take in maybe 80% of the sight, sounds and smell. Even though I do not have the photographs, I will always remember how the penguins torpedoed through the water, how a booby hurriedly swallowed an octopus as we approached (as if we were going to steal the octopus!), how the manta rays leap from the water… There were sounds that I cannot share, like the high frequency pitches of the dolphins in the water. You really have to come here to experience the excitement of that magical chance meeting with wildlife.

Dew on spider webs