TourExport sell Tours & trips only for Ecuador, we are specialized in The Galapagos Islands.

Galapagos Islands Tours General Information

The Galapagos Island’s volcanic geology have been admired by travelers or scientist whom are still faced with a large diversity of species developed in a beautiful place like the Galapagos .

Located 1,000 km from the Ecuadorian mainland, the archipelago consist of 13 major islands, of which 5 are inhabited.

In 1978 The Galapagos National Park were declared by UNESCO a Natural Heritage, in 1995 a whale’s Sanctuary and at the present the Galapagos Island ocean area, constitute the second biggest Marine Reserve in the world.

Welcome to GalapagosTourExport. We sell only Ecuador tours & trips, we are specialized in the Galapagos Islands
Welcome to the land of Ecuador
We invite you to the Galapagos Islands

Galapagos TourExport offers

Cruising the Galapagos is a very special and unique trip travel experience for travelers. You can hike the trails as you admire blue footed boobies and giant tortoises;  creatures like the armies of marine iguanas, flightless cormorants birds that have lost their ability to fly and penguins at the equator line. And other species that are endemic to this Island paradise. If you are traveling alone or with a small group of friends or family this is the way to go. We can customize an cruise a trip itinerary for you, that includes being greeted at the airport, staying at one of our favorite Hotels or a Bed and Breakfasts, trip extension ideas about your travel to Ecuador before or after visiting the Galapagos Islands and an 4 - 8 day cruise trips on your choice of a wide range of small yachts or cruise ships. Tell us what your preferences are and we’ll arrange everything for you. All you have to do is pack your bag and start smiling! Because you are going to be cruising the Galapagos Islands. We offer a reasonnable cost on your next Galapagos trip.

We provide the apropiate arrangements for your cruise trip tour to the Galapagos Islands. We choice for you the cabins,   hotels, extensions in Ecuador, and thoroughly reliable service from start to finish. You benefit from our experience in dealing with the leading operators in the Galapagos Islands. We can arrange your Galapagos Island Cruise Vacation package from start to finish, by providing you with detail tour information by arranging your hotel in Quito or Guayaquil Ecuador, by arranging your flight to Galapagos Island. And if you would like travel to Ecuador after your Galapagos Cruise let us know we have vacation packages to meet your expectatives.

The Galapagos Islands were called “The Enchanted Islands” by the first visiting sailors as they seem to arise magically, often enveloped in fog, out of the watery nowhere after a long sail over open waters. Thus they were perfect hideouts for pirates and later sealers and whalers followed to exploit the rich hunting grounds.  Most famous among them was of course Charles Darwin who spent one month there and afterwards reflecting on the native animals and plants came up with his revolutionary evolutionary theory of natural selection. Nowadays the Galapagos Islands continue their enchantment for many more visitors and they come from all over the world to experience their amazing natural scenery and unique wildlife.

The Galapagos Islands is not for classic tourists who look for a tropical island beach travel but primarily.  Is for people interested in the Galapagos island’s natural history and the amazing wildlife above and below the Pacific ocean. With an open mind, you may come back with a new and better understanding of the enormous powers of our planet and what life is all about on earth only this magnificent Galapagos Islands will give you this view point.

Get in

Cruise in Galapagos is not cheap, owing to travel restrictions and the remote nature of the islands. The only way to get in the islands from the main land is by plane from mainland Ecuador, Guayaquil or Quito airports.

By plane

Flights to the Galapagos are relatively easy to arrange and depart from Quito and Guayaquil on a daily basis for the Isla Baltra airport, about two hours by public transport from Puerto Ayora, the main settlement of the Galapagos, on the central island of Santa Cruz. There are also daily flights to San Cristóbal.

Both Aerogal and Tame have daily flights to the Galapagos. The price is the same for both companies, for foreigners around $405 from Quito and same cheaper (around 390$) from Guayaquil. Citizens from Ecuador pay 75% of the price and there is a 15% discount on TAME flights and a 20% discount on Aerogal flights if you have an ISIC studentcard. The price is usually $50 cheaper during the low season (May and September).

It’s not possible to buy a one way ticket without proof of transportation from the islands. It’s easy however to change the date of your return ticket or to switch your departure to another island.

By boat

It is possible to travel from Ecuador mainland to the islands by boat from Guayaquil, but in general this option is a major hassle that won’t save money.

Our Travel Agency located in Quito – Ecuador, operates classic tours, sport tours, cultural tours and educational tours for schools/students, etc.
Including in our offer is the transportation, proposals, imagination, Latin hospitality and the known beauty of Galapagos.
The owners are experienced tourism workers in diverse areas from 25 years ago, and has satisfied and delighted many travellers.
Our itineraries selected cover visit places habited for big colonies of diverse mammals, birds, reptiles, seems only in the Galapagos Islands.

 

* Galapagos Diving
* Galapagos Cruises
* Bird watching in Galapagos

You will sample the Latin palate some as well as fruit and vegetables exotics.

Visitors: We invite you to come with us to Galapagos Islands to enjoy some unique in the world, its.
Being under the tropical sun, the equatorial flora and fauna mixed with the exclusive Galapagos Islands has developed a unique character.
Experience with us the treasures of Galapagos Islands.

History of the Galapagos Islands

1535-The Bishop of Panama, Fray Tomas de Berlanga, was in route to Peru. His ship drifted off course by the ocean currents and “discovered” the Galapagos Islands.
1561- First Map of the Galapogas Islands was made.
1593 - 1710 The Galapagos were pirates favorite hideout and supply base for water and meat (particularly the giant tortoises).
1788-1860 Whaler in Galapagos, english whalers discovered that the whales migrated to the Galapagos to breed.
1793 - 1870 Industrial revolution had changed and rather than Spanish gold, seafarers searched oil which came from whale’s blubber. This explotation on the Galapagos, brought the tortoise, fur seals and sperm whales, near extinction.
1832-1837 The First Colonization of the Galapagos Island,
1835 The Beagle, with Charles Darwin on board visited the Galapagos Islands.
1850-1860 The Galapagos was considered an ideal site for a prison.
1892-Galapagos is officially named “Archipélago de Colón” in honor of Christopher Columbus.
1940-The strategic location of the Galapagos islands became very important as the time drew near for the opening of the Panama Canal.
1946-1959-Once again, Ecuador made the error of opening a penal colony on the Galapagos Islands
1959-100th Anniversary of the publication of Darwin’s Origin of Species, the Galapagos Islands became Ecuador’s first National Park and the Charles Darwin Foundation was established to assist the in preservation of the islands.
1968-National Park Service for the Galapagos was initiated
1978- The Galapagos Islands are declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO underlining its universal value for mankind.

Galapagos Islands Briefing

Population Estimate in the Galapagos Islands: 15000 people.
Distributed between 4 islands of Galapagos: Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz); Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (San Cristobal); Puerto Villamil (Isabela; Puerto Velasco (Floreana).
Climate:
From June to December, there is a cold current rising from the south which creates a cool moist fog called a garúa close to the ocean making the climate rather cool and dry. In December the ocean is calm and the currents change, surrounding the Galapagos islands in the warm Panama Current from the North.

Common things to do in Galapagos:

Major Galapagos Islands

Isabela, Santiago, Santa Cruz, Floreana, San Cristobal, Española, Genovesa, Santa Fe, Fernandina, Darwin, Wolf, Marchena, Pinta.

Location of the Galapagos Island: 600 miles from mainland Ecuador, straddling the Equator in the Pacific Ocean.
Capital: Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristobal is the capital of  Galapagos Province.
Major population: Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island in the center  of  Galapagos.
Language: Spanish.
Time Zone: The Galapagos is on Central Standard Time.
Currency: Ecuador, Galapagos included U.S. dollars are the standard currency.
Largest Island: Isabella, 85 miles long, has over half the Galapagos total land area.

Rules of the Galapagos National Park

- Do not disturb or remove any plant, rock or animal.
- Be careful not to transport any organic material from island to island.
- Do not touch or handle the animals.
- Do not feed the animals.
- Do not startle or chase any animal.
- Stay on marked trails, doing so will avoid damage to vegetation or cause erosion.
- Do not leave or throw any litter on or off the ship.
- Please, do not buy souvenirs made from native Galapagos products (except for wood)
- Do not smoke on the islands.
- Do not hesitate to show your conservationist attitude.

A short description of the main visit places of the Galapagos islands which should help you in your cruise. It tells you about the fauna and flora you will encounter there and interesting geological features and scenery. The snorkeling places are described for help you to discover the fantastic underwater world:

ESPAÑOLA Island: Punta Suarez: cliffs, blow hole, where sea water is forced some 20m up into the air, puncture weed, shore petunia, salt bush, lantana, purslane, mesquite, trianthema, sea lions, most colorful marine iguanas and lava lizards in the archipelago, waved albatrosses, which are on the island from March to December, masked and blue-footed boobies colonies, swallow-tailed gulls, red-billed tropic birds, Hood mockingbirds, Darwin finches, Galapagos doves and hawks.
Gardner Bay: long and beautiful white sand beach, salt bush, prickly pear cactus, Jerusalem thorn, mesquite, beach, sea lion colony, rocks off the coast offer great snorkeling with sharks, turtles, tropical fish.
FLOREANA Island : Post Office Bay: wooden mail barrel, lava tunnel, salt bush, Darwin’s cotton, mesquite, sea lions, rays, sea birds. Punta Cormorant: Large inland lagoon, flamingos and other wading birds, sandy beach cove with turtles, rays and seabirds. Devil’s Crown, a half submerged volcanic crater, great snorkeling site with starfish, sea urchins and tropical fish in the shallow center and larger fish like sharks and rays outside crater area.
SAN CRISTOBAL Island: Puerto Baquerizo Moreno: Provincial capital of the Galapagos Island, with Nature Interpretation Center, airport, ship harbor, starting point for some cruises,  Frigate Hill (Cerro de las Tijeretas) just outside town, good views of the bay and the town., frigate bird colony. La Loberia: sea lion colony, Galapagos marine iguanas, warbler, finches, blue-footed boobies. El Junco Lagoon: fresh water lake and water reservoir located at 700m, great views,  Miconias, ferns, sedges, clubmoss, tree ferns, white-cheeked pintails, common gallinules. La Galapaguera: Giant tortoises (galapagos) reserve, mixture of lowland and moist upland vegetation, Galapagos cotton, yellow cordia, poison apple, passionflowers, mockingbirds, Darwin finches. Isla Lobos, small island, colonies of blue-footed boobies and sea lions. Leon Dormido (Kicker Rock), two giant rocks, separated by a channel, where small vessels can pass through, scuba diving site. Punta Pitt, volcanic tuff formations and only area in isles where all three booby species nest together.


SANTA FE Island: Smaller island of 24 km2, 259m, tall opuntias, incense tree, salt bush, yellow cordia, blainvillea, maytenus, thorn shrub, Santa Fe land iguanas, pelican nesting site, sea lion colony, mockingbird, dove, finch, good snorkelling, swimming with sea lions, schools of fish, sharks.


SOUTH PLAZA Island:  Tall opuntias, carpet weed, portulaca, castela, grabowskia,  land and marine iguanas, which  are known to interbreed there freely, rocky cliff towards the open ocean nesting site red-billed tropicbirds, gulls, shearwaters, sea lion bachelor colony.

SANTA CRUZ Island: Second largest island, the most populated of all islands with 15 000 people.

Puerto Ayora & Charles Darwin Station:  Research facilityes, major tourist center, National Park Information center, galapagos giant tortois and land iguana breeding program, interpretation center, natural habour Academy Bay. Tortuga Bay (Turtle Bay): 45 min. walk from town, white sand beach, Opuntia cactus forest and other coastal and lowland vegetation, marine iguanas, shore birds, small salt lagoon, great blue heron, pelican, whimbrel, sanderling, ruddy turnstone, lava gull. Los Gemelos: volcanic craters, sinkholes, Scalesia forest, bromelias, orchids, vermillion flycatchers, warblers, darwin finches.
El Chato: Galapagos giant tortoise wild reserve, long lava tube, small lagoon covered with red algae,, panaromic views, agricultural used land, pasture, cedar, maracuya, pintails, finches.
Las Bachas: white sand beach, nesting site for sea turtles, small lagoon, flamingos, whimbrels, heron, pelican, Sally Lightfoot crab.
BALTRA Island: To the north of Santa Cruz, site of the airport, public transport to Puerto Ayora by bus and ferry, incense tree, prickly pear cactus, Jerusalem thorn, sea birds and sea lions.

MOSQUERA Island: 8km2, beautiful sand beach, large sea lion colony, scuba diving site.

 

NORTH SEYMOUR Island: Uplifted, 1,9 km2, 30m, incense tree, yellow cordia, croton, salt bush, maytenus, merremia, opuntia, evolvus, nesting grounds magnificent frigate bird, blue-footed booby, sea lion, marine iguana.
DAPHNE Island:  Two small eroded volcanic islands, Daphne Major  0.32 km2, 120m, incense tree, chamaesyce, purslane, gray matplant, prickly pear cactus, puncture weed, masked and blue footed boobies colonies, red-billed tropic bird.
SOMBRERO CHINO: Volcanic island, 0.25km2, 52m, lava formations, lava cactus, purslane, carpet weed, puncture weed, sea lion, marine iguana, Galapagos penguin, snorkeling and swimming in its small cove.
BARTOLOME: Volcanic island, 1.2km2, 114m, volcanic landscape, tuff cones, panoramic views from the Galapagos archipielago, summit, Pinnacle Rock , maytenus, mat plant, lava cactus, mollugo, thorn shrub, white and red mangrove, pectis, sand beach, swimming, snorkeling, Galapagos penguin, blue footed booby, pelican, marine turtle, sea lion, tropical fish.
RABIDA Island: 5 km2, 367m, dark red coral sand beach, sea lion colony, pelican nesting sites, blue-footed booby, salt water lagoon, flamingos, white-cheeked tails, snorkeling site at the end of the beach.
PINZON Island: 18km2, 458m, no visitor sites, cliffs, nesting site for sea birds.
SANTIAGO Island: Sullivan Bay: 100 hundred year old lava flow field, pahoehoe formations, lava bubbles, mollugo, lava cactus, marine iguana, sea lion, marine turtle, Sally Lightfoot crab, galapagos penguin.
Puerto Egas: Salt mine, Sugar Loaf Volcano, lava shoreline, poison apple tree, incense tree, castela, heliotrope, sicklepod, yellow cordia, thorn shrub, opuntia, marine iguana colony, fur seal, lava lizard, crab, American oystercatcher, lava heron, sanderling, ruddy turnstone, whimbrel, Galapagos snake.
GENOVESA Island: Eroded flat volcanic island, 14 km2, 76m , natural harbor, being actually the submerged caldera of this volcanic island. Darwin Bay: Prickly pear cactus, incense tree, chamaesyce, salt bush, heliotrope,  colonies of red-footed boobies, masked boobies and  great frigate birds, swallow-tailed gulls, herons, large cactus finch, sea lions, snorkeling and diving, hammerhead sharks.
Prince Philip’s Steps:  Cliffs, incense trees, lava cactus, chamaesyce, large masked booby colony, red-footed booby, storm petrels,  short-eared owls, doves, finches.
MARCHENA Island:   Volcanic island, 130km2, 340m high, active volcano last eruptions occurred in the beginning of the 1990’s, no land visitor site but scuba diving site.
PINTA Island: Volcanic island 60km2, 777m, no official tourist sites, former home of Lonesome George.
WOLF Island: 2.85km2, 253m, scuba diving site, schools of hammerhead sharks, whale sharks.
DARWIN Island: 2.33km2, 168m, Monumental Darwin Arch nearby, scuba diving site, schools of hammerhead sharks, whale sharks.
ISABELA Island:  Largest of the Galapagos Islands, 4588 km2, formed by five active volcanoes fused together Wolf volcano, highest point at 1707m in the entire Galapagos. Puerto Villamil: town of 2000 inhabitants, Tortoise Breeding Station, white sand beach, wetlands, marine iguanas, flamingos, whimbrels, gallinules, stilts, lava gulls, sanderlings. Muro de las Lagrimas: Until 1959 Thr Galapagos Islands was a penal colony,  Wall of Tears erected by convicts, dry lowland vegetation, wetlands, mangroves, flamingos, finches, pelicans, booby. Volcan Sierra Negra: Caldera with a diameter of 10km, Volcan Chico, fumaroles, recent lava flows,  moist highland vegetation, agricultural, pasture land, introduced plants, anis.
Los Tintoreras:  lava formations, marine iguanas, sea lions, white tipped reef sharks.
Elizabeth Bay: panga ride, inlet cove, tall red, white and black mangroves, marine turtles, rays, flightless cormorant and galapagos penguins, blue-footed booby, pelicans. Urbina Bay: Incense tree, Darwin’s shrub,thorn shrub, cotton, yellow cordia, petunia  flightless cormorants, pelicans, marine iguanas, rays, turtles, land iguanas, galapagos giant tortoises. Tagus Cove: Natural harbour site, century old wall graffiti, water filled caldera, view to coast and darwin volcano, incense tree, castela, cotton, lantana, waltheria, macraea, Galapagos penguins, flightless cormorants, darwin finches, Galapagos hawk. Punta Garcia: Lava formations: Punta Moreno, lava beach, pioneer plants, white-cheeked pintails, common gallinules. Punta Albemarle, flightless cormorant.
FERNANDINA  Island:  Youngest of the Galapagos ( some 700 000 years old ) volcanic island, 642km2, 1494m, active volcano  La Cumbre, most recent eruptions in 1995. Punta Espinoza: Galapagos penguin, wide lava flow, pahoehoe and aa lava formations, Brachycereus or lava cactus, shore petunia, red, white and black mangrove, large colony of marine iguanas, sea lions, flightless cormorant nesting site, lava herons.

Full Tour Packages of Galapagos Islands

This type of travel arrangement includes hotels, all meals, some sightseeing, and may include the airfare to and from Galapagos. The transfers in Galapagos airport are always included. These are great for the vacationer who doesn’t want to do their own and unknown planning, or for the impulse traveler who wants to get a pleasant.

Too Independent?

More independent travelers to Galapagos Island may want to just pre-book their flights and hotels. This is one source of View www.lonelyplanet.com/ecuador

If the case we suggest the Top 05 Destinations in Ecuador:

- Galapagos Island

- Amazonia

- Ruta del Sol

- Otavalo

- Baños

Do I need a Visa for an Ecuador entry?

No, Ecuador don’t require visa for any citizen of the world.

 

How do I recognize you at the airport/port/meeting point?
At the airport a member of our company will be waiting outside the exit door of the arrivals hall, after you collect your luggage. He/she will be holding a sign with your name on it.

Am I travelling with a group on the tours?
If you book one of our Tours, you will always travel with a group on the Galapagos Islands. Depending of your choiced boat you will travel in small groups between 8 to 16 passengers. If you book our complementary Package, you will also travel in small groups and evrerything will be organized by our representatives. As a result of thos you will have always a personalized service.

Why do I book a package?
By booking a package, everything is arranged to make your trip hassle free, you can save time and not have to worry about booking accommodation, buying tickets for your transport, finding your hotel when you reach the airport and finding the right tour when you reach the sites. Also as the travel agencies can get a better price than the customer, packages also work out to be more economical.

Do you provide travel insurance when I travel to Ecuador?
Unfortunately No. Our guests are advised to obtain their own insurance for health and/or baggage loss while traveling. Insurance is also recommended to provide coverage to clients if refunds pursuant to the final payment and cancellation clause below are unavailable due to the terms of that clause.

Do you provide International Flights from my country to Ecuador? /Are your package prices including Land Services Only?
Unfortunately we do not provide International Flight Tickets. We recommend our clients to buy their international Air Tickets from their home country. Our package prices include all services within Ecuador / Galapagos, Domestic Flight Tickets are included, if mentioned in the package programmed.

How do I pay for my tour, what is the procedure?
After we receive your request, we check the availabilities at the Galapogas yachts, hotels and on the transportation vehicles. If all requested services are available for the requested dates, we send our “Credit Card Authorization Form” or, our bank account details for money transfer, to our clients.

We kindly request a 30% deposit to secure our clients’ reservations; the remaining 70% balance being payable 45 days prior to the departure of the programme.

Only in the case of bookings made less than 45 days before date of travel we do immediately require full payment