Our trips stand out because we prioritize quality, starting with the guides. We invest in the best guides in the Galápagos, ensuring that a good tour becomes an extraordinary, life-changing experience. While we have a standard itinerary, we remain flexible, adapting to the group's interests, dietary needs, and abilities as they arise during the trip. Each journey with us is unique—no two trips are the same.
We keep our prices competitive by avoiding unnecessary insurance costs. The services we use in Ecuador, such as hotels and transport, are insured, but it’s important to note that insurance payouts in Latin America can be smaller compared to those in the U.S.
We recommend that students or their university’s travel organization secure comprehensive travel insurance that covers health, cancellations, and other non-tour-related issues. In the unlikely event of a problem on our end, we guarantee a full refund of what we’ve received. During the pandemic, we honored all prepayments and allowed date changes for up to three years.
Begin by collaborating with us to define the goals of your tour. Consider what your students might be willing to pay, based on previous trips at your institution. Try to align the tour with an existing course, or even develop a new course around it, planning well in advance if needed. We can provide PowerPoint presentations to help you introduce the idea to students, parents, and faculty.
When promoting the tour, establish a participant limit and work towards it. If interest exceeds available spots, we can create a waiting list. If demand is significantly higher, we can explore expanding the group size in blocks of about eight to maintain cost efficiency. If the group size falls short of expectations, we’ll work with you to adjust services and keep costs down.
Create a list of interested participants and request a non-refundable deposit to secure their spots. Once the initial group size is met, further deposits can be accepted for the waiting list. If someone on the waiting list doesn’t get a spot, their deposit will be refunded at the start of the tour. However, they should be prepared to fill any last-minute cancellations, ensuring those who drop out receive an immediate refund.
Cruise spaces in the Galápagos are limited, creating high demand and driving up prices. Cruises cover 300-400 miles, requiring significant maintenance, crew, and fuel, all of which contribute to the cost. In contrast, land-based tours are less regulated and do not have strict visitor limits, making them more affordable.
While cruises visit several uninhabited and restricted islands, our student tours include one or two of these, which represents the most expensive portion of the trip.
Absolutely. Share your budget with us, and we’ll work together to adjust the itinerary or services to fit within it.
Certainly! Our programs are designed as basic templates to spark ideas and provide rough pricing. We’re happy to customize the itinerary to meet your specific needs.
Safety and responsibility are typically covered by your institution’s policies. Generally, a specific number of adults or professors are assigned to supervise a certain number of students, with higher ratios for younger students. These chaperones will work closely with our guides to ensure that all activities are appropriate for the group. It’s crucial to plan for any emergency scenarios before your departure to Ecuador.
Cruises are an excellent way to experience the full diversity of the Galápagos, allowing you to visit multiple islands and engage in various activities such as nature walks, snorkeling, kayaking, and dinghy rides. However, to fully appreciate the islands, you’d need to spend two weeks on a vessel. Most cruises break this down into shorter segments, which means you might miss out on some areas.
Land-based tours, while more limited in scope, still offer fantastic wildlife viewing and a memorable experience. They also provide more opportunities for students to interact with the local community and generally offer more comfort and flexibility compared to the more budget-friendly cruises.
The key differences are the tour length and price, giving you a range of options. All itineraries include essential sites for a Galápagos experience, with Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz Island as the main hub. The longer itineraries feature Isabela Island, which has a more relaxed, beachy atmosphere, especially during the warmer months, offering a unique contrast to the other islands.
San Cristóbal and Floreana Islands are included in the more extended itineraries, providing greater diversity and a wider array of experiences. These islands are particularly worth exploring if your stay exceeds 5-6 days. Additionally, whether to include a visit to the Amazon jungle depends on your group’s interests. The Amazon offers a completely different, enriching experience that showcases Ecuador's incredible biodiversity beyond the Galápagos.
The Galápagos Islands offer incredible wildlife experiences year-round, with animals always in some stage of breeding or birthing, so there’s no true “off-season” for nature enthusiasts. The key difference lies in the climate:
February to April:** This is the hot season, with high temperatures that can make walking a challenge, but the ocean is warm and clear—ideal for swimming and snorkeling.
June to November:** The cooler season brings more comfortable walking conditions, often with overcast skies that provide relief from the sun. However, the ocean is cooler during this time, making wetsuits necessary for water activities.
Transition months (May and December/January):** These months can, but not always, offer a mix of both climates, giving you a taste of the best of both worlds.