What is included once I'm there?We can organise trips to Galapagos hotels on a bed and breakfast basis through to an allinclusive basis on a package that will include daytrips to nearby islands. If you are cruising on aboat all meals, transfers and excursions areincluded. Most vessels will also include use oftheir wet suits and snorkelling gear althoughsome may charge a supplement for this. YourGalapagos specialist will be able to advise onexactly what is included for your specific trip.How do I get there?International flights into Ecuador land in Quitoor Guayaquil from where it is a short flight tothe Galapagos. However, as these flights tend toleave early, you will need to stay overnight ineither city prior to your cruise. Upon arrival inthe Galapagos you will be met and escorted toyour boat or hotel.What countries can I combine with a trip to the Galapagos?Due to their privileged geographical locationcombinations with the Ecuadorian mainland, theneighbouring countries of Peru, Colombia andVenezuela, and the Central American countriesof Panama and Costa Rica, are possible. Wehave provided some suggestions and sampleitineraries on page 30.Is the Galapagos suitable for solo travellers?Any trip to the Galapagos is a very sociableoccasion so any single traveller will quicklybecome part of a group. Single supplements can be hefty, particularly when cruising, but anumber of the vessels featured in this brochuredo offer single-use cabins or operate a 'samesex share' policy if there is more than one single person on board.When should I travel to the Galapagos?The Galapagos can be visited all year round.Certain times of the year can be better forseeing different wildlife (see pages 6 to 11 formore details) although there is no optimum time to see everything. We do not advise against travel at any particular time of the year,although September can be the coolest andchoppiest month.How long should I spend in Galapagos?The vessels in this brochure will operate anything from a four day to two week itinerary.Packages from a hotel or an island hoppingprogramme typically involve a four, five or eightday trip. We believe that four days is a minimumbut will provide a wonderful experience in theGalapagos. A week offers a comprehensive trip,with two weeks being reserved for the keenestof wildlife enthusiasts.How much will it cost?The price of a Galapagos trip varies enormouslydepending on factors such as the time of yearyou travel, the type of boat or accommodationyou choose and the length of your stay. In thepreceeding pages you will see a variety ofoptions from simple hotels through to luxuriousexpedition boats. Please refer to our website for guidelines on prices or speak to one of ourGalapagos specialists.Your questions22Galapagos hawkGalapagos flamingos

www.audleytravel.com/galapagos ?01993 838 635 ?Your questions23Is the Galapagos suitable for families?With its unmissable abundance of inquisitive and friendly wildlife, the Galapagos is an idealdestination for families. The superb combinationof educational excursions, snorkelling, swimming,beach time and kayaking keeps children happilyand healthily occupied and is sure to tire themout! Some boats cater specifically for youngchildren and teenagers on dedicated familydepartures during school holidays -please askour Galapagos specialists for more information if these appeal. We also recognise that somevisitors to the islands may wish to avoid familiesand our specialists will be able to advise on thebest available cruise to suit your needs.Do I need to be fit?The Galapagos attracts all ages and physicalabilities so the answer to this is no. Some agilityis required to get on and off the panga (smalldinghy-style speed boat) which carries you toand from your cruise boat to the islands, butguides and crew will assist you, and many vesselsnow have platforms to ease disembarkation.Landings from the panga can be either wet or dry, the former involving a short wade inshallow water to the shore, whereas someislands have landing jetties to avoid this. Onyour daily excursions the longest island walk is around one mile. This takes place over thecourse of a couple of hours, as there are regularstops for wildlife viewing, discussions andphotography. The terrain on some of the islandscan be quite uneven, but you will be walking on well-established trails and will be fully briefedby your guide before each excursion.A family watching sea lionsLand iguanaNazca boobiesIs it possible to charter a vessel?All of the vessels we work with can be charteredon a private basis which may be ideal if you aretravelling with a group of friends or extendedfamily. This can be a cost-effective and fun wayto explore the archipelago with your own hand-picked group. Private charters generallyhave to be organised at least one year inadvance in order to secure your preferred vessel.Is seasickness a problem?Seasickness is rarely a problem in the Galapagos,but if you are prone to motion sickness then wedo recommend avoiding September as the sea ischoppiest during this month. For the remainderof the year the waters around the Galapagos aregenerally very calm but, if seasickness is still aconcern, you could choose a medium or largersized boat which will have increased stability, oryou could opt to stay on dry land in a hotel.Typical panga transfer