Galapagos Advisor

03/03/2024

Eruption in Galapagos right now, Fernandina Island. Never a dull moment.

29/01/2024

𝗙𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗮....
If you want to see a flightless cormorant, you need to be sure of 2 things:
1) You're embarking on an expedition cruise. Why? Because the flightless cormorant habitat, on the remote western shores of the archipelago, is not accessible by any day-trip.
2) Your ship's itinerary is taking you to at least one of the few places in the archipelago where you're likely to see them.

For more info, see: https://www.galapagosadvisor.com/visitor-sites

18/04/2023

𝙎𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙚𝙖
Pretty dramatic stuff. We know the passenger - a very dedicated local community leader. See the full story: https://www.cnhtours.com/.../18/small-plane-crashes-at-sea/

20/10/2022

𝗡𝗢 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗢𝗙 𝗢𝗙 𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗜𝗗 𝗩𝗔𝗖𝗖𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 / 𝗢𝗙 𝗡𝗘𝗚𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗜𝗗 𝗧𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗦 𝗥𝗘𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗥𝗬 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗢 𝗘𝗖𝗨𝗔𝗗𝗢𝗥 & 𝗚𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗣𝗔𝗚𝗢𝗦
The Ecuadorian National Committee for Emergency Operations has just released a statement indicating that as of today, visitors to Ecuador in Galapagos will not be asked to show proof of COVID vaccination nor of a negative COVID test. They reserve the right to reimpose such measures if conditions warrant.

19/10/2022

𝗣𝗢𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗕𝗟𝗬 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗢𝗦𝗧 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗛𝗘𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗙𝗔𝗤 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗚𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗣𝗔𝗚𝗢𝗦

With 82 questions divided into 6 sections, we believe that our FAQ (developed over many years) is the most comprehensive out there (if not, please let us know). While targeted to ship-based visitors, it still contains a lot of information useful to all Galapagos bound travellers.

Sections include:
- Planning your trip
- Health and Safety
- On the ship
- Climate and sea
- Before you leave
- Travel logistics

All of your Galapagos questions answered...even the ones you didn't even know you had!

07/10/2022

23 years ago today, in Quito, Pichincha volcano let out a huge "Earth burp". It went on to send more clouds of ash for months, though nothing quite as spectacular as this one!

03/10/2022

Tortoise Traffickers to Spend One Year in Prison, Pay Fines

< /p> Three people were sentenced to one year in prison for thetrafficking of 84 giant tortoises and five Galapagos golden iguanas, a fragile ecosystem considered Natural Patrimony of the Humanity, reported this Friday the Ecuadorian Prosecutor's Office. “The defendants Freddy Alfonso C. R., Darí...

18/06/2022

State of Emergency Declared
While there is no significant threat of violence, strkers have made it very difficult for people and goods to move around the city, and the government hopes to bring this situation to an end by making some concessions to the strikers' demands, and to give itself more power to clear the main thoroughfares.

If you plan on travelling through Quito (Guayaquil, the other big city in Ecuador with an international airport is much less affected), or spend time in the city in the coming days, you may want to make alternatve plans.

We expect these disruptions to come to an end in the next few days. https://www.cnhtours.com/news/2022/6/18/president-declares-state-of-emergency/

The indigenous-led strike against high prices has disrupted the movement of people and goods this past week, prompting president Lasso to declare a...

23/03/2022

𝗝𝗲𝗸𝘆𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝘆𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗴𝗼𝘀: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗮𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗿𝘆.

Your park entrance fee at work.

These days, several experts are attending a workshop on biological control for the alien and highly invasive blackberry in Galapagos.
Until now, blackberry can only be controlled by a huge effort, sending teams of people pulling it out of the ground. It's delicious berries are eaten by birds, who then spreads seeds far a and wide. Once established, it crowds out native vegetation.

If some type of biological agent (a fungus, an insect) can be found that feeds exclusively on blackberry, it could help in keeping this alien invasive under control.

Left to right: Rakan Zahawi, Darwin Station director, Danny Rueda, Galapagos National Park director and Marilyn Cruz, head of the Galapagos Biosecurity agency.

10/03/2022

𝗚𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗣𝗔𝗚𝗢𝗦: Two months after the earth's crust split open, Wolf volcano continues to spew lava, just a few hundred meters south of the equatorial line. Above, the hunter Orion watches, poised to shoot an arrow right into the lava stream.

Pic taken on 8 March by our friend and naturalist guide, Sofia Darquea. Great shot Sofia!!

03/03/2022

KEEP YOUR MASK ON AND KEEP YOUR FRIENDS...
A flight to the Galapagos islands is not the right place to make your stand on mask wearing. We suspect that the person responsible for the long delay did not make many friends on board.
https://www.cnhtours.com/news/2022/3/3/flight-to-galapagos-keep-your-mask-on-and-keep-your-friends/

This past Sunday, an Avianca flight from Quito to Galapagos, via Guayaquil, arrived a few hours late at its final destination thanks to one passenger...

09/02/2022

𝗘𝗖𝗨𝗔𝗗𝗢𝗥 𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗥𝗬 𝗥𝗘𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗘 𝗔𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬 11 FEB
Starting Friday, 11 February, the only COVID related requirement for entry into Ecuador and Galapagos will be proof of full vaccination. Requirements for negative PCR test or antigen test have been dropped. According to the Ministry of Tourism official communiqué released this afternoon.

28/01/2022

https://www.cnhtours.com/news/2022/1/28/big-fish-at-marine-reserve-expansion-ceremony/

26/01/2022

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗻𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻?

They always point to the sun!

On the western shores of the archipelago, where waters are nutrient rich, is where you'll find the richest sea life - and the greatest concentrations of marine iguanas.

08/01/2022

Wolf volcano erupts as of yesterday. Only visible to those on an expedition cruise ship with the right itinerary. Always an amazing thing to see! https://fb.watch/apbWjXow5u/

23/12/2021

𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗖𝗥𝗢𝗡: 𝗕𝗲 𝗘𝗫𝗧𝗥𝗔 𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁

Omicron is spreading rapidly. Regardless of whether or not you will get sick from it, the risk is that you will fail your mandatory PCR test prior to boarding your international flight to Galapagos. That will spell the end of your Galapagos trip of a lifetime (for now).

Be extra vigilant prior to your trip, wear a mask, be sure you get the booster shot, which increases your chances of not contracting the virus.

Different ships have different policies should you test positive prior to embarking on your flight.

30/11/2021

New entry requirements to and as of 1st December 2021: PCR Test, Vaccine and Safe Conduct document. More details below.

https://www.cnhtours.com/news/2021/11/30/proof-of-vaccination-and-negative-pcr-test-required-as-of-1-december/

The Ecuadorian National Emergency Operations Committee met last night and decided to modify the entry requirements into the country  effective 1...

28/11/2021

OMICRON and GALAPAGOS: Should you be worried? https://www.cnhtours.com/news/2021/11/28/omicron-covid-variant-what-does-it-mean-for-galapagos-bound-travellers/

Short answer:  It’s too early to tell.  We’ll all been hearing about the Omicron COVID variant that has started circulating – first detected in...

18/11/2021

𝗦𝗡𝗢𝗥𝗞𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗢𝗥𝗖𝗔𝗦
This doesn't happen all the time - but it happens! These lucky guests, aboard the ship we charter 24 weeks a year for our "Active Galapagos" trips, got to swim with cavorting orcas on a sailing earlier this month. Not too shabby!

15/11/2021

Maybe someone will win the prize and get to witness an volcanic eruption in the near-ish future. It will be the luck of the draw though - impossible to predict these with any precision.

The Ecuadorian Geophysical Institute announced on Friday that significant deformation of the Fernandina volcano in Galapagos has been occurring over...

05/11/2021

On a sunny day In March, 2001, I was working at my desk at the Charles Darwin Research Station.  My office had a wonderful view of Academy Bay, where...

29/10/2021

DOLPHIN SOUP!
One of our guests took this not too long ago, while on a cruise to the western shores of Isabela. This kind of encounter doesn't happen regularly, to be honest, but the more time you spend out and about in the islands, the greater the chance you'll witness this kind of WOW moment.

NOTE: Underwater Galapagos is a big part of the wonder. If you're not already comfortable with a snorkel and mask, we strongly recommend you do all you can to become comfortable before your visit.

29/10/2021

UK Goverment: Ecuador to be removed from its "red list" on 1st November, making it a LOT easier for UK residents to travel to Ecuador. Good news!

22/10/2021

𝗚𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗦 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗙𝗟𝗘𝗫𝗜𝗕𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗜𝗡 𝗚𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗣𝗔𝗚𝗢𝗦 𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗜𝗗 𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗥𝗬 𝗥𝗘𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗚𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗣𝗔𝗚𝗢𝗦

In the third flip-flopping of Galapagos entry requirements in less than two months, the government of Ecuador announced an easing of Galapagos entry requirements today, giving visitors more options.

AS OF SATURDAY, 23 OCTOBER: Anyone having been fully vaccinated (no later than 14 days prior to Galapagos entry), 𝗢𝗥 anyone having passed a PCR test within 72 hours of boarding a flight to Galapagos (from mainland Ecuador) will be allowed into the islands.

For the official Ministry of Tourism announcement (in Spanish), see: https://www.turismo.gob.ec/actualizacion-de-requisitos-de-ingreso-a-galapagos/

This replaces the current requirements, which call only for a negative PCR test. The change will make it easier for those who have been fully vaccinated - they will no longer have to take the PCR test.

08/09/2021

This is the kind of show you may be treated to in Galapagos. Of course, the longer you are out and about and on the water, the greater the chances. Feeling a bit sorry for the sea turtle!

24/08/2021

An expanded Galapagos marine reserve on the horizon? Important to include resources for managing it effectively.

(this is an edited version of the Google Translated article that appeared in the "La Republica" newspaper on 20 August) Editor's preamble:  "Debt...

30/07/2021

ZERO new COVID in Galapagos this past week.k