AAW Galapagos cruise 12th June

Hi,

My friend and I are going on this trip.We are travelling from Lancashire a week earlier as we are meeting a friend in Florida.So,we then fly from Miami to Quito and have a couple of extra nights in the hotal as we have booked trips through Exodus to Otavelo and the cloud forest.We are very much looking forward to this expedition !

John and I are travelling from the Isle of Wight, up to Heathrow and on to Holland before joining the Quito flight. We are adding a trip to the Amazon through Exodus when we finish our Galapogos tour to complete the experience.

Pleased to hear from you all. The extra trips sound great. I am just going on the galapagos trip because I can't take the extra time off work very easily. I look forward to meeting you.

Hi All,

I am flying from Heathrow via Amsterdam for the Galapogos trip. I have been to South America before so I am just booked for this trip - the bit I missed the first time! - Looking forward to meeting you all!

I think we are quite likely to come across each other at Schipol. I have a few hours there between flights.

Hi

I am also on the flight from Heathrow via Amsterdam.  I have never been to the Americas before and am very excited about this trip.  When I checked the Amsterdam flight out it looks like we could be stopping at Bonaire and Guayaquil before finally arriving in Quito.

I haven't checked our flight but I know that a lot of flights from Quito stop at Guayaquil for fuel because they take off light at Quito because of the altitude ( a bit like a few flights from Glasgow stopping at Prestwick because of the short runway at Abbotsinch).

Is any-one taking any sea sickness medication or has got any information about how rough the seas get ?

 

Reviewers on earlier trips have suggested that sea-sickness medication would be a good idea so I will be taking some just in case. I got the impression that it was not rough but there could be large swells.

Thank you for the tip. I don't normally have seasickness issues, but better to be safe than sorry. 80 Days to go!

I find that the wrist bands are very effective I used them last year in extremely rough seas around New Zealand with no vertigo problems at all

Thank you both for the sea sickness advice, it is some years since I experienced this but I am now going to pack both options just in case.  I am looking forward to meeting you all.  

Yes I believe the bands are very good - there is quite a bit of information on the web about possible rough seas in lilght of the time of year we're travelling and as we are crossing open water to Tower island etc so beter to be prepared.

Payment is due soon !! must be getting close.

 

It's due on the 17th but I'll probably take care of it tonight so that I don't forget. It does start to feel like you are counting down once you get to the payment date. I'm starting to think about what else to pack such whether to take my own snorkelling kit and that sort of thing. I'll hire fins and a wetsuit if needed but I'll probably take my own snorkel and mask for the sake of getting a good fit.

Seems like there willbe a lot of snorkelling which I've read is quite fantastic . My friend is a reluctant snorkeller and I'm enthusiastic but not strong. I understand the water will be quite cool. I've bought a shortie wetsuit as suggested by others on various forums. There are also said to be kayaks on the boat ?

BTW there is a new review posted in the review section of the holiday.

The reviews recommend the snorkelling and so does my dentist but he does say it is cold. I don't know about the kayaks but they would be interesting. I had thought to hire the wetsuit to save on packing space but a shortie is an interesting thought. Pack plenty of waterproof sunscreen for the back of your legs. I got sunburn on the back of mine on the GBR a few years ago.

Hi All,

Myself and my partner did this trip last November - we were in the same group as Ruth Allcock who has posted a review.  It was a wonderful experience and I know you will love it.  As for sea sickness, we had a couple of long sails which were pretty rough - one of which was over to Genovesa (Tower).  Even if you aren't usually sick, I would recommend taking sea sickness tablets just in case (as an ex diver I can recommend Stugeron).  Hiring wetsuit/fins/mask/snorkel can work out a bit pricey so if you have your own, it would be worth taking them.  We bought CIC shortie wetsuits from Big Orange Watersports for about £25.  Given them a call - they are really helpful.  The water was very cold when we were there (La nina), but it is still worth braving it, if only for a short time.  At one point I got quite cold so I got out of the water - the guide could see how cold I was and made sure I was taken back to Cachalote PDQ.  The boat crew caters for all levels of snorkeller, so consider giving it a go - you may regret it if you don't - they will make sure no harm comes to you.  The only other tip I have is to pack as light as possible because cabins are REALLY small - no room to swing anything - let alone a cat! Feel free to mail me at worrytoomuch@hotmail.co.uk if you have any other questions.  I would be happy to send you some pics of the boat/cabin etc.

It's always useful to hear from someone who has done the trip before. I'll take hiking trip stuff (lightweight,packs small).

May I ask those who have been before, what type of footwear you would suggest for Island trekking ?  Thank you

I haven't been to the Galapagos but I have been to Iceland; lava can be rough on footwear so I would go for something with a strong sole. Some reviews recommend 'Teva' type trek sandals because there is a need to wade ashore from time to time. I am planning to take lightweight Merrell walking shoes.

I have a lightweight pair of waterproof Columbia walking boots for use in the islands . Any thoughts on altitude sickness in Quito?

Hi All,

I did this trip last November.  Most of the time you will be fine wearing Teva type trek sandals, but on some excursions we were told we should wear walking shoes/light walking boots i.e. something with a good sole (the lava can be sharp) and not open-toed.  On these occasions I just wore my approach shoes.  On Isabela there is a walk to Sierra Negra.  There are two options - a shorter one and a longer one for the more serious walker.  You will need good boots for the longer walk; approach shoes will be OK for the shorter one, but be warned it is very dusty!

I did suffer a bit with altitude sickness in Quito (mainly just had a bad headache from about 2 hours after landing until we left for the islands).  Someone else in our group was also a bit sick as well but she was fine once she got to Galapagos.  You're only in Quito a couple of days, so just take it easy  and don't make the same mistake as the lady on our trip of going up in the funicular to see the view as this probably made her worse.

Again, feel free to mail me at worrytoomuch@hotmail.co.uk if you have any other questions. 

It's not the sort of altitude where you should have real difficulty adapting but it could potentially be more of an issue on the way home for some people. Your red cell count can decrease in hot weather and then you go from sea level up to Quito. The recommended way to deal with it, apart from going to a lower altitude, is to take glucose but sugary drinks, jelly babies etc. have much the same effect.

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It's not the sort of altitude where you should have real difficulty adapting but it could potentially be more of an issue on the way home for some people. Your red cell count can decrease in hot weather and then you go from sea level up to Quito. The recommended way to deal with it, apart from going to a lower altitude, is to take glucose but sugary drinks, jelly babies etc. have much the same effect.

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It's not the sort of altitude where you should have real difficulty adapting but it could potentially be more of an issue on the way home for some people. Your red cell count can decrease in hot weather and then you go from sea level up to Quito. The recommended way to deal with it, apart from going to a lower altitude, is to take glucose but sugary drinks, jelly babies etc. have much the same effect.

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fact that

It's not the sort of altitude where you should have real difficulty adapting but it could potentially be more of an issue on the way home for some people. Your red cell count can decrease in hot weather and then you go from sea level up to Quito. The recommended way to deal with it, apart from going to a lower altitude, is to take glucose but sugary drinks, jelly babies etc. have much the same effect.

The

fact that you

It's not the sort of altitude where you should have real difficulty adapting but it could potentially be more of an issue on the way home for some people. Your red cell count can decrease in hot weather and then you go from sea level up to Quito. The recommended way to deal with it, apart from going to a lower altitude, is to take glucose but sugary drinks, jelly babies etc. have much the same effect.

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Sorry when I did the posting something went a bit pear shaped.

We are off on Sunday to start the adventure so Bon voyage and safe journeys to all our fellow travellers and looking forward to seeing you all in Quito !!

This is the time when I look at the stuff I have to pack and decide what I'm going to throw out.