Galapagos Islands Ecuador Trip with Celebrity Cruises

We believe every vacation you embark on should be memorable for all the right reasons, and there’s nowhere in the world quite like the Galapagos Islands for a journey of discovery — that’s why we recommend a 7-16 night Galapagos expedition cruise with Celebrity Cruises.

With our team of expert travel advisors on hand to take care of all the details and arrangements of your luxury expedition cruise vacation, we wanted to bring you just a few more details about what to expect and how to make the most of your time on this truly mesmerizing archipelago off the coast of Ecuador.

What are the best things to experience in the Galapagos?

The opportunity to see varied and unique wildlife up close in the Galapagos is surely one of the greatest experiences on the planet.

Visit the local ponds to see the wild flamingos, swim with sea lions, spot penguins in the bay, give sleeping seals a wide berth, snorkel with sharks, watch your step around marine – and land – iguanas, see giant tortoises trek through the wild, dive under the waves with giant manta rays, and chuckle at the comical antics of the blue-footed boobies.

What flights are available to get to the Galapagos Islands?

Flying out to the Galapagos is easier than people think. Nonstop flights to Quito (one of two starting points for reaching the islands) from Houston, New York, Miami, Atlanta, and Fort Lauderdale are all available. Miami offers the most flights and best pricing, while also being a convenient four hours away.

It’s not possible to fly to the Galapagos Islands directly, which is why you need to land in Quito or Guayaquil if traveling internationally. Balta is also a little over two hours away from the mainland by flight. You can include flights in your Celebrity Cruises package when you speak to our expert team, and we’ll work out the best arrangements to suit you.

What clothes do you need to pack?

For footwear, we recommend good hiking sandals with covered toes to tackle any volcanic terrain, while also packing a pair of water sandals. You can then change into lightweight hiking shoes when you reach the island after a wet landing. A good walking stick can be useful to bring, although you may find them offered for free.

Pants with legs that zip on and off to transition to shorts are also ideal, while a hat with plenty of coverage and even a back flap will help you keep covered from the sun. To that end, suntan lotion that is environmentally impact-free is also recommended.

Pack a variety of long and short sleeve clothes or transition items, a windbreaker, and a hoodie and you’re set. Don’t forget your snorkeling equipment too, if you intend to do a little diving.

What are the environmental restrictions in the Galapagos?

To help preserve this wonderful, yet fragile ecosystem, there are rigorous technical and logistical approvals required for boats. Private yachts are not allowed to visit points of interest. To protect the ecosystem, you must not remove any element of it.

You must not take single-use plastics, as these will be removed from your luggage, and it should go without saying that you should always keep two meters away from any wildlife at all times.

Is there a minimum age requirement?

While there is no age requirement to be in the Galapagos Islands, Celebrity Cruises will only allow children aged eight and up (some other operators will allow children of six and up).

Can you book hotel stays?

Since you’ll be traveling via small boat to each island, with some long distances, we don’t recommend hotel stays. This allows you to reach more than just one of the many beautiful islands during your time here. Also, the environmental impact of a hotel stay per person is far greater than on a cruise ship.

What upgrades are available on a Galapagos Islands experience?

When planning your Galapagos Islands experience with our team, we can create a back-to-back cruise for 14 days, where you’ll visit different islands and take on new experiences.

Explore more of the region with additional extensions in Machu Picchu, Ecuador, and beyond. We’ll arrange a seamless journey so that you can enjoy birdwatching in Mindo, snap a photo at the equator in Mitad del Mundo, shop for a Panama hat in Cuenca before exploring the Inca architecture and ruins, discover a shopper’s paradise in Otavalo, adventure into the Amazon jungle, or climb Ecuador’s famous volcano, Chimborazo.

However you want to spend your time, we can make your dream vacation a reality.

Are there any additional fees?

There are entrance and transit fees. A Transit Control Card costs $20 and should be purchased at the airport before luggage inspection on your Galapagos flight (allow at least two additional hours for this unless your cruise line is managing this the night prior on your behalf).

A National Park fee of $100 is also applied to help towards conservation efforts. In some cases, this may or may not be included in the cruise price — ask our team about these fees if you’d like to know more!

Additional top tips for international travel

Finally, we wanted to share some of our top international travel tips with you for your Galapagos Islands and Ecuador vacation:

• Always buy reputable and quality travel insurance in case of cancellation due to medical reasons, to avoid costly medical bills while traveling abroad, or having to get home for medical emergencies. It is now required to have health insurance (usable in the country) prior to entry into many countries.
• Double-check your passport to make sure you have at least six months prior to expiration from the return date to the US.
• Take a photocopy or take a picture of your passport page and put it in your mobile device you are carrying, then put it under your contact as “Passport info”.
• Do the same for Global Entry/TSA information.
• Confirm you have any visas required by going to the US state website or through your travel advisor or travel company documentation.
• We advise that you share your itinerary and contact information with a primary contact at home.
• Be sure to review the general information and any important advice.
• Invest in new luggage trackers and put one in each bag, including carry-on luggage, after you pair it on the app for mobile devices.
• Always use TSA locks on luggage after making sure no valuables are stored in the bags.
• Never carry your passport on the street; carry a copy and leave the original in the hotel or cruise ship safe (or locked in your luggage in the room).
• Keep your passport on your person on the ‘day of travel’ and keep important travel documents in your carry-on.
• Keep all needed medical supplies in your carry-on and carry at least five additional days of life-supporting meds on a trip abroad.
• Take a photocopy of the prescription bottle so you can share it with an overseas pharmacy if your medications get lost or left behind on your itinerary.

Call our team of expert travel advisors at Accent on Travel at 888-806-2337 to reserve your place on a Galapagos Islands cruise with Celebrity Cruises. Our partnership with Celebrity Cruises allows you to travel in complete comfort and luxury, with a range of exclusive rates and extensions available. We arrange all the details to take the burden of planning off your hands, leaving you with a dream vacation where you can make memories to last a lifetime.

Wake up somewhere wonderful in the Galapagos with Accent on Travel in partnership with Celebrity Cruises.