Travel Details

Corona Clause Guarantee:

In addition to our standard Terms & Conditions, we offer a CORONA CLAUSE, on all new and existing bookings through 2023. 

OUR GUARANTEE
Our Corona Clause will apply when either border is closed; if Ecuador closes its border or if the country where guests reside closes their border and all flights are canceled, we will provide guests with a Full cruise credit (FCC) to reschedule up to 12 months from the cruise departure.

The Corona Clause does not include a cancelation due to fear of traveling, an imposed quarantine to enter or return home, or if there is a travel advisory. If you should cancel for any reason, including testing positive for Covid or any other medical condition that prevents you from entering Ecuador, you will need to file a claim with your travel insurance provider. We highly recommend all guests purchase a travel insurance policy, preferably CFAR, to protect themselves from a financial loss should you need to postpone or Cancel For Any Reason. Our standard terms for cancelation apply if guests cancel or postpone their cruise.

Health & Safety measures:

The well-being and safety of our guests continue to be one of our top priorities. While we have always maintained very rigorous health and hygiene guidelines, since the pandemic, cleaning procedures have been enhanced according to biosecurity standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO), Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) Health & Safety guidelines, and SAFE TRAVELS approved by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

Covid-Friendly Guest Experience

Upon arrival, guests will receive a hot hand towel with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer ingredient and hand luggage, backpacks and bags will be gently sprayed with a disinfecting mist.  All cabin amenities will be thoroughly disinfected prior to each cruise. Guests will receive a personal bottle of hand sanitizer and, to avoid any cross-contamination.  Hand-sanitizing stations are placed throughout all social areas of our yachts, with additional signage throughout guest and staff areas to remind everyone of important health and hygiene protocols. During the welcome briefing, the biosafety measures to follow during the cruise will be explained.

All excursions have a maximum of 10 guests that are accompanied by 2 crew members and 1 naturalist guide. All of our expedition equipment is undergoing deep cleaning and disinfection procedures (and will be disinfected after every activity). The use of face masks is left to the discretion of our guests. 

There is a sign-up sheet available with the Concierge, so the gym can be deep cleaned within 30 minutes with ozone between usage. Only four guests are permitted in the Jacuzzi at any one time.

Our cruises lend themselves to social distancing as our itineraries are designed to avoid crossing with other visitors to the islands. To reinforce this our Captains will also be in contact with other vessels to avoid coinciding in locations at the same time to avoid agglomerations.

Cleaning and Disinfection Procedures

Cleaning products approved by the Galapagos National Park, which are effective against viruses, bacteria and other airborne and bloodborne pathogens are being used in all yachts. We have increased the frequency of deep-cleaning, while disinfecting with ozone machines (HEPA filters) all common areas, public spaces and guests’ cabins (in addition to crew quarters), with an emphasis on high-contact surfaces such as stair railings, doorknobs, coffee stations, water dispensers, coffee tables, dining and bar surfaces, social area restrooms, jacuzzi and sun deck areas. Shoe disinfection trays have been placed at the entrance of each yacht. Crew members follow strict cleaning and sanitation charts in every stateroom and social area. We have intensified and increased the cleaning of air conditioning recirculation filters every week, to guarantee the proper operation of the system, prior to each cruise.

Food & Beverage

We continue to reinforce our methods of identifying and managing food safety-related risk, including Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP), as well as the cleanliness and disinfection of our dining areas, bars and kitchens.

We have emphasized the cleaning and disinfection of kitchens and bars, with strict food safety standards. We follow a disinfection process in all the tableware, glassware and cutlery, as well as the utensils used by our concierges and waiters during the service. Service personnel will adhere to strict security procedures while serving all food and drinks. The kitchen will be disinfected with ozone 3 times per week and only authorized crew members will be allowed to enter the kitchen during their working hours.

Mandatory Procedures Followed by Our Crew

The crew arriving from the continent will have to pass all the controls and procedures established by the local Galapagos airports. They will follow complete disinfection procedures before boarding Ecoventura’s yachts. All crew members will be closely monitored on a daily basis for any symptoms (including a temperature reading) while aboard. They have received detailed training on Ecoventura’s sanitation protocols, in addition to learning how to identify flu or virus-like symptoms, and follow procedures as stated in the ISM (International Safety Management) manual. Hand hygiene is the main measure of prevention and control of infection, and will be done with water and soap, following the right technique of the World Health Organization.

 Management of Air Circulation

Airfare and Flight Schedule:

Make your trip to the Galápagos a seamless, stress-free experience by booking flights directly with Ecoventura. By doing so, we can assist you every step of the way, from checking-in for your Avianca flight to pre-paying the Galapagos National Park entrance fee. Passengers will find regular flights between Quito, Guayaquil and San Cristobal Island with Avianca.

To see up-to-date airfare and flight schedules, go here.

Travel Insurance:

Ecoventura strongly recommends travelers have Travel Insurance to protect your travel investment.

Since COVID-19 is now a known issue, most Travel Insurance plans are now treating it like any other medical condition. Therefore it is important that you purchase Travel Insurance.
There are many options out there, please feel free to choose the travel insurance that you prefer. We recommend the following:

Ecoventura recommends three of the plans offered by Trawick International; A Safe Travel First Class Plan, a Safe Travels Voyager Plan or a Safe Travel Multinational Trip Protection plan.

US Citizens Insurance Recommendations

TRAWICK INTERNATIONAL – SAFE TRAVELS FIRST CLASS

• For US citizens and US Residents travelling to other countries


• Coverage Benefits and an idea of plan costs can be found here.

TRAWICK INTERNATIONAL – SAFE TRAVELS VOYAGER

• For US citizens and US Residents travelling to other countries


• The Safe Travels Voyager is designed for those who are looking for the highest available benefit limits to protect your trip. This plan also Includes a minimum coverage of $2,000 for potential quarantine lodging expenses.


• Coverage Benefits can be found here.


• The Voyager rates are based off trip cost, age of the traveler, duration and destination.

Non US Citizens Insurance Recommendation

TRAWICK INTERNATIONAL – SAFE TRAVEL MULTINATIONAL

• For Non US citizens up to age 79, traveling outside their home county (and not coming to the USA)


• Coverage Benefits can be found here.

Trawick International, Inc

888-301-9289 or 888-301-9289

www.trawickinternational.com

Global Rescue LLC

(P) 617-459-4200

www.globalrescue.com

Transit Card Fee:

All visitors to Galapagos are required to purchase a “Tarjeta de Control de Transito” or TCT card for $20.00.  This card allows INGALA, the institution that controls migration to the islands to better regulate the flow of all arrivals and departure to Galapagos. Ecoventura will register all passengers in advance provided the fee is pre-paid and we receive the passenger information form.

Galapagos Entrance Fee or “park tax”:

The Islands are part of the Ecuador National Park system and the entrance fee is $100.00 per person.  Children age 11 and younger get a reduced rate of $50.00. The fee is divided up among various entities including the GNPS, Marine Reserve, agriculture, municipalities, INEFAN and INGALA.

Transportation Contract:

All passengers will receive a cruise ticket at the airport in Guayaquil or Quito upon check in for the flight to Galapagos. The cruise ticket contains the terms and conditions of the transportation contract.  In order to review the terms before you leave home, you can view this on the company web site.

Click here to download the transportation contract

Entry Requirements for Ecuador & Galapagos:

Passports & Visas

At check-in for AV flight 1630, a representative from Ecuador will assist you with your boarding pass, park entrance fee, and transit control card receipts if pre-paid.  You may be asked to present a return flight ticket and a medical insurance ID card.  Our crew will be waiting for you when you land to provide a safe and quick transfer to your yacht.

Gratuities to guides & crew:

We believe our crew members provide world-class service and we hope you agree. We do not add an automatic service charge to your account as we prefer that guests reward our crew solely based on their performance at the end of their cruise. If you would like to do so, any amount you feel appropriate is truly appreciated. However, for guests who inquire, we suggest each  passenger to leave between $300 – $350 which is the international standard for a luxury expedition vessel similar to the Origin, Theory & Evolve.  Cash is the preferred method of payment on board. You can also charge the gratuity to a credit card (Visa or MasterCard only). Gratuities are distributed among all crew members including naturalist guides.

Island visits/ Activities:

The vessels anchor offshore at two visitor sites or Islands per day.  Passengers are ferried to the landing point in zodiac style inflatable landing craft, locally called “pangas”. The landings are either wet (where one must step into water anywhere from your ankles to your knees and wade to shore) or dry (where one steps from the Zodiac directly to the volcanic rock). Your guide and Zodiac driver will assist you with a steady hand.  On the Islands, one follows marked trails set by the National Park walking at a leisurely pace together with your guide. You will spend 3-4 hours at each site allowing plenty of time to explore and photograph the wildlife.  In addition to the guided land excursions, we offer deep water snorkeling, beach swim/snorkel, kayaking, and zodiac rides.

Yacht & Itinerary Stipulations:

Ecoventura reserves the right at its sole option and discretion and that of the Captain of the vessel or National Park impact studies without liability for damages or refund of any kind to deviate from the vessel’s advertised or ordinary itinerary for any reason including mechanical failure. Ecoventura will not be held responsible for any refund whatsoever for changes to the printed or scheduled itinerary.

Airfare and Flight Schedule to Galapagos:

Flights to Galapagos for Ecoventura passengers are serviced by AVIANCA Airlines from Quito (UIO) and Guayaquil (GYE) to Galapagos (San Cristobal = SCY). Flight reservations for confirmed passengers are made automatically through our seat allotment with Avianca.All passengers who arrive at SCY on AV 1630 on Sunday will receive assistance with the check-in procedure and the option to pre-pay the transit card fee. A representative from Ecoventura accompanies our passengers on this flight. Upon arrival, our crew and guides meet this flight and transport passengers to the yachts. Passengers who chose to arrive on any other flight will not be provided with the same services.

Flight schedule:

Sundays to/from Galapagos (SCY) 

Airfares in LOW season:

January 1 – 30 June & September 1 – 31 December

Airfares in HIGH season:

July 1 – 31 August

Airfares include all airport taxes and airfare fuel surcharges. They are subject to change at any time up until the day of departure and even after tickets have been paid in full.

National Park Rules & Regulations:

Snorkeling equipment & Wet suits:

There are many opportunities to snorkel during the cruise, sometimes twice a day from the beach and in deep water. Masks, fins and snorkels in average sizes are available on board free of charge for use during the cruise.   If you anticipate taking advantage of all snorkeling opportunities you may prefer to bring your own mask and snorkel for a proper fit.

Full 3mm Aqualung wet suits are provided for guests to use during the cruise at no additional charge and there is no need to reserve them in advance.  Wetsuits are most prevalent from July to October when water temperatures are between 65 and 72 degrees. We have a large inventory of various sizes including Men: S, M, MT, L, XL, XXL, XXXL, Women:  S, M, MT, L, XL, Children:  S, M, L.

Sea Kayaks and paddleboards:

The Origin, Theory, and Evolve each have five tandem kayaks and two stand-up paddle boards (SUP) for guests to use during the cruise.

Be prepared for the adventure of a lifetime by packing a suitcase full of casual, comfortable, and versatile items. Start by purchasing a soft-sided spinner or a rolling duffel bag—perfect for storage in staterooms.

Arrival and Departure to Galapagos:

International Flights to Ecuador

You will need to book your international flights to Ecuador to arrive to Quito (UIO) or Guayaquil (GYE) and spend at least one night at a hotel before departing for Galapagos on Sunday morning although we suggest you arrive two nights prior to the cruise in case there is any delay in your international flight. You can book an evening flight home on Sunday at the end of your cruise provided the departure is 3 hours after the arrival of the Avianca flight.

International Flights to Ecuador are currently serviced by:

• American Airlines (Miami)


• Jet Blue


• Spirit (Fort Lauderdale)


• United (Houston)


• DELTA (Atlanta)


• LATAM (JFK, Lima)


• AVIANCA (Bogota, Lima, San Salvador)


• COPA (Panama)


• GOL (Sao Paulo)


• IBERIA (Madrid)


• KLM (Amsterdam)

Flights to Galapagos (San Cristobal)

Flight reservations are made automatically by Ecoventura through our allotment of seats on Sundays to/from San Cristobal (SCY). Flights to Galapagos (SCY) for Ecoventura passengers are confirmed on our recommended flights with AVIANCA Airlines from Quito (UIO) or Guayaquil (GYE). Passengers who purchase their tickets through Ecoventura for the AVIANCA flights will receive assistance with check-in and can pre-pay the park tax and transit card. A representative from Ecoventura accompanies our passengers on this flight.

• View current airfares and schedules, go here.

Baggage Policy

• Excess baggage fee: $45 for up to 50 lb/ 23 kg, $60 for 51-70 lb/ 23-32 kg.


• Overweight baggage fee: $15 for 51-100 lb/ 23-45 kg


• Oversize baggage fee: $80 for larger than 62 in/ 158 cm and less than or equal to 90.5 in/ 230 cm.

Transit Card and National Park Entrance Fees

Day of Cruise Departure/Check-In Procedure

On the day of departure, please be at the airport in Quito or Guayaquil two hours prior to departure for check-in. A message will be left at your hotel the evening prior with the check in time. You must first have your bags inspected by SICGAL as required to travel to Galapagos. Look for the Ecoventura representative at the AVIANCA Airline ticket counter to collect your boarding pass, transit card (if prepaid) and to assist you with check in. Do not stand in line to pay the TCT card if you have already prepaid.

Upon arrival in Galapagos, you will form a line to process passengers for the Park entrance fee. The park representative has a list of Ecoventura passengers who have prepaid the park fee. You need to claim your bag, and our crew will collect all baggage and deliver them to your cabin.   Our guides will be waiting for you with signs and escort you by bus to the main dock where our zodiacs are waiting.

Guests who arrive to Galapagos on an alternate flight will not be provided the same Day of departure services.  Ecoventura will not provide check-in assistance at the airports in Ecuador or upon arrival in San Cristobal on alternate flights.  If you arrive on Sunday, make sure you book your flights into San Cristobal (SCY) and not Baltra (GPS).  You will not be able to pre-pay the Galapagos park entrance fee or INGALA transit card (TCT) and will need to pay the fees upon arrival in cash only.  You will be responsible for getting yourself to the main dock by 12:00PM to wait for our Zodiac to transport you to the yacht.

Embarkation and disembarkation time - Sunday in San Cristobal:  Boarding time is 12:00PM. Guests will not be able to board prior to this time. All guests leaving the yachts must disembark by 8:30AM mainland time (7:30AM Galapagos Time).

Transportation Contract