Tour prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All hotel and ship accommodations, entertainment, special dinners, land and sea transportation, sightseeing, shore excursions, luggage handling, and the services of the Tauck Director, local guides and drivers are included. A representative of Tauck will meet you at José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport in Guayaquil. (The airport was renamed from Simón Bolivar International Airport in 2006.). You will be provided with transportation to the Hilton Colón Guayaquil, regardless of the date and time of your arrival, provided you have furnished us with accurate flight information at least two weeks prior to the start of your tour.  Tauck will also provide transportation from the Hilton Colon Guayaquil to Jose Joaquin de Olmedo International Airport on the last day of the tour. If you plan to extend your stay at the Hilton Colon Guayaquil, you will be brought to the airport whenever you choose to depart.

Child Discount – Children 11 years of age and younger may receive a discount on the tour price. To qualify for a child discount, the child’s birth date must be provided at time of booking. No child discount is offered on the Tauck Travel Protection plans.

Hotel and Ship Accommodations – The tour price includes all hotel and ship accommodations with private baths. The Tauck standard is to provide the best available accommodations without sacrificing value. Although the quality may differ slightly from place to place, Tauck's commitment to your comfort is unwavering. Two-bedded rooms are reserved in most hotels. Triples are two-bedded rooms plus a rollaway cot where available and are not recommended for comfort.

Triple and quadruple staterooms on board the M/V Santa Cruz include upper and lower berths and are limited to two persons age 18 or older sharing a room with one or two persons under the age of 18.

Meals – Most meals are included as specified in the itinerary.

Tauck Director – Galápagos: Wildlife Wonderland is conducted by one Tauck Director who remains with the group throughout the tour. Your Tauck Director is a professional, fully trained employee of Tauck.

Gratuities Included – All appropriate gratuities for restaurant, hotel and ship staffs, local guides and drivers, and the Tauck Director are included.

No Options Sold - Tauck Directors will assist with information on free-time activities based on honest opinion and guidance, but they will not sell you anything. This means better value and a more relaxed and pleasant experience for you.

 

Airfare While on Tour – Two on-tour flights must be purchased through Tauck as part of your tour package.

 

Airfare to the tour departure point and from the tour ending point is not included. Airfare may be purchased from Tauck for travel originating in the United States.

Hotel Rooms Before and After Tours – To avoid jet lag and possible flight delays, you may wish to make hotel arrangements for the nights preceding or following your tour. As a service, Tauck will book additional nights for you on a space-available basis using special rates only available through Tauck. Hotel room charges will be added to the tour cost. If you wish to spend additional nights, please consult the Extend This Journey section on this website and discuss it with the reservations agent when you book your tour.

Luggage Responsibility ― Although every effort is made to handle your luggage carefully, we cannot be responsible, assume liability or accept claims for loss or damage to luggage and personal effects due to breakage, theft, or fair wear and tear through hotel, airline and group carrier handling. It is important for your own self-interest and protection that you make certain you have adequate insurance to cover these eventualities. Please refer to the Tauck Protection Plan for more information.

Personal Expenses - Phone calls, room service, alcoholic and bar beverages, mineral water, soft drinks, laundry, airline excess luggage charges, vaccinations, taxes, visa fees and services and other optional or incidental extras are not included and may be significant. Please note that there is a departure tax of $25 US dollars per person. This must be paid at the Guayaquil Airport when departing from and is not included in the price of the tour.

 

Airline Security Measures – In the U.S., you must provide identification in the form of a passport at the time of airport check-in for travel to international destinations. Your passport name must match the name on your tour reservation and airline ticket or you may be denied boarding.

If you are traveling from an airport outside the jurisdiction of the U.S, you will need to determine what travel documentation and identification is required for that particular airport.

 

Due to heightened security regulations, certain items such as a metal nail file, pocketknife, cigarette lighter, or tweezers, and some liquid, gel, and aerosol items may not be permitted in your carry-on luggage. Please call your airline prior to departure to obtain current information on non-permissible carry-on items and recommended airport check-in times.

 

You may also visit the U.S. Transportation Security Administration Internet website to obtain more information on acceptable identity documentation and prohibited luggage items by clicking here.

Air Services – Airfare may be purchased through Tauck for travel originating in the United States. By using Tauck's air services, you agree that Tauck, in purchasing, selling or otherwise arranging air transportation, is acting only as your agent and is not liable or responsible for any accident, death, personal injury, illness, property damage, delay or other loss or expense of any nature whatsoever arising directly or indirectly out of any act of God, or any actions or omissions (including any failure to provide services) or default of, any carrier. All carriers are independent contractors and are not owned, managed, controlled or operated by Tauck. Your airline ticket constitutes a contract between yourself and the airline (and not Tauck), even if purchased through Tauck. Tauck is not liable for, and does not assume responsibility or accept claims with regard to, seat assignments, schedule changes, flight changes, cancellations, claims for a refund or reimbursement of airline ticket fees, or any other loss incurred by you for any reason whatsoever (including, without limitation to, bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar relief from creditors). Tauck must handle ticketing for Tauck's special fares, which are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed until reserved. Special fares cannot be combined with any other promotional offer. Tauck's air services can only be purchased in conjunction with a Tauck tour. Tickets or e-ticket numbers will be mailed with final documents. If you cancel or change your air before or after departure, all airline cancellation and change fees will apply.

Cruise Regulations – You must provide your passport number and date of birth to Tauck at time of booking. Tauck must provide this information to the cruise line before departure or you may be denied boarding.

Holidays and Museum Closures – Museum visits and personal shopping time may be disrupted due to unforeseen circumstances or the many religious, state and local holidays locally observed.

Itinerary Changes and Price Flexibility – Tauck pledges to make every effort to operate your tour as advertised. Tauck reserves the right to alter or curtail the itinerary, or substitute sightseeing, hotels, and/or conveyances as deemed necessary. Any savings realized by these changes will be refunded to you. Any resultant added expense will be covered by Tauck. Although not expected, prices on this website may be modified due to unexpected significant external factors not forecasted at the time of publication.

The route of the cruise and daily program varies according to Ecuadorian National Park policies and regulations, weather conditions, seasonal changes, safety reasons and the wildlife we encounter. Flexibility is the key to the success of this expedition.

Journey Start and End Times are provided at the time of booking. The tour begins upon your arrival at the Hilton Colón Guayaquil on the first day of the tour. You or your booking agent will be advised of any change to this schedule. When making flight arrangements, allow sufficient time to claim luggage and clear customs in order to join the tour on time. The tour ends upon your arrival at José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport in Guayaquil on the last day of the tour. We suggest you allow 2½ hours for check-in.

Membership will be granted to all persons. Tauck reserves the right to terminate the tour of any person who is abusive of others or whose behavior disrupts the tour.

Photography on Tour – Occasionally, Tauck will use photographs taken by fellow guests or your Tauck Director on your tour for promotional purposes. If you prefer that your photo not be used in any marketing activities, please notify your Tauck Director at the start of your tour.

 

Air Conditioning – All guest rooms at the Hilton Colón Guayaquil, the staterooms onboard the M/V Santa Cruz, and motor coaches are air-conditioned for your comfort.

ATM and Credit Cards - We recommend that you contact your bank in advance of departing for this tour to determine whether you will be able to use your ATM and credit cards while traveling. When contacting your bank, notify them of your travel dates so that they will anticipate charges being made outside of your hometown and do not suspend your cards for what may appear to them to be “suspicious” charges. We also recommends that you make a photocopy of the front and back sides of your ATM and credit cards to leave behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your cards are misplaced, lost or stolen.

Clothing and Packing – Your adventure in the Galápagos is informal and casual. Essentials include bathing suit(s), tee-shirts, short and long pants, long and short-sleeve lightweight shirts, and a windbreaker, sweater or light jacket for evenings.

The hotel in Guayaquil provides valet laundry services. There are no laundry facilities on board the M/V Santa Cruz; however, a dryer is located on the sun deck to dry wet clothing. Irons and ironing boards are available in your guest room at the Hilton.

Most importantly, bring comfortable, rubber-soled walking shoes with adequate ankle support. You will also need reef shoes or aqua shoes for beach landings and walks over rocky, uneven lava terrain. Your feet will get wet when you transfer from ship to shore on many landings.

Snorkel gear is available on board the ship; however, if you have prescription lenses you should bring them. Wetsuits are not available on board. You may also wish to bring an underwater camera. Scuba diving is not available.

We recommend that you pack an adequate supply of your prescription medication in its original container to last through your entire journey, together with a copy of your doctor’s prescription (or a letter from your health-care provider on office stationery explaining that the medication has been prescribed for you), a list of the generic names of your medication, your travel documents and a change of clothing in your carry-on bag to avoid any inconvenience in the event that your flight or luggage is delayed.

Following is a list of recommended items to pack for travel to the Galápagos Islands:

Elevation - The general elevation on this tour is sea level. There are a few climbs of 90 ft (30 m) or more to reach desired observation points.

Health - To fully enjoy this tour’s itinerary, participants must be in good health. This is a rigorous tour and you need to be in good physical condition with good balance as the terrain varies from sandy beaches to uneven lava and rocks. Comfortable walking shoes with ankle support are essential. There are some walking sticks available on board the ship, but you may want to bring your own. The walks range from 1 to 2 m (.3 to .6 km) in length and last from 1½ to 2½ hours.

All ship-to-shore transfers use Zodiacs (capacity 9 to 12 persons) or Pangas (capacity 2 to 3 persons). These are safe transports but occasionally you will get wet with spray. Some wet landings require guests to wade through knee-high deep coastal water.

There are four decks on the M/V Santa Cruz; however, there is no elevator.

We are not able to accommodate wheelchairs on this tour. We regret that we cannot provide you with individual assistance for walking, dining or other personal needs. If you need such assistance, you must be accompanied by an able companion who will help you.

The M/V Santa Cruz does not have mechanical stabilizers because the water around the Galápagos Islands is very calm. We travel between the various islands so the areas in which we cruise are sheltered. If you are prone to seasickness, bring a non–drowsy, over-the-counter, anti-nausea medication. Anti-nausea wristbands are also a good idea. The anti-nausea patch is not recommended for use in the islands as it tends to impair vision in direct sunlight.

Complimentary bottled water is provided throughout the trip, both on board and for onshore excursions.

The M/V Santa Cruz does not permit smoking in any interior space. Smoke and open fire will activate the smoke detectors. Smoking is allowed on outside decks only. Please refrain from smoking onshore, in shore excursion vehicles and zodiacs. Please do not throw your cigarettes overboard, as it is a violation of international maritime pollution laws and they can easily be blown back onto the ship. There are ashtrays placed in specific exterior deck areas. Smoking is also not permitted on the motor coaches.

The only islands with bathroom facilities are Baltra, Santa Cruz, and San Cristóbal, where there are visitor centers. Meals are served on board the Santa Cruz, so we will be returning back to the ship for lunch and dinner. Zodiacs or Pangas will travel back and forth to the ship during shore excursions.

The infirmary on the M/V Santa Cruz is staffed by a licensed Ecuadorian doctor. If you avail yourself of his services, a charge will be posted to your personal shipboard account. The ship is registered in Ecuador. Please check with your health insurance provider to determine if coverage applies while you are traveling, and purchase appropriate travel insurance if necessary.

If you are traveling as the guardian of a child or children, we strongly suggest you bring along a letter from both parents of the child authorizing any emergency treatment, as medical facilities may require permission from the child’s parent or parents.

If you have a medical condition which might limit your participation in activities, please consult your physician for pre-departure health advice and notify Tauck as soon as possible, if you have not already done so. We will advise your Tauck Director accordingly.

If you are a U.S. citizen, no vaccinations are currently required for entry into Ecuador; however, an International Certificate of Vaccination for Yellow Fever is required if you arrive from an infected area within 5 days. For complete vaccination information, contact your physician, the public health service in your area, or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. The Travelers' Health Section of the CDC operates a 24-hour, pre-recorded "Travelers' Health Hotline" at 877-394-8747 (toll-free in the U.S.). You may also logon on to the CDC Internet website at www.cdc.gov.

If you are a citizen of another country, please contact an embassy or consulate of Ecuador to determine what vaccination(s) may be required for your travel.

Luggage Restrictions -

Special Luggage Restrictions for this Tour
Due to the casual nature of this tour and climate conditions, we request that you bring only one piece of checked luggage on this trip. Additionally, flights to and from the Galápagos Islands restrict each passenger to no more than 44 lbs (20 kg) of luggage. If you exceed this limit, you will be charged 1% over the net rate of the intra-tour airfare.

If you are taking a carry-on piece of luggage with you it must weigh no more than 10 lbs (4.5 kg) and the dimensions can not exceed 24 x 15.5 x 8 in (61 x 39 x 20 cm).

Children will receive a complimentary Bridges Backpack! If the child is a U.S. citizen, the backpack will be delivered to his home two weeks prior to the departure date; if not, the backpack will be given to him in Guayaquil.

Checked Luggage – General
While it is common for airlines to allow passengers to check more than one piece of luggage per person, space constraints during your Tauck journey make it difficult to accommodate extra luggage. We ask that you limit your checked luggage to one average size suitcase per person.

In addition, airlines have adopted more strict policies in enforcing size and weight limits. Luggage exceeding maximum restrictions may require expensive overage fees, frustrating and hurried re-packing at the ticket counter, or even risk being left behind.

Many carriers require checked luggage not exceed a weight of 50 lbs (22.7 kg) per piece. Airlines revise luggage policies frequently and often without notice; therefore, Tauck cannot be held liable to the weight limit listed above. We urge you to check with your airline before traveling to determine current weight and size restrictions. It is also important to note that restrictions for luggage size and weight may vary with the same airline based on the class of service you select. First and Business Class ticket holders may have different restrictions than Coach Class travelers.

Tauck World Discovery cannot be held liable for additional fees or inconveniences imposed by the airline due to luggage size, piece or weight policies.

Please be sure to attach your Tauck luggage tag to your suitcase before leaving home.

Carry-on Luggage - General
Although oversized bags and wheeled, carry-on luggage are popular for airline travel, they are often not convenient or appropriate for motor coach travel or for many intra-tour flights. Most modern sightseeing motor coaches offer limited space for numerous or larger items. Space under seats or in the overhead rack is typically small, and designed to accommodate items like coats, hats, purses, and small camera bags, etc.

For your day-to-day travel while on tour, we recommend that you limit your hand luggage to a small, soft-sided carry-on piece, and only those items you need handy during the day such as purses, make-up, medications, cameras, film, etc. Items too large to fit under the motor coach seat or in the overhead rack must be stored in the luggage bays beneath the motor coach, and may not allow for access during daytime travel.

Travel Document Requirements –

 

If you are a U.S. citizen, you will need a passport valid for at least six months following your stay for entry into Ecuador. You will not need a visa for the short duration of this tour. Please note that longer stays abroad for any purpose may require additional travel documentation.

If you are a citizen of another country, you should contact an embassy or consulate of Ecuador to determine what travel documentation is required.

 

In addition, we recommend that you make at least two photocopies of all the travel documents that you bring with you. Include copies of the photo page of your passport that contains the date of issuance, the date of expiration and your citizenship, as well as both sides of your driver’s license. Secure one set of copies in the safe in your room while traveling and leave one set behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your documents are misplaced, lost or stolen.

 

Travel with Children -

Age Recommendations – Children who are 3 years of age and older at the time of travel are welcome on this Tauck Bridges journey. Based upon our experience with family travelers, for each itinerary we have a minimum age to encourage comfort and enjoyment for all of our guests. All children must be accompanied on activities by a parent or guardian. At least one guest in the traveling party must be 21 years of age or older in order to make a reservation.

Babysitting – Tauck journeys are designed for adults and children to share the wonder of discovery together. However, our guests have occasionally inquired about babysitting services. If you are interested, your Tauck Director will put you in contact with the appropriate hotel staff with whom you may make babysitting arrangements, to ensure your precise needs are met. There is usually an additional fee for these services. Many hotels do offer babysitting services that may be arranged on site; however, babysitting services are not guaranteed at all of our hotels. Please note that our Tauck Directors are not responsible for providing babysitting services.

Safety and Welfare Responsibility – Tauck welcomes the participation of child travelers on our exciting excursions. For safety and security purposes, children under 18 years of age must be booked into a room with at least one accompanying adult. If you are traveling with a child on a Tauck journey, you have the sole responsibility for ensuring that that the child with whom you are traveling follows all rules of safety throughout the tour. By traveling with Tauck, you release Tauck, Inc. and our partners of all liability for any risks and/or injuries to the child with whom you are traveling.

Special Travel Documentation for Children

Authorization for Travel
If you travel into or out of the U.S. with children under the age of 18, you should be aware of the following: because of increasing incidents of child abductions in disputed custody cases and because children are at risk as possible victims of child pornography, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) strongly recommends that unless the child is accompanied by both parents, you should have a note from the child's other parent (or, in the case of a child traveling with grandparents, uncles or aunts, sisters or brothers, or friends, a note signed by both parents) stating that the parent(s) not traveling acknowledge that the parent(s), family members, etc. who are traveling into or out of the U.S. with the child have permission to do so.

CBP also suggests that this note be notarized. While CBP may not ask to see this documentation, if they do ask, and you do not have it, you may be detained until the circumstances of the child traveling without both parents can be fully assessed.

If there is no second parent with legal claims to the child (deceased, sole custody, etc.) any other relevant paperwork, such as a court decision, birth certificate naming only one parent, death certificate, etc., would be useful.

All children who are U.S. citizens should also have a certified copy of their birth certificate or baptism record for ID. Children over the age of 14 are also required to have a photo ID.

Many other countries also share this concern for children who travel without both parents. To ensure smooth travel, Tauck requires all guests to comply with the travel regulations of each country visited. This information is available from each country’s consulate.

Authorization for Emergency Medical Treatment

In the unlikely event of a medical emergency, a medical facility will require permission from the child’s parents to provide treatment. Therefore, we strongly suggest that you bring along a letter from both parents authorizing emergency medical treatment for their child.

Tauck is not responsible for the disruption of travel caused by improper documentation for any travelers, including children traveling without both parents. While there is no definitive format or standard for these letters, click here to view a sample letter for guardians or one parent traveling with a child.

Cell Phones - We understand and appreciate the value of instant communication when we travel; it keeps us in touch with friends and family, and it's a reassurance in the event of an emergency. However, the use of cell phones can be disruptive to a tour and to other guests who are enjoying their vacation. As a courtesy to others, we ask that you refrain from using your cell phone during motor coach travel, group functions, when sightseeing and when the Tauck Director is addressing the group as a whole. There are usually ample opportunities to make or receive calls at times when it does not affect others.

Please contact your cell phone carrier to determine whether your cell phone service extends to Ecuador.

Currency and Exchange Rates - The currency in Ecuador is the U.S dollar. In the main cities most currencies can be exchanged at banks and exchange houses (casas de cambio) at variable commission rates. ATMs are available in the cities, and major credit cards are accepted in tourist areas and large hotels although a commission of 6 to 8% is often charged. Hotels are unable to exchange large amounts of currency.

Shipboard accounts aboard the M/V Santa Cruz may be paid by U.S. dollars, travelers’ checks, and Visa, MasterCard or American Express credit cards. There is no foreign exchange facility on the ship.

To obtain the most current exchange rate, you may want to check your local newspaper or log on to the Internet website www.oanda.com.

Customs and Tax-Free Shopping – Each country visited has its own Customs clearing process. You should familiarize yourself with Ecuador’s specific required declarations before you travel. In general, you are not permitted to bring live plants, fresh fruits and other produce items into most countries.

 

Ecuador – Travel.State

 

If you are a U.S resident who will be returning to the U.S. at the end of the tour, current regulations permit bringing back $800 worth of items duty-free, as long as you physically bring them with you. There are limits to the amount of alcohol that can be a part of this exemption. Certain restrictions apply to unaccompanied goods mailed from abroad to the United States. Please call your local customs office or consult the U.S. government's customs regulations as contained in their publication entitled Know Before You Go.

If you are a resident of another country, please refer to your own country’s rules and regulations regarding customs and duty-free shopping to ensure compliance upon your return.

 

Currently, Ecuador levies a 12% Value Added Tax (VAT) on most consumer goods and services. (The tax rate may be higher for luxury items and lower for basic goods.) As a rule, if you are not a resident of the country (or of the country’s intergovernmental economic community, e.g., the European Union) in which the purchase is made, you may be entitled to a VAT refund and should inquire about the refund policy where you shop.

Electrical Current – In Ecuador and on board the M/V Santa Cruz, all hotel rooms and staterooms are equipped with 110 V, 60 Hz, alternating current, which accommodates U.S.-style two flat-pronged plugs. Travelers who bring electric devices that are not compatible should bring the appropriate adapters and converters.

 

Internet Access is available as indicated below:

 

Hilton Colon Guayaquil - High-speed acess in rooms

M/V Santa Cruz - Guests may send and receive email for a fee; wireless internet access is available in the lounge area for a fee.

Time Zones – Guayaquil is 5 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (or Greenwich Mean Time); the Galápagos Islands are 6 hours behind. Ecuador does not have Daylight Savings Time. To determine current time in major cities around the world, we suggest you log on to the Internet website, www.timeanddate.com.

Weather – In the Galápagos, temperatures range from 75° to 86°F (24° to 30°C) year round. The weather is hot and sunny in the islands and sea temperatures average 67° to 72°F (19° to 22°C). For guests planning on swimming, most swimming takes place at midday hours.

The Galápagos Islands lie almost on the equator about 650 mi (1,046 km) west of the coast of Ecuador. The islands have an unusual climate in view of their proximity to the equator; rainfall is low and temperatures are lower than would be expected. There are no extremes of heat or cold. Although there is more rain on the larger islands which are hilly (such as Seymour Island), rainfall is low at sea level and comes during the months of January through April. Light drizzle and even fog, however, are not uncommon at other times of the year.

 

To read about current weather conditions, we suggest you log on to the Internet website, www.weather.com.

 

Cancellation Fees – Regardless of reason, cancellations of confirmed bookings result in Tauck incurring costly penalties and cancellation fees from our travel and hotel providers. Therefore, if you have to cancel a confirmed booking, Tauck will charge you a cancellation fee according to when your cancellation notice is received in its Norwalk, CT office. To help limit your liability, Tauck offers a Tauck Protection Plan.

If you choose to purchase Tauck’s Guest Protection or Cancellation Fee Waiver, you will have the cancellation penalties waived.

If you choose not to purchase Tauck’s Guest Protection or Cancellation Fee Waiver, you will incur cancellation penalties per person as follows:

 

60 days or more before departure
$1,100 per person (the cost of the deposit)

59-30 days before departure
50% of the cost of the cruise, not including air (if applicable), per person

29-1 days before departure
100% of the cost of the cruise, not including air (if applicable), per person