Gallapagos--Tour or go it alone.

[robert goldstein]

The choices for seeing these islands, as I understand them, are to stay in a hotel on one of

the islands and take day trips to the others or to go on a boat tour that travels amongst

the islands, but you sleep on the boat. I would like recommendations from those who

have experience with Gallapagos travel and would also appreciate specific

recommendations of tour

companies.

[alex_lofquist]

You definitely want to stay and eat on the boat. While you visit the islands during the day, at night they travel to others. They also supply the mandatory guide/naturalist. Get a smaller boat (10-20 passengers) so this will allow you more time on each island. Otherwise with a larger boat, the shore trips are done in shifts, limiting an individual group's time. A trip should be aminimum of one week, and if you expect to visit Isabela and Fernandina with its active volcanos, you will want a two week trip.