This adventure includes a convenient one night pre-trip stay at the Wyndham Quito Airport hotel. As most North American-based flights arrive late in the evening, this will allow you time to reset and refresh for Day Two’s early departure to the Islands.

Plan your arrival to Quito Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO). We recommend that all passengers traveling to Galápagos consider two nights in mainland Ecuador prior to their trip to allow for potential flight delays and misconnection – and so that you are well rested and ready to meet your group on Day 2!

If arriving early, you may wish to book yourself into a hotel. Please note that the Quito airport is located 35 km (22 miles) from downtown Quito. Please see the ‘Recommended pre-trip hotel’ section below. Please be sure to indicate in your Travel Details Form which pre or post-trip hotel you’ll be staying at. Remember that you can connect with group members via the Facebook group and may decide to meet up early and share a room!

A transfer will be provided if you are arriving on Day 1, to take you to the Wyndham hotel.

Traveling to Galápagos from Quito:

On Day Two of your trip, head to the Domestic Departures section of the airport. Prior to meeting the group, have your bags inspected by SICGAL as required to travel to Galápagos. Located near the entrance of the airport. They will check that you are not bringing substances, like fruit, to Galápagos. Do not check in with airline personnel or ask them for assistance.
Your guide will greet you and will assist you with the check-in and provide you with your boarding pass. You will not need to stand in line to pay the TCT (Transit Control Card), as this has already been prepaid for you.
Upon arrival in Galápagos (SCY), you will form a line to process passengers for the Park Entrance fee. Your guide will take care of the payment and you your passport will be checked.
You claim your bags, and then follow your group outside – where your adventure begins!

The trip orientation will occur when we arrive at the camp in the Galápagos. Exact flight times might change depending on flight schedule and will be communicated a few weeks before the trip begins.

Group Rendezvous Point:

Date: Day 2
Time: approximately 7:00 AM or earlier (your morning flight will be confirmed about one month before your trip
Location: Quito Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO).

RECOMMENDED PRE-TRIP ACCOMMODATIONS

The following hotels are recommended and all have an airport shuttle service to and from Quito Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO)

For convenience:

Wyndham Quito Airport Hotel

Conveniently located next to the airport. Shuttles are free. Please book your shuttle when you make your reservation. To book, click here.

San Jose de Puembo

Just 14 km away from Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) and 27 km away from the city of Quito, this hotel is in the heart of the Puembo Valley in a restored Ecuadorean Hacienda, the Hacienda San Jose, which dates back to the 18th Century. Amenities include free airport shuttle, WiFi, Indoor/outdoor heated pool, fitness centre and restaurant. All guest rooms are designed with both business and leisure travellers in mind. Rooms include features such as LCD satellite TV, a coffee maker, work desk, hairdryer, iron and ironing board.

This is the hotel that we’ll be staying at on the last night of your trip. To book, click here.

For experiencing Quito:

Hotel Le Parc

Unwind in style at the hip, upscale Le Parc. This truly exclusive hotel is a symphony of contemporary chic, from the 5-foot gas fireplace in its lobby restaurant, to the stunning rooftop bar with spectacular views of the city. Twenty-six unique suites are available with king sized beds, and four suites with two full sized beds. All rooms feature Egyptian cotton linens, duck down duvets, and a spacious modern bathroom. The hotel has a compact gym with sauna and a full-service L’Occitane Spa. You will be within walking distance of Carolina Park’s jogging trails, botanic gardens, and close to some of Quito’s top restaurants. To book, click here.

Patio Andaluz

Patio Andaluz is an elegant boutique hotel located in the heart of Quito’s Historic Center. Just two blocks from the Plaza Grande and within easy walking distance of churches, museums, and historic sites, this colonial style hotel will allow you to experience the true culture of Quito. Enjoy complimentary services and amenities, including free WiFi in all 32 available suites. Relax and enjoy the El Rincon de Cantuna patio restaurant, the Marquez de Jerez Cava bar for wine and tapas, and the Olga Fisch folklore artisan shop. To book, click here.

DEPARTURES FROM THE GALÁPAGOS

The trip ends officially on Day 11.

The return flight to Quito (UIO) is included and will depart around noon on Day 10 from Baltra (GPS), Galápagos Islands. We’ll transfer to our hotel, San Jose de Puembo Hotel for our farewell dinner.

You may arrange your departure flight for any time on Day 11, with an airport shuttle provided at no extra fee. Be sure to add your flight departure information to your Travel Details Form.

Note that if you are interested in staying longer, Wild Women Expeditions offers a trip extension to the Amazon Rainforest.

Drop Off Point:

Day 11
Time: In contingency with your departure time
Location: Quito Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO)

RECOMMENDED POST-TRIP ACCOMMODATIONS

The following hotels are recommended and all have an airport shuttle service to and from Quito Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO)

For convenience and airport proximity:

Wyndham Quito Airport Hotel

Conveniently located next to the airport. Shuttles are free. Please book your shuttle when you make your reservation. To book, click here.

San Jose de Puembo

This is the hotel that we’ll be staying at on the last night of your trip. To book, click here.

For experiencing authentic Quito:

Hotel Le Parc

Patio Andaluz

TRANSPORTATION ARRANGEMENTS

You are responsible for booking your own flights or other transport arrangements to the trip start location. These arrangements and any other independent arrangements that you may make are not a part of the trip booked with Wild Women Expeditions and are entirely at your own risk. Wild Women Expeditions accepts no responsibility, directly or indirectly, for any loss, damage or injury to property or person in connection with such arrangements. Should you require assistance with your travel arrangements, please contact:

Megan and Zale | Now Boarding Travel, Travel Specialists

Email: wildwomen@nowboarding.travel

Note: Now Boarding Travel only provides services of 3-star quality or greater. For budget alternatives, please refer to the Lonely Planet guide for your destination.

Important: For international and remote destinations, there is always the risk of flight delays, baggage delays and flight schedule changes which may cause late arrivals, which may, in return, result in you missing the group tour departure. We encourage you to consider arriving one or two days early, which will help you overcome any jet lag from traveling!

PASSPORTS & VISAS

You are fully responsible for your own visa requirements, permits, and certificates for your trip. It is the sole prerogative of each country or region to determine who is allowed to enter. It is your responsibility to check with the country's Consulate and your country's travel website such as Canada’s for up-to-date information about traveling internationally.

Passport:

Most countries and airlines recommend passports be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your expected return to your home country. Before you leave, ask your transportation company about its requirements related to passport validity, which may be more stringent than the country's entry rules.

Important: A copy of your passport must be emailed to the Wild Women Expeditions office by 130-days pre-trip.

Visa:

No visas are required for U.S., Canadian and most European citizens. Visas are required for some Asian, Central American and Eastern European countries.

Note: As fees and policies can change, we highly recommend that you contact your local embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements, or see your travel agent.

TIPPING

The only person you will need to consider tipping on this trip is your Trip Leader – we have built tips for all other guides, camp assistants, boatmen and drivers into your trip cost and your trip leader will distribute these accordingly. We recommend tipping your Trip leader between $10 -$15 USD per passenger per day. This is, of course, entirely at your discretion.

ACCOMMODATION DETAILS

Rooming Arrangements:

All accommodation is double occupancy unless you upgrade to a Single Supplement. Contact us at support@wildwomenexpeditions.com to upgrade. There’s a limited number of single supplements!

Bathrooms

There are showers at all of the hotels we stay at. While camping for 2 nights, you’ll have the opportunity for a soapy sponge bath, or for washing your face, etc.

Toilets

Most bathrooms will neither look nor smell as sanitary as you are used to. Once in Ecuador, it’s a good idea to carry your own supply of toilet paper. You will usually find a wastebasket next to the toilet to throw your used toilet paper. Please use them, since most sewage systems cannot handle paper down the toilets. When camping, we use a portable toilet at each camp and all solid human waste is carried out.

Potable Water

It is very important that you drink plenty of water while on the trip. Safe drinking water tanks will be provided for you to fill your bottles. Please bring a wide-mouthed water bottle with you. Bottled water is also widely available for purchase, should you require it.

If you would like to join Wild Women Expeditions in its commitment to reducing single-use plastic, you can travel prepared with your own water treatment system!

Lifestraw

GRAYL Canada | OnePress™ Global Protection

Travelers Against Plastic | Take the TAP pledge

Water-To-Go

Overnight Arrangements During Your Stay

Camping

We will be camping on Manglecito Beach in two-person tents. All camping gear, including tents, sleeping bags and Thermarests are provided. There is no electricity at these sites – enjoy the sites and sounds of the surf and the stars!

Blue Marlin Hotel

A waterside hotel offers amenities such as WiFi, outdoor pool, air conditioning, non-smoking rooms, and business centre.

Ikala Hotel

The hotel has spacious living rooms, a panoramic terrace overlooking the city of Quito, and gardens that offer our guests the perfect atmosphere to relax.

Isamar Hotel

Isamar Hotel began operations in 2016, it is a 4-star hotel situated sitting along the beach of Puerto Villamil. The hotel offers excellent service, comfort, food, beach access a relaxing community lounge and balcony areas.

San Jose de Puembo Airport Hotel

Just 14 km away from Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) and just 27 km away from the city of Quito, this hotel is in the heart of the Puembo Valley in a restored Ecuadorean Hacienda, the Hacienda San Jose, which dates back to the 18th Century. Amenities include free airport shuttle, WiFi, Indoor/outdoor heated pool, fitness centre and restaurant. All guest rooms are designed with both business and leisure travellers in mind. Rooms include features such as LCD satellite TV, a coffee maker, work desk, hairdryer, iron and ironing board.

QUICK FACTS ABOUT ECUADOR & THE GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS

Quick Facts
- Full country name: “Republic of Ecuador” or in Quechua, “Ikwadur”
- Capital City: Quito
- Language: Spanish, Quechua, Shuar + 12 other Indigenous languages
- Area: 283,560 km2
- Population: 16 million
- People: 71.9% Mestizo
- 7.4% Montubio
- 7.2% Afroecuadorian
- 7% Indigenous
- 6.1% White
- 0.4% others
- Religion: Predominantly Roman Catholic
- Government: Unitary presidential constitutional republic – President Rafael Correa
- Major Industries: Petroleum and agricultural products
- Currency: United States Dollar (USD)
- Electricity: 110/AC 60 cycle (plugs are same as in the USA)
Types of Kayaks:

Sea Kayaks

Within the itinerary, San Cristobal island has the longest kayaking distances, therefore sea kayaks are used. On the Galapagos Islands these are the only kayaks imported from the United States with such sea kayaking characteristics.

Sit-On-Top Kayaks

On the other islands, sit-on-top kayaks are used because the routes are not more than 2 hours.

Time

Ecuador is in the Eastern Time Zone (GMT-5). Daylight savings time is not observed. Galápagos is one hour behind mainland Ecuador.

Climate & Weather:

The Galápagos is a place that can be visited at any time.

The time period between December and May is considered the “wet (warm) season.” During this warmer season, the Galapagos’ climate is more tropical with daily rain and cloudier skies. Also, the ocean temperature is warmer for swimming and snorkeling.

Weather – Galápagos Islands

MONEY MATTERS

Wild Women Expeditions recommends that each participant should bring enough cash in local currency or available credit/debit funds to cover their meals during travel to and from their destination. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, meals not included in the trip package, shopping, etc., and we also suggest you have access to emergency funds.

Currency Exchange Offices & Banks:

Please check online for current exchange rates. Wild Women Expeditions likes XE Currency Converter

We highly suggest you read this article: Where to Exchange Currency Without Paying Huge Fees for more information about this for your trip.

Credit Cards

Major credit cards (Visa and MasterCard) are widely accepted in big cities and resort hotels but not in family-run guesthouses or restaurants.

Cash

The currency in Ecuador is USD.

Be sure to bring small bills ($1, $5, $10 are best – bills over $20 USD are rarely accepted). Automated banking machines (ATMs) are on some of the islands, however bank fees can be as high, there is sometimes a limit on how much you can take out, and sometimes the machines are not well stocked with bills. The only cash machines in the Galápagos are in Puerto Ayora in the airport on Baltra, on the main island of Santa Cruz and in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristobal.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Useful Websites:

Galápagos Islands

GETTING FIT

Please be sure to provide complete, accurate, and up-to-date information about your health & fitness level and keep us updated if there are changes. Wild Women Expeditions trips travel to remote areas where limited or no sophisticated medical facilities exist.

A medical emergency situation is extremely unlikely; however, should it arise we need to be prepared with the necessary information to help you.

Important Note: If you choose not to disclose a condition, infirmity, injury, or ailment herein and are subsequently deemed to be unfit for expedition travel due in whole or in part to such condition, infirmity, injury or ailment, Wild Women Expeditions guides, and partners shall have the right to remove you from the trip with no refund or compensation payable. Any evacuation expenses incurred are payable by the evacuee via their medical travel insurance or personal expense. Generally, our expeditions are intended for travelers in reasonably good health for their safety, along with that of their fellow travelers.

Tips:

You don't have to be a professional athlete to enjoy your Wild Women expedition. Not by a long shot! You'll be surprised at what you can achieve with our experienced guides at your side and a little camaraderie.

That said, you’ll definitely enjoy yourself far more if you do some preparation so your body is conditioned and ready to enjoy and make the most of the outdoors.

Here are a few ideas to help you get ready:

Take every opportunity you can to be active.

You can improve your fitness a lot just by adopting some new habits; take the stairs at work, go for a walk at lunchtime, park your car away from work and walk. Aim for 30 minutes a day and keep a diary so you can look back on it and feel proud. These may sound trivial but they’re all building blocks!

Rev up your ticker!

Think ‘interval training’, which means doing short bursts of high-intensity work with recovery time in between. Depending on how fit you are this can mean strolling with bursts of power walking, or jogging with sprints. Either way, the aim is to get your heart rate up.

Join a local walking or running group.

This is a great way to get fit and you’ll also see new places, meet great people… and make them all jealous when they find out what you’re about to go on your travels.

Hill training.

The most spectacular views aren’t from the bottom of a valley – so the places we go on our trips aren’t flat. A little time training on hills and stairs is an investment that’ll pay off big-time when you’re on your trip. When it comes to hills there’s no hurry – get into a slow steady rhythm and you’ll be at the top before you know it.

Work on your upper body and core strength.

Weight lifting, yoga and pilates can help with this.

Warm up, cool down and stretch.

If you’re doing a workout then make sure you start and finish gently and stretch any tight muscles – this will help you avoid any aches, pains and pulled muscles. If you’re a member of a gym try some yoga, tai chi or pilates classes to build up your flexibility, stability and balance.

Take a kayak lesson!

Although this trip is beginner friendly and your guides will lead you through a full orientation once on the trip, if you haven’t paddled a kayak before and if you have the opportunity, take a lesson or two with a local kayak outfitter in your neck of the woods. Even a pool session is good! This will give you the basics, boost your confidence which will allow you to enjoy your trip that much more.

Break in your hiking boots.

Blisters and sore feet are no fun at all! So make sure that while you’re getting yourself ready you’re doing the same for your shoes. Start by just wearing them around the house, then down the road, and walking the dog. Then ideally do a couple of decent length weekend hikes to prepare them for what is to come.

Hydration.

When you suddenly ask your body to walk or be active, it needs a bit more fuel than it needs when, say, sitting at a desk all day! The main thing your body needs is water, so stay hydrated and practice sipping water often. Getting a water bottle or hydration bladder is a great way to make sure you have it on hand at all times. Make a habit out of taking a bottle of water with you wherever you go.

Nutrition.

Eating little and often will keep your body well fuelled for outdoor exercise, especially food like nuts, dried fruit and bread. The odd bit of chocolate and a few boiled lollies are good for keeping your blood sugar levels up while you’re hiking as well!

Have fun!

The most important point of all! You are about to embark on the trip of a lifetime. You’re going to meet some amazing people, see some wonderful places and create memories that will stay with you for life. The more prepared you are to tackle the various challenges, the more fun you will have. Also, with all the endorphins you create from all this training, you’ll be smiling from ear to ear! It’s a great way to boost your happy vibes.

GENERAL FAQ'S

For general Wild Women Expeditions FAQs please click [HERE].