Galapagos Islands luxury and smaill ship cruises

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If you want to visit the Galapagos Islands whether to cruise or simply to ecotour one or two of the populated Galapagos Islands, it does take some planning.  But if you were to look behind the whole Galapagos Islands vacations packages and examine the system in place to protect and sustain not only the ecology of the islands and their wildlife and marine life you might be amazed.  Its a joint effort between the Galapagos National Park, the Ecuadorian Navy, the Ecuadorian Ministry of Tourism and a whole host of other organizations, both governmental and non governmental (NGOs) such as the Galapagos Conservancy headquartered in Fairfax Va.

When I look at it from a cruise the Galapagos perspective, I realize behind the scenes is a tremendous amount of planning and organization that takes place to control and protect this precious resource.  The regulations are regularly being enhanced and affect many things in getting to the Galapagos, tours of the Galapagos, cruises to the Galapagos as well as air travel, private sailings, merchant marine services and more.

For instance, only licensed, and Ecuadorian flagged ships may provide sailing tours to the Galapagos.  Those ships are currently limited to 80 vessels with capacity from about 10 passengers on day cruises, to a maximum of 100 passengers on overnight and multi day cruises of the Galapagos Islands. 

No multi-Island ship can visit the same port of call on an island more than once every 14 days ( There are a couple exceptions for ports such as Puerto Ayora ).  Every vessel must have a licensed naturalist/guide and there are a small number of guests each guide can guide.  Even though some islands may be large in size, the actual locations where landings can be made is quite small. Thus time each vessel can stay moored or positioned at any island visit is also controlled, as is the time ashore.  So behinds the scenes and not noticed by the traveler is a system that you might think or be similar to that of

an air traffic control for a set of airports here in the USA.

In addition, the total capacity for tourism is thus controlled by the number and size of the ships, and also the number of hotels and beds on the populated islands.  It also regulates the labor force available through visit control system sort of like a visa system for the Ecuadorian population. 

All of this and more serves to protect the species and their habitats, but also puts a premium on the cost of providing this once in a lifetime experience.  But that is also part of what makes it a once in a lfie time experience to cruise the Galapagos Islands is that that environment is protected and planned of its sustainability for generations to come. 

I love to discuss the Galapagos Islands with anyone contemplating a visit whether by large, small, luxury or economical ship or island stay, and regularly conduct seminars, and public events in this regard.  We can also assist with itineraries to the Galapagos Islands, pre and post tours of the Amazon or Machu Pichu as well as the Ecuadorian Andes.  Its a fabulous location for all types of vacations, cruises, tours and adventures.  Call or use the contact us tab above to get more information.