Search results

In more Ecuador aviation news, beginning July 2nd, Avianca offers new non-stop flights from Manta, Manabi Ecuador (MEC) to Baltra (GPS) on Sundays and Wednesdays. Manta is probably the fastest growing city in Ecuador for expats. The coast is full of incredible options for a pre-Galapagos cruise...

The Quito Airport runway will do preventive maintenance in September and October. The works will be carried out on Saturdays, September 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30, and Saturdays, October 14, 21, and 28. The works will be done from 02:00 to 14:00, according to the Quiport Corporation which runs the...

Good operation to go with. Gaby Cabrera at Scuba Iguana is excellent with newbies. Not all guides are. Paulo Tobar is, IMO, one of the best dive guides in Galapagos. When I launched Calipso in 2019, I chose both of them as dive guides onboard. Also, sites are no longer flexible. Good sites for...

I assume everyone knows that in January 2022, the Galapagos Marine Reserve was officially expanded by 23,166 square miles to provide a migratory swimway between Galapagos and Cocos Island. That happened thanks to the work of Migramar, a supergroup of scientists and organizations who were able...

Visibility is diminished beginning either late May or early June (traditionally, though things are shifting) until Nov. due to the Humboldt current. Hammerheads have traditionally migrated away from late Feb - April. I would look at Jan or May. Having said all this, what was standard for years...

So much of the coral closer to shore has been pretty much destroyed around Puerto Lopez. There are zero sharks. They've all been killed. Occasionally a stray whale shark appears. August is the ideal time to dive with mantas around here. Even some Galapagos dive guides I know come here to dive...

Stay in Galapagos and do land based topside tours. There are really only 2 excursions on Liveaboards: 1 visitor site and the Highlands for the tortoises.

Yeah, I agree. I think Air BnB options might prove difficult. I am curious as to whether or not they vet those who are staying. I know they do feature their cleaning and other precautions heavily. In looking at AirBnBs in, for example, Quito, most seem like corporate apartments rather than...

Yes, it means you must have had your 2nd shot of Pfizer/Moderna or single shot of J&J at least 14 days prior to entering the country. As for quarantine, there are no state mandated hotels here, so I imagine it would be a hotel/AirBnB of your choice in which ever city you flew into and in either...

Wreck Bay is the shop I would recommend on San Cristobal. There is better diving from Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz) if you can get over there by ferry. It will depend on where you're flying into and where your naturalist cruise departs from. On Santa Cruz, I would recommend either Scuba Iguana or...

Last night, President Lasso of Ecuador, announced the following measurements to curtail the possibility of the new Omicron variant in Ecuador. They are effective as of December 1. - To enter Ecuador, all people, nationals and foreigners, must present their complete vaccination certificate, with...

To add: Vaccination must be complete and administered at least 14 days prior to arrival.

Cool. What's his last name?

Tiburon and Sky can also set you up with private dive guides. Best to have approval over who the private DM is. There are some guides I would consider accidents waiting to happen.

Just to add to Dom's post, your 2nd COVID vaccine shot needs to have been at least 14 days prior to arrival into the country. And no more salvoconducto, the paperwork that previously confirmed your reservation with an official tour operator or hotel in Galapagos.

I agree with Scared Silly. Do some land based tours in Galapagos. If your liveaboard sails out of San Cristobal, you can always disembark after your final full day and overnight in Santa Cruz. From there, you can take a day tour the following morning to either Bartolome or N. Seymour. Or, as...

Galapagos Master had a very last minute cancellation, 12-19 July. Good news if you're itching to go now . The rate is only $2500 pp. You can contact me at divethegalapagos AT gmail.

August has rough conditions in Galapagos. Having said that, it's not about what will happen, but about what can happen. 14 & 50 dives is not enough experience, imho. If knowing your kids, you do feel like they are up to the challenge, you should get a private dive guide for them, maybe for the 4...

I'm told their symptoms were 'light.' I have not heard of anyone being hospitalized from this outbreak. Thank goodness because Ecuador's hospitals were overrun last month. There was no ICU available. Again, the most important thing is to act as if you are traveling in May 2020 for your stay on...

Hi Dom. The boat has not been testing crew weekly for COVID like all should be doing and those operating most safely are doing. Shame because divers onboard ended up with COVID, too.