The travel days between the mainland and the Galapagos Islands are long days. We arrived at the hotel at midnight on Saturday and left early, early Monday for the islands. That gave us all day Sunday to explore Quito and settle in.
Our tour group had a 20-minute briefing in a hotel conference room that Sunday at 5 PM. Some members of our group were not able to attend. At the meeting were given luggage tags with the tour company logo and our boat cabin number on them.
On Monday we set the alarm for 3:30 AM. By 3:45 AM were in the lobby to check out. We left our bags with the tour organizer and went to breakfast. The Hilton Colon opened super early with a limited version of their full breakfast buffet. By 4:15 AM we were on the bus and heading to the Quito airport.
The Quito airport is small but very modern. It has approximately 10-12 gates. Half are used for international flights and half for domestic flights. On the bus, our tour coordinator collected everyone's passports and $20 USD cash. This was for the migratory cards you need when visiting the Galapagos.
At the airport, we went into a queue to have our bags put through x-ray. They are very serious about plants and seeds not being brought to the islands. After you bag is checked they put a sticker on it. Then our tour coordinator stood in line to get the migratory cards. After that, we went in the Avianca queue to check in our large luggage and then it was off to security.
Side note, I travel with a backpack but I put it inside a cover when I check it so that the straps don't get caught on luggage movers. My sticker was put on the backpack and not on the cover. It wasn't a big deal, I just had to open the cover and show the airline employee when I checked my bag.
Second side note, the domestic flights are not subject to American TSA-style rules. I brought a full bottle of water through security. The water at the airport is probably filtered and OK but I didn't want to chance it.
Our flight:
Our tour group had a 20-minute briefing in a hotel conference room that Sunday at 5 PM. Some members of our group were not able to attend. At the meeting were given luggage tags with the tour company logo and our boat cabin number on them.
On Monday we set the alarm for 3:30 AM. By 3:45 AM were in the lobby to check out. We left our bags with the tour organizer and went to breakfast. The Hilton Colon opened super early with a limited version of their full breakfast buffet. By 4:15 AM we were on the bus and heading to the Quito airport.
The Quito airport is small but very modern. It has approximately 10-12 gates. Half are used for international flights and half for domestic flights. On the bus, our tour coordinator collected everyone's passports and $20 USD cash. This was for the migratory cards you need when visiting the Galapagos.
At the airport, we went into a queue to have our bags put through x-ray. They are very serious about plants and seeds not being brought to the islands. After you bag is checked they put a sticker on it. Then our tour coordinator stood in line to get the migratory cards. After that, we went in the Avianca queue to check in our large luggage and then it was off to security.
Side note, I travel with a backpack but I put it inside a cover when I check it so that the straps don't get caught on luggage movers. My sticker was put on the backpack and not on the cover. It wasn't a big deal, I just had to open the cover and show the airline employee when I checked my bag.
Second side note, the domestic flights are not subject to American TSA-style rules. I brought a full bottle of water through security. The water at the airport is probably filtered and OK but I didn't want to chance it.
Our flight:
- We boarded around 5:40 AM for a 6:20 AM departure.
- The flight from Quito to Guayaquil is 35 minutes.
- You remain on the plane in Guayaquil while passengers shuffle on and off.
- For some reason while you are on the ground the staff does not want you to wear your seat belt.
- The flight from Guayaquil to the Galapagos is about 1 hour and 45 minutes.
We arrived in Baltra. At the end of the tour we left from San Cristobal. Upon arriving in Baltra we each paid $100 USD cash for our national park permit. Luggage was put through an x-ray machine again. The whole process is very efficient. About 30 minutes after we landed the whole group was assembled with luggage and ready to get on the bus. I barely had time to find a restroom and apply sunscreen.
In Baltra you take a 10-minute bus ride to a water taxi then a 5-minute water taxi (basely 300 meters of water to cross) and then get in another bus for a 40-minute ride to the town of Puerto Ayora. In Puerto Ayora you take a short walk to the pier and get your dingy to your boat.
Leaving from San Cristobal was much easier because the airport is located right there in the port town.
Pro Tip: Bring a power bar or some other snack. We were luck to have the 4 AM hotel breakfast but we didn't eat again until our first meal on the boat at approximately noon. The same goes for your return flight. We were supposed to have 90 minutes in San Cristobal before our flight but due to a painfully slow airport check-in process we had to remain at the airport. When went through security expecting to find a snack bar or restaurant and there was nothing available. Luckily I was able to bring a full bottle of water with me.
No comments:
Post a Comment