The Galapagos Islands have been considered to be among the most stunning and interesting places on earth. Although once considered fairly secluded and a place for the small local population and members of the science community only, the Galapagos have become significantly more open to tourism since the mid-1900s. People of all ages now enjoy visiting the islands for their natural beauty, the unique animals and access to both sea and land wildlife, their rich history and and colonial ruins, and much more. Seniors are no exception, and they may, in fact, find more to do on these islands than in a lot of other South American tourist hotspots! If you're a senior considering a Galapagos Island tour, see the following questions and answers to determine if this is the right vacation destination for you!
The Galapagos are more open now than ever before, but it is important to understand that there are still limited travel options. Tourists can only fly into two airports: San Cristobal Airport on San Cristobal Island and Seymour Airport on the island of Baltra. Hotels— especially those with accommodations most friendly to seniors— are primarily near these two airports, and so seniors should consider Galapagos Island tours based out of these areas.
Cruises are a great way to see both marine and land life. Because the islands are surrounded by strong currents, only well-established Galapagos Island cruise tours should be considered. Based out of San Cristobal, Galasam Island Cruises are one such example, providing multi-day trips with comfortable cabins and viewing spots on their decks.
There are many single-day cruises and other day trip tours offered out of San Cristobal and Santa Cruz (the latter of which is most easily accessed by water taxi from Baltra). At least one overnight stay is usually required to visit the Galapagos Islands in general, however, simply due to flight times and the number of transit control cards issued.
Before booking tours, all visitors should have their trip dates set. As of 2017, Ecuador requires all travelers to the Galapagos to have return tickets, booked accommodations and a transit control card from the Galapagos governing body (which can be retrieved in mainland Ecuador prior to arrival on the islands). Overnight stays on the mainland are usually necessary due to flight timing.
The good news is that the climate on the islands tends to be pretty stable year round. However, seniors looking to take Galapagos Island cruises should consider traveling between December and May because the seas tend to be calmer then. Although tourism may be more frequent at this time, this is also when the most tours are available.
Over 90 percent of the islands’ land area is protected by the Galapagos National Park, and visitors are required to pay a park fee upon arrival. All visitor sites have marked trails, though many of the spots require accompaniment by a licensed guide (obtained through a cruise or group tour, or signed up with separately in one of the surrounding towns).
Those looking for more active tours will enjoy activities like snorkeling and scuba diving, both of which can be booked out of San Cristobal and Baltra. Another active option includes Galapagos nature hikes, which should be booked with a guide to ensure no nature violations are made (these tours can also be booked out of most towns and ports open to tourists).
There so many tour possibilities. Trips to Tortuga Bay near Puerto Ayora are particularly popular, as they provide easy viewing of the famous Galapagos iguanas and the lava rocks. Taking a day trip with a National Park certified naturalist is also popular and makes viewings of the Galapagos giant tortoise more likely (many of these naturalists also know which hiking trails are best for seniors).