The Galapagos is no stranger to motion sickness, and unfortunately, there is no good way to see the islands that does not require traveling, at least in part, on a small boat. For those who suffer from motion sickness as badly as I do, it is a matter of choosing the lesser of the evils.
The Infinity! (Erin Correia)
You can visit the island by cruise, or you can stay in a hotel on one island and make day trips out to tour neighboring islands. While a cruise does require the most time on a ship overall, the boats used for the cruises are a little larger and more steady, and most travel is done overnight, so you can be lying in bed, hopefully sleeping through the worst of it. The boats for the cruises range from 12 to 100 passengers, so for those who suffer the worst, a 100 passenger ship is the best chance of avoiding the dreaded rocking.
Cotopaxi National Park - coca candies to help with the altitude (Erin Correia)
The hotel based trips are a nice option for people who prefer to not sleep on a boat, since you return each evening to spend the night on solid land. However, to be able to see anything other than the one island you are staying on, you are required to take little boats. The transits on these boats can be anywhere from 1 to 2 hours in each direction, meaning you lose 2-4 hours of your day traveling between islands – and for those 2-4 hours, you are on a smaller, rockier boat, with nowhere to lay down, and no private bathroom to excuse yourself to if you get sick.
Santa Cruz - Puerto Ayora - a must stop across the street from our hotel - Chocolapagos! (Erin Correia)
I have never dealt well with motion sickness. I read a sentence in a car, and I’m done in. Despite this, I prefer to take a cruise when I visit the islands. I know my limits and have learned to start taking pills before I ever set foot on a boat - as long as I keep up on the medication throughout the trip, I manage just fine! With the cruise, I am able to waste less daytime and see more variety overall, so it is worth sleeping on rocky waters to make the most of such a magical place.
Aboard the Infinity - enjoying spectacular sunsets (Erin Correia)
My travel consultant went out of her way to make sure everything went smoothly, everything from the flight reservations to the final booking.
johnw
4 months ago
We have told everyone we know about Adventure Life. What a great company to work with and no detail is missed. Call them for your next adventure!!
Paul Rupert
4 months ago
Clara was great to work with. She presented lots of options and always responded promptly. And she found excellent options within our price range.
Colorado Traveler
7 months ago
Erin C. was incredibly helpful and thorough. I had answers immediately or within the same day.
Marilyn Snook
7 months ago
The staff at Adventure Life made planning my family's trip to the Galapagos Islands as easy as possible. They listened to what we were hoping to experience and made thoughtful suggestions about how to accomplish our vacation goals while meeting the needs of travelers ages 17-76! They patiently answered questions and follow up questions in the months leading up to the trip. They helped us trouble shoot and customize the trip in every way possible. The logistics involved in traveling from Boston to the Galapagos are innumerable. The Adventure Life staff helped us arrange every detail and the team they assembled in the Galapagos was tremendous. I have never done a trip this big before and after working with Adventure Life this time--would not hesitate one second in working with them again.
