Terms and Conditions

Read this agreement thoroughly and carefully before booking a tour with us; it contains important terms and conditions regarding the tour you are purchasing including, but not limited to, our rights to alter the tour,our cancellation and refund policies, anda limitation ofour liability and other important disclaimers.

CRUISE TO GALAPAGOS is responsible in maintaining the privacy of our clients and we will not distribute this information in any other form than to provide our service.

Bookings: All people wishing to make a reservation, and all people who will be traveling, must complete and sign the Traveler Information Form.

No person has any authority on Cruise to Galapagos behalf to vary these terms and conditions. All requests and reservations have to be sent by written to: [email protected].

Payments required to confirm reservations:

FIT´s confirmation

  • Single supplement 50%
  • Round trip flight to Galapagos at US$ 500 per person
  • Handling fee for not issuing tickets with Galagents US$ 60 per person
  • Christmas and New Year surcharge 50%
  • Discount for charter 5%
  • Discount for children 10% (between 6 and 11 years old)
  • Group 7 passengers minimum, discount of 3%
  • First deposit required to confirm of US$ 500 per person
  • Balance must to be paid 60 days prior to the cruise departure
  • Applies for new reservations

WHAT DOES THE PRICE INCLUDE?

  • Transportation and fuel surcharge in the Marine reserve of Galapagos
  • Accommodation in single, double or triple cabin according to you booking
  • Bilingual naturalist guide (English-Spanish)
  • Personalized crew service
  • All meals during the cruise, from lunch on the first day to breakfast on the last day
  • One snack after each activity (except last day)
  • Welcome cocktail
  • Unlimited purified water, coffee and tea
  • All visits, excursions & activities according to the itinerary
  • Transportation Airport-Channel/ Channel-Airport (Lobitos Bus)
  • Docks use and ferries.
  • Snorkeling gear (Mask, tube, and fins)
  • Use of kayaks and paddle boards in authorized places
  • Wetsuits
  • Shampoo, hair conditioner, and soap for daily use
  • Beach towels
  • Soft drinks (only onboard M/C Alya)
  • Hair dryer in the cabins (not available onboard M/Y Bonita)
  • Cloth/Towel dryer (only available onboard M/C Ecogalaxy and M/Y Galaxy)

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE?

  • International flights to/from Ecuador
  • Galapagos Islands airfare from/to mainland (Quito or Guayaquil)
  • Galapagos National Park entrance fee ($100 per person)
  • Transit Control Card ($20 per person)
  • Alcoholic and soft drinks
  • Tips and gratuities
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance (Highly recommended)
  • Additional services not indicated

Penalties for Cancellation/FIT´S

  • First deposit required to confirm 20% of the total amount.
  • Balance must be paid 60 days prior to the cruise departure.
  • Cancelations 120 days or more before the cruise:
    • 10% penalty fee (Balance can be used as a credit or refunded)
  • Cancelations 119 to 60 days before the cruise:
    • 20% penalty fee (Balance can be used as a credit or can be refunded)
  • Cancelations less than 60 days before cruise departure the penalty is 100%
  • Does not apply discount over discount
  • Applies for new reservations

No refund will be provided for cancellation due to: cancelled, delayed or missed flights; penalties for cancellation do not change in case of illness or natural disasters. We recommend passengers to obtain a Travel/Trip cancellations insurance to protect themselves better. By making your first deposit according to our invoice, you are accepting these terms as a mutual Agreement.


Cancellation by Cruise to Galapagos

Cruise to Galapagos will cancel a departure only in the case of extreme circumstances

If a tour is cancelled for extreme circumstances or majeure force, Cruise to Galapagos will reschedule or refund within the times and terms described before.


Terms of Liability

Cruise to Galapagos and its agents act only as agents for passengers in all specific terms included in their itineraries and is not responsible for any deficiency, irregularity or abnormality, that may arise with a third party service such as (transportation, accommodation, restaurants, guidance, etc). We are also not responsible for accidents or unforeseen events during their normal activities. Customers travelling to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands are informed that their trip involves dangers, active or adventure tasks, risks, accidents or illness in a remote area, according to the unpredictable nature forces or wild animal behavior; travel by vessels, airlines, trains, vehicles, high altitude effects, alcoholic drinks consumption. Negligent misconduct, while passengers are not on board our yachts, is a Customer’s voluntary act. Customers must be responsible of their own welfare


Medical information

Good health is essential for the enjoyment of the active outdoor tours arranged by Cruise to Galapagos. By forwarding the deposit and signed reservation form, the client certifies that he/she does not have any physical or other condition of disability that would create a hazard for him/herself or other clients, trip leaders or company representatives. It is important that any participant with a medical condition that may be affected by motion on a body of water, vigorous activity, high altitude, headache, cold, other natural phenomenon, or particular foods or allergic reactions, notifies to Cruise to Galapagos in writing in advance of travel. In case of pregnancy, please follow your doctor’s guidelines and suggestions, in this particular case, it is strictly considered, under passenger responsibility


Travel Documents

The client must have a valid passport; expiration date must be at least 7 months after arrival date in Ecuador. The client accepts responsibility for obtaining this document and any other necessary documents. It is the client’s responsibility to assure that the name on airline ticket, cruise voucher, or any other travel documents matches with the name printed in the passport (or domestic identification, where applicable) by providing theexact name, as it appears on the passport (or domestic identification, where applicable), Cruise to Galapagosbefore tickets issuance.

Once we have received the payment in full and signed Traveler Information Forms, we will send a final tour information (which may be provided electronically) including final reminders and local contact, information of destination, and where applicable, tickets and vouchers.


Children

Cruise to Galapagos accepts children over 6 years old in Fits departures. In charters children of all ages are welcomed; however, Cruise to Galapagos refuses all and every liability for any accident that might occur to minors, parents are responsible to take care of them. Children under 12 years old must be in a cabin with an adult present. This restriction in terms of age shall be exempt in the case of legally married couples and children traveling with their parents or guardians in adjacent cabins.


Complains

We prefer to have client’s suggestions or comments during the trip, in order to improve the matter. Clients can contact, the guide or the Capitan, directly or call us to the emergency numbers given. In addition, client’s feedback is welcome; it helps to enrich our service. Ifa client has a complaint against Cruise to Galapagos or the third party supplier, it must be put in writing to the company within 30 days after the end of the tour, any complaint will not be accepted, later than this period.


Trip Start Date

The Tour Start Date is the first date on the itinerary that you have reserved your services through Cruise to Galapagos It does not include any earlier departure date that you may have planned including, but not limited, to airline flights arranged for and necessary to your embarkation on the Tour Start Date. It is your responsibility to be ready to embark on the tour as specified in the itinerary. Cruise to Galapagos is not responsible for any losses due to cancelled or missed flights, changed flight itineraries, late arrivals, or early departures.


Pictures and videos aboard our cruises

Cruise to Galapagos may use, re-use and reproduce any images, photos or videos that clients send to us, or that are taken by our third party suppliers and their guides and/or other travelers, in any media, including but not limited to print, electronic media, or internet, free of charge and without right to inspection, for promoting and publicizing our travel services worldwide. If clients do not want us to use any image takenbyusorotherparticipantsduringthetour,he/she mustinformusor thetour leader/guide in writing at the start of the tour.


Galapagos National Park Rules

Since Galapagos is a National Maritime Reserve, when visiting the Galapagos Islands, a National Park and World Heritage Site, all visitors are expected to act responsibly and to treat the environment with respect. Below 14 rules of the Galapagos National Park Directorate (GNPD) that all visitors are expected to abide by while in the Islands:

  • Visitors to any protected areas within the Galapagos National Park must be accompanied by a naturalist guide authorized by the GNPD.
  • Travel only with tour operators and/or boats authorized to work in the protected areas of Galapagos.
  • Remain on marked trails at visitor sites and respect signs at all times for the protection of wildlife, and for your safety.
  • Maintain a distance of at least six feet (two meters) from wildlife to avoid disturbing them, even if they approach you.
  • Never feed wildlife, as this can cause health problems.
  • Flash photography is not permitted when taking photos of wildlife. Professional photography and videos recorded for commercial purposes must be authorized by the GNPD
  • Camping is only allowed in a few authorized areas in the Islands. Request authorization to camp at the Galapagos National Park’s offices at least 48 hours in advance.
  • It is your responsibility not tointroduce food, animals, or plants into the Archipelago. Cooperate fully with all environmental inspection and quarantine officials during your visit.
  • Do not take or buy any products or souvenirs made from banned substances, including black coral, shells, lava rock, animal parts, or any native wood or vegetation prior to leaving Galapagos. This is illegal and must be reported.
  • Practice “leave-no-trace” principles in order to maintain the beauty of the environment.
  • Pack out all trash and dispose of or recycle it in the populated areas or on your tourboat.
  • Smoking and/or campfires are strictly prohibited within the Galapagos National Park, as fires poses a serious risk to the flora and fauna of Galapagos.
  • Fishing is only permitted on recreational tour boats authorized by the GNPD.
  • Motorized aquatic sports, mini-subs, and aerial tourism activities are not permitted in the Galapagos National Park or Marine Reserve.

Galapagos Naturalist Guides:

Our cruises are always conducted in English languages.

For private charters requiring guided services in a language other than English or Spanish, Cruise to Galapagos will do its best to find a guide who speaks that language to be hired for the cruise with additional fee.


Non - Authorized Items:

According to the rules of the of the Galapagos National Park, passengers are not allowed from carrying items or materials which may be classified as dangerous for the security of the yacht, the crew, the passengers, the guide or the Islands themselves. It is not possible to introduce bio-species, illegal substances or drugs. Fines and penalties are severe.


Jurisdiction

All disputes shall be decided exclusively by the courts of Ecuador and according to the Ecuadorian law to the exclusion and limitations of the law or courts of any other country