With the global pandemic creating so much uncertainty regarding international travel, we have put together a summary of FAQs to cover some of the most common questions we are receiving from guests looking to visit the Galapagos with Ecoventura.
For further information, as always please feel free to contact our team and we will be happy to provide assistance.
Q: I want to book a Galapagos cruise, but I am worried about having to cancel and don’t want to pay any penalty fees. What flexibility do you offer after I put down a deposit?
A: We will provide guests with a Full Cruise Credit (FCC) to reschedule their cruise for any date up to 12 months from their cruise departure, for no penalty, if either of the following conditions are met:
– Ecuador closes its borders or prevents you from entering due to their governmental guidelines and restrictions based on your country of residence.
– Your country of residence prevents you from departing or traveling to Ecuador due to their governmental guidelines.
Note that in all instances we recommend that you purchase comprehensive travel insurance, including a Cancel for Any Reason policy or with cover against Covid-related disruption.
For current special offers and booking terms, please visit our website.
Q: Do you have any special offers in place for people looking for a last-minute trip?
A: Yes! We have introduced a series of special offers for those looking to travel within the next few months, including:
– 25% discount off private yacht charters in 2021, a discount never before seen in the history of Ecoventura – see the following Q&A for further details
– 15% discount on individual cabins on guaranteed FIT departures through October 2021.
For further details of all our special offers, please visit our website.
Q: How many people do I need to charter a yacht?
A: For those seeking total privacy and their very own space whilst exploring the islands, an exclusive charter is a great choice. We are currently running an unmissable charter promotion featuring a 25% discount – a great value option for any number of guests up to a maximum of 20. Our current charter promotions include the following dates:
– August 15-22 (Itinerary A) and September 26-03 October (Itinerary A) and October 31-07 November (itinerary B): the Charter Rate is $126,750 (regularly $169,000)
– Save 15% on departures in 2022: January 16-23 (itinerary A), January 30-06 February (A) and February 13-20 (itinerary A): the Charter Rate is $152,150 (regularly $179,000)
A special feature we can offer is for two of the connecting cabins to be set up as Two-bedroom suites, for an even more intimate cruising experience. Note that the above offers are exclusive of airfare and taxes.
Q: Who is currently allowed to enter Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands?
A: Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands reopened to visitors of all nationalities in July, with new bio-security control regulations in place. International flights are operating regularly into Quito and Guayaquil, whilst Avianca operates Galapagos flights on Sundays into San Cristobal for our guests; business class seats can be requested. Arrivals to Ecuador are required to present either a vaccination card or a negative RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival to enter.
For detailed current entry requirements and travel advice for Ecuador and Galapagos please refer to our updated Entry Requirements document.
Q: How Covid-secure are the Ecoventura vessels?
A: The wellbeing and safety of our guests continues to be our top priority. Whilst we have always maintained very rigorous cleaning procedures, they have been enhanced based on biosecurity standards set by the WHO and are further outlined here in our updated Biosecurity and sanitation protocols document.
Social distancing measures have been introduced and crew members are required to wear a mask and appropriate PPE based on their roles and responsibilities. All of our crew are fully vaccinated with both doses of the Pfizer vaccine. All crew members have received additional training related to our enhanced sanitation protocols, and are monitored on a daily basis for any Covid-related symptoms.
Guests will receive a personal alcohol-based disinfectant, and hand-sanitization stations and additional signage have been set up throughout our vessels. The Galapagos National Park requires that all visitors wear a mask while on shore excursions or during transportation between Islands. Now that the entire population of Galapagos is vaccinated, we have resumed visits to inhabited islands, whilst our captains are in constant contact with other vessels to avoid grouping in any particular location.
Q: What wildlife experience can I expect when traveling to Galapagos next year in the Spring or Summer?
A: With minimal tourists traveling to the Galapagos since March 2020, nature has taken a break and guests will be rewarded by being able to see the Galapagos as they were 20 or 30 years ago. Our naturalist guides bring the Galapagos wildlife to life through inspiring stories and discover why there is no better time to visit the Galapagos. For those interested in watching the latest of our NATURE TALKS webinars, click here.
Visiting the Galapagos on a luxury small-ship cruise offers a more secluded vacation by its very nature. With fewer visitors and a reduced guest-to-guide ratio of no more than ten per guide, our guests will have the islands and wildlife all to themselves as they find themselves surrounded by a profusion of wildlife with barely any other visitors or boats in view.
Q: Has the guest experience been affected by the introduction of new safety and biosecurity measures?
A: We guarantee to provide the same luxurious experience we have always provided to our guests on our Ecoventura yachts. Whilst we recognize that the new measures put in place to protect the health and safety of our guests and crew has inevitably led to some changes, we believe that the overall experience remains as memorable as ever, and comments from guests since the changes have been implemented certainly suggest that they agree.
We suggest guests wear a mask in public areas of the vessel and to maintain a social distance of at least 6 feet between themselves and other guests and crew members. Our wait staff wears masks and gloves when serving guests, whilst menus are now available only in digital form via guests’ smartphones. The good news is the quality of our Relais & Chateaux-worthy food has not suffered; in fact, our chefs have been busy updating the menus to include even more healthy and sustainably-sourced gastronomy.
Our guides and crew (not to mention the wildlife above and below the waves!) are ready and waiting to make your next trip to the Galapagos one to treasure forever, and we are confident the experience is as unique and unforgettable as it always has been!
Please feel free to contact us with any additional questions you may have and we look forward to welcoming you on board soon!
