There are basically three kinds of tours in the Galapagos: 1) yacht cruises, or "navigable tours," around the archipelago, land-based, or 2) “combination tours,” to sites near the islands’ main towns, and 3) adventure tours, which can run the gamut and are usually sponsored by private entities, hotels, or individuals as alternatives to the other tours. We have also included a section on avoiding problems and frustrations - which outlines some useful tips that may just save your vacation and thousands of dollars!
Navigable Galapagos tours are organized so that all visitor activities take place from an autonomous tourist vessel: tourists visit the island sites, eat their meals, and sleep on their boat. This is the most popular option, because it allows tourists to visit a wide-range of islands in the archipelago and because it is the most promoted by tour agencies.
Combination tours are organized in conjunction with hotels in Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz and to a lesser extent, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (San Cristóbal). Combination tours based in Puerto Ayora venture to various visitor sites on the island of Santa Cruz, on other central islands, and in the water, returning to the same hotel each night. Many day tours are thematic, like surfing tours and scuba-diving tours, but most can be arranged according to the visitors’ interests, combining local sites, nearby island sites, and dive sites.
Galapagos Adventure tours are still in their beginning stages and include activities like kayaking, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, scuba diving, snorkeling, and wildlife viewing, to name a few. These are generally promoted by individuals among the local population and are more flexible than their more expensive counterparts - organized tours arranged internationally.