i am thinking about a personal trip there in summer/fall. would appreciate any experience sharing, or suggestion or good agents/plans.

thanks in advance my friends

Hello, check this travel agency in Ecuador

http://www.metropolitan-touring.com/

I used their services when I traveled to Galapagos a few years ago and was very satisfied. Buen Viaje ! (Have a good trip !)

I went with Inca Floats (out of Emeryville, California, and I think they have a website) in '98. A friend of mine had researched many tour groups and raved about them, and I concur. Among other things, they use their OWN guides instead of whomever is assigned by the government, and our guy was a Ph.D. with expertise in geology, biology, and astronomy. The groups were also small, which is CRUCIAL in the Galapagos. My only gripe against them is that they don't take credit cards.

I also used Metropolitan Touring several years ago for a trip to the Galapagos, the Oriente (jungle) and Quito. I was very satisfied. We did one of those week "cruises" where you do an island during the day and cruise at night. These islands are "one" of the wonders of the world. I just mentioned on another post that if one hasn't seen the movie Proof of Life (it was filmed in and around Quito, Ecuador) and has an interest in that part of the world, I would recommend it just for the visuals. I found myself pausing the tape in several places just to get a better look. Quito, no doubt, would be part of your itinerary at the beginning and/or end of the Galapagos trip. IMHO, you should skip Guayaquil (no offense meant, esparaltaotero).

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Jeff

[This message has been edited by ILuvParis (edited 08-30-2001).]

thanks so much my friends!
going to galapagos has always been my dream, it may be realized soon.

i plan to fly into Quito, and stay for about one week there. (8-9 days, i guess, including the flihgt from Quito to Galapagos)

i saw they have Mon-Mon and also Thu-Mon trips (Metropolitan), but there isnt price on the web site.
can you give me an idea roughly how much this would cost? (for a party of 2)
also, do they usually also arrange for the flight from Quito to the islands?

thanks!

A friend just came back. They booked one of the (expensive) sailing boats. It was not worth the money. Next time they would go with "normal" boat/vessel.
I belive they booked it with Marco Polo Reisen in Germany!?!

You might checkout this trip report, published by a good friend of mine (and an occasional Flyertalk poster). Lots of interesting info:

http://www.lpf.com/adventure/ecuador/index.html

for people interested in this info.
i have also started a thread in milesbuzz

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/006004.html

since not everyone check this forum

I am off to Quito for a 6 day visit, leaving in 2 weeks(!). Any recent trip reports from the Galapagos? Am particularly interested in any budget options to Galapogos, if such a thing exists.