{"id":3300,"date":"2023-06-30T11:20:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-30T16:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/?p=3300"},"modified":"2024-07-18T15:46:26","modified_gmt":"2024-07-18T20:46:26","slug":"travel-and-adventure-exploring-travel-adventure-ecuadors-natural-treasure-the-galapagos-islands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/2023\/06\/30\/travel-and-adventure-exploring-travel-adventure-ecuadors-natural-treasure-the-galapagos-islands\/","title":{"rendered":"TRAVEL AND ADVENTURE &#8211; Exploring TRAVEL &#038; ADVENTURE &#8211; Ecuador\u00b4s Natural Treasure: the Gal\u00e1pagos Islands"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"3300\" class=\"elementor elementor-3300\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-71e7d20 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"71e7d20\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;boxed&quot;}\" data-core-v316-plus=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-85e236c e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"85e236c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;full&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a949b9a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a949b9a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.19.0 - 29-01-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p><em>Cuenca Expats Magazine, Issue 42<\/em><\/p><p><em>Photos: Courtesy of Metropolitan Touring and Cuenca Expats Magazine<\/em><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Ed. Note:\u00a0 This is the second in a four-part series exploring the Galapagos Islands. Go to Issue 42 to read Part 1.<\/span><\/p><p><strong>Your first decision\u2014visit or explore?\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Galapagos is large\u201453,000 square miles. On the unique landscape of archipelagos, the size of Florida, there are 20 islands, 42 islets, and over 250 named rocks, plus species you cannot find anywhere else in the world.\u00a0 These animals have little fear of humans, so to view them in their own natural habitat is a life-changing experience. So, how many of the \u201cBig 15\u201d are you hoping to see?\u00a0 (You will be hearing a lot about the Big 15. They are the most iconic species you see on the\u00a0<em>islands.) <\/em><\/span><\/p><p>You may also want to consider the following questions before you go: Do I just want to snorkel or scuba dive and see the 400 species of fish and other under-water wonders?\u00a0 Am I active?\u00a0 Do I wish to hike the islands?\u00a0 How much time will I have on the islands? The more you learn about the islands the better you\u2019ll enjoy your trip\u2014matching your itinerary to your interests.\u00a0<\/p><p>The last thing you want to have happen is to travel all the way there only to end your journey with a bunch of \u201cI-wish-I-had-seen-or- done\u201d regrets. The best time to visit the islands is any time. The chart below shows land and water temperatures and wind factors.\u00a0 We thought it would be fun to visit the islands in the same month of the anniversary of Darwin\u2019s arrival some 187 years ago.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-430be76 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"430be76\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;full&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e26eebd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e26eebd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>If you wish to explore (not just visit) the islands, how much time should you allow?\u00a0 Based on our experience, five or six days minimum.<\/p><p>Our journey was for six days, and we were only able to explore about one third of the islands we wanted to see. We chose to fly the one and a half hours to the islands on LATAM from Guayaquil.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2af99f0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"2af99f0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.19.0 - 29-01-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1300\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/info-box-tall-1.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-3306\" alt=\"galapago&#039;s animals 1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/info-box-tall-1.png 1300w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/info-box-tall-1-195x300.png 195w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/info-box-tall-1-666x1024.png 666w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/info-box-tall-1-768x1182.png 768w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/info-box-tall-1-998x1536.png 998w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1300px) 100vw, 1300px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bc03720 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"bc03720\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"516\" height=\"507\" src=\"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/galapagos-animals-2.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-3305\" alt=\"galapagos animals 2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/galapagos-animals-2.png 516w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/galapagos-animals-2-300x295.png 300w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/galapagos-animals-2-60x60.png 60w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 516px) 100vw, 516px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-67db0c3 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"67db0c3\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;boxed&quot;}\" data-core-v316-plus=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-190354a e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"190354a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;full&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-865e8f8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"865e8f8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"505\" height=\"273\" src=\"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/galapagos-animals-3.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-3324\" alt=\"galapagos animals 3\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/galapagos-animals-3.png 505w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/galapagos-animals-3-300x162.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 505px) 100vw, 505px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-828649b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"828649b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Depending on the day, they have two to three flights to Baltra (the island airport in which we were headed) and one or two flights to the smaller airport on San Cristobal. The flight was full, so remember to book early. Like other educated people, we are concerned with the well-being of the earth and appreciate the delicate balance of the eco-systems on the islands. We wanted to make sure we left nothing behind other than our footprints. This was one of the reasons we chose Metropolitan Touring\u2014a carbon neutral company. Metropolitan Touring will celebrate its 70<sup>th<\/sup> year in operation soon, and it was the pioneer along with the park service in creating modern tourism of the islands some 60 years ago.<\/p><p>We wanted to see the most islands and the most (Big 15) wildlife we could within the six days we had. Since the islands\u2019 area is 94% water, it seemed logical for us to choose to stay aboard a ship for the majority of our trip.\u00a0 Surprisingly, less than 40% of the visitors to the islands do so. The rest stay at land-based hotels, with many taking day trips to visit nearby islands. However, the best day trips are usually booked up early and difficult to get, and smaller day-boats can only go out 25 miles or so, which can limit your travels. And, there can be safety concerns regarding some of the island ferries. Make sure yours is not booked over capacity and there are life-vests for everyone: not locked somewhere inaccessible in case of an emergency.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1f1ffac e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"1f1ffac\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;full&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fd389a9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"fd389a9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1300\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/info-box-tall-2.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-3323\" alt=\"galapago&#039;s anmals\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/info-box-tall-2.png 1300w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/info-box-tall-2-195x300.png 195w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/info-box-tall-2-666x1024.png 666w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/info-box-tall-2-768x1182.png 768w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/info-box-tall-2-998x1536.png 998w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1300px) 100vw, 1300px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e6bee00 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e6bee00\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"443\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/galapagos-animals-4-1.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-3340\" alt=\"galapagos animals 4\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/galapagos-animals-4-1.png 443w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/galapagos-animals-4-1-300x203.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 443px) 100vw, 443px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-322f266 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"322f266\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/The-more-you-learn-about-the-islands-the-better-youll-enjoy-your-trip.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-3341\" alt=\"galapago s map\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/The-more-you-learn-about-the-islands-the-better-youll-enjoy-your-trip.png 768w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/The-more-you-learn-about-the-islands-the-better-youll-enjoy-your-trip-300x169.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f1da19f elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"f1da19f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"452\" height=\"257\" src=\"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/metro-logo.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-3339\" alt=\"metropolitan logo\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/metro-logo.png 452w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/metro-logo-300x171.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 452px) 100vw, 452px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f03d5bc e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"f03d5bc\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;full&quot;}\" data-core-v316-plus=\"true\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b3ca491 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"b3ca491\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;full&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c41e803 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c41e803\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1300\" height=\"2000\" src=\"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/info-box-tall-3.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-3321\" alt=\"galapago&#039;s anmals\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/info-box-tall-3.png 1300w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/info-box-tall-3-195x300.png 195w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/info-box-tall-3-666x1024.png 666w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/info-box-tall-3-768x1182.png 768w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/info-box-tall-3-998x1536.png 998w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1300px) 100vw, 1300px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-166b9fc elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"166b9fc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"427\" height=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/galapagos-animals-7-1.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-3343\" alt=\"galapagos animals 7\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/galapagos-animals-7-1.png 427w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/galapagos-animals-7-1-300x218.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 427px) 100vw, 427px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9e6cd6c elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"9e6cd6c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"326\" height=\"277\" src=\"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/choose-wosely-travel-smart-2.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-4288\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/choose-wosely-travel-smart-2.png 326w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/choose-wosely-travel-smart-2-300x255.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 326px) 100vw, 326px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-98ee8e1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"98ee8e1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/latam-logo.png\" title=\"\" alt=\"latam logo\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-50e4042 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"50e4042\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;full&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d07a730 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d07a730\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"422\" height=\"287\" src=\"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/galapagos-comment-box-1.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-3332\" alt=\"galapago&#039;s anmals\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/galapagos-comment-box-1.png 422w, https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/galapagos-comment-box-1-300x204.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 422px) 100vw, 422px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8160436 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8160436\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Before you decide on an itinerary, we would highly recommend you read \u201cChoose Wisely Travel Smart\u201d\u2014helpful hints for any traveler to the Islands. Click the picture bellow. Interestingly, all vessels must be Ecuadorian owned to visit the islands, and you must have a certified guide with you at all times on island wildlife tours.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e2fa76 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"5e2fa76\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.metropolitan-touring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/choose-wisely-new.pdf\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/expatsmags.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/choose-wosely-travel-smart.png\" title=\"\" alt=\"choose wosely travel smart\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-27fe0e3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"27fe0e3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>LATAM flies from Quito with connections in Guayaquil to the Islands. And, we recommend you book everything through Metropolitan. In this way, you can coordinate all your connections in case of a travel delay. When you check in (we joined the flight in GYE), it\u2019s almost like traveling to another country. Airport authorities want to make sure you are not carrying any prohibited items to the islands, such as plastic bottles, food, etc. You have to first check in with a government office to receive a form called a Transit Control Card to travel to the islands.\u00a0 It\u2019s $20 per person.\u00a0 When you get in line, make sure you have your return ticket to show them, and keep the Transit Form they give you handy, as you\u2019ll need to present it to officials when you land on the islands. So off we went on LATAM\u2019s punctual departure to start our adventure.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cuenca Expats Magazine, Issue 42 Photos: Courtesy of Metropolitan Touring and Cuenca Expats Magazine Ed. Note:\u00a0 This is the second in a four-part series exploring the Galapagos Islands. Go to Issue 42 to read Part 1. Your first decision\u2014visit or explore?\u00a0 Galapagos is large\u201453,000 square miles. On the unique landscape of archipelagos, the size of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":3304,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,320,55],"tags":[183,153,294,118,268,119,256,184],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3300"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3300"}],"version-history":[{"count":47,"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3300\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6407,"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3300\/revisions\/6407"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3304"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3300"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3300"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expatsmags.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3300"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}