A Traveler's Guide to the Galapagos Islands

I organized a trip to the Galapagos in November 2004 for myself and several friends and I found this book to be invaluable in our planning. There are so many different tour agencies all offering the same boats and itineraries, but each tour company describes each boat a bit differently. Trying to decide on a boat to book is where this book was a lifesaver. The author has a whole section where each boat is described including a list of when renovations were made to the boat. The description also includes contact information for the actual owner of the boat. Armed with this information, we could book directly from the owner of the boat and save money while still being confident that we were actually booking through a real company. It gave us a lot more confidence that we were choosing the right boat for us and that our money would not disappear. The author also has a very good section about the places that you will land and what you will see on each day. Almost all of the boats follow the same basic itinerary (we saw the same boats at each place we went), so the authors descriptions are valid no matter which tour you choose. The author also includes tips about what to look for and what to pay attention to if you want to take photographs. I found this section to be very helpful because the guides don't always point out everything. The book also has chapters about the history of the islands, the wildlife, what to bring and about Ecuador and accommodations in Quito. I highly recommend this book to anyone planning to visit the Galapagos. This book goes into far more detail than the Lonely Planet or the Rough Guides for Ecuador and I took both this book and the Rough Guides with me and was very happy that I did. Going to the Galapagos is like entering another world and it is the trip of a lifetime. I recommend this book to make sure that you get the most out of your trip.

Written by the owner of the tour company we decided to go with, I had ordered of copy of this from an Internet bookstore, only to find that we were to receive a free copy with our trip deposit. The extra went to Jill's mom, who travels vicariously with us when she and Bob aren't gallivanting about on their own. If you can only get one book for your trip to the Galapagos, this is the most comprehensive, covering booking a tour; the history, geology, botany, zoology of the islands; and photographing flora, fauna and landscape, all written in a light, humorous style. Other guide books go into farther detail on some items, but this is the best one stop shop.

The first time I saw this book, I viewed it with a jaundiced eye- after all, Barry is the owner-operator of a travel agency specializing in travel to the Galápagos Islands! Glad I took the time to read it- I've bought every edition since the first!Barry's book is objective, comprehensive and as up to date as a printed guide can be given that boats are launched and agencies change hands, and includes detailed information on the tour operators, their specializations (e.g. birding, diving, etc.) and even the individual boats. (This is especially valuable- there is no US Coast Guard to assure marine safety in Ecuadórian waters, and the boat you spend a week or more on can make or break the trip- or even you, as more than one boat has sunk or burned.) The book reveals why you can not do the Galápagos justice with a land-based trip, nor in most cases (depending on your trip goals) with a large cruise ship.You will learn when to go, how to save money to the extent possible, which operators respect the fragile island environment, which ones have university-trained naturalist-guides, which ones do a true seven day trip, vs. those who will take your money for a "seven day trip" and actually put you on a three day trip with a four day trip following (meaning you spend a lot of time in the same places you saw already, not to mention going to port to take on and discharge passengers.) Barry has a dry sense of humor- his slogan is "¡Viva la evolución!"As someone who has been to "las Islas Encantadas", as the Galápagos islands is often described in Spanish, who is going again in 2003, I highly recommend this book to anyone contemplating traveling there as a key planning tool. I only hope Barry is planning to update his valulable book again SOON!

When going somewhere distant, you'll only get one chance to get things right, and this book is just the ticket to help you know how to prepare. Clearly written, this guide has excellent tips on what to bring, how to pack, how to pick tours, and understanding travel in Galapagos. Boyce also gives plenty of background information on the unique wildlife, geology, climate, and cultural history of these "enchanted islands." Finally, one of the most useful chapters had dozens of photographic tips that helped me get the most from my photos. Start with this book; it can stand alone as your sole resource on Galapagos travel, or it can be an in-depth introduction that will help you find further references in areas of your interest

I typically get several travel guides from the library when I plan a trip, then I buy the best one to mark up and take with me on the trip. This is the one for the Galapagos. It really helped me differentiate between the types of tours, the different vessels and the level of guides. It also has much information about the history of the islands, what natural life to expect, the ecological issues, etc. I highly recommend it as a way to plan your visit to the Galapagos Islands.