Galopogos Island trip.....

[Fly91]

Got a possible trip coming up down there from SE Florida, what routes are you all using from southeast Florida? If you need to make stops where are you doing it?

Any wacky rules and/or requirements? I was there almost 9 years ago and don't remember much about the details. I think we went through San Jose, Costa Rica.

Thanks for any info.....

 

[LongBoarder]

Call your international flight planner... you will have to make a stop in mainland Ecuador to clear customs and get sprayed... As you might imagine there are all kinds of other things that have to happen also... but Jepp or Universal will be able to help you out.

FYI... Parking is a pain.

LB

 

[pilot error]

if you are in something smaller, like hawker sized, they can arrange parking for you if you reserve it with enough advanced notice. that's the way to do it, as the islands are amazing.

you'll need to stop in quito or guayquil (sorry for my spelling) before going to the islands. obviously, guayaquil is the better option, though i remember reading somewhere recently they will allow international arrivals into the islands from other certain places.

typically, no fuel is available. make sure you can get there from guayaquil and back without refueling there.

if you go through guayaquil, you are going to have to spray. not just show them your two year old empty bottle, they'll come out and take everyone off and spray exterior and interior, plan on a little time before you can get back into the airplane.

there are plenty of day scuba, snorkel, and island trips from santa cruz, the island we stayed on. we landed on baltra and took a few minute boat ride to santa cruz.

the hotel we stayed at only to cash, it was around $1100 for five days. some of the other hotels took cards.

 

[Fly91]

Thanks guys.

 

[Kingairrick]

We cleared in and out in Manta. Right on the coast and very easy. Don't know much about where to stay as we stayed here...

 

[Beechjetr]

No fuel on SEST.

We did two trips to SEST (San Cristobal) this past year. The first time we cleared ECU customs in Manta (SEMT). the 2nd time we went, Manta was closed to intl ops becuase of Swine Flu scare, so we had to clear in Guayquil (SEGU). I hear SEMT is open again, and it's much easier. Probably one of the best tech stops i've ever had. We were in and out in about 15 minutes (customs, immigration, fuel, and disinsection).

We use Rick at GTS for our handling. He setup the handling arrangements at all the stops. He does a great job, everything went very smoothly.

SEST is pretty cool. We stayed at the Miconia and the Casa Opuntia. Miconia is much better - WIFI, restuarant. They also take credit cards at the Miconia.

You'll have a good time. PM me if you have any more questions.

 

[Fly91]

No fuel on SEST.

We did two trips to SEST (San Cristobal) this past year. The first time we cleared ECU customs in Manta (SEMT). the 2nd time we went, Manta was closed to intl ops becuase of Swine Flu scare, so we had to clear in Guayquil (SEGU). I hear SEMT is open again, and it's much easier. Probably one of the best tech stops i've ever had. We were in and out in about 15 minutes (customs, immigration, fuel, and disinsection).

We use Rick at GTS for our handling. He setup the handling arrangements at all the stops. He does a great job, everything went very smoothly.

SEST is pretty cool. We stayed at the Miconia and the Casa Opuntia. Miconia is much better - WIFI, restuarant. They also take credit cards at the Miconia.

You'll have a good time. PM me if you have any more questions.

Thanks....if the trip gets firmed up I'll have some questions.