Advantages of Choosing a Travel Agency vs Venturing on your Own to the Galapagos Islands

If you have ever ventured on a trip without a tour, you know the joy of freedom you may probably relate to things not necessarily working the way you wanted them to, even if you are an experience traveler.

Am I Saving Money?

When we talk about traveling to the Galapagos Islands or any other destination we would like to visit, our first thought is “How to save some money” or try to squeeze the juice out of our stay at famous sites like these Islands.

On this post we’ll tell you some of the advantages of traveling with a professional travel agency like ours, instead of winging it on your own. It is common believe that the high level of expertise of a travel agency can be acquired just by seeing their itinerary, and as long as you know the tourist spots you’ll be able to save money by only taking a day tour at the intended location. This, unfortunately isn’t always true, especially at locations with very high demand such as the Galapagos Archipelago.

Planning and Assistance!

Basically, when you travel on an organized tour towards the Galapagos Islands, you will be provided with an established itinerary and some travel tips that suit your particular travel package. Sometimes you’ll have choices in the itinerary, giving you that added flexibility that you may not be able to receive when you travel independently.  This allows you to check ahead of time what you should carry, what you’ll see at the sites and even make changes ahead of time to suit your own interests during your trip.

Another advantage of traveling with a pre-arranged tour is that it often includes all the transfer fees plus the added assistance when it is time to pay and cover all necessary fees for admission to the Galapagos Islands, which must meet certain rules. This is definitely easier with the added assistance you’ll receive at the Quito or Guayaquil airports to get you and your luggage cleared for your flight to the Islands.

Avoid Confusion and Save Time!

There are two airports in Galapagos, one on Baltra Island and the second one on Santa Cruz Island. Once at the arrival at either airport in Galapagos, you’ll also be greeted and assisted with the procedure necessary to be granted access to the islands. This may seem especially unusual to first time travelers and may take away from your time at the islands when you travel without assistance. A travel Agency like Zenith will simplify this process to help you make the best of your time from the moment of your arrival.

One great misconception is that people will try to save money by arriving to the Islands and then try to book a tour on location. While theoretically you could do that, chances are the tour is fully booked or you cannot find enough available spaces for all members of your party, this is especially true for Last-Minute tours. It is not uncommon to see parties waiting all day or longer, trying to get a tour, cruise or even a hotel at their port of entry. You will still enjoy your visit, but with a feeling that it could have been better. On the other hand, a travel agency will work their magic with their connections to get you to make the most out of your experience at the Islands from beginning to end.

Transportation, Guide and Security!

Something that is sometimes ignored or forgotten is the need for transportation to some destinations. Not only does it facilitate traveling within and to different islands, it is also an added level of security as the tour operator will arrange private transportation for your party. Our priority is your safety and to make the best out of your time.

Private transportation has a bonus benefit when hired through a travel agency. A knowledgeable licensed guide will be present to explain the sights, your itinerary and answer any questions you may have. The guide will recommend places for you to eat, best locations to buy handicrafts and even tell you of the various places for entertainment, among other things.

It is your choice!

In a nutshell, the biggest advantages of taking a tour with a professional agency like Zenith Travel over venturing on your own are the level of organization to make the most out of your time and money; the added level of security with private transportation, and a knowledgeable guide who’ll explain everything you need to know about the islands, their flora and fauna.