I know I'm a bit early, but when reading through the new brochure I spotted this note on our Galapagos adventure itinerary:

"You may be provided with a duffle bag for your belongings, all luggage is inspected on arrival at Galapagos, and duffle bags make this process easier."

Could you give us a bit more colour on this, please? e.g. Do we have a restricted baggage limit, lower than the usual 20-23kg for all of the Avianca flights on the tour? Does the duffle bag replace our suit cases for the duration of our stay on the Islands and, if so, where will our cases and other belongings be securely stored in Ecuador for those 6 nights? Or, is the Duffle bag just for hand luggage and our normal suitcases will do the whole trip with us?

I know that duffle bags are issued on some other JY tours (Borneo, I believe is one) but I've never come across it before. Not being one who....ahem....finds packing light comes easily......I think this could be a challenge for me - hence the very early enquiry!

Many thanks and have a nice weekend - I understand there's a football match and some young couple getting married tomorrow ;)

Mandy

Apologies for the late reply on this one, I'm just waiting to find out the info but I have seen your post and passed it on 🙂

Thanks,

Vickie

I've just realised that I put 2018 instead of 2019 in the heading, so you can tell how excited I already am about this trip!

As an aside - I had similar issues to Sylvia with the Customer Services Team when trying to arrange Avianca flight upgrades - it took the best part of two months but I'm all sorted now.

All the best

Mandy

Thanks Vickie

I've just realised that I put 2018 instead of 2019 in the heading, so you can tell how excited I already am about this trip!

As an aside - I had similar issues to Sylvia with the Customer Services Team when trying to arrange Avianca flight upgrades - it took the best part of two months but I'm all sorted now.

All the best

Mandy

Hi Mandy

Nice to know it was not just me struggling!

Sylvia

We were not given any holdalls in Borneo! It was suggested we take one but in the end they were not really needed as we were able to take our suitcases on the boat. I personally don't see why we need holdalls in Galapagos when they can easily go through the suitcases the same way?!

Jaya

The Travelsphere brochure doesn't mention the duffle bag.

On my recent Portugal trip I spoke to a chap who had been to Galapagos with a nature group. He stayed on a boat and mentioned the requirement to travel with a duffle bag. As we are staying in hotels, duffle bag not required?

Look forward to receiving JYHQ advice.

Regards

Sylvia

Apologies for the wait, I asked a few questions and have the answers:

1) Do we have a restricted baggage limit, lower than the usual 20-23kg for all of the Avianca flights on the tour?

The baggage limit for the Galapagos flight is 23 kg.

2) Does the duffle bag replace our suitcases for the duration of our stay on the Islands?

Yes, if you would like - Duffle bags are provided so passengers don't have to bring all their stuff for the Galapagos, like for example their warmer gear for Quito. But this is not mandatory if they want to use their own baggage that is not a problem.

3) Where will our cases and other belongings be securely stored in Ecuador for those 6 nights?

The baggage will be stored securely at the hotel in Quito where the passengers stay.

4) Is the Duffle bag just for hand luggage and our normal suitcases will do the whole trip with us?

No, the duffle bag would replace the suitcase.

Hope that helps!

Thanks,

Vickie

Cindy

So, it looks like the duffle bags are entirely optional then? If so, I think I'll stick to my trusty wheelie case. (More space for the fridge magnets.... 😃  ) I was also a bit concerned about the implications of leaving luggage behind in Ecuador, albeit in storage, on my travel insurance cover.

Only 9 months to go now, Sylvia but, as we booked 8 months ago, I think the time will whizz by. Good to hear that you've taken the Chile/Easter Island booking plunge, BTW. I trust you will arm yourself with a copy of JGP's book because I'll be testing you while we are on the flight to Bogota ;)

Happy Friday Everyone!

Mandy

Regards

Jaya

Thanks Vickie

So, it looks like the duffle bags are entirely optional then? If so, I think I'll stick to my trusty wheelie case. (More space for the fridge magnets.... 😃  ) I was also a bit concerned about the implications of leaving luggage behind in Ecuador, albeit in storage, on my travel insurance cover.

Only 9 months to go now, Sylvia but, as we booked 8 months ago, I think the time will whizz by. Good to hear that you've taken the Chile/Easter Island booking plunge, BTW. I trust you will arm yourself with a copy of JGP's book because I'll be testing you while we are on the flight to Bogota ;)

Happy Friday Everyone!

Mandy

Hi Mandy

I don't think my insurance company will be too happy if I am separated from my suitcase either!

JGP book on order.  I'll have to think of some Ecuador/Galapagos info to test you on!!!!

Sylvia

Is there any problem with taking a suitcase on the boats between the islands when changing hotels?  For instance, do you have to wade through water when getting off the boat?

I recently spoke to someone from Just You on the phone about this before I found this thread and I'm a little confused.  If I understood correctly, he said that some people may be randomly selected to have their bags inspected on arrival at the islands, and those people would have to unpack their suitcase and transfer the contents into a duffle bag.  They would then be able to repack everything in their suitcase after the inspection.  I'm not sure what the point of that would be - why not just inspect the suitcase?

Is there any problem with taking a suitcase on the boats between the islands when changing hotels?  For instance, do you have to wade through water when getting off the boat?

Hi Traveller 44

The advice we are being offered appears to be different depending on who you speak to.  

From researching travel to Galapagos, our suitcases could be searched at Quito and/or Galapagos. Dogs will sniff your luggage for anything that might contaminate the closed ecosystem - ie dairy products, seeds, fruit & veg etc, ants, snails.  (A bit like Australia and New Zealand.)

Are you visiting Galapagos on 11 March as we will be the guinea pigs for this trip?

Sylvia

I'm not on the March trip, but I'm thinking of booking for October.  I'd be interested to hear the experiences of those going in March once they get back!

I did find this blog.  A lot of this won't be relevant to the Just You trip, but it does give some idea of the Galapagos airport procedure, and from the photos it looks as if suitcases aren't a problem:

http://www.wheretonexttravelblog.com/getting-to-the-galapagos-the-logistics/