Visiting the Galápagos Islands is on the bucket list of many. A naturalist’s paradise and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the archipelago consisting of 127 islands is a living laboratory of evolution for an array of endemic species, some firstchronicled by Charles Darwin. That includes the giant tortoises that were in abundance when the islands were discovered — and for which the archipelago is currently named (the Spanish word galápago translates to “tortoise”).
So how does one get there?
The Galápagos Islands are part of the territory of Ecuador. Each flight to and from the islands must depart from and return to either Guayaquil, the economic capital of Ecuador—located on the western coast—or Quito—the country’s capital—located 8,000 feet in the Andes Mountains. The government of Ecuador keeps a close eye on the amount oftourism to the islands to make sure they stay as intact as possible and, as a rule, does not allow any international flights—including general aviation flights—directly into the Galápagos.
The good news is that it is possible for owners of airplanes such as the TBM to fly their own airplanes through Air Journey’s escorted itineraries. After all, it is only 600 nautical miles from the coast of Ecuador, and The Galápagos have two main airports, one on Baltra Island and one 40 nm away on San Cristóbal Island. However, because parking is not allowed and historically fuel hasn’t been available for private general aviation use at these airports, the typical plan for allAir Journey trips to the Galápagos has been for pilots to fly their airplanes to Guayaquil and then board a commercial flight to the islands.
A TRADITIONAL ITINERARY & HOW IT CHANGED
Air Journey’s escorted pilot adventures to Galápagos begin with a departure from Florida to Panama for two days in the beautifully renovated old colonial capital, Panama City. A highlight of the stay is the guided exploration of the monumental Panama Canal. Our expedition begins with a private boat ride on the canal and then across Gatun Lake, followed by a tour of the Miraflores Locks. Watching the huge ships go through the Miraflores Locks never disappoints.
On Day 3, we fly south over the Pacific Ocean and along the west coast of Colombia, down to Guayaquil, for an overnight stop. The accommodation for the evening, a beautiful hotel located in a private park, offers a restful stay. Thenext morning, we board a commercial airline flight (usually an Airbus 319/320 series) to the Galápagos, where we explorethe archipelago via a luxury catamaran.
Except for the group of four TBMs that signed on for the journey early this year. This trip was shaping up to bedifferent kind of itinerary. About a month before the journey, Ecuador entered a state of turmoil due to escalating violence and criminal activities, resulting in the president of Ecuador declaring a state of emergency. With these developments, AirJourney initially considered canceling the journey. However, the boat and cruise operators in the Galápagos informed usthat the situation was not impacting the islands. At Air Journey, safety is our priority, so we had several backup plans ready, depending on how the situation evolved.
Options ranged from canceling the journey, to flying the airplanes via Colombia and then hopping on an airline toEcuador for a short layover and then to the Galápagos, or possibly finding a solution to fly the TBMs directly to the islands after a fuel stop. As mentioned earlier, this last option had never been allowed before.
However, after in-depth research and receiving a negative answer on fuel availability in the Galápagos from thelarge fuel suppliers, such as World Fuel Services, we discovered that the Ecuador defense department had recently madethe decision to allow U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) anti-drug overflight missions to land and refuel in the Galápagos. This would allow the U.S. DEA to maximize its time in the Pacific and not be restricted to flying only into and out of Guayaquil.
As a result of this partnership with the U.S. DEA, we learned that fuel was now available at the San Cristóbal Island airport (SEST). We had landed on a Plan B (now Plan A)! This was great news and added to the excitement of an already unique pilot adventure to this incredible destination.
A NEW PLAN SET IN MOTION
Instead of flying as usual on Day 3 from Panama to Guayaquil for the overnight stay before boarding a commercial airlinerthe next day for the Galápagos as the journeys have done in the past, our group of TBMs could now continue to SEST on the same day. It turned out that for this particular journey, by the time we left Panama the unrest in Guayaquil hadthankfully been quelled. All the same, our new plan was already set in motion, and the pilots and their companions wereready to fly the leg from Panama to the Galápagos, with only a fuel stop at Guayaquil!
It all worked as planned, but it is always a funny feeling when you depart the coast of South America, heading west over the vast Pacific Ocean, leaving the land mass behind you in search of your destination island 600 miles later. Weannounced position reports over VHF for half the flight until we were advised by Guayaquil Control that the next sector wouldn’t have VHF coverage until 100 nm from the destination. We were given the next frequency before flying out of VHF range, but we also had a satellite phone ready and connected should we need it to report.
As briefed, about 100 nm from SEST, we reached San Cristóbal Approach on VHF. We were advised that the weather was good, winds were favoring RWY 17, and to expect the full VOR-DME approach. (When was the last time you flew a full VOR-DME approach? Not to worry, the group was prepared thanks to the briefing the night before.)
EXPLORING THE GALÁPAGOS
After landing at SEST, the local agents greeted us and checked all our paperwork. Our mission was accomplished — we flew the TBMs to the Galápagos, a first for Air Journey! We spent the first night at the new luxury hotel on San CristóbalIsland. Then the next morning we boarded a short charter flight to Baltra Island where we would meet our floating accommodation — the Endemic — for the five-day exploration of the islands.
The luxury catamaran yacht was the perfect home base for our explorers, boasting three levels with eight suites, a private balcony, a personal chef, and a 13-member staff for 16 guests. Our days on the yacht started with breakfast at 7a.m. At 8 a.m., we disembarked from the boat onto the dinghies to explore an island in the morning with a walk on the beach, a hike across the island and snorkeling the surrounding waters before returning to the yacht for snacks, drinks, and lunch. After lunch, the Endemic moved to a different island for the afternoon. A similar program was set for the rest of the day with beach walks, hikes, and snorkeling.
A NATURALIST’S DREAM
The archipelago’s 18 main islands, with numerous smaller islets, each have distinct ecosystems and endemic species. Giant tortoises, marine iguanas, and blue-footed boobies are just a few of the incredible animals that inhabit these volcanic islands. The isolated nature of the Galápagos and strict conservation measures in place to protect the delicate balance of the unique ecosystem have allowed species to evolve independently, resulting in a stunning array of flora and fauna found nowhere else on Earth.
The most amazing part? The animals are not afraid of humans. You are allowed to get as close as six feet from them, whether on land or underwater. Native giant tortoises and Blue-footed Boobies gaze calmly at you while you stare back in awe. Encounters with playful, young sea lions following your fins as you snorkel, making loops and quick spins near you, and looking at you as if to say, Come on, you do the same! will stay in your memories forever.
RETURNING HOME
After five days and four nights exploring this amazing ecosystem, it was time to start our way back home. The return route took us from San Cristóbal to Guayaquil for a quick fuel stop before departing northbound to Cartagena, Colombia, for a two-day stay. Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, this historic city is an incredibly preserved beauty, surrounded by a few miles of centuries-old stone walls. Our time there was a perfect way to finish our 10-day journey among TBM friends before departing for our respective homes. As always, Air Journey arranged optional fuel stops for the group as needed.
This journey will stay front of mind for a long time, especially as we initially considered canceling it but instead found a solution that allowed us to safely fly there ourselves to experience this wonder of a destination in a way few people have the opportunity to do.
Join us on the next Air Journey to the Galápagos, currently scheduled for Dec. 5-15, 2024. To learn more, visit airjourney.com.
