Hello all. Am planning a trip to the Galapagos Islands and looking for recommendations for a photography focused tour. It will be my first time there. Will be flying from the east coast of USA. Any additional advice on logistics, what to bring, what photo gear is best (eg, what focal length lenses, is a tripod appropriate, etc.), best time of year to go, etc. Thanks in advance for any help!
Len R wrote:
Hello all. Am planning a trip to the Galapagos Islands and looking for recommendations for a photography focused tour. It will be my first time there. Will be flying from the east coast of USA. Any additional advice on logistics, what to bring, what photo gear is best (eg, what focal length lenses, is a tripod appropriate, etc.), best time of year to go, etc. Thanks in advance for any help!
Sorry I can't give you any advice on tours. I was there in 2016 but due to motion issues we had to stay on Santa Cruz Island the whole time. The wildlife is all over just on that island. I can only imagine what a proper tour would have been like!
A place to stay? Galapagos Island Suites. Joselina was a superb host. Spacious clean rooms and a homemade breakfast in the morning.
Gear wise? I was new to DSLR photograhy then. I had a Nikon D3300, Sigma 17-70 and Nikon 70-300. Had zero clue what I was doing. Today? I'd be taking my Sony A7IV, Sony 24-105 and Sony 100-400. And possibly the 1.4 teleconverter. Maybe a second body so as not to change lenses.
I traveled to the Galapagos with Abercrombie & Kent and it was a perfect visit to this area. They handled all the logistics and made the journey worry free We visited multiple islands and areas and most of the time our group was by ourselves.
I would advise looking at a tour that utilizes a small ship such as those employed by Abercrombie & Kent. It really enhances the overall travel experience. They are also well familiar with this area and will provide an excellent exposure to the Galapagos.
The wildlife is very accessible and easy to photograph. I don’t believe you need a dedicated photography tour to achieve everything the area has to offer. The naturalists on the ship can provide you with helpful photography advice.
A 100-400mm or 100-500mm zoom lens will get the most use especially given the abundance of good light. I would practice photographing birds in flight since there is an abundance of such opportunities.
I do not believe you need a tripod. I believe there may be restrictions on tripod use, on land, but I would verify this issue.
You will be walking on dedicated paths, when on land, so having one camera with the appropriate lens will facilitate the overall experience and allow a more enjoyable photography visit. You don’t want to be wearing a heavy or large back especially with the warm weather. A daypack to hold a water bottle, ancillary gear, and your camera when traveling on a zodiac, would be fine. You can leave any additional camera bodies or lenses on the ship.
I have used a 20 liter waterproof backpack when on zodiac excursions and it was perfect, including use to carry my gear when hiking.
If you are snorkeling, which I recommend, I would rent a small waterproof camera to capture the wonderful underwater wildlife.
Please enjoy.
I just came back from the Galapagos. We had limited time and did a small ship cruise. We chartered but there are many options - we saw similar boats all around us. It seems that boat-based is by far the best way to go.
I brought only zooms- I shoot Sony so brought the 24-70 GM II and 100-400 GM. Because you may be shooting from Zodiacs, and because wisely you're restricted from being too close to wildlife, a tele in that range is what you'll probably use most. Even walking close to a sea lion colony, I see that a lot of my shots are around 150mm.
For birds, you might want even longer. In the giant tortoise parks you will be closer to the animals and can come within a few meters' distance.
December was a good time to visit - wasn't hot at all - but I would research depending on what you want to see - for instance, baby turtles hatch later in the warm season.
If you dive, the diving is spectacular (playing with the sea lions, rays, turtles, sharks) - and the snorkeling is great too. Have fun!!
If I had had more time I would have brought a wide prime for landscape (remember many of the islands are pretty barren) but honestly I'm not sure a tripod is needed. It is mainly wildlife there.
We did Galapagos about 15 years ago, but I don't think that will change my advice. It is similar to much of what is above.
The wildlife is amazing, abundant and (generally speaking) not afraid of people (even things like finches are pretty comfortable with people). Two bodies; one with something like a 24-105 and another with a 100-400 or 100-500 and you're all set! Because you don't need big primes, unless you are wanting to do long-exposure coastals, there is absolutely no need for a tripod (nor flash BTW). There is also no need for a photography-specific tour (unless you really wish to "donate" money to a business).
It is a requirement that there are guides leading visitors ashore; I believe it was an 8:1 ratio when I was there. The guides do impose some restrictions but they were for the most part very reasonable (paths, nests, etc). Ours were very willing to share their knowledge, which made the trip even better.
We were going to Galapagos but had hoped to also do Peru. It just looked too expensive though. Then I found a most unusual travel company - Inti Travel & Tours Inc out of Banff, Alberta, Canada. Wait, what? A company in the Rockies of Canada that specializes in trips to Galapagos, Peru, Ecuador? Turns out the owner lived in Peru and/or Ecuador for 15 or 20 years. He said he could put a Galapagos/Peru tour together for much less than others were charging. I was skeptical but was surprised by his quote. We ended up going with Inti. Did Peru with a private guide/driver who was amazing (both in personality and knowledge) and then a week in Galapagos on a small ship with great guides. I mention Peru because it is amazing and if you are going to travel all that way, it is worth stopping there as well (Machu Picchu, Huayna Picchu, Sacred Valley, Cusco, Lima, etc).
