How to survive seasickness on Galapagos tours?

Galapagos cruises aboard luxury, mid-range, and budget vessels are truly incredible experiences. Just to be in this place, made so famous for its contribution to scientific theory and because of its unique wildlife, is exhilarating. However, some of the shine can be taken off your adventure if you have to spend several days hidden away in your cabin suffering from seasickness.

Almost anyone can suffer with seasickness and it can strike suddenly, and as anyone who has experienced it can tell you, it is not fun. You almost wish the sea would just swallow you up and put an end to it.

However, there are a few things you can do to make sure you don’t miss a moment of your Galapagos tours, even if you haven’t quite got your sea legs yet.

When to travel to Galapagos?

There are two distinct seasons in the Galapagos: the dry, running from June to December, and the wet, running from January to June. Many people visit in the dry season thinking that the rain will spoil their trip but the truth is that the rainy season isn’t all that bad.

In between downpours, there is more sunshine and most importantly, the seas are calmer. This means there is less choppy water to cause seasickness and it has the added advantage of being clearer, which is better for snorkeling and diving.

Thanks to the Humboldt Current, temperatures remain fairly constant throughout the year, with mild and pleasant being the default conditions.
 

Chemical intervention

There are numerous drugs and medicines that claim to be able to combat seasickness. We’re not chemists so we won’t try to explain how or why they work. The overwhelming consensus seems to be that these remedies work for some people but not for others. Look around message forums and you’ll see some who swear by them and others who advise you not to waste your money.

The most common successful remedy are Scapalomine patches, which are applied a day or so before setting off on Galapagos cruises and worn for several days. However, they do have side effects and can make you drowsy. It’s worth considering this before using them, as you really don’t want to miss a thing on Galapagos tours.

Quality of vessel

To some extent the ocean will have its way with any vessel but there’s no denying that luxury yachts provide a smoother passage. More experienced crew also know the spots where the waters are better or worse and can limit the impact of the waves. It’s worth considering when booking Galapagos tours.

Tough it out

Ok, so it might not be fun but if you can distract yourself with the immense beauty of the islands, incredible wildlife and sense of adventure, you might just forget all about the water.

Plus, the Galapagos Islands themselves are a paradise that makes it all worthwhile in the end.
 

Take a look of these tour programs:

1. Peru Tour: Lima and Machu Picchu Tour
2. Wildlife Tour: Amazon Wildlife spotting tour
3. Santa Cruz Island Tour: Galapagos land tour from Santa Cruz
4. Adventure Tour:  Snorkeling tour in Galapagos
5. Galapagos Cruise Itinerary: High-End Vessel Exploring Genovesa and Central Islands