Galapagos is a year-round destination, so figure out if you want hot and sunny, with calmer seas, or cooler/mistier, with less calm seas.

1. Since it sounds like you're planning a land-based trip, find the Top Questions on the right (not visible on phones) and select the one titled "Land-based travel." There is a well-researched, very lengthy thread that explains pretty much everything available on the few islands you can stay on and visit to. That should help you decide which islands you would like.

I also like the Galapagos Conservancy's website https://www.galapagos.org/travel/travel/ to help you plan.

2. Take a look at Scuba Iguana or Wreck Bay Divers to see what they offer for both divers and snorkelers.

3. As noted above, there are no Komodo dragons in the Galapagos. They live on the island of Komodo, in Indonesia. You have probably seen the piles of marine iguanas in pictures, and they are pretty much everywhere.

4. For me, hands down, I would much prefer to use my own gear as I know it fits well, has been well-cared for, and only has my cooties on/in it. I have Rx lenses in my mask so that's a must.

5. Your call. Some people like to chance saving some money by booking in person, while others want to ensure getting a particular tour on a particular day by booking ahead. Not all tours run each day, so bear that in mind.

Thanks, for some reason I thought they were there, but looked it up and they are found in Indonesia

Thanks for the info! I agree about masks.

I did the land-based holiday and think that was the best way to go. I loved San Cristobal Island and Santa Cruz. I stayed on Isabella for three or four nights and found that was way too long. There’s not enough to do there and the town is very very small. Restaurants are not as good and not plentiful. You’re going in the best time of the year. I talk to everybody and that’s the sunniest time of year which is great when you book a tour to go snorkeling. Book everything once you’re there it’s far cheaper. Make sure you bring lots of Dramamine. The taxi ride from island to island is about two hours on a smaller speedboat type boat and they pack them . Make sure you bring lots of cash everything is cash there you can use credit cards at some restaurants but most of the time it’s all cash. When you enter Isabella Island for example they ask you for a fee I think it’s $10 per person. Entering the Galapagos also requires cash

I did bring my own snorkel gear. I ended up just using the tour guys flippers. So that was a waste of time bringing those. However I did like having my own snorkel and mask.

I hate contradicting people but I think there is enough on Isabela to justify 3 or 4 nights there. We did a fantastic half day trip to Los Tuneles with great snorkelling, loved the Sierra Negra hike with the amazing bio-diversity - start in cool damp Highlands & within a couple of hours hike you're in lava fields landscape with cacti! The walk to the wall of tears was brutal (bike it!) But nice seeing the wild giant tortoises along the way.

The town is small but we loved the more chilled vibe.

Easiest though is probably to fly into Santa Cruz & out of San Cristóbal (or vice versa)