Sea sickness may put off some visitors from booking a Galapagos Islands cruise. Sea sickness comes about due to conflicting messages that flow between the eyes, inner ear, body and brain. For some, the motion sickness experienced when on a boat, including nausea, headaches, cold sweats, and at times, vomiting, can be extremely off-putting when considering planning a Galapagos trip. Yet there is much to be done to avoid getting sea sickness in the Galapagos Islands to make sure of a great trip. There is no need to miss out on the extraordinary and fascinating experience of a visit to the Galapagos Islands due to the fear of sea sickness.
It should be noted that generally the seas around the archipelago are calmer than near mainland South America. However, this will not provide reassurance for those that suffer with this issue.
Here are our top tips for avoiding sea sickness on a visit to the Galapagos Islands:
If you know you are prone to sea sickness one of the most important steps you can take is to bring sea sickness medication with you and be sure to take it in good time. Sea sickness medicine often works well because it has a calming effect on the inner ear, which effectively stills the body. Ideally you should take the medication 20-30 minutes before the journey, or otherwise, as soon as you feel nauseous.
Bringing sea sickness medication with you is likely to be the best way to go. This is because usually you will find yourself being transported straight from your flight to your cruise with no time to hang around in a town purchasing medication. Travelling with it avoids the problem of having to find it when you get there or rely on others for it.
People usually find that antihistamine medicines such as Dramamine (dimenhydrinate) and Bonine (meclizine) work well. Some people find that Bonine has less of a drowsy effect than Dramamine, but this varies, depending on the person. Certain other antihistamines can also be effective for some people. Check with your pharmacy for the best option for you and make sure to be aware of the side effects before you start taking the medication.
The sea is an unpredictable beast, and rough waters can happen at any time. Yet certain seasons are more prone to choppy seas than others in the Galapagos Islands. Focusing on the calmer seasons is likely to lead to a happier trip for those that face sea sickness regularly.
Generally speaking, the waters will be at their roughest in September and October and the months between July to December are usually a bit rougher than the other months. Comparatively, the months between January and June tend to be calmer, meaning a lower chance of sea sickness is likely.
Most visitors to the Galapagos Islands think that the only or the best option is to take a Galapagos Islands cruise around the archipelago. However, land-based Galapagos trips can be excellent and there are still opportunities to see lots of wildlife at a variety of visitor sites. With a Galapagos land-based trip you may find yourself on the water at times, traveling between islands, but this is substantially different to being on the boat for most of the time and living and sleeping on the boat. Being on solid ground at night and minimizing boat time will probably be a good option for some people who have really bad sea sickness experiences.
A great tip for avoiding sea sickness is staying focused on the horizon. Keeping your eyes on something stable rather than watching the motion of the vessel appears to have the effect of lowering the conflicting signals that can occur in people’s bodies.
You might consider purchasing sea sickness bands for your trip. Sea sickness bands are believed by some to work due to the pressure that they apply to acupressure points. Some people swear by sea sickness bands, finding them effective for warding off this complaint. While some travelers find that sea sickness bands are very helpful in reducing nausea and vomiting, others find them to be of no help whatsoever. Scientific evidence is mixed, so it is not clear how effective they actually are. Yet if they work for you, it is definitely worth packing and wearing them.
These days on a journey, people may commonly look at smartphones and other electronic devices to pass the time. This is a mistake that can promote sea sickness, so it is usually best avoided. Step away from the devices and focus on something stable instead – as mentioned, like the horizon.
It can be tempting when facing sea sickness symptoms to go and lie down in the cabin. Yet cabins can get hot and stuffy, and this approach can result in worsened sea sickness symptoms worse rather than better. Rather than heading off to the cabin it is probably going to be better for you to be in the outdoors in the fresh air if you can.
People usually find that locating themselves in a central part of the vessel can tend to minimize sea sickness symptoms faced too.
We are not too sure about this one. Some people say that some types of boat, such as catamaran are more stable. In our experience, travelers face sea sickness regardless of the type of boat they are on, so we suspect this is a bit of a myth. However, we do find that visitors that travel on large vessels face fewer issues with sea sickness, perhaps just due to the fact that these boats are larger and weightier, providing a bit more stability.
When faced with nausea, the strong urge that most people have is usually to fight it. Instead, actually allowing yourself to vomit is more likely to help you feel better. Do steer clear of others that are complaining of sea sickness. Seeing people vomiting is a surefire way to end up being sick yourself. Also, talking about how rough you feel is not going to help improve anything. When others start discussing sea sickness, step away and take yourself off quietly elsewhere.
In short, a trip to the Galapagos Islands is truly like no other adventure you have ever taken. It would be a great shame to miss out on the trip of a lifetime when there are so many ways to try to prevent and avoid sea sickness. It is worth considering some or all of the tips here to help you address a sea sickness problem and enjoy a fantastic adventure.
